Does companion planting actually work — or have we been following folklore dressed up as gardening advice?In this episode, we go deep on one of the most confusing topics in the gardening world. We debunk four of the biggest companion planting myths (including the beloved basil-and-tomatoes "flavor enhancer" claim), explain what scientists actually call this practice (hint: not companion planting), and tell you what the research genuinely supports.Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLSRenee's Garden Seeds: https://sh2543.ositracker.com/398693/9151*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

May is when the garden really starts to feel alive—and in this episode, we’re sharing everything we’re growing right now. From the crops that are thriving to the ones we’re experimenting with (and maybe already side-eyeing a little), we’re walking through what’s going into our gardens this month and why.We talk about our favorite warm-season vegetables, the flowers we can’t live without, and what we’re skipping this year. Plus, we get into what’s actually working in our gardens right now vs. what looks good on paper but never quite delivers.If you’ve been wondering what to plant in May—especially in a warmer climate like Zone 8 or a cooler one like Zone 6—this episode will give you ideas, inspiration, and a realistic look at what’s worth your time this month.Whether you’re planting tomatoes, loading up on herbs, or just trying to stay one step ahead of the heat, this is your May garden reset 🌿Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLSRenee's Garden Seeds: https://sh2543.ositracker.com/398693/9151*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

We've been talking to our plants for years. Turns out, they've been trying to tell us something back. In this episode, Meagan and Dagny sit down with  ⁨@theplantpapi⁩  — a therapist, houseplant creator, and genuinely one of our favorite humans on the internet — to talk about what plant care can teach us about taking care of ourselves. Watering as consistency. Repotting as growth. Pruning as letting go. Dormancy as permission to rest. It's a mental health conversation disguised as a gardening episode, and we're not sorry about it. Plus rapid fire questions, houseplant tips woven throughout, and at least one moment where we accidentally got real.Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

Unlock the whimsical side of gardening as Meg and Dagny take you beyond the plants—into a world where beehives are painted like rainbows, trees hide secret pasts, and planting your placenta becomes a garden art project. This episode blends humor, curiosity, and unexpected insights about nature, autoimmunity, and the magic of everyday life.Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

Garlic is in almost every kitchen on earth — but have you ever wondered how it got there? In this episode, we're tracing the full history of one of humanity's oldest cultivated plants, from ancient Egypt where pyramid workers were literally paid in garlic, to the Silk Road traders who spread it across continents, to the vampire folklore that made it legendary, to the backyard garden beds where so many of us are growing it today.It's a history episode, a food episode, and honestly kind of a love letter to one of the most satisfying things you can grow.If you've ever tucked a garlic clove into the ground in October and felt a little bit of magic in that — this episode is for you.Garden Girls Podcast is for gardeners who like to go a little deeper. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6pm EST. Leave a comment: what's your favorite variety to grow?Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

In this episode, we’re joined by Chia Ming Ro @coastal_homestead for a conversation all about chaos gardening, garden design, and learning to embrace failure in the garden 🌿We talk about what happens when you let go of perfection, why “messy” gardens can actually be more productive and beautiful, and how failure is often the best teacher—especially when growing your own food.If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing gardening “wrong” or struggling to keep everything perfect, this episode is your permission slip to relax, experiment, and lean into the process.This is one of those conversations that will change how you see your garden.Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are you a chaos gardener or a planner?#gardening #chaosgardening #gardendesign #growyourownfood #podcastOur main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach @coastal_homesteadListen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

If you’ve been wondering what to plant in April, this is exactly what we’re growing in our garden right now. In this episode, we’re sharing our real-time April garden plans, what we’ve already planted, what we’re direct sowing, and what we’re still starting from seed.We talk through what’s actually working in a Zone 8 garden this time of year, including spring vegetables, flowers, and the crops we’re most excited about (and a few we’re a little unsure about). This is a very honest garden update — not just what should be planted in April, but what we’re personally doing in our own gardens right now.If you’re planning your spring garden or trying to figure out what to grow in April, this episode will give you ideas, inspiration, and a realistic look at what’s going in the ground this month.Whether you’re growing in raised beds, containers, or a backyard garden, April is one of the biggest planting windows of the year — and we’re taking full advantage of it.Make sure to follow along for more monthly garden updates, seasonal planting guides, and real-life gardening conversations.Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

Our obsession with tea reaches new heights! Let's dive in to exactly what you can plant right now if you want to grow a tea garden, and why you probably need a tea garden of your own too. What other tea plants would you add?Dagny's book Grow a Tea Garden:https://thecottagepeach.myshopify.com/products/growing-your-own-tea-garden-ebook-copyOur main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

If your garden is producing more food than you can eat, it’s time to start preserving the harvest.In this episode we’re talking about different ways to preserve garden produce—from beginner-friendly methods like freezing and dehydrating to more traditional techniques like fermentation and water bath canning.Food preservation is one of the best ways to reduce food waste, save money, and enjoy your garden harvest long after the growing season ends. Whether you’re growing tomatoes, herbs, peppers, cucumbers, or berries, there are simple ways to extend the life of your harvest.We also talk about which preservation methods are easiest to start with and what tools you actually need to get started.If you’re growing your own food, learning how to preserve it is the next step toward getting the most out of your garden.Let us know in the comments—what’s your favorite way to preserve your harvest?Here's where you can find the E-BOOK!https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/products/more-than-canning-easy-unique-ways-to-preserve-the-harvest-e-book?variant=51915599085851Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Preserving E-BOOK:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/products/more-than-canning-easy-unique-ways-to-preserve-the-harvest-e-book?variant=51915599085851Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*

In this episode we’re talking about why gardening can be more than just a hobby — it can actually be an act of resistance.For most of human history, growing food was a normal part of everyday life. But in modern society we’ve become increasingly disconnected from where our food comes from and dependent on systems that feel out of our control.Gardening pushes back against that.Planting a garden means learning skills that our grandparents once knew by heart. It means building resilience, feeding your family, supporting pollinators, and reconnecting with the natural world.In this conversation we talk about how gardening gives people a sense of autonomy, why so many people are turning back to growing food, and how even a small backyard garden can change the way you think about food, community, and independence.Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do… is plant a seed.Our main accounts:@meggrowsplants @thecottagepeach Listen on Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-garden-girlsFollow us on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garden-girls-podcast/id1763113032Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gardengirlspod/Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@gardengirlspod***Links***Meg's Planting Calendar:https://meg-grows-plants.myshopify.com/collections/allEpic Gardening:https://shop.epicgardening.com/GARDENGIRLSCode for 5% off!GARDENGIRLS*These codes are affiliate links that we receive commissions from and help to support the podcast!*