Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

By Karin VelezLeisure Home & Garden

Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening episodes

November 10Test Before You Amend: Fall Soil Testing and What to Add Now - Ep. 326
Fall is the best time of year to test your garden soil, and the main reason is time. The amendments that fix pH work slowly, so a test this fall gives lime the months it needs to do its job before you plant next spring. But there's a twist most gardeners don't expect. When soil labs look at home garden samples, a huge share of them come back with too much phosphorus and potassium already, often from years of adding fertilizer, manure, and yes, compost.
In this episode I walk you through why fall testing works so well, how to take a sample that tells you the truth, and whether a home test kit is good enough. Then we'll go line by line through a soil test report so you know what pH, buffer pH, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter are telling you. And then we'll talk about what to add this fall, and what to skip, including lime, sulfur, wood ash, manure, gypsum, and coffee grounds, with adjustments for cold, moderate, and mild-winter climates.
Let's dig in!
Get a quote for your personalized garden consultation: https://justgrowsomething.com/gardenconsulting
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My recommended at-home soil test kit: https://link.amazon/B0eUEdKgd
Penn State Extension (White) — Fall Is the Perfect Time for Soil Sampling: https://extension.psu.edu/fall-is-the-perfect-time-for-soil-sampling

University of Missouri IPM, Missouri Environment & Garden (Nathan) — Don't Guess — Test Your Soil: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2014/4/Do-Not-Guess-Test-Your-Soil/

Faber, B. A., Downer, A. J., Holstege, D., & Mochizuki, M. J. (2007). Accuracy varies for commercially available soil test kits analyzing nitrate–nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. HortTechnology 17(3): 358–362: https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2010-07/35923.pdf

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension (Lee) — No P on my Lawn!: https://kers.ca.uky.edu/core/reports/Story/s/3900/2026

University of Missouri Extension (Geist, quoting Trinklein) — Ashes to ashes: https://extension.missouri.edu/news/ashes-to-ashes

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (Fillius, Rindels, & Steil) — Using Manure in the Home Garden: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/using-manure-home-garden

Oregon State University Extension (Pokorny, with Brewer) — Coffee grounds boost soil health — and help control slugs: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/coffee-grounds-boost-soil-health-help-control-slugs
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39 min
November 03Attacking Perennial Weeds in Fall: Find Them, Dig Them, Starve Them - Ep 325
Perennial weeds live in their roots, and fall is when those roots are filling up for winter. That's why you hear so much about fall being weed-killing season. But if you garden without herbicides, the real value of fall is a little different. It's the season to find these weeds while they're easy to see, dig the ones you can dig while the soil is soft, block the light on the ones you can't, and set yourself up to hit them next spring when their roots are at their weakest.
In this episode I'm walking you through why perennial weeds keep coming back, and what the research says about the popular fixes, including vinegar sprays, cardboard and mulch, tilling, and counting on a hard freeze. Then I'll give you a fall and winter game plan that changes depending on whether your winters are frozen, moderate, or mild. And then we'll go weed by weed through bindweed, Canada thistle, Johnson grass and Bermuda grass, nutsedge, dandelions, and poison hemlock.
Let's dig in!
Get a quote for your personalized garden consultation: https://justgrowsomething.com/gardenconsulting
Get your fair-trade, organic coffee and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow
References and Resources
Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County (Browning) — Fall Weed Control (perennials move carbohydrates to roots in fall; fall control of annual weeds is unnecessary): https://lancaster.unl.edu/fall-weed-control

SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Canada Thistle (lowest root reserves at ~1-foot shoots and flower bud; 21-day weeding schedule; exhaust roots within two years; loose mulch ineffective, tough tarp effective; surface root fragments killed at 14–21°F; fall cover grains favor thistle): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/canada-thistle/

SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Bindweeds (lowest reserves at 12–28-inch stems with 4–6 leaves; roots withstand 21°F; hedge bindweed through 18 inches of bark mulch; 2-inch root piece produced 25 shoots in four months and spread 9.4 feet in 15 months; forage soybean shade; fall-planted cover crops): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/bindweeds/

SARE (Mohler, Teasdale, & DiTommaso) — Manage Weeds On Your Farm: Johnsongrass (lowest reserves 10–30 days after emergence at 6–12 inches; late-fall tillage won't prompt sprouting; rhizomes die below ~16°F daily minimum soil temperature; freeze-kill varies year to year; shattercane lacks rhizomes): https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/johnson-grass/

Oregon State University Extension, Ask Extension (Bubl) — Does vinegar help with controlling weeds? (contact action, perennials hardest to control; homemade vinegar–Epsom salt–soap test on Canada thistle): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/does-vinegar-help-controlling-weeds

University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Lounsbury, Birthisel, Lilley, & Maher) — Bulletin #1075, Tarping in the Northeast: Types of Tarps and How They Work (annual weeds killed in under a week in summer, up to three weeks in cool seasons; perennials knocked back but not eliminated by under six weeks; nutsedge resistant; ~10% of farmers saw some weeds worsen; no regional research on long tarping and perennial bud banks): https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/1075e/types-of-tarps-and-how-they-work/

Oregon State University Extension (Filley) — EM 9652, Tracking weeds is first step in controlling them (weed mapping, weed calendaring, identification through Extension): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9652-tracking-weeds-first-step-controlling-them

Colorado State University Extension (Beck) — Canada Thistle (roots 15+ feet horizontal, 6–15 feet vertical; 0.25-inch root pieces regrow; shoots emerge ~15 days after tillage; pieces survive 100 days; fall flush; seedlings perennial at 7–8 weeks): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/canada-thistle/

Purdue University Extension (Fry, Stout, Griffin, et al.) — FNR-647-W, Johnsongrass Control (seedlings form rhizomes in 19 days; heavy fall tillage exposes rhizomes to killing cold; light fall tillage spreads them): https://purdue.edu/fnr/extension/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FNR-647-JohnsongrassADA-final-comp.pdf

UC Statewide IPM Program — Pest Notes: Bermudagrass, Publication 7453 (rhizomes usually 1–6 inches deep; black plastic 6–8 weeks in summer; plastic in winter ineffective; solarization 4–6 weeks during high sun; early-spring solarization can promote growth; wood chips ineffective without fabric): https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/bermudagrass/

UC Statewide IPM Program — Pest Notes: Nutsedge, Publication 7432 (remove before 5–6 leaves, every 2–3 weeks in summer; tubers survive 1–3 years; 60% and 20% reserve use; resprout 3+ times; dig 8–14 inches; plastic ineffective; nonwoven fabric works; thrives in waterlogged soil): https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/nutsedge/
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34 min
October 27How to Attract Pollinators and Natural Pest Predators with Native Plants - Ep. 324
Fall is the best time of year to plant native perennials, and it's also the easiest. The seeds of most native wildflowers need a winter outside before they'll sprout, and plugs planted while the soil is still warm get a head start on roots before they go dormant.
In this episode I'm walking you through why it's worth making room for natives at all, including what researchers are finding about the decline of butterflies, bumble bees, and the insects that birds depend on. Then we'll get into how fall and winter planting works, from dormant seeding after a few hard frosts to the six-week window for plugs, and how that changes if your winters are snowy, rainy, or barely there. After that we'll go plant by plant through milkweeds, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, bergamot, asters, goldenrod, golden alexanders, and mountain mint, with whether each one is best started from seed, a plug, or either. We'll also talk about the plants that feed the lady beetles, lacewings, and tiny wasps that eat your garden pests.
Let's dig in.
Support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow and get a free gift!
Work with me! Get a quote for your garden consultation at https://justgrowsomething.com/gardenconsulting
References and Resources:
Edwards, C.B., Zipkin, E.F., Henry, E.H., et al. (2025). Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science 387(6738): 1090 (22% decline in butterfly abundance, 2000–2020, 554 species): https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp4671

USDA National Agroforestry Center (Vaughan & Black) — Agroforestry Note 34: Enhancing Nest Sites for Native Bee Crop Pollinators (4,000 native bee species, ~70% ground nesting, ~30% tunnel nesting, ~45 bumble bee species, overwintering and mowing timing): https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/assets/documents/agroforestrynotes/an34g08.pdf

University of Delaware, UDaily — Biodiversity for the birds (summary of the chickadee study; oaks support 557 caterpillar species, ginkgo zero): https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2018/october/non-native-plants-birds-insects-washington-chickadee-desiree-narango-doug-tallamy/

University of Illinois Extension — Plant native perennials in the fall for healthy spring growth (plugs six weeks before first frost, seed after first hard frost, watering, no fall fertilizer, mulch timing): https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/plant-native-perennials-fall-healthy-spring-growth

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Pollinator Habitat Program — Native Seed Planting Guide (sow after several hard frosts, soil below 55°F, seeding before snow, 1:8 seed-to-sand mix, pressing seed, 3–4 years to establish): https://ag.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Seed-Planting-Guide.pdf

Michigan State University Extension — Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants, Bulletin E-2973 (seed flowers in 3–5 years vs. plugs in 1–2 years; nectar and pollen extend natural enemies' life span and egg laying): https://sanweb.lib.msu.edu/DMC/extension_publications/e2973/E2973-2007.PDF

Oklahoma State University Extension — Native Milkweed Germination Guide, HLA-6503 (30-day cold stratification for most milkweeds, 60–90 for some; 90% vs. under 1% germination for green antelopehorn): https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/native-milkweed-germination-guide

University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension — Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa (zones 3a–9b, deep taproot, fall sowing, 2–3 years to bloom from seed): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/butterflyweed-asclepias-tuberosa/

University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology — Tropical Milkweed and Parasite Infections in Resident Monarchs in the Southern U.S. (cut tropical milkweed to 6 inches monthly, October–February; replace with natives): https://ecology.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/monarch-factsheet-2018-1.pdf

USDA NRCS — Plant Guide: Eastern Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (germinates without cold; overwintered seed germinates rapidly; goldfinches and seed): https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ecpu.pdf

USDA NRCS — Plant Fact Sheet: Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea (90-day cold stratification, pollen and nectar for short-mouthed beneficial insects, fall seeding and plugs): https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ziau.pdf

University of Illinois Extension — Autumn allergies: don't blame goldenrod (insect-pollinated goldenrod vs. wind-pollinated ragweed; 88% of plants animal-pollinated): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-10-21-autumn-allergies-dont-blame-goldenrod

New Mexico State University Extension — Guide H-169: Using Insectary Plants to Attract and Sustain Beneficial Insects for Biological Pest Control (alyssum and brassica pests; spring sowing of annual insectaries): https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_h/H169/

Nevison, K.A. (2016). Considering a role for native plant cultivars in ecological landscaping: an experiment evaluating insect preferences and nectar forage values of Phlox species vs. its cultivars. M.S. thesis, University of Delaware (most phlox cultivars equal to species; some wild selections better): https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/21442
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34 min
October 20Overwintering Tender Garden Plants - Ep. 323
Every fall I look at my pepper plants loaded with fruit and my rosemary at its biggest, and I hate the idea of handing them over to the first hard freeze. The good news is you don't have to. Peppers, rosemary, and geraniums are all perennials somewhere in the world, and basil will keep going for a while on a windowsill if you start it right. But whether a plant makes it to spring gets decided mostly before it ever comes through the door.
In this episode we're talking about which plants are worth the space, when to bring them in, and whether to keep them growing, put them to sleep, or just take cuttings. Then we'll get into my step-by-step for leaving aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and fungus gnats outside, including why dish soap isn't the same as insecticidal soap and how long to keep new arrivals away from your houseplants. We'll finish with plant-by-plant care for peppers, rosemary, basil, and geraniums, plus a place where the experts don't agree.
Let’s dig in.
Get your fair-trade, organic coffee and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow
Root Boost Rooting Hormone: https://amzn.to/4BeOCWX
Pure Castile Soap for insecticidal soap: https://amzn.to/3U0HnBb
References and Resources:
Pests and Insecticidal Soap
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Use Dish Soap Instead of Insecticidal Soap to Treat for Insect Pests? (detergent vs. true soap, phytotoxicity, contact-only action, reapplying): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-use-dish-soap-instead-insecticidal-soap-treat-insect-pests

University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions — Soaps, Detergents and Pest Management (don't treat drought-stressed plants or above 90°F): https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/soaps-detergents-and-pest-management/

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Washing Pests Away, Sarah Browning (2–3 applications at 4–7 day intervals, testing a small area first): https://lancaster.unl.edu/washing-pests-away/

University of Minnesota Extension — Houseplant Pests (spider mite white paper tap test, mealybugs, fungus gnat management): https://extension.umn.edu/news/houseplant-pests

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Spider Mites on Houseplants (dry winter air, stippling, webbing, rinsing in the shower): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2007/12-5/SpiderMites.html

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Fungus Gnats in Houseplants (overwatering, letting soil dry): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2023/02/fungus-gnats-houseplants
Peppers
New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles Can Be Grown Year-Round if They Are Brought Indoors (south window with about 4 hours of sun, nights around 50°F, underwatering losses, monthly fertilizer): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2014/101814.html

New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles for New Mexico Holiday Houseplants (chiles as frost-tender perennials): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2007/110307.html

Ask Extension — Overwintering Peppers (nights above 50°F, days around 70°F, artificial light for fruiting; hot peppers more resilient; dormancy option): https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=855650
Rosemary
University of Illinois Extension, The Garden Scoop — Rosemary, Ryan Pankau (50–60°F indoors, very bright light, hardiness zone 7, 'Arp' and 'Hill Hardy' to zone 6, outdoor protection): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2018-10-18-rosemary

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Rosemary, An Herb for All Seasons, Sarah Browning (zones 7–10, 50–55°F indoors, watering): https://lancaster.unl.edu/rosemary-herb-all-seasons

University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension — Rosemary, Janet B. Carson (overwatering as the biggest indoor risk, coolest sunny room, holiday topiaries): https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/home-landscape/adgrosemaryjan2018.pdf

University of Wisconsin Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic — November 2020: Houseplant Horrors (powdery mildew on rosemary indoors, kitchen humidity): https://pddc.wisc.edu/2020/11/11/november-2020-houseplant-horrors/
Basil and Indoor Herbs
Brindisi, L.J., & Simon, J.E. (2023). Preharvest and postharvest techniques that optimize the shelf life of fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum): a review. Frontiers in Plant Science 14: 1237577 (chilling injury below about 54°F and severe below 50°F): https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1237577

University of Illinois Extension, Flowers, Fruits, and Frass — Growing Basil in Your Backyard, Brittnay Haag (tender annual, flowering makes plants woody and bitter, digging before frost extends the season): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2020-05-13-growing-basil-your-backyard

Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County — Herbs for Your Winter Windowsill, Pat Curran (digging basil in late summer, cutting back by a third to a half, rosemary leaves don't wilt, 1-gallon pots, separating outdoor plants from houseplants): https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/c/10116/files/Windowsill-Herbs-Pat-Curran-March-2017-21jwe6n.pdf

University of Illinois Extension — Keep Growing Herbs Indoors This Fall, Winter, Christopher Enroth (6–8 hours of bright light, 12–16 hours under lights, 70°F or below): https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/keep-growing-herbs-indoors-fall-winter

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Grow Herbs Indoors Over the Winter? (rosemary may need grow lights, clay pots, watering): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-grow-herbs-indoors-over-winter

University of Minnesota Extension — Basil Downy Mildew (symptoms, remove infected plants, Genovese susceptibility, DMR varieties): https://extension.umn.edu/diseases/basil-downy-mildew
Geraniums
University of Illinois Extension, Good Growing — How to Overwinter Geraniums for Next Year's Garden, Ken Johnson (three methods, 45–50°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 4–8 weeks): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-10-11-how-overwinter-geraniums-next-years-garden

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — How Can I Over-Winter My Geraniums Indoors? (65–70°F, March pruning, 45–55°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 6–8 weeks): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-over-winter-my-geraniums-indoors

University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension — Overwintering Tender Geraniums, Margaret Murphy (60–65°F, optional root soaking, soaked vs. dry comparison, cuttings as backup): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/overwintering-tender-geraniums

Missouri Botanical Garden — How Can I Overwinter My Geranium Plants? (cuttings root in 3–4 weeks, modern basements too warm and dry, soaking roots every few weeks): https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs/question/1374/how-can-i-overwinter-my-geranium-plants
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37 min
October 13Seed Saving: Harvesting, Drying and Storing for Next Season - Ep. 322
Every fall somebody asks me if they can save the seeds from that amazing tomato or melon they just ate, and the answer is "maybe." Whether a saved seed grows into the plant you loved gets decided twice. The first time is months earlier, when the flower was pollinated, and the second is after harvest, when the seed either stays in the right conditions or doesn't.
In this episode we're covering both. We'll talk about hybrids versus open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, which crops are easiest for beginners, why your zucchini and your pumpkin can cross but your cucumber and your cantaloupe can't, and why peppers cross more often than most people think.
Then we'll get into harvesting and cleaning seeds, including what tomato seed fermentation does and doesn't do for seedborne disease, how to dry seeds without cooking them, the simple temperature-plus-humidity rule for storage, and why seed longevity charts don't agree with each other.
Let’s dig in.
Get your free gift, great coffee, and support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow
Tell me about your garden goals and challenges, get a quote, and get on my calendar: https://JustGrowSomething.com/gardenconsulting
Six Steps for Saving Seeds From Your Garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/blog/six-steps-for-saving-seeds-from-your-garden
References and Resources
Choosing Crops, Pollination, and Isolation
University of Minnesota Extension — Saving Vegetable Seeds (open-pollinated vs. hybrid, cross-pollination, harvesting, storage, bacterial canker and seed treatments): https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds

University of Illinois Extension — How to Save Seeds (terms, isolation methods, isolation distance table, wet and dry harvesting): https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_save_seeds_062021.pdf

University of Maryland Extension — Seed Saving 101: Vegetables (three levels of seed saving, tomato and potato-leaf isolation, pepper species crossing, squash after-ripening, storage rule of thumb): https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-02/Seed%20Saving%20Veggies%20Resources.pdf

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Orange County 4-H — Saving Seed from the Three Sisters and Tomatoes (population sizes for home gardens): https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2016-09/248080.pdf

NC State Extension, Onslow County — Saving Your Own Seed (hot and sweet pepper crossing): https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/01/saving-your-own-seed/

Barchenger, D.W., et al. (2025). Producing High Quality Pepper Seed. World Vegetable Center, Publication No. 25-1099 (pepper outcrossing rates, bee visitation, seed moisture): https://worldveg.tind.io/record/76153/files/25-1099_Producing%20high%20quality%20pepper%20seed.pdf
Harvesting, Cleaning, and Seedborne Disease
Oregon State University Extension — Collecting and Storing Seeds From Your Garden (crop-by-crop harvesting, hand-pollinating squash, bean weevils, longevity groups, germination testing): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden

Pradhanang, P.M., & Collier, G. (2009). How effective is hydrochloric acid treatment to control Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis contamination in tomato seed? Acta Horticulturae 808: 81–86 (overnight fermentation vs. washing): https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.808.10
Drying, Storage, and Longevity
Colorado State University Extension — Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Fact Sheet 7.221 (drying temperatures, seed moisture, humidity, hard seed, federal minimum germination and longevity table): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/storing-vegetable-and-flower-seeds/

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Weekly Crop Update — Storing Vegetable Seed (temperature-plus-humidity rule, storage life halving rules, freezing seed): https://sites.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=2967

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44 min
October 06Preserving Without Canning - Ep. 321
Canning gets most of the attention, but for a lot of what comes out of the garden, it isn't the best way to put food up. In this episode, we're opening up the rest of the preserving toolbox: freezing, drying, fermenting, refrigerator pickles, and good old-fashioned cold storage.
We'll talk about why skipping the blanch (or cutting it short) costs you flavor and color in the freezer, which vegetables you can freeze raw, and why a full freezer rides out a power outage twice as long as a half-empty one. Then we'll get into drying in a humid climate, why vegetables need a blanch before the dehydrator, and what the research does and doesn't say about home freeze dryers.
We'll make a simple, safe batch of sauerkraut, cover the one rule for fridge pickles, and wrap up with the temperature and humidity each storage crop wants, from potatoes and onions to carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. There's a crop-by-crop quick-reference chart to download, and a fantastic fermenting book to check out.
Let’s dig in!
References and Resources:
Larry's Coffee (affiliate): https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow
Download the preserving guide: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/preserve
Fermented Vegetables by Kristen and Christopher Shockey: https://amzn.to/4zjI2g4
Freezing
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Blanching Vegetables: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/blanching-vegetables/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Onions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-onions/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Bell or Sweet Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-bell-or-sweet-peppers/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Hot Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-hot-peppers/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Foods That Do Not Freeze Well: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/foods-that-do-not-freeze-well/

North Dakota State University Extension — Freezing Vegetables (blanching times, freezer loading, storage time): https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/freezing-vegetables

University of Minnesota Extension — How to Freeze Fruit Safely: https://extension.umn.edu/food/preparing/cooking-at-home/food-preservation/freezing/freezing-fruit

NC State Extension, Guilford County — Put a Freeze on Foodborne Illness: https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/put-a-freeze-on-foodborne-illness

University of Illinois Extension — Power Outages: https://extension.illinois.edu/food-safety/power-outages

Li, L., Pegg, R. B., Eitenmiller, R. R., Chun, J. Y., & Kerrihard, A. (2017). Selected nutrient analyses of fresh, fresh-stored, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.02.002
Drying and Freeze-Drying
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Food Dehydrators: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/food-dehydrators/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Sun Drying: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/sun-drying/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Packaging and Storing Dried Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/packaging-and-storing-dried-foods/

Penn State Extension — Let's Preserve: Drying Fruits and Vegetables (Dehydration): https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-fruits-and-vegetables-dehydration

Colorado State University Extension — Drying Vegetables, Fact Sheet 9.308: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/drying-vegetables/

University of Minnesota Extension — Preserving Herbs by Freezing or Drying: https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-herbs-freezing-or-drying

South Dakota State University Extension — Preserving Herbs: https://extension.sdstate.edu/preserving-herbs

Utah State University Extension — Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer: What to Know Before You Go: https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/buying-a-home-freeze-dryer-what-to-know-before-you-go

Utah State University Extension — Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide to Safe and Effective Freeze-Drying: https://extension.usu.edu/foodsafety/research/can-i-freeze-dry-that-a-practical-guide-to-safe-and-effective-freeze-drying
Fermenting and Refrigerator Pickles
North Dakota State University Extension — Sauerkraut: From Garden to Table: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/sauerkraut-garden-table

Penn State Extension — Tips for Making Sauerkraut: https://extension.psu.edu/tips-for-making-sauerkraut

UConn Extension — Fermentation: Preservation with Benefits: https://extension.uconn.edu/?p=3394

University of Florida IFAS Extension — Fermented Foods: Sauerkraut, FS474: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FS474

NC State Extension Food Safety — How to Make Quick Refrigerator Pickles: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/news/how-to-make-quick-refrigerator-pickles/
Cold Storage
University of Missouri Extension — Home Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Root Cellars, MP562: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp562

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Storing Winter Storage Vegetables: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/storing-winter-storage-vegetables

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Growing Carrots and Parsnips: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-carrots-and-parsnips
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43 min
September 29Home Canning Myths Debunked - Ep. 320
A jar that seals is a jar that seals, and that's about all it tells you. In this episode, we're taking on four home canning myths that keep circulating in gardening groups, on food blogs, and in family recipe boxes: oven canning, open-kettle canning (and its cousin, flipping jars upside down), packing tomatoes and garlic in oil, and the idea that a salsa recipe can be tweaked however you like as long as it tastes right.
For each one, we'll look at what the research from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and university extension services shows, why these methods fail, and what to do instead so your harvest stays on the pantry shelf and out of the danger zone.
We'll also look at a study that checked 56 salsa canning recipes from food blogs, and what it found might make you rethink where your recipes come from. Let's dig in!
Support the show and get your free gift at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow
References and Resources:
National Center for Home Food Preservation — Ensuring Safe Canned Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ensuring-safe-canned-foods/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Equipment and Methods Not Recommended: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/equipment-and-methods-not-recommended/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — General Information (includes the 1943 history on oven and open-kettle canning): https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Identifying and Handling Spoiled Canned Food: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/identifying-and-handling-spoiled-canned-food/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Tomato Acidification Directions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/tomato-acidification-directions/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Garlic-in-Oil: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-garlic-in-oil/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Burning Issue: Can I Can My Own Salsa Recipe? (PDF): https://boone.mgcafe.uky.edu/files/nchfp_burning_issue_can_i_can_my_own_salsa_recipe.pdf

D'Sa et al. (2007), Survey of Home Canning Practices and Safety Issues in the U.S.: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2007/canning_survey.html

Nummer et al. (2004), Studies on Safe Acidification of Salsa for Home Boiling Water Canning: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2004/04ift-tomatosalsaPoster_combined.html

Nummer et al. (2011), Current Food Safety Issues of Home-Prepared Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil, Food Protection Trends (PDF): https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Jun-11-Nummer.pdf

Savoie & Perry (2019), Adherence of Food Blog Salsa Recipes to Home Canning Guidelines, Food Protection Trends: https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/archive/2019-09-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/

University of Maine Cooperative Extension — The Missing Ingredient: Food Blog Salsa Recipes: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/2023/07/20/the-missing-ingredient-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/

Penn State Extension — Say No to Oven Canning: https://extension.psu.edu/say-no-to-oven-canning

Penn State Extension — Avoid Open Kettle Canning: Always Process Canned Goods: https://extension.psu.edu/avoid-open-kettle-canning-always-process-canned-goods

Penn State Extension — Caution: Canning with Fats and Oils: https://extension.psu.edu/caution-canning-with-fats-and-oils

Oregon State University Extension Service — Herbs and Vegetables in Oil, SP 50-701: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/sp-50-701-herbs-vegetables-oil

Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Garlic: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/preserving-garlic

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — Garlic: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Pub. 8568 (PDF): https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/335681.pdf

Colorado State University Extension — Botulism, Fact Sheet 9.305: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/botulism/
Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com
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35 min
September 22End-of-Season Tomato Rescue: Ripening, Freezing, and Preserving - Ep. 319
Frost is on the way, and the vines are still loaded with green tomatoes. In this episode, we sort out which green tomatoes will finish ripening on your counter (the mature greens and the blushers) and which ones belong in the skillet, the freezer, or a tested relish recipe.
You'll learn what cold does to a tomato, why a stretch of chilly weather can cost you ripening ability before frost ever shows up, and four ways to ripen fruit indoors, including how to stage a harvest for a steady supply into November.
Then we dig into the canning rule that catches a lot of gardeners off guard. National home-canning guidance says not to can tomatoes from dead or frost-killed vines, and we look at why, what the research does and doesn't show, and what to do with those tomatoes instead.
Grab a notebook and let’s dig in!
Resources and References:
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Colorado State University Extension — Ripening Tomatoes Indoors: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/ripening-tomatoes-indoors/

University of California, Davis, Postharvest Research and Extension Center (Suslow and Cantwell) — Tomato: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality: https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/produce-facts-sheets/tomato

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Can I ripen green tomatoes indoors before frost?: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-ripen-green-tomatoes-indoors-frost

National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia) — Canning Tomatoes: Introduction: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/canning-tomatoes-introduction/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Resources for Home Preserving Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/entry/resources-for-home-preserving-tomatoes

USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, Guide 3 (electronic version by Utah State University Extension, 1995) — Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1600&context=extension_histall

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Green Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-green-tomatoes/
Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com
Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses
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31 min
September 15Cover Crops in the Home Garden - Ep. 318
Every empty bed in your garden is either growing something for you or growing weeds and losing topsoil. Cover crops are how you make sure it's the first one.
In this episode, we get into why cover crops work in both in-ground beds and raised planters, which ones perform best when you sow them in fall, and which ones are worth a spot in your rotation come spring. We'll look at nitrogen-fixing legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch, soil-building grasses like winter rye and oats, and fast-growing summer options like buckwheat that can turn a bare bed around in a matter of weeks. Then we'll cover how to actually terminate a cover crop, whether that's mowing, crimping, tarping, or letting winter do the work for you, so it feeds your soil instead of becoming a weed problem of its own.
Let's dig in!
References and Resources:
Get your sustainably grown coffee and support the show at LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow!
University of Maryland Extension — Cover Crops For Gardens: umd.edu/resource/cover-crops-gardens

University of Maryland Extension — Offing Cover Crops for Weed Suppression: Featuring the Roller Crimper and Other Mechanical Contraptions: umd.edu/resource/offing-cover-crops-weed-suppression

University of New Hampshire Extension — Cover Cropping for the Home Garden [fact sheet]: unh.edu/resource/cover-cropping-home-garden-fact-sheet

University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management, Missouri Environment & Garden — Cover Crops Improve Garden Soil: missouri.edu/meg/2014/9/Cover-Crops-Improve-Garden-Soil

Oregon State University Extension — Buckwheat Makes a Good Summer Cover Crop for Gardens: oregonstate.edu/news/buckwheat-makes-good-summer-cover-crop-gardens

Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program, Cover Crop Guide for NY Growers — Buckwheat as a Summer Cover Crop for Weed Suppression: org/blog/buckwheat-as-a-summer-cover-crop-for-weed-suppression

UF/IFAS Extension Duval County — Cover Crop Termination: What Do I Do When It's Over?: ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/2025/09/15/cover-crop-termination-what-do-i-do-when-its-over

Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products — Hairy Vetch: purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/vetch.html

USDA Agricultural Research Service — Crimson Clover Cover Crop Fact Sheet (PDF): usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60100500/FactSheets/FS04e.pdf
Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com
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37 min
September 08Fall-Planted vs. Spring-Planted Onions: Choosing the Right System for Your Garden - Ep. 317
Onions are having a moment in the seed catalogs right now, and a lot of that buzz is about overwintering them, tucking small transplants into the bed in September, letting them sit through the cold, and pulling bigger, earlier bulbs the following June. It sounds like a clear win. But the biology underneath it is more particular than the marketing lets on, and the trade-offs are real.
In this episode, I'm breaking down the day-length science that controls when an onion decides to bulb, the separate cold-exposure trigger that can send it to flower instead, and why those two mechanisms together explain both the promise and the risk of overwintering. I'll walk through the specific varieties that university research has found reliable for this system versus the ones that bolted their way out of a harvest, and I'll lay out the honest cost side of the ledger: a bed occupied for the better part of a year, a real chance of premature flowering if timing or variety selection is off, and whether any of that beats simply direct-seeding or transplanting in spring.
Whether you've got seed garlic already planned for a bed and you're eyeing the space next to it for onions, or you're just trying to figure out which system fits your garden, this episode will give you the research to make that call yourself. Let’s dig in.
References and Resources:
Short Day Onions
• Latitude: ~25°–35° N
• Daylength trigger: 10–12 hours
• Climate: Mild winters (USDA Zone 7+), These are generally planted in fall, mature in late spring.
Intermediate Day Onions
• Latitude: ~32°–42° N
• Daylength trigger: 12–14 hours
• Climate: Central U.S. conditions; planted in spring (or early spring in cooler areas)
Long Day Onions
• Latitude: ~37°–47° N
• Daylength trigger: 14–16 hours
• Climate: Northern latitudes; often sweet, specialty, or long storage types. Planted in fall or spring depending on climate
Get your free fair-trade gift and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow
Episode 296 — Successions: Never an Empty Bed: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/succession-planting-101-how-to-keep-your-garden-producing-from-spring-through-frost-ep-296
Oregon State University Extension — Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades (PNW 548): oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-548-winter-vegetable-production-small-farms-gardens-west-cascades

University of New Hampshire Extension / NH Agricultural Experiment Station — Research Report: Overwintering Onions, 2014–15 (Becky Sideman et al.): unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005477_Rep7652.pdf

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — What Is a Long-Day Type Onion Variety?: extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-long-day-type-onion-variety

University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Onions in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-onions

NC State Extension Publications — Bulb Onions: ces.ncsu.edu/bulb-onions

University of Missouri Extension — Planting, Growing and Harvesting Onions: missouri.edu/news/planting-growing-and-harvesting-onions

Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center — Onion, Leek, Shallot & Garlic: clemson.edu/factsheet/onion-leek-shallot-garlic

Oregon State University Extension — Plant Onions Early for Bigger Summer Bulbs: oregonstate.edu/news/plant-onions-early-bigger-summer-bulbs
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35 min

About Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

From the publisher's feed

Grow a better vegetable garden, whether you're a seasoned gardener or have never grown a thing in your life. Karin helps home gardeners learn to grow their own food using evidence-based techniques and research. She talks all about specific plants, pests, diseases, soil and plant health, mulch, garden planning, and more. It's not just the "how" but also the "why" that makes us better. The goal? For everyone to know how to grow their own food no matter what sized space they have or their experience level.