Plantrama - plants, landscapes, & bringing nature indoors

Have you seen the photo of plastic forks, tines up, in the garden? Wondering about spraying fertilizer on the leaves of plants to give them added nutrients? And how about that auto-flowering type of Cannabis…should you be harvesting in July?

:36 True or False: Plastic forks in the garden? 7:21 Eat/Drink/Grow: Foliar feeding. 18:20 Love Letters and Questions: Manny asks about Cannabis

Ellen and C.L. talk about the difference between raspberries and blackberries, give suggestions for plants that grow well in the tiny spaces in rock walls, and discuss whether you should panic when you see bugs on a plant. We end with a listener's question about a perennial garden filled with early-summer bloomers.

:30 What's For Dinner: Raspberries

6:32 Eat/Drink/Grow: Plants to grow in Rock Walls

18:19 Plant Noob: What to assume when you see an insect?

22:24 Love Letters and Questions: Leddy wonders if the perennials she bought in May can be brought into flower again.

C.L. and Ellen have suggestions for edible flower petals, whether you want to use them for visual or taste appeal. Hear a discussion about taproots - what are they and what they mean for you – and hear if you need to be concerned about crop rotation.

:38 What's For Dinner: Flowers petals!

5:53 Eat/Drink/Grow: Tap roots.

20:18 Love Letters and Questions: Amanda asks: "Can you recommend any books or reliable resources for crop rotation?

Ellen and C.L. discuss ways to use the mint you grow, the basics of harvesting garlic, and ways of supporting vegetables and newly planted trees. Plus we answer a listener's question about spraying fertilizer directly onto foliage.

:33 What's for dinner: Mint beyond mojitos 4:12 Insider Information: Harvesting Garlic 17:46 Eat/Drink/Grow: Plant supports. 26:40 Love Letters and Questions: Karen asks about spring fertilizer directly on plants.

Ellen and C.L. talk about a common insect that causes damage in many vegetable gardens: flea beetles. Next they address questions and issues that arise when houseplants have been put outside for the summer, review an inspiring new book, and answer Ryan's question about possible ground cover crops for weed suppression in flower farms.

:28 Plant Noob: Flea beetles

7:37 Eat/Drink/Grow: So your houseplants are out for Summer Camp

18:12 Book Review: The Urban Garden

22:12 Love Letters and Questions: From Ryan about weed control in a flower farm.

C.L. and Ellen discuss what to do if your tree dies, and what actions to take when something has already happened and you need to respond or do your best to fix it.

:30 True or False: You should remove dead trees from your property

6:24 Eat/Drink/Grow: After the fact. Or, I've already done it! Now What???

22:00 Love Letters and Questions: Sandi asks: "When early flowering perennials such as blue salvia, peonies, or penstemon stop blooming, what do I do with them?

:38 What's For Dinner: Dill. 8:59 Eat/Drink/Grow: "Is it too late to plant?" 20:14 Insider Information: What alliums do. 22:42 Love Letters and Questions: Donna re: miniature lemon cypress tree

In this first of five June episodes, C.L. and Ellen talk about growing dill, planting in the summer, and what allium foliage does when these bulbs come into bloom. Plus we answer a listener's question about growing lemon cypress trees indoors…was she given bad advice?

In this end-of-May episode Ellen and C.L. discuss using lettuce to wrap tasty fillings, for a meal or snack. We explain what a botanist does, the importance of several types of diversity in our yards and gardens, and answer Pete's question about applying Mediterranean style to a Minnesota garden.

:28 What's for dinner: Lettuce Wraps 3:22 Insider Information: What is a botanist? 7:33 Eat/Drink/Grow: Garden Diversity 21:58 Love Letters and Questions: From Pete about "Mediterranean Gardening"

The Plantrama team discusses the best way to fill a raised bed, why the practice called hugelkulture is getting so much buzz, a podcast recommendation, and finding a garden mentor.

:30 Plant Noob: Why you shouldn't fill a raised bed with only compost. 5:24 Eat/Drink/Grow: Hugelkultur 16:29 Check THIS Out!: a plant podcast that C.L. loves. 18:48 Love Letters and Questions Morgan in Michigan writes about finding garden mentors.

Have you ever bought an envelope of seeds that had no instructions on it? Do you have clay soils where you garden? Ellen and C.L. start the program with these topics, then move onto invasive plants in the landscape, and the differences between different types of potting media.

:30 True or False: It's okay to send out seeds without any germination information. 5:12 Eat/Drink/Grow: Gardening in Clay 21:18 Insider Information: Inspired by Carol invasives in the landscape 25:16 Love Letters and Questions: From Adriana any difference between potting soil and seeding-starting mix?

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