🌿 Episode 23 – Turmeric - the Golden Spice of Life

Dig into the vibrant world of turmeric — a golden root with incredible flavor, health benefits, and beauty for your garden.

In this episode, we’ll cover how to grow, harvest, and use turmeric both indoors and out, plus explore its tropical companions, fun cultural history, and a cozy golden milk latte recipe.

Tune in and bring a little sunshine to your soil! 🌞

🌿 Episode 22 – Peas - The Sweethearts of Spring

Welcome back to The Beanstalk! This week we’re diving into the world of peas — those crisp, sweet gems of early spring.

From snow and snap to shelling varieties, we’ll cover how to grow, trellis, and harvest them, save your own seeds, and choose perfect companion plants.

Plus, a creamy parmesan and pea risotto recipe to wrap up the season’s first harvest! 🌱

Episode 21 – Growing Together - A Thank You from The Beanstalk

John shares heartfelt thanks to listeners around the world and reflects on how gardening connects us all, even in a divided world.

Enjoy a cozy Potato & Leek Soup recipe, explore how gardening improves mental health in the Garden Nerd Corner, and discover fun facts about gardens worldwide.

From our patch to yours… keep on climbing. 🌿

🌿 Episode 20 – Compost: Turning Scraps into Garden Gold

Welcome back to The Beanstalk, fellow Beans! 🌱 In today’s episode, we’re digging deep—literally—into the magic of composting. Whether you’re managing a small backyard bin or a full-sized pile, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich, living soil.

We’ll explore hot vs. cold composting, different bin designs and DIY options, and even compare on-ground versus contained systems. You’ll learn what materials make the best compost, what to avoid tossing in, and how to keep your pile balanced with just the right amount of moisture and airflow.

We’ll also talk about the science behind decomposition, why biodiversity in your compost matters, and how to troubleshoot common issues like soggy piles, slow breakdown, or unwanted smells. Then we’ll wrap it all up with a hearty, homey recipe and plenty of fascinating compost fun facts to round out the episode.

If you’ve ever wanted to make the most of your garden waste while saving money and feeding your soil, this is the one to tune in for!

Join the conversation over at The Beanstalk Garden Club on Facebook to share your compost wins (and disasters), swap ideas, and grow alongside a community of garden-loving folks.

From our patch to yours… keep on climbing. 🌿

 In this fiery episode of The Beanstalk, John digs deep into one of the boldest and most underrated plants you can grow — horseradish! 🌱🔥

Learn how to plant, harvest, and contain this hardy root, and discover why it’s been prized for flavor and medicine since ancient times.

We’ll talk about how to keep it from taking over your garden, what makes it so spicy, and how to make your very own homemade horseradish sauce. Plus, stick around for six fun (and nose-tingling!) facts about this powerful plant that might just surprise you.

Whether you’re a spice lover or just curious about adding something wild to your garden, this episode’s got a kick you won’t forget!

🌿 Episode 18 – When the Garden Floods - Lessons from the Storm

Sometimes nature reminds us who’s really in charge. In this special episode, John shares his personal experience waking up to find his garden, business office, garage, and even his chicken coop under several inches of floodwater — and what it took to recover.

We’ll dig into how to handle flooding while it’s happening, what to do afterward to protect your soil and plants, and how to prepare for future storms before they strike. You’ll also learn how floods affect local ecosystems, why lawns and root systems can actually help manage water, and some practical long-term prevention ideas for your own garden.

Then we’ll end on a heartwarming note with the classic folktale of Stone Soup — a reminder that, even after the storm, community, sharing, and a bit of creativity can turn tough times into something meaningful.

So grab a cup of tea, pull up your boots, and join John for a thoughtful, down-to-earth look at gardening through life’s muddy moments. 🌧️🌱

Parsley may have a reputation as just a plate garnish, but in this episode of The Beanstalk we dig into why it’s so much more.

🌱 Learn how to grow both curly and flat-leaf parsley.
✂️ Find out the best ways to harvest and store it.
🐛 Discover how to deal with pests like the parsley worm.

We’ll also explore parsley’s surprising history, its powerhouse nutrition, and why it’s such a helpful companion plant in the garden.

And of course, I’ll share one of my favorite recipes—homemade chimichurri sauce—that proves parsley deserves a place at the center of your table.

🌱 Episode 16 – Mint: Invincible and Aromatic 🌿

Welcome back to The Beanstalk, fellow Beans! This week we’re tackling one of the most unstoppable herbs in the garden—mint. Known for its bold fragrance, refreshing flavor, and vigorous growth, mint is both a blessing and a bit of a challenge for gardeners.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The best ways to plant mint without letting it take over your garden.
  

• How to grow it successfully in containers and indoors.
  

• The history, folklore, and surprising medicinal uses of mint.
  

• Common pests and diseases (and why mint often shrugs most of them off).
  

• How to harvest and preserve fresh mint for cooking and teas.
  

• A crisp, refreshing recipe for homemade mint lemonade. 🍋🌿
  

If you’ve ever planted mint once and ended up with it everywhere, you know how tough and invincible this herb can be—but with a little guidance, mint can become one of your most rewarding garden allies.

From our patch to yours… keep on climbing. 🌿

🌿 Episode 15 – Onions - Layered and Long-Growing

Onions may be humble, but they’re one of the most rewarding crops you can grow. In this episode of The Beanstalk, John peels back the layers on this kitchen essential—covering how to grow them from seed, sets, or transplants, why day length matters, and the secrets to harvesting and curing for long storage.

You’ll learn fun onion history, why they make you cry, and how they can even deter pests in your garden. And of course, we’ll wrap up with a delicious recipe: a golden, cheesy caramelized onion tart that makes the perfect side or appetizer.

Whether you’re planting your first onion patch or refining your curing techniques, this episode will give you the know-how to enjoy onions from garden to table all year long. 🌱🧅

🌿 Episode 14 – Basil - The King of Summer Herbs

Basil isn’t just any herb — it’s the King of Summer. In this episode of The Beanstalk, John shares why basil deserves a spot in every garden, how to grow it successfully, and the secrets to harvesting it for maximum flavor. We’ll cover common pests and problems, the pros and cons of working with this fragrant favorite, and wrap things up with a recipe for fresh, homemade basil pesto.

Whether you’re growing sweet basil for salads, Thai basil for curries, or purple basil just for the looks, this episode will help you get the most out of your plants. Plus, stick around for some fun basil facts you can drop at the dinner table.

From our patch to yours… keep on climbing. 🌱