The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

Ever wonder why one garden bed produces twice as much as another? Sometimes the biggest gardening lessons come from unexpected results. I'm sharing what I learned about sweet potatoes, raised beds, watering, and more.

Free Download: The Beginner's Garden Resource Vault

Get complimentary access to gardening guides, charts, and planning resources to help you grow more food with less overwhelm.

https://journeywithjill.net/free-garden-downloads

After 13 gardening seasons, I'm still learning something new every year. This season brought a few surprises, including a sweet potato harvest that doubled in one raised bed, unexpected success with new potato varieties, and a disappointing garlic harvest that taught me an important lesson about watering.

In this episode, I'm sharing seven lessons from my garden, including what's worked, what hasn't, and what I'll do differently next year. I hope these observations help you reflect on your own growing season and make practical decisions for your next garden.

YouTube Video Mentioned: https://youtu.be/cVa5YmwprjU?si=YNkqURlOB_UiSWjr

• Learn four possible reasons one raised bed produced twice as many sweet potatoes.

• Discover how succession planting okra can extend your summer harvest.

• See how crimson clover improved my raised bed soil.

• Find out which potato varieties surprised me and why my garlic struggled.

• Learn how afternoon shade helped my tomatoes and peppers during extreme heat.

00:02 – Why garden reflection matters

01:41 – Comparing two sweet potato harvests

06:20 – How watering affects sweet potato yields

08:44 – Protecting roots from extreme soil heat

11:09 – Why soil depth and drainage matter

15:45 – Trying a second sweet potato planting

18:06 – Growing okra despite nematode problems

20:28 – Extending okra harvests with succession planting

22:48 – Improving soil with crimson clover

25:06 – Finding productive potato varieties

27:25 – Potato uses and garlic harvest lessons

29:21 – Why garlic needs spring moisture

29:45 – How partial shade helped tomatoes and peppers

32:07 – Reflecting and planning for next season

Free Gardening Resources

• The Beginner's Garden Resource Vault

• Raised Bed Soil Options

• Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet

Connect With Me

• Friday Emails and Garden Updates

• YouTube Channel and Podcast

• Instagram

• Podcast and Gardening Resources

Thank you to Organic Rev for sponsoring this episode!

Organic Rev is a soil and plant supplement that I use in my own garden to support healthy root development and plant growth. It's one of the products I incorporate into my gardening routine to help give my plants a strong start.

Save 10% on Organic Rev with code JILL10.

Shop here: http://journeywithjill.net/organicrev

As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Recommended Products and Brands

• Garden in Minutes – Garden Grid irrigation systems. Use code Jill for 7% off.

• Epic Gardening – Metal raised garden beds. Use code JOURNEYWITHJILL to save 5%.

• GreenStalk Vertical Planter – Vertical gardening option for compact crops, including dwarf okra. Use code JILL10 for $10 off a $75 purchase.

• Wood Prairie Farms – Seed potatoes and sweet potato slips. Use code JILL5 for 5% off.

More Garden Planning Help

Complete Garden Planner – Plan your crops, track your harvests, and keep notes for future seasons.

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Growing fall vegetables when temperatures won't drop can be frustrating, even for experienced gardeners. What can you do to help broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower survive extreme heat? And which crops might surprise you? After six weeks of 100-degree temperatures and drought in my Arkansas garden, I'm sharing what worked, what struggled, and what I'll change next year. We'll talk about planting dates, choosing broccoli varieties, using shade cloth, managing irrigation, and protecting transplants. I'll also share my surprising success with bok choy and what happened to my tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers when the heat just wouldn't let up.

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/fQTlF_XNBHg?si=6Zxg_ScpZVXoBsFt

Free Download: Broccoli, Cauliflower & Cabbage Quick-Start Growing Guide

Learn when to plant, how to protect your crops, and how to grow healthier brassicas in spring and fall.

http://journeywithjill.net/broccoli-guide

• Choose short-season broccoli varieties and plant early enough for fall harvests.

• Use shade cloth for transplant protection while allowing airflow and adequate sunlight.

• Pot up seedlings before they become root-bound and harden them off carefully.

• Keep soil consistently moist without overwatering, especially during extreme heat.

• Learn which fall and summer crops tolerated the heat and how to adjust your garden next year.

00:00 – Why this fall garden was different

02:13 – Learning from difficult growing seasons

04:34 – How past failures improved my broccoli

06:54 – Choosing broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower

09:58 – Avoid planting broccoli too late

12:16 – Using shade cloth and watering correctly

14:34 – Preventing root-bound broccoli seedlings

16:53 – Hardening off transplants in extreme heat

19:09 – Preparing soil and transplanting successfully

21:30 – How fall brassicas handled 100-degree heat

23:44 – Growing bok choy for summer salads

26:08 – Finding new ways to harvest bok choy

28:30 – Why tomatoes struggled in extreme heat

30:55 – Growing tomatoes from suckers

31:14 – Late-season cucumbers, squash, and zucchini

33:38 – Why peppers benefited from shade

34:44 – What this growing season taught me

37:08 – Reflecting on your garden and planning ahead

Free Broccoli, Cauliflower & Cabbage Quick-Start Growing Guide: http://journeywithjill.net/broccoli-guide

The Beginner's Garden Resource Vault: https://journeywithjill.net/free-garden-downloads

Friday Emails: Get my weekly personal gardening email, access to free growing guides, and updates about the upcoming Five-Day Garden Audit. https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

Connect with Me:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBeginnersGarden

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

• Podcast and gardening resources: https://journeywithjill.net/

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Complete Garden Planner: Plan your planting dates, track your garden, and record what you learn each season. https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Struggling to keep your fall garden alive through unusually hot weather? If your lettuce seedlings are wilting or your fall planting schedule has fallen behind, you're not alone. I'm sharing practical fall gardening lessons from a season of extreme heat and drought in my Arkansas garden. After 13 years of gardening, I experienced something I'd never encountered before: weeks of triple-digit temperatures and flash drought conditions stretching into September. In this episode, I'll walk you through what happened to my lettuce and pansies, the decisions I made to protect my seedlings, and what I'll do differently next time.

Free Download: Lettuce Quick-Start Growing Guide

Learn when to plant lettuce, how to start seeds indoors, and how to prevent bolting and bitterness. You'll also get free access to my Beginner's Garden Resource Vault.

http://journeywithjill.net/lettuce-guide

Grow Garlic With Confidence My Garlic Mini Course includes 10 short video lessons covering everything from preparing your soil and planting to harvesting and saving garlic for next year.

https://journeywithjill.net/pcaudio/garlicworkshop/

• Learn why lettuce struggles to germinate and grow during extreme heat.

• Discover when to keep seedlings indoors instead of transplanting.

• Recognize the signs of underwatering in indoor seed trays.

• Understand why moving seedlings into larger containers matters.

• Learn what worked when growing pansies from seed for fall planting.

00:00 – What extreme heat taught me

02:14 – Lessons from a challenging fall garden

04:35 – Why I delayed transplanting lettuce

06:55 – Growing lettuce through triple-digit temperatures

09:19 – Choosing which seedlings to protect

11:38 – Starting pansies from seed

14:03 – Keeping seedlings alive while traveling

16:12 – How to recognize underwatered seedlings

18:35 – Why container size matters

20:53 – Transplanting lettuce after the heat

21:07 – Planting pansies and experimenting with onions

22:51 – Growing onions in vertical planters

25:13 – Testing a late spinach planting

26:29 – Preparing the garden for garlic

27:56 – Final thoughts

Free Gardening Guides

• Lettuce Quick-Start Growing Guide: http://journeywithjill.net/lettuce-guide

• Seed Starting Troubleshooting Guide: http://journeywithjill.net/seed-starting-troubleshooting-guide

• Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet: http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet

• Spinach Quick-Start Growing Guide: https://journeywithjill.net/pcaudio/spinach-guide/

Grow Garlic With Confidence

My Garlic Mini Course includes 10 short video lessons covering everything from preparing your soil and planting to harvesting and saving garlic for next year.

https://journeywithjill.net/garlicworkshop

Connect With Me

• Friday Gardening Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

• YouTube: https://journeywithjill.net/youtube-podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

• Podcast and gardening resources: https://journeywithjill.net/

Recommended Gardening Products

• GreenStalk Vertical Planters: https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk

• Epic Gardening Seed Starting Supplies: http://journeywithjill.net/epic

• Botanical Interests Seeds: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/JOURNEYWITHJILL

• Recommended Brands and Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

• Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

  Disclaimer

  Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

  Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Not sure where to plant garlic without giving up valuable spring garden space? Garlic stays in the garden for months, so where you plant it now matters next spring. In this episode, I'll show you practical garlic planting layouts for raised beds and small gardens.

Free Download: Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet Get the timing, spacing, and growing basics you need for your first (or best) garlic crop. http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet

Learn More about Garlic: Garlic Growing Mini Course

This mini course is a favorite of my audience! If you want to have success growing garlic click here:

journeywithjill.net/pcaudio/garlicworkshop/

Use code GARLIC26 to enroll for just $19 (Reg. $29)

Garlic is one of the easiest crops I grow, but it occupies garden space from fall until late spring or early summer. That means your garlic planting plan needs to account for the broccoli, carrots, lettuce, peppers, and other crops you may want to grow next year.

In this episode, I'm sharing several ways to fit garlic into your garden, including borders, relay planting, checkerboard layouts, and dedicated garlic beds. I'll also explain which crops can share space with garlic and which ones I would avoid.

• Treat fall-planted garlic as your first spring planting.

• Leave about six inches between garlic and future plantings.

• Use borders or relay planting to save raised-bed space.

• Pair garlic with crops that will not shade it early.

• Follow garlic with heat-loving summer crops after harvest.

00:00 – Why garlic placement matters 01:11 – Plan for garlic's long season 03:20 – Save room for spring crops 05:36 – Fit garlic into small gardens 07:56 – Try relay planting with garlic 10:13 – Choose good garlic companions 12:34 – Follow garlic with summer crops 13:03 – Protect garlic's sunlight 13:57 – Avoid problematic companions 16:11 – Get step-by-step garlic help

Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet: http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet

Garlic Mini Course: Learn step-by-step how to prepare, plant, grow, harvest, cure, and save garlic for next year. https://journeywithjill.net/garlicworkshop

This workshop/course is a paid product from Journey with Jill.

Connect with Journey with Jill

Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

Podcast Archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Planting onions in fall might give you an earlier harvest than you thought possible.

If you garden in Zone 7 or warmer, overwintering onions may help you harvest sooner, reduce bolting, and spread your onion harvest across several months.

In this episode, I'm sharing what happened when I tested fall-planted onions in my Zone 8a Arkansas garden and how to decide whether this method could work where you live.

Learn how to choose the right onion type for your location, get your planting timing right, and grow bigger, healthier onions.

Get the Onion Quick-Start Growing Guide

• Decide if fall planting fits your climate.

• Choose onions for your day length.

• Plant smaller transplants to reduce bolting.

• Protect onions during extreme cold.

• Extend your harvest into three months.

00:00 – Why I tried fall onions 01:07 – Who can plant in fall 02:56 – My first fall onion experiment 04:42 – How onions handled winter 06:46 – Raised beds vs. greenhouse 09:11 – Harvest onions earlier 11:31 – Extend your onion harvest 13:56 – Why fall onions bolt less 16:09 – Choose the right transplant size 18:26 – How hardy are onions? 20:43 – Consider zone and latitude 23:06 – Colder-zone considerations 25:21 – Plan your garden space 27:39 – Try onions from seed 28:54 – Is fall planting worth trying?

Onion Quick-Start Growing Guide: Learn the basics of choosing and growing onions for your garden. Get the free guide

Onion Growing Trials YouTube: Did it work? Click to find out: https://youtu.be/vfR2G8daLXE?si=v1_Ed_K-z2o7j6mL

Friday Emails: Get gardening tips, seasonal reminders, and updates from my garden. Sign up for Friday Emails

YouTube: Journey with Jill on YouTube

Instagram: The Beginner's Garden on Instagram

Podcast Archive: The Beginner's Garden Podcast

Recommended Brands & Products: See my recommended gardening products

Amazon Storefront: Shop my Amazon recommendations

Complete Garden Planner: Ready for a simple system to plan and track your garden season? See the Complete Garden Planner

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Your fall garden may be growing the same vegetables you planted in spring, but that doesn't mean they need the same care. Shorter days, warm soil, changing temperatures, and slower growth all affect how you should water, shade, and protect fall crops. In this episode, I'll help you adjust your fall garden care so lettuce, carrots, broccoli, and other cool-season crops have what they need.

Free Download: Spinach Growing Guide

Spinach can be a tricky crop to grow successfully depending on your location. This guide will help you have success.

https://journeywithjill.net/pcaudio/spinach-guide/

• Water more at planting, then taper as fall cools.
• Remove shade cloth once seedlings are established.
• Give broccoli and carrots as much fall sun as possible.
• Plant more lettuce and greens to offset slower growth.
• Protect crops from sudden early freezes when needed.

00:00 – Why fall care is different 02:05 – Adjust watering as temperatures change 05:15 – Use fall shade cloth differently 07:26 – Know when to remove shade 09:47 – Give broccoli more fall sun 11:13 – Why carrots need enough sunlight 13:29 – Plant more fall lettuce and greens 15:42 – Prepare crops for early freezes 18:06 – When to use row covers 20:30 – Learn by observing your garden 21:44 – What's coming next

Seasonal Garden Task List: https://journeywithjill.net/seasonal-task-list

Friday Emails + Free Growing Guides: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Complete Garden Planner: https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Thinking about getting a greenhouse but not sure what it can actually do for your garden?

A greenhouse can extend your growing season, protect plants through winter, and give seedlings a head start, but only if you understand how temperature, light, and humidity work together.

In this episode, I'm talking with Leslie about greenhouse gardening for beginners, including what I've learned from using my own greenhouse for the past six years. We'll cover unheated versus heated greenhouses, supplemental grow lights, seed starting, pest prevention, and what to consider before buying a greenhouse.

Check out Leslie's book "Home Greenhouse Revival" here: https://amzn.to/4qMk75Y

Free Download: The Beginner's Garden Resource Vault

Get complimentary access to growing guides, charts, and resources to help you grow food with more clarity and less overwhelm.

Get the Beginner's Garden Resource Vault

• Understand what an unheated greenhouse can do

• Use temperature and light to extend seasons

• Know when seedlings need supplemental grow lights

• Prevent greenhouse pests before they spread

• Choose a greenhouse based on your plants

00:00 – How greenhouses extend your season 03:41 – Why unheated greenhouses still help 06:51 – Keep winter crops growing longer 08:29 – How temperature affects plant growth 09:47 – When greenhouse grow lights help 12:07 – Can greenhouses replace indoor seed starting? 14:18 – Choose plants before your greenhouse 16:43 – Beds, containers, and greenhouse zones 19:42 – Why greenhouse size matters 20:23 – Why seedlings grow faster inside 23:06 – How humidity affects plant growth 24:41 – Understanding grow light limitations 26:44 – How plants actually use light 28:07 – Why winter sunlight is weaker 29:54 – Prevent greenhouse pest problems 32:49 – Using beneficial insects indoors 33:35 – What to know before buying 36:41 – Greenhouse growing beyond vegetables

The Beginner's Garden Resource Vault: Free growing guides, charts, and resources

Friday Emails: Sign up for Jill's Friday Emails

YouTube: Journey with Jill on YouTube

Instagram: The Beginner's Garden on Instagram

Podcast Archive: The Beginner's Garden Podcast

Recommended Brands & Products: See my recommended gardening brands and products

Amazon Storefront: Shop my recommended gardening products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Complete Garden Planner: Ready for a simple system to plan and track your garden? My Complete Garden Planner makes it easy.

Complete Garden Planner

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Not sure what to cover your raised bed soil with this winter? Cover crops can build soil, suppress weeds, and even provide living mulch. In this episode, I'll help you choose a cover crop and get started without overcomplicating it.

Free Download: Raised Bed Soil Options

Learn practical, affordable options for building and improving healthy raised bed soil. https://journeywithjill.net/raised-bed-soil

Cover crops aren't just for large, in-ground gardens. I've been experimenting with them in my raised beds, and I've found several benefits beyond simply adding organic matter. I'll share what happened when I grew mustard and crimson clover, how winter-kill and overwintering cover crops differ, and what you need to think about before choosing one for your garden.

• Choose cover crops by purpose.

• Decide if you want winter-kill.

• Plan around spring planting space.

• Try crimson clover as living mulch.

• Start with just one bed.

00:00 – Why consider cover crops 02:20 – Benefits beyond organic matter 06:57 – Living mulch and pollinators 09:02 – Choose crops by purpose 11:21 – Plan around spring planting 13:41 – Raised bed winter differences 16:00 – What happened with mustard 18:14 – Benefits of winter-kill crops 20:38 – Growing crimson clover strategically 22:55 – Terminating clover for mulch 24:41 – What if cover crops reseed? 27:00 – Beginner-friendly winter-kill options 29:19 – Overwintering cover crop options 31:39 – Start small with cover crops

Cover Crops Start to Finish: https://youtu.be/7x3H6_dSH1g?si=sJx876ZTOBCOQrjV

Beginner's Guide to Cover Crops: https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/263-beginners-guide-to-fall-cover-crops

Fall Cover Crops with True Leaf Market: https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/198-fall-cover-crops-with-true-leaf-market

Cover Crops for Different Soil Types: https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/helen-atthowe-fall-cover-crops-for-different-soil-types

Raised Bed Soil Options: https://journeywithjill.net/raised-bed-soil

Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube: Journey with Jill on YouTube

Instagram: The Beginner's Garden on Instagram

Podcast Archive: The Beginner's Garden Podcast

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Complete Garden Planner: Ready for a simple system to plan and track your garden? My Complete Garden Planner makes it easy. https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Think you've missed your chance to plant a fall garden? You may still have time to grow a harvest, even if September is already here. The key is knowing your average first frost date and choosing fall crops that can mature in the time you have left.

In this episode, I'll help you figure out what you can still plant based on the number of weeks before your first frost. We'll cover fast-growing greens and radishes, when transplants make more sense than seeds, and why your USDA zone isn't the best number to use for fall planting.

Know when to plant for fresh greens throughout the fall season. http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden

• Find your average first frost date.

• Choose crops based on time remaining.

• Direct sow fast-growing greens late.

• Use transplants for a head start.

• Expect smaller harvests when planting late.

00:02 – Is it too late to plant? 02:37 – Find your first frost date 05:32 – How much cold crops tolerate 07:38 – What to plant with limited time 10:03 – Easily sow baby greens 12:28 – Add lettuce, kale, and brassicas 14:51 – Options with eight-plus weeks 17:11 – Where to find fall transplants 19:38 – Why a small garden is worthwhile 21:01 – Match crops to your timeline

Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar: http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden

Friday Emails + Beginner's Garden Resource Vault: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

Podcast Archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Complete Garden Planner: Ready for a simple system to plan and track your garden? My Complete Garden Planner makes it easy. https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Trying to plant a fall garden when your beds are still full of summer crops?

You don't have to clear everything at once. A simple bed-by-bed assessment can help you decide what stays, what goes, and where your fall crops can fit.

In this episode, I walk you through how I transition my garden from summer to fall, including how I decide when to remove productive plants, prepare tired soil, add compost, manage mulch and irrigation, and use space underneath taller crops. You'll also learn how I approach direct sowing versus transplants and plan ahead for garlic, onions, and winter beds.

Harvest to Kitchen Learn step-by-step how I preserve my garden harvest through canning, freezing, and dehydrating. Use code PRESERVIT by August 31 for $50 off. https://journeywithjill.net/harvest-to-kitchen

• Decide which summer crops can come out now.

• Identify crops you're ready to stop growing.

• Refresh cleared beds with about two inches of compost.

• Adjust bed prep for seeds versus transplants.

• Use taller summer crops for temporary fall shade.

00:00 – Harvest to Kitchen sale 01:48 – Assess your fall garden space 04:08 – Know what can come out 06:32 – Make room for fall brassicas 08:49 – Remove crops you're done with 11:12 – Plan what comes out soon 13:34 – Refresh soil for fall planting 15:45 – Prep for seeds and transplants 18:09 – Plant beneath taller crops 20:27 – Use temporary shade wisely 22:13 – Try relay planting 23:05 – Give brassicas enough sun 25:19 – Plan for garlic and onions 27:44 – Harvest to Kitchen reminder

Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar: Plan your fall salad garden with planting dates that help you stay on track. http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden

Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube: https://journeywithjill.net/youtube

Podcast Archive: https://journeywithjill.net/podcast

Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

If preserving your garden harvest is something you want to build into your routine, Harvest to Kitchen walks you through canning, freezing, and dehydrating step-by-step in my kitchen. It includes nearly 60 how-to videos and printable recipes, plus new lessons on freezer pickles and candied jalapeños.

Use code PRESERVIT by August 31 to save $50, bringing the price from $149 to $97.

https://journeywithjill.net/harvest-to-kitchen

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.