Beyond the Garden Basics

In today’s podcast with America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, we cover the topic of swapping out the remnants of your summer garden for cool-season crops.In the newsletter: You Think You're Done Planting? Nope. You're Only Half-Done. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

In today’s podcast, Farmer Fred describes a disappointing harvest of Bodega Red potatoes grown in a 20-gallon fabric pot: three plants produced five potatoes, mostly small. Sacramento County Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour suggests the main culprit: operator error. If you grow potatoes, don’t be like Fred! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other...

The high points of our chat with Lance Walheim in today’s podcast:* Pick the right variety first. Sweet types like navel oranges struggle indoors, so go with acidic fruit that ripens with less heat.* Meyer lemons, kumquats, Bearss limes and calamondins are the best bets. They’re compact, bloom often and fit in containers.* Regular lemons and grapefruit can survive indoors, but don’t expect much...

Redwood Barn Nursery owner Don Shor of Davis, California and myself finally got around to putting the 2026 Tomato season to bed…except for the ones that are hanging on for dear life. In today’s podcast, we sing the high notes and low notes of our tomato growing efforts this year, with lots of gardening advice thrown in for good measure.How was your tomato season? Any favorites? Any failures? Any...

In today’s podcast, I tell a long, drawn out story about what happened the night before my wedding in 1980. Yes, it is a garden story, about the Cecile Bruner rose. But, we quickly turn to a chat with Ben Hanna of heirloomroses.com, who describes how he and his wife came to own the company after leaving corporate life over a decade ago. He says their shared love of gardening and roses, plus the...

In today’s podcast, we talk with Mark Seibert of Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Oregon. The interview covers key considerations for first-time greenhouse buyers, including choosing the right site, with emphasis on sunlight, southern exposure when possible, and local hazards such as trees or lawn equipment. It also discusses heat control and utilities, recommending ventilation, shade cloth, fans,...

The discussion in today’s podcast focuses on pumpkins. Warren Roberts, Superintendent Emeritus of the UC Davis Arboretum, explains that the pumpkin is botanically a fruit, though it is usually eaten as a vegetable. He says the plant belongs to the genus Cucurbita, which is native to the Americas, especially Mexico and the Andes.He describes pumpkin types and notes that many large pumpkins are...

You know trouble awaits if there is a really orange sunrise on an otherwise clear morning. That usually indicates there’s lots of smoke in the air. In today's newsletter, we talk about the effects of wildfire smoke on you and your garden.In today’s podcast (above), University of California Wildfire specialist Kevin Marini discusses the wildland-urban interface areas and why they matter for...

In today’s podcast, we talk with two nurserypeople who know their cool season veggies: Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis, CA; and professional horticultural consultant and Master Gardener Quentyn Young. They offer tips for both the usual and the unusual food crops to grow during the cooler weather. Among their advice:• Start now. In the mild-winter parts of the country (zones 8 and...

In today’s podcast, Sacramento County Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour explains how to transition garden beds and raised beds from warm-season crops to cool-season plantings. We talk about clearing out tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and melons at the end of summer: should you pull out the plant or cut it off at the soil line? It depends. Gail will explain, emphasizing the...