The frost has settled, most of the garden has gone to sleep, and now we’re turning our attention to what’s left — the fruits (and roots) of our labor.I’m talking about how to store and preserve that late-season harvest, so all your hard work continues to pay off well into winter.Today on Just Grow Something We’ll look at how long certain crops can remain in the garden, essentially in storage mode before you truly have to bring them inside, best practices for storing roots and late fall greens, and preservation options that retain nutrition and flavor.Let’s dig in!Resources:Preparing to Preserve: Basic Canning Supplies for Beginners - Ep. 211: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/preparing-to-preserve-basic-canning-supplies-for-beginners-ep-211Ep. 109 - Preserving, Part One: Freezing: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-109-preserving-part-one-freezingEp. 110 - Preserving Basics, Part Two: Water-Bath Canning: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-110-preserving-basics-part-two-water-bath-canningEp. 111 - Preserving Basics, Part Three: Pressure Canning: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-111-preserving-basics-part-three-pressure-canningEp. 113 – Dehydrating, Cold Storage, and Fermenting: More Ways to Store Your Harvest: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-113-dehydrating-cold-storage-and-fermenting-more-ways-to-store-your-harvestGetting Started in Fermenting - Ep. 160: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/getting-started-in-fermenting-ep-160National Center for Home Food Preservation: https://nchfp.uga.edu/Get my weekly newsletter: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/news
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One More Month of Harvests - Ep. 274
If your forecast is flirting with frost and you still have all those lovely greens and root veggies out there, don’t panic, prepare.Today on Just Grow Something we’re talking row cover and low tunnels: what to buy, how to set up fast, how to vent so you don’t cook your greens, and exactly which fabrics and plastics can squeeze out one more month of salads, herbs, and even late summer crops like beans or peas.We’ll talk about using fabric covers versus when to use plastic, floating row covers versus building a low tunnel, venting, anchoring, avoiding disease and more. By the end you’ll even have an emergency plan in place if you get a sudden frost warning you weren’t quite prepared for. Let’s dig in!Resources:Landscape fabric staples: https://amzn.to/47ogCKWFrost Cloth: https://amzn.to/47zA5a7Plastic row covers: https://amzn.to/3WCpSF2Get my weekly newsletter here: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/news
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How to Clone Your Best Plants from the Garden (and Why) - Ep. 273
Whether you live in a climate that allows for a veery long growing season or you’re like me and need to cram as much growing into a shorter season as possible, cloning is a shortcut to making the most of our best plants. In some cases it even makes sense to overwinter some of those plants so next season starts off weeks ahead of schedule.So, today on Just Grow Something, we’re talking about the importance of cloning plants as a strategic shortcut to enhance gardening productivity. I’ll explain the key differences between cloning and seed saving, and the various methods of cloning, including water propagation and the use of rooting hormones, and the layering method. We’ll also talk about how to overwinter plants effectively and which ones are worth the effort, troubleshooting common issues, and the best practices for maintaining plant health during the winter months. Let’s dig in!Key Takeaways:Cloning allows gardeners to replicate successful plants for the next season.Seed saving can lead to genetic reshuffling, while cloning preserves the exact traits of a plant.Water propagation is an easy method for cloning many herbaceous plants.Rooting hormones can significantly improve the success rate of cloning woody plants.Layering is a method that allows plants to root while still attached to the parent plant.Overwintering can help maintain productive plants for early spring planting.Different plants require different care when overwintering, including light and temperature adjustmentsResources:Download my free cloning guide at https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/clone
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Garlic, Onions and Shallots: Your Fall Planting Guide - Ep. 272
Now is the time to be getting our garlic, shallots and even onions planted in some places. If you can give me one good hour in the garden this month, you can set yourself up for big flavor next summer.Today on Just Grow Something were going to walk through planting garlic and shallots and some tips on where it’s okay to even plant onion sets for a summer harvest. We’ll talk about when to plant for your location, how to prep the bed, which onions and shallots make sense to plant now, troubleshooting and I'll answer your most frequently asked questions about planting these crops. Let’s dig in.References and ResourcesNewsletter sign up: JustGrowSomethingPodcast.com/newsEpisode 40: Garlic - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-40-growing-garlicEpisode 133: Growing Onions - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/ep-133-growing-onionsEpisode 220 Planting Onions in Fall for a Summer Harvest - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/planting-onions-in-fall-for-a-summer-harvest-ep-220Episode 221 Tips for Planting Garlic by Climate Type - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/garlic-planting-tips-by-climate-ep-221YouTube Video for Fall Planted Onions - https://youtu.be/qVv6AgPCvdISprout Mountain Farm fall planting onions - https://www.sproutmountainfarms.com/category/untreated-onion-sets
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Leave the Leaves Strategically - Ep. 271
Fallen leaves in the garden will blanket the soil, slow weeds, and shelter a whole mini-wildlife community. Many native butterflies, moths, beetles, and even some queen bumble bees ride out winter tucked into leaf litter and hollow stems. When we keep some of that litter in place, we’re giving next spring’s pollinators a head start.That's the idea behind the National Wildlife Federation "Leave the Leaves" campaign. . Each October they put out a campaign to raise awareness around the incredibly valuable habitat for wildlife and nutrients for plants that comes in the form of our yard waste.But what if this season brought a heavy pest infestation to your garden and you don’t want to give those pests a place to shelter? That’s where a targeted cleanup comes in clutch. So, today on Just Grow Something we’re talking about how to leave the leaves strategically. I’ll give you pointers on how to keep the fallen leaf layer in your garden to benefit the bevy of butterflies, beetles, and bumblebees without giving sanctuary to the squash bugs and the scales. Let’s dig in!Resources:Sign up for my newsletter here: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/newsLeave the Leaves Month info: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Join-the-Movement/Seasonal-Initiatives/Leave-the-Leaves-MonthFull transcript and show notes can be found here: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/leave-the-leaves-strategically-ep-271
About Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening
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.
Tune in each week to plan, learn, and grow with your friend in the garden, Karin Velez.
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