The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

• 423 - Grow Organic Apple Trees: what to do in years 1-3 with Susan Poizner

  Ever wondered if you can actually grow apple trees organically—and get fruit? Or maybe you’ve got a tree that’s not thriving and you’re not sure why. In this episode, certified arborist and fruit tree expert Susan Poizner joins me to answer the most common questions about growing apple trees at home. We’ll talk about: 🍎 Choosing the right variety & planting tips 🍎 What your young tree needs in years 1–3 for long-term success 🍎 How to revive a neglected or underperforming tree 🍎 Organic pest control that actually works 🍎 When and how to prune for health and productivity Plus, we tackle listener questions about borers, bark peeling, spraying schedules, squirrel damage, watering, and where to buy quality trees. If you’ve got an apple tree—or want to grow one—you don’t want to miss this episode! 🎧 Listen now and grow with confidence. Follow along with Susan on Facebook & Instagram: @orchardpeople Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV | Garden in Minutes | Heirloom Roses Organic REV Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems. Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order. Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll. Garden in Minutes Water your raised beds more efficiently and effectively with the Garden in Minutes Garden Grids. These garden grids take about 1 minute to set up, water all of your plants evenly at their base, and ship in pre-assembled sections! No messy emitters or tangle of tubing. Just connect & grow! https://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes  Discount Code: Use promo code JILL for 7% off your purchase   Heirloom Roses HeirloomRoses.com has over 900 roses to choose from and hundreds of perennials and bulbs for your complete garden dreams. Get yours today and check out their selections here. My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/  Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page:  https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden Connect with Jill:    Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos   The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/  (*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)  

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• 422 - The Truth About Soil, Wood, and Raised Beds with Gardener Scott

  Have you ever wondered if you could fill a raised bed with 100% compost? Or whether pressure-treated wood is actually safe for gardens? In today's episode, I sit down in person with Gardener Scott to tackle common raised bed myths and smart strategies for growing success — whether you're gardening on a patio or across a backyard full of beds. 💬 Topics we cover: Should you grow in 100% compost? Is pressure-treated wood safe for raised beds? When to use a GreenStalk planter vs. a raised bed How native soil, compost, and minerals all work together What biosolids are — and should you avoid them? Mistakes we both made (and how you can avoid them!) 📚 Learn more about Gardener Scott's new book, Gardener Scott’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening — a must-read if you're building or improving your beds this season! 🎯 Bonus: Today (May 20) is the LAST DAY to grab my Beginner’s Guide to Growing Herbs mini-course on sale for just $19! Learn more here » journeywithjill.net/herbworkshop 🛒 Sponsors: Organic REV: Boost your transplant success — get 10% off with code JILL at organicrev.com Garden in Minutes: Simplify watering with the Garden Grid™. Save 7% with code JILL at journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes Heirloom Roses: Add beauty to your garden — get 20% off roses with code BEGINNER20 at heirloomroses.com Show Notes: Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV | Garden in Minutes  Organic REV Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems. Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll. Garden in Minutes Water your raised beds more efficiently and effectively with the Garden in Minutes Garden Grids. These garden grids take about 1 minute to set up, water all of your plants evenly at their base, and ship in pre-assembled sections! No messy emitters or tangle of tubing. Just connect & grow! https://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes  Discount Code: Use promo code JILL for 7% off your purchase   My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/  Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page:  https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden Connect with Jill:    Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos   The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/  (*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)      

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• 421 - The Best Herbs for Beginners (and How to Start Right)

  Herbs are some of the easiest — and most rewarding — plants you can grow, but getting started can bring up a lot of questions. Where should you plant them? Should you start from seed or buy transplants? Which ones will keep growing year after year? In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through the five easiest herbs for beginners and help you plan where and how to grow them successfully. Plus, I’ll share some tips to avoid common herb-growing mistakes. In this episode: My top 5 easiest herbs to grow: basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, and chives 🌿 Where to plant herbs: containers, raised beds, or ground beds When to start herbs from seed and when to buy transplants Tips for maximizing your herb harvest Special Offer: 🎉 This week only! Get my Beginner’s Guide to Growing Herbs mini-course for just $19 (regularly $29)! Learn to grow 11 kitchen herbs from start to finish. Sale ends May 20 — sign up at journeywithjill.net/herbworkshop! Thank you to today’s sponsors: Garden in Minutes: Simplify your watering with the Garden Grid™. Get 7% off with code JILL at journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes. Organic REV: Give your transplants a strong start this season. Save with code JILL10 at organicrev.com. Heirloom Roses: Add beauty and resilience to your garden with own-root roses. Use code BEGINNER20 for 20% off at heirloomroses.com. Show Notes:   My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/  Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page:  https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden Connect with Jill:    Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos   The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/  (*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)      

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• 420 - Spring’s Best Herbs for Food & Health with Bevin Cohen

  Are you ready to take your herb gardening and foraging skills to the next level? In today’s episode, author Bevin Cohen joins me to share practical, beginner-friendly advice on growing, harvesting, and using herbs throughout the seasons. We explore common herbs like calendula, dill, chickweed, plantain, dandelion, and parsley—and even touch on wild foraging and preserving herbs for year-round use. Whether you’re growing in your backyard or exploring weeds in your garden, this episode will inspire you to see herbs in a whole new way! In This Episode: 🌿 Why thinking seasonally matters when growing and using herbs 🌼 Practical tips for calendula, dill, chickweed, dandelion, and parsley 🥗 Ways to forage common garden "weeds" like chickweed and lamb’s quarters 🌻 Unexpected uses for sunflowers in your garden 🍃 How to properly dry herbs like chickweed for long-term use 🧴 DIY ideas for infused oils, vinegars, and natural remedies 📚 A behind-the-scenes look at Bevin’s new book Herbs in Every Season Links for this Episode: 📗 Herbs in Every Season by Bevin Cohen — Get it here 🌿 Herb Cheat Sheet — Download here 🛒 Organic Rev — organicrev.com (Use code JILL10 for 10% off) 🛒 Heirloom Roses — heirloomroses.com (Use code BEGINNER20 for 20% off roses) Show Notes: Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV  Organic REV Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems. Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll.     My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/  Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page:  https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden Connect with Jill:    Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos   The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/  (*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)      

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• 419 - How to Grow Meyer Lemons in Containers (Anywhere!)

  Have you ever dreamed of growing lemons but didn’t know where to start—or tried and failed like I have? In this episode, I’m diving into the world of Meyer lemons: the sweet, compact citrus tree that’s perfect for container gardening in Zones 8 and below. In this episode: 🍋 [00:01:30] Why Meyer lemons are the go-to citrus for home gardeners 🍋 [00:06:10] Choosing the right container and soil mix (and what not to do) 🍋 [00:13:20] Tips for planting and where to place your tree for success 🍋 [00:17:40] Seasonal care: watering, humidity, fertilizing, and winter protection 🍋 [00:27:00] Is it actually worth it? I ran the numbers—here’s what I found 🍋 [00:32:15] Organic vs. store-bought lemons: what's really on that peel? Links & Sponsors: 🌿 Garden in Minutes – Get 7% off Tomato Cages with code JILL at GardenInMinutes.com 🪴 Organic REV – Save with code JILL10 at OrganicREV.com 🌹 Heirloom Roses – Use code BEGINNER20 for 20% off at HeirloomRoses.com (valid through Sept. 30, 2025)   Research links: https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/pucker-it%E2%80%99s-time-talk-lemons https://www.bhg.com/grow-lemon-tree-in-pot-8686828 https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-dwarf-citrus/     My Products: 2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!) https://shop.journeywithjill.net/  Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux Products I recommend: Recommended Brands & Products page:  https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden Connect with Jill:    Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos   The Beginner's Garden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/  (*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)  

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