The Beet started as the Epic Gardening Podcast, but has grown into a one-stop shop for plant lovers. Five days a week, we explore topics ranging from beginner gardening tips to in-depth discussions with industry and science experts. Here, we’ll open up new gardening horizons, inspire you to greater heights, share new and exciting discoveries in agriculture, and fill your mind with freshly-harvested information you can apply to your own gardening journey!
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Believe it or not, bats are pollinators who transfer pollen from plant to plant, feeding on flower nectar. You can include certain plants in your garden to attract them. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3MaJuKY Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46Wvn5F Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3M76lHl EG Homest…
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Installing a bat house with and locating it appropriately is an easy way to bring bats in, and it’s a great way to encourage them to stay. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4dK94Cy Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4dNICaT Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3YIXZxj EG Homesteading Book: https://growepic.c…
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With many species on the decline, maintaining biodiversity in native bat habitats is of the utmost importance. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46M1zst Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46OsEuV Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3SQAEWE EG Homesteading Book: https://growepic.co/4dmTzkf Learn More: 9 Ways…
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Bats may have a frightening reputation, but these misunderstood mammals are excellent pest-controllers in the garden. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3MaHwdy Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3YObTy6 Book Collection Page: https://growepic.co/3M8zCRX EG Homesteading Book: https://growepic.co/3M753ft Learn More:…
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Carol Connare is the 14th editor of the longest running farming publication in North America, called the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In this full episode of the Beet Podcast, she and Kevin discuss gardening, and what it’s like to work for this important gardening legacy. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3SHggHi Botanical Interests Shop H…
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What elements are present in the current Farmer’s Almanac? Weather is a huge topic. Astronomical information, and nature stories connected to the garden are present too. Folklore and wildlife stories get people familiar with what kinds of things happen on farms all over. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage:https://growepic.co/3AaTG3p Botanical Interests S…
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Carol Connare just moved to a new property in New Hampshire and in turn inherited a half acre permaculture forest. From hardy kiwis to raspberries, persimmons to paw paws, this new project poses plenty of excitement! With an added vegetable garden, abundance is in order. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3yzXQ4t Botanical Interests …
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Tomatoes are a gateway vegetable for new gardeners. That’s because they’re easy to grow, but require care techniques that can be applied to other veggies. In this episode, Editor of the Famer’s Almanac, Carol Connare covers the ins and outs of tomato cultivation. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4fF35Ri Botanical Interests Shop Hom…
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We’re not talking about gardens full of nighttime pollinator plants. We’re talking about coordinating growing with the 28 day moon cycle. What goes into moon gardening, and how can you practice it at home? Editor of the Farmer’s Almanac, Carol Connare explains here. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4dz7AuL Botanical Interests Shop …
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The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an old standby for gardeners in North America. For centuries, this publication has given people access to useful and new information about gardening topics of all kinds. Here, Kevin and the Almanac’s 14th editor, Carol Connare discuss its origins. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3LYCrFm Botanical Intere…
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Dr. Gerald Holmes, director of the CalPoly Strawberry Center knows how to cultivate the most delicious strawberries. Everything from varieties to grow, to how to grow them, and even to dealing with pests and diseases – this is the Strawberry Center’s focus. Listen as he and Kevin Espiritu discuss all of these topics and more. Epic Gardening Shop Ho…
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Gerald got started in the farming world through gardening with his dad. He developed an interest in horticulture in high school, and wanted to know more about agricultural practices around the world. Through Plant Pathology, he made his way to the Strawberry Center, which is celebrating its 10th year this summer. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https…
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Strawberries are supple fruits that can contract a host of diseases and pests. In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Gerald Holmes discuss the most common ones. From spider mites to Lygus bugs, and botrytis, they cover the best ways to keep these out of your strawberries. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3ykKitF Botanical Interests Shop H…
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There are thousands of varieties of strawberries that have been developed for use in commercial farming. In stores, they aren’t labeled, so you don’t know if you’re eating short day or day neutral berries. For home growers, knowing where you live is the basis of selecting the best varieties to grow. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co…
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The garden strawberry came from cultivated wild strawberries. This occurred in regions all over the world, with strawberries specific to certain areas. Through cross pollination, people develop the delicious hybrids we love today. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3yrUnoD Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/46sY7T…
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Good combinations of sweet and acidity is what makes strawberry flavor for Dr. Gerald Holmes, Director of the CalPoly Strawberry Center. While varieties have traits that promote good flavor, proper cultivation and climate alters flavors in myriad ways. Epic Gardening Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3YvLyVw Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: http…
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In this full episode of the Beet Podcast, Kevin and Jacques have a conversation about their gardens. Crops that are flourishing in the summer season are in crank mode. If you want to know how to get your garden into crank mode, listen here! EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/4deLMEs Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Yh1lHp …
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Could you get a garden into crank mode sooner? It all starts with proper fertility – namely, available nitrogen. Follow up that base with appropriate amounts of macronutrients and trace minerals, and crank mode begins! EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/3YkbXFz Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/4cTUPec EG book collection pag…
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Jacques tomatoes are simply popping off this year. The lack of May Grey in San Diego, and his attentive care and fertilization helped. In this episode, Kevin and Jacques discuss their top crops this summer, and what they did to get them to crank. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/3A0fkaJ Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3S…
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Kevin and Jacques discuss happenings in the four 4x4 test gardens at the Epic Homestead. Previous experiments involved soil-testing, and tomato-burying. There’s even more experimentation planned to give gardeners a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/4cWbspL Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://grow…
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What interesting plantings did Jacques and Kevin grow over the last couple of years? For Jacques, it’s okra with cucumbers as a living mulch. Kevin twined his indeterminate tomatoes with cucumbers. Unique and interesting pairings are a great way to ensure heavy yields. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/46p8isg Botanical Interests Shop Homepage:…
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Kevin and Jacques never know which part of their summer gardens will pop off. This year, it’s corn for Kevin, and tomatoes for Jacques. Is it a couple of seasons of compost added to the top of a raised bed that gets J and K into crank mode? Find out here! EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/3WGe6cr Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growe…
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Pest control is an important aspect of organic gardening. And as a master gardener, Susan Mulvihill has tons of experience with integrated pest management (IPM). In this full episode of the Beet Podcast, Susan and Kevin discuss common pests, misconceptions about them, and the best ways to control them and maintain a thriving organic garden. EG shop…
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You have options while diagnosing your diseased plants. You can reach out to your local Master Gardeners group or you can consult Susan Mulvihill’s new book, The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook. EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/3YcB1hx Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Whv0Of EG book collection page: https://grow…
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Is there such a thing as giving your plants too of a good thing? Actually, yes. Plants teach us many lessons, one of which is - everything in moderation! EG shop homepage: https://growepic.co/46gIaQf Botanical Interests Shop Homepage: https://growepic.co/3Sjeufh EG book collection page: https://growepic.co/4faAzGN EG homesteading book: https://grow…
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