The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Did you know that Mexican bean beetles are in the same family as ladybugs? However, these are an annoying pest, so let's figure out how to get rid of them. Learn More: Mexican Bean Beetle: How To Eliminate Epilachna Varivestis Keep Growing, Kevin

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My friend and Epic Gardener Delia asked me how I got into gardening, so I figured I'd go into my history and why I do what I do!

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Most of us grow in raised beds - wood, metal, brick, etc. But what about beds with no support structure? This is the type of bed that most market gardeners use and in today's episode I outline how to build one of your own. Keep Growing, Kevin

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One of the most popular ferns out there, the boston fern can be a bit difficult to keep alive. Especially if you have trouble with ferns in general! Learn how to keep it green and growing in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Today's episode is an add-on to a YouTube video I released last week. In it, I outline exactly how to grow a never-ending supply of basil off of a single plant. Watch the Video Keep Growing, Kevin

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Cucumber beetles can decimate your garden quickly and are hard to get rid of...until you listen to this episode! I know it's not cucumber season right now, but I couldn't resist recording this one for you all because I HATE these bugs!

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You've probably heard the term "green manure" thrown around. What does it mean? Is it the same as a cover crop? I go into this and more in today's episode. Keep Growing, Kevin

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I've got a spare raised bed that I'm dedicating to pollinators and beneficial insects. I talk about them a lot on the podcast, so I figured it's time to put my money where my mouth is and develop a dedicated bed!

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In today's episode I go over a technique I'm using to grow microgreens in a raised bed. It's a cool idea that I'm trying to get a quick, plentiful harvest and also to add some organic matter into the soil.

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Soil aeration is a topic most gardeners don't fully understand...me included! But here are some basics to expand your soil-building knowledge. Keep Growing,
Kevin

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This flower is a classic in the garden and EASY to grow. Learn how in today's episode. Learn More: Black Eyed Susan: How To Grow And Care For Rudbeckia Plants Keep Growing,
Kevin

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Dianthus is a huge plant family with hundreds of species, but fear not! This episode will teach you everything you need to know about growing and caring for them. Learn More: Dianthus Dreams: Caring For Carnations, Sweet Williams, and Pinks Keep Growing, Kevin

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Leafhoppers are a super annoying garden pest and there are over 20,000+ types of them! Learn how to prevent, control, and kill them in this episode. Learn More: Leafhopper Pests: How To Kill Off Lurking Cicadellidae Keep Growing, Kevin

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One common question I get is, "How do you know what nutrients your plants are using in a hydroponic system?" I tackle this and provide some recommendations in this episode. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Today's episode is a profile of my friend Steven Cornett, who is farming on a quarter acre in his backyard and making a living from it. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Today's question comes from Hanna, who wonders how to start a kitchen herb garden successfully. It's a quick and simple episode with practical tips to start your 1st kitchen herb garden, so tune in! Keep Growing, Kevin

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The mighty rubber tree has been a favorite houseplant since the Victorian era. It’s hardy, easy to care for, and actually removes toxins from the air in your home! In this guide, we’ll take a look at exactly how to care for your own rubber tree plant. Learn More: Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica) Care And Growing Tips Keep Growing, Kevin

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If you’re a garlic-lover and garlic grower like me, you’ve probably got a bunch of it either in your garden or in your home right this very moment. These beautiful and delicious plants have so much versatility in the kitchen that I like to grow a big patch of them every season and store them for use throughout the year. But storing garlic can be a challenge if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are a lot of different methods for storing garlic, some better than the others. Let’s take a look at exactly how to preserve your garlic the right way so you can enjoy these flavorful bulbs for months to come. Learn More: 6 Different Methods for Storing Garlic Keep Growing, Kevin

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I like a good shortcut. Something that can save me time and energy is guaranteed to make me smile. Take for example the white ghost pumpkin. White pumpkins can be made into a jack o'lantern with a ghostly twist using a few strokes of a knife or paintbrush, then turned into a creepy snowman after Halloween is over, and then baked into a pie just in time for the next holiday. Ghost pumpkins can add a splash of brightness to your pumpkin patch. The artists in your neighborhood will itch to paint those blank canvases, so plant a lot of these white orbs if you enjoy driving those neighbors nuts, er, I mean, giving these pumpkins as gifts. Read on for how to make these little ghosts thrive.​ Learn More: White (Ghost) Pumpkins: Care, Types, and Growing Tips Keep Growing, Kevin

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Prayer plants are some of the most beautiful houseplants you can find. They're great in hanging baskets as they spread low and wide. Whether you're just starting out with houseplants or an an expert grower, the prayer plant is an excellent choice. Learn More: Prayer Plant Care – Growing The Maranta Plant Keep Growing, Kevin

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There are many types of soil amendments that you may not be familiar with: peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, builder's sand, etc. In this episode I shine a light on what these are and how to use them in the garden. More Resources

• Perlite: What It Is And How To Use It In Your Garden
• Perlite vs Vermiculite: What’s the Difference?
• Hydroton (Expanded Clay Pebbles) Growing Guide
• Coconut Coir: What It Is, How To Use It, And The Best Brands To Buy
• Peat Moss in the Garden – Sphagnum Peat Moss Uses

Keep growing, Kevin

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You probably see it whenever you go into a garden center and wonder what it's made of...the mysterious garden soil. In this episode, we demystify it and learn how to use it in the garden. Keep Growing, Kevin

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I get this question so often that I decided it was time to answer it on the podcast! After this short episode, you'll know exactly where your net pots should be in your hydroponic system.

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No-till gardening is a low-effort, high reward gardening methodology that just might be one of the most effective ways to grow out there. I go over what it is and some of the many benefits in this episode. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Legginess or stretched out plants can ruin your seed starting, microgreens, or transplanting process. Learn the 2-3 main causes of legginess and how to prevent them! Keep Growing, Kevin

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Used coffee grounds are an abundant waste product, especially if you live in an urban or suburban environment. They have wonderful benefits for your garden, so here are 5 ways you can use them. Keep Growing, Kevin

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The benefits of using straw as mulch are awesome...as long as you use straw and not hay. In this episode, I explain why that is as well as how to use straw effectively in the garden. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Are your broccoli plants (or cauiflower) not forming heads? It's frustrating to put in effort only to see no beautiful, tight heads forming on your beloved broccoli.  Here are some reasons why that might be happening! Keep Growing, Kevin

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A flea beetle is not a flea. Let's get that out of the way right at the beginning! In fact, fleas and flea beetles have almost nothing in common, although they're often confused with fleas by those less familiar with them. This is not the pest that bites your dogs and cats (and sometimes you). But if it's not a flea, what exactly is a flea beetle? How can you identify this surprisingly-common United States pest, and where are you likely to find it? Can you catch them before they jump away? Most importantly, how do you kill them before they can devour your prized vegetable plants? Learn More: Flea Beetle Destruction: How To Wipe Out These Jumping Pests Keep Growing, Kevin

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If you’ve ever watched a row of plants get demolished by army worms, you’ll know in part how they get their name. These ravenous little caterpillars will devour an entire plant and then move on en-masse to the next, gobbling that one down with equal vigor. But what exactly is an armyworm? Are there different kinds, and where are they found? What do they eat? How long do army worms last? And perhaps the most important, how to get rid of armyworms? We’ll discuss all of this and more today. I’ll give you everything you need to know about this persistent pest and how to wipe it out in your yard. Learn More: Army Worms: Eliminating These Munching Menaces Keep Growing,
Kevin

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Sulfur is one of the essential micronutrients. It can be hard to tell if your plants are deficient in it as well. Here's how to side dress your beds with sulfur to ensure your garden doesn't suffer from sulfur deficiency! Learn More: Plant Nutrients Explained: Everything You Ever Need To Know Keep Growing, Kevin

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A reader wrote in wondering why his zucchini flowered but never set fruit. Here's the answer - it has to do with male and female flowers! Keep Growing,
Kevin

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As its name implies, bee balm (Monarda) is a wonderful pollinator to add to your garden and comes in perennial and annual varieties. Learn More: Bee Balm: How To Grow And Care For Monarda Keep Growing, Kevin

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These are the most common DIY pest control recipes to use in your garden. You can prevent most pest issues simply by mixing these up! Learn More: 4 DIY Natural Pest Control Recipes for Your Garden Keep Growing, Kevin

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Love them or hate them, cats can be annoying in the garden. Whether they're tearing up your houseplants or destroying your edibles, here are a few strategies to keep them at bay. Keep Growing, Kevin

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Leaf miners will tunnel through your leaves, leaving trails of dead plant matter and bringing disease to your garden. Learn how to destroy them in this episode! Keep Growing, Kevin

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Whiteflies are extremely annoying pests that can attract ants to your garden and make short work of your edibles and ornamentals.  Learn how to destroy them in this episode! Keep Growing, Kevin

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Pumpkins are a wonderful and versatile fall crop...if you harvest them correctly. Learn how to tell if pumpkins are ripe and a few harvesting tips! Learn More: White (Ghost) Pumpkins: Care, Types, and Growing Tips Keep Growing, Kevin

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Cold frames are one of the most effective structures for your fall and winter garden. They extend the growing season and provide considerable cover for your fall plants. Learn More: 26 Cold Frame Plans For Your Winter Garden Keep Growing, Kevin

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Hugelkultur is one of the most interesting and productive methods you can use for raised bed gardening. Learn what "log mound" gardening is and why it's so effective! Keep Growing, Kevin

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We all do it - we forget about a houseplant and it start to look weak and neglected. In this episode, I go over 4 ways to revive your poor houseplants! Keep Growing,
Kevin

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Succulents are simple to care for, but some are even simpler than others! Here are six that are almost IMPOSSIBLE to kill. Keep Growing, Kevin

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I talk about spinosad often on the podcast and the website...but what is it? How does it kill insects? And, most importantly, is it harmful? Keep Growing, Kevin

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Today, a little gardening inspiration for you. How to keep gardening when you get discouraged! Keep Growing, Kevin

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Do you have a ton of seed packets all disorganized in your garden shed somewhere? I did. So I came up with this method to easily store seeds in an organized way...check it out! Keep Growing, Kevin

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As we move into fall, there are a ton of things you can still do in your garden. Here's a list of 5 things you may want to consider doing before winter comes! Keep Growing, Kevin

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Urban permaculture seems like an oxymoron, but if you think of your limited growing space in the same way a farmer thinks of his land, you can get a lot of great production out of small spaces. Keep Growing, Kevin  

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We all love trees and shrubs that have beautiful fall color. We also love birds and butterflies. We can help these creatures by asking for native plants when we shop at garden centers. Butterflies need native plants to reproduce successfully and produce caterpillars. Birds need butterfly caterpillars to feed their nestlings. We can enjoy colorful fall beauty and birds and butterflies. Here’s a list of eight must-have native shrubs and trees that provide beautiful fall color and support wildlife. Learn More: 8 Must-Have Native Shrubs and Trees for Midwestern Fall Color Keep Growing, Kevin

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It’s that time of year! The apple tree is overloaded, and you simply can’t eat them all at once. No amount of apple cobblers, apple pies, and applesauce will use them all. So it’s time for you to empty the tree and get them stored away properly, ensuring that you can enjoy this bounty for the next few months. I’ll walk you through it all and help you figure out the best way to store apples, as well as how to pick them all. Learn More: Fall Harvest: How To Pick And Store Apples For The Winter
Keep Growing, Kevin

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Have you heard of the Dirty Dozen? How about the Clean Fifteen? No? Well, listen in and learn how which fruits and veggies are important to wash, and which you can skip. Keep Growing, Kevin

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