Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Fred Hoffman
  • 4.7 (231)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Tips for beginning and experienced gardeners. New episodes arrive every Friday. Fred Hoffman has been a U.C. Certified Master Gardener since 1982 and writes a weekly garden column for the Lodi News-Sentinel in Lodi, CA. A four-decade fixture in Sacramento radio, he hosted three radio shows for Northern California gardeners and farmers: The KFBK Garden Show, Get Growing with Farmer Fred, and the KSTE Farm Hour. Episode Website: https://gardenbasics.net

  1. 380 Flower Seed Starting Basics

    1 DAY AGO

    380 Flower Seed Starting Basics

    Today: Practical flower seed starting techniques, such as the critical timing for beginning various flowers and the correct depth for planting those seeds. And, Debbie Flower shares with us her trick for careful watering of newly planted seeds. Also, she has important tips when transplanting those young flowering plants into the garden. Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts ...

    37 min
  2. 379 AAS Award-Winning Garden Plants for 2025

    FEB 14

    379 AAS Award-Winning Garden Plants for 2025

    We talk with Diane Blazek, the executive director of All-America Selections (AAS), exploring the newly announced 2025 winners of top-performing garden plant varieties. Each year, AAS winners undergo rigorous trials, evaluated by expert judges, to ensure they will thrive in diverse U.S. and Canadian climates. Diane highlights standout varieties like the high-yielding tomato variety, “Tonatico”, the sweet and crunchy “Pick-N-Pop” pepper, and the visually striking “Murasaki Fioretto”...

    48 min
  3. 378 Battling Four-Legged Fruit Tree Pests

    FEB 7

    378 Battling Four-Legged Fruit Tree Pests

    We tackle the management of four-legged garden fruit tree pests with Debbie Flower. We discuss listener concerns about squirrels, raccoons, and rats, exploring protective measures and the importance of exclusion methods. Our conversation also covers strategies for deterring deer and effective, humane rat control tactics. We share practical tips for ongoing maintenance and highlight the relationship between gardening and wildlife, encouraging listeners to check the Beyond the Garden Ba...

    34 min
  4. 377 Tomato Seed Planting Tips. Rose Pruning Success.

    JAN 31

    377 Tomato Seed Planting Tips. Rose Pruning Success.

    Want bountiful tomatoes and beautiful roses in 2025? Today, we cover essential tips for starting tomato seeds and winter rose pruning. Debbie Flower shares insights on timing for planting tomato seeds and the benefits of starting them indoors. We discuss nurturing seedlings and the advantages of hybrid varieties for beginners. Master Rosarian Charlotte Owendyk explains winter pruning techniques for healthier rose growth this spring. Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information,...

    1h 5m
  5. 376 Heal-All Herb Growing. Hackberry Aphids. Leaf Mulching Winter Garden Beds.

    JAN 24

    376 Heal-All Herb Growing. Hackberry Aphids. Leaf Mulching Winter Garden Beds.

    Episode 376 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast offers more sustainable gardening tips for all gardeners. We cover managing hackberry aphids using less toxic methods with Debbie Flower; growing tips and benefits of the herb, self-heal with Master Gardener and herb specialist Ruth Ostroff; and advice from Organic Consultant Steve Zien, using fallen leaves for winter soil nourishment. Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Gard...

    32 min
  6. 375 Cool Season Pea Planting. Tulip Tips.

    JAN 17

    375 Cool Season Pea Planting. Tulip Tips.

    We delve into cool season gardening with Master Gardener Gail Pothour and retired college horticultural professor Debbie Flower. We explore best practices for growing peas, focusing on varieties like sugar snap and snow peas, while discussing germination tips, planting times related to frost dates, and inventive trellising methods using materials such as bicycle wheels. Shifting to tulips, we address a listener question about improperly stored sprouted bulbs. Debbie shares her expertise on pr...

    32 min
  7. 374 Success with Pepper Seeds and Seedlings. Fire-Wise Landscaping.

    JAN 10

    374 Success with Pepper Seeds and Seedlings. Fire-Wise Landscaping.

    Tips for starting pepper seeds. How to care for pepper seedlings. With Debbie Flower. Protecting your yard and home from wildfire. With Kevin Marini, University of California Defensible Space advisor. Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and accurate, human-reviewed transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout. Pictured: Pepper Seed Packets Links: “Beyond the Garden Basi...

    1h 37m
  8. 373 Greatest Garden Hits of 2024

    JAN 3

    373 Greatest Garden Hits of 2024

    We're kicking off the 2025 season with the garden interviews that were the Top 3 topics that drew the most interest from you, the listeners, in 2024. Debbie Flower and I have the tips to start your first garden, along with advice for anyone who wants a successful. Blueberry experts, including Master Gardeners and professional blueberry growers, delve into the knowledge you need for growing the best blueberries ever. And, we talk with noted doctor and gardener, The Fre...

    2h 9m
See All (380)

4.7
out of 5
231 Ratings

About

Tips for beginning and experienced gardeners. New episodes arrive every Friday. Fred Hoffman has been a U.C. Certified Master Gardener since 1982 and writes a weekly garden column for the Lodi News-Sentinel in Lodi, CA. A four-decade fixture in Sacramento radio, he hosted three radio shows for Northern California gardeners and farmers: The KFBK Garden Show, Get Growing with Farmer Fred, and the KSTE Farm Hour. Episode Website: https://gardenbasics.net

Information

  • Creator
    Fred Hoffman
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    380
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, Garden Basics Theme Music
  • Show Website
    Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

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