Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

Karin Velez
  • 4.9 (84)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    Overwintering Tender Garden Plants - Ep. 323

    Every fall I look at my pepper plants loaded with fruit and my rosemary at its biggest, and I hate the idea of handing them over to the first hard freeze. The good news is you don't have to. Peppers, rosemary, and geraniums are all perennials somewhere in the world, and basil will keep going for a while on a windowsill if you start it right. But whether a plant makes it to spring gets decided mostly before it ever comes through the door. In this episode we're talking about which plants are worth the space, when to bring them in, and whether to keep them growing, put them to sleep, or just take cuttings. Then we'll get into my step-by-step for leaving aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and fungus gnats outside, including why dish soap isn't the same as insecticidal soap and how long to keep new arrivals away from your houseplants. We'll finish with plant-by-plant care for peppers, rosemary, basil, and geraniums, plus a place where the experts don't agree. Let’s dig in. Get your fair-trade, organic coffee and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Root Boost Rooting Hormone: https://amzn.to/4BeOCWX Pure Castile Soap for insecticidal soap: https://amzn.to/3U0HnBb References and Resources: Pests and Insecticidal Soap Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Use Dish Soap Instead of Insecticidal Soap to Treat for Insect Pests? (detergent vs. true soap, phytotoxicity, contact-only action, reapplying): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-use-dish-soap-instead-insecticidal-soap-treat-insect-pests University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions — Soaps, Detergents and Pest Management (don't treat drought-stressed plants or above 90°F): https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/soaps-detergents-and-pest-management/ Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Washing Pests Away, Sarah Browning (2–3 applications at 4–7 day intervals, testing a small area first): https://lancaster.unl.edu/washing-pests-away/ University of Minnesota Extension — Houseplant Pests (spider mite white paper tap test, mealybugs, fungus gnat management): https://extension.umn.edu/news/houseplant-pests Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Spider Mites on Houseplants (dry winter air, stippling, webbing, rinsing in the shower): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2007/12-5/SpiderMites.html Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Fungus Gnats in Houseplants (overwatering, letting soil dry): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2023/02/fungus-gnats-houseplants Peppers New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles Can Be Grown Year-Round if They Are Brought Indoors (south window with about 4 hours of sun, nights around 50°F, underwatering losses, monthly fertilizer): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2014/101814.html New Mexico State University, Southwest Yard & Garden — Chiles for New Mexico Holiday Houseplants (chiles as frost-tender perennials): https://swyg.nmsu.edu/2007/110307.html Ask Extension — Overwintering Peppers (nights above 50°F, days around 70°F, artificial light for fruiting; hot peppers more resilient; dormancy option): https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=855650 Rosemary University of Illinois Extension, The Garden Scoop — Rosemary, Ryan Pankau (50–60°F indoors, very bright light, hardiness zone 7, 'Arp' and 'Hill Hardy' to zone 6, outdoor protection): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2018-10-18-rosemary Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County — Rosemary, An Herb for All Seasons, Sarah Browning (zones 7–10, 50–55°F indoors, watering): https://lancaster.unl.edu/rosemary-herb-all-seasons University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension — Rosemary, Janet B. Carson (overwatering as the biggest indoor risk, coolest sunny room, holiday topiaries): https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/home-landscape/adgrosemaryjan2018.pdf University of Wisconsin Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic — November 2020: Houseplant Horrors (powdery mildew on rosemary indoors, kitchen humidity): https://pddc.wisc.edu/2020/11/11/november-2020-houseplant-horrors/ Basil and Indoor Herbs Brindisi, L.J., & Simon, J.E. (2023). Preharvest and postharvest techniques that optimize the shelf life of fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum): a review. Frontiers in Plant Science 14: 1237577 (chilling injury below about 54°F and severe below 50°F): https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1237577 University of Illinois Extension, Flowers, Fruits, and Frass — Growing Basil in Your Backyard, Brittnay Haag (tender annual, flowering makes plants woody and bitter, digging before frost extends the season): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2020-05-13-growing-basil-your-backyard Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County — Herbs for Your Winter Windowsill, Pat Curran (digging basil in late summer, cutting back by a third to a half, rosemary leaves don't wilt, 1-gallon pots, separating outdoor plants from houseplants): https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/c/10116/files/Windowsill-Herbs-Pat-Curran-March-2017-21jwe6n.pdf University of Illinois Extension — Keep Growing Herbs Indoors This Fall, Winter, Christopher Enroth (6–8 hours of bright light, 12–16 hours under lights, 70°F or below): https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/keep-growing-herbs-indoors-fall-winter Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — Can I Grow Herbs Indoors Over the Winter? (rosemary may need grow lights, clay pots, watering): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-grow-herbs-indoors-over-winter University of Minnesota Extension — Basil Downy Mildew (symptoms, remove infected plants, Genovese susceptibility, DMR varieties): https://extension.umn.edu/diseases/basil-downy-mildew Geraniums University of Illinois Extension, Good Growing — How to Overwinter Geraniums for Next Year's Garden, Ken Johnson (three methods, 45–50°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 4–8 weeks): https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-10-11-how-overwinter-geraniums-next-years-garden Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden — How Can I Over-Winter My Geraniums Indoors? (65–70°F, March pruning, 45–55°F bare-root storage, cuttings root in 6–8 weeks): https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-over-winter-my-geraniums-indoors University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension — Overwintering Tender Geraniums, Margaret Murphy (60–65°F, optional root soaking, soaked vs. dry comparison, cuttings as backup): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/overwintering-tender-geraniums Missouri Botanical Garden — How Can I Overwinter My Geranium Plants? (cuttings root in 3–4 weeks, modern basements too warm and dry, soaking roots every few weeks): https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs/question/1374/how-can-i-overwinter-my-geranium-plants Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Overwintering Tender Garden Plants - Ep. 323

  2. Oct 13

    Seed Saving: Harvesting, Drying and Storing for Next Season - Ep. 322

    Every fall somebody asks me if they can save the seeds from that amazing tomato or melon they just ate, and the answer is "maybe." Whether a saved seed grows into the plant you loved gets decided twice. The first time is months earlier, when the flower was pollinated, and the second is after harvest, when the seed either stays in the right conditions or doesn't. In this episode we're covering both. We'll talk about hybrids versus open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, which crops are easiest for beginners, why your zucchini and your pumpkin can cross but your cucumber and your cantaloupe can't, and why peppers cross more often than most people think. Then we'll get into harvesting and cleaning seeds, including what tomato seed fermentation does and doesn't do for seedborne disease, how to dry seeds without cooking them, the simple temperature-plus-humidity rule for storage, and why seed longevity charts don't agree with each other. Let’s dig in. Get your free gift, great coffee, and support the show at https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow Tell me about your garden goals and challenges, get a quote, and get on my calendar: https://JustGrowSomething.com/gardenconsulting Six Steps for Saving Seeds From Your Garden: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/blog/six-steps-for-saving-seeds-from-your-garden References and Resources Choosing Crops, Pollination, and Isolation University of Minnesota Extension — Saving Vegetable Seeds (open-pollinated vs. hybrid, cross-pollination, harvesting, storage, bacterial canker and seed treatments): https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds University of Illinois Extension — How to Save Seeds (terms, isolation methods, isolation distance table, wet and dry harvesting): https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_save_seeds_062021.pdf University of Maryland Extension — Seed Saving 101: Vegetables (three levels of seed saving, tomato and potato-leaf isolation, pepper species crossing, squash after-ripening, storage rule of thumb): https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-02/Seed%20Saving%20Veggies%20Resources.pdf UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Orange County 4-H — Saving Seed from the Three Sisters and Tomatoes (population sizes for home gardens): https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2016-09/248080.pdf NC State Extension, Onslow County — Saving Your Own Seed (hot and sweet pepper crossing): https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/01/saving-your-own-seed/ Barchenger, D.W., et al. (2025). Producing High Quality Pepper Seed. World Vegetable Center, Publication No. 25-1099 (pepper outcrossing rates, bee visitation, seed moisture): https://worldveg.tind.io/record/76153/files/25-1099_Producing%20high%20quality%20pepper%20seed.pdf Harvesting, Cleaning, and Seedborne Disease Oregon State University Extension — Collecting and Storing Seeds From Your Garden (crop-by-crop harvesting, hand-pollinating squash, bean weevils, longevity groups, germination testing): https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden Pradhanang, P.M., & Collier, G. (2009). How effective is hydrochloric acid treatment to control Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis contamination in tomato seed? Acta Horticulturae 808: 81–86 (overnight fermentation vs. washing): https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.808.10 Drying, Storage, and Longevity Colorado State University Extension — Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Fact Sheet 7.221 (drying temperatures, seed moisture, humidity, hard seed, federal minimum germination and longevity table): https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/storing-vegetable-and-flower-seeds/ University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Weekly Crop Update — Storing Vegetable Seed (temperature-plus-humidity rule, storage life halving rules, freezing seed): https://sites.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=2967 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Seed Saving: Harvesting, Drying and Storing for Next Season - Ep. 322

  3. Oct 6

    Preserving Without Canning - Ep. 321

    Canning gets most of the attention, but for a lot of what comes out of the garden, it isn't the best way to put food up. In this episode, we're opening up the rest of the preserving toolbox: freezing, drying, fermenting, refrigerator pickles, and good old-fashioned cold storage. We'll talk about why skipping the blanch (or cutting it short) costs you flavor and color in the freezer, which vegetables you can freeze raw, and why a full freezer rides out a power outage twice as long as a half-empty one. Then we'll get into drying in a humid climate, why vegetables need a blanch before the dehydrator, and what the research does and doesn't say about home freeze dryers. We'll make a simple, safe batch of sauerkraut, cover the one rule for fridge pickles, and wrap up with the temperature and humidity each storage crop wants, from potatoes and onions to carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. There's a crop-by-crop quick-reference chart to download, and a fantastic fermenting book to check out. Let’s dig in! References and Resources: Larry's Coffee (affiliate): https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Download the preserving guide: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/preserve Fermented Vegetables by Kristen and Christopher Shockey: https://amzn.to/4zjI2g4 Freezing National Center for Home Food Preservation — Blanching Vegetables: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/blanching-vegetables/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Onions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-onions/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Bell or Sweet Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-bell-or-sweet-peppers/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Hot Peppers: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-hot-peppers/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Foods That Do Not Freeze Well: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/freeze-general-information/foods-that-do-not-freeze-well/ North Dakota State University Extension — Freezing Vegetables (blanching times, freezer loading, storage time): https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/freezing-vegetables University of Minnesota Extension — How to Freeze Fruit Safely: https://extension.umn.edu/food/preparing/cooking-at-home/food-preservation/freezing/freezing-fruit NC State Extension, Guilford County — Put a Freeze on Foodborne Illness: https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/put-a-freeze-on-foodborne-illness University of Illinois Extension — Power Outages: https://extension.illinois.edu/food-safety/power-outages Li, L., Pegg, R. B., Eitenmiller, R. R., Chun, J. Y., & Kerrihard, A. (2017). Selected nutrient analyses of fresh, fresh-stored, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.02.002 Drying and Freeze-Drying National Center for Home Food Preservation — Food Dehydrators: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/food-dehydrators/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Sun Drying: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/sun-drying/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Packaging and Storing Dried Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/drying-general/packaging-and-storing-dried-foods/ Penn State Extension — Let's Preserve: Drying Fruits and Vegetables (Dehydration): https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-fruits-and-vegetables-dehydration Colorado State University Extension — Drying Vegetables, Fact Sheet 9.308: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/drying-vegetables/ University of Minnesota Extension — Preserving Herbs by Freezing or Drying: https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-herbs-freezing-or-drying South Dakota State University Extension — Preserving Herbs: https://extension.sdstate.edu/preserving-herbs Utah State University Extension — Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer: What to Know Before You Go: https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/buying-a-home-freeze-dryer-what-to-know-before-you-go Utah State University Extension — Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide to Safe and Effective Freeze-Drying: https://extension.usu.edu/foodsafety/research/can-i-freeze-dry-that-a-practical-guide-to-safe-and-effective-freeze-drying Fermenting and Refrigerator Pickles North Dakota State University Extension — Sauerkraut: From Garden to Table: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/sauerkraut-garden-table Penn State Extension — Tips for Making Sauerkraut: https://extension.psu.edu/tips-for-making-sauerkraut UConn Extension — Fermentation: Preservation with Benefits: https://extension.uconn.edu/?p=3394 University of Florida IFAS Extension — Fermented Foods: Sauerkraut, FS474: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FS474 NC State Extension Food Safety — How to Make Quick Refrigerator Pickles: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/news/how-to-make-quick-refrigerator-pickles/ Cold Storage University of Missouri Extension — Home Storage of Fruits and Vegetables in Root Cellars, MP562: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/mp562 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Storing Winter Storage Vegetables: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/storing-winter-storage-vegetables Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Growing Carrots and Parsnips: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-carrots-and-parsnips Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Preserving Without Canning - Ep. 321

  4. Sep 29

    Home Canning Myths Debunked - Ep. 320

    A jar that seals is a jar that seals, and that's about all it tells you. In this episode, we're taking on four home canning myths that keep circulating in gardening groups, on food blogs, and in family recipe boxes: oven canning, open-kettle canning (and its cousin, flipping jars upside down), packing tomatoes and garlic in oil, and the idea that a salsa recipe can be tweaked however you like as long as it tastes right. For each one, we'll look at what the research from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and university extension services shows, why these methods fail, and what to do instead so your harvest stays on the pantry shelf and out of the danger zone. We'll also look at a study that checked 56 salsa canning recipes from food blogs, and what it found might make you rethink where your recipes come from. Let's dig in! Support the show and get your free gift at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow References and Resources: National Center for Home Food Preservation — Ensuring Safe Canned Foods: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ensuring-safe-canned-foods/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Equipment and Methods Not Recommended: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/equipment-and-methods-not-recommended/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — General Information (includes the 1943 history on oven and open-kettle canning): https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Identifying and Handling Spoiled Canned Food: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/identifying-and-handling-spoiled-canned-food/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Tomato Acidification Directions: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/tomato-acidification-directions/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Garlic-in-Oil: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-garlic-in-oil/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Burning Issue: Can I Can My Own Salsa Recipe? (PDF): https://boone.mgcafe.uky.edu/files/nchfp_burning_issue_can_i_can_my_own_salsa_recipe.pdf D'Sa et al. (2007), Survey of Home Canning Practices and Safety Issues in the U.S.: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2007/canning_survey.html Nummer et al. (2004), Studies on Safe Acidification of Salsa for Home Boiling Water Canning: https://nchfp.uga.edu/papers/2004/04ift-tomatosalsaPoster_combined.html Nummer et al. (2011), Current Food Safety Issues of Home-Prepared Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil, Food Protection Trends (PDF): https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Jun-11-Nummer.pdf Savoie & Perry (2019), Adherence of Food Blog Salsa Recipes to Home Canning Guidelines, Food Protection Trends: https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/archive/2019-09-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/ University of Maine Cooperative Extension — The Missing Ingredient: Food Blog Salsa Recipes: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/2023/07/20/the-missing-ingredient-adherence-of-food-blog-salsa-recipes-to-home-canning-guidelines/ Penn State Extension — Say No to Oven Canning: https://extension.psu.edu/say-no-to-oven-canning Penn State Extension — Avoid Open Kettle Canning: Always Process Canned Goods: https://extension.psu.edu/avoid-open-kettle-canning-always-process-canned-goods Penn State Extension — Caution: Canning with Fats and Oils: https://extension.psu.edu/caution-canning-with-fats-and-oils Oregon State University Extension Service — Herbs and Vegetables in Oil, SP 50-701: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/sp-50-701-herbs-vegetables-oil Oregon State University Extension Service — Preserving Garlic: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/preserving-garlic UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — Garlic: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Pub. 8568 (PDF): https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/335681.pdf Colorado State University Extension — Botulism, Fact Sheet 9.305: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/botulism/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Home Canning Myths Debunked - Ep. 320

  5. Sep 22

    End-of-Season Tomato Rescue: Ripening, Freezing, and Preserving - Ep. 319

    Frost is on the way, and the vines are still loaded with green tomatoes. In this episode, we sort out which green tomatoes will finish ripening on your counter (the mature greens and the blushers) and which ones belong in the skillet, the freezer, or a tested relish recipe. You'll learn what cold does to a tomato, why a stretch of chilly weather can cost you ripening ability before frost ever shows up, and four ways to ripen fruit indoors, including how to stage a harvest for a steady supply into November. Then we dig into the canning rule that catches a lot of gardeners off guard. National home-canning guidance says not to can tomatoes from dead or frost-killed vines, and we look at why, what the research does and doesn't show, and what to do with those tomatoes instead. Grab a notebook and let’s dig in! Resources and References: Grab your bag of Larry's Coffee, support the show, and get a free gift! https://larryscoffee.com/justgrow Colorado State University Extension — Ripening Tomatoes Indoors: https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/ripening-tomatoes-indoors/ University of California, Davis, Postharvest Research and Extension Center (Suslow and Cantwell) — Tomato: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality: https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/produce-facts-sheets/tomato Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Can I ripen green tomatoes indoors before frost?: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-ripen-green-tomatoes-indoors-frost National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia) — Canning Tomatoes: Introduction: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/how-do-i-can-tomatoes/canning-tomatoes-introduction/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Resources for Home Preserving Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/entry/resources-for-home-preserving-tomatoes USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, Guide 3 (electronic version by Utah State University Extension, 1995) — Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1600&context=extension_histall National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-tomatoes/ National Center for Home Food Preservation — Freezing Green Tomatoes: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-green-tomatoes/ Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    End-of-Season Tomato Rescue: Ripening, Freezing, and Preserving - Ep. 319

  6. Sep 15

    Cover Crops in the Home Garden - Ep. 318

    Every empty bed in your garden is either growing something for you or growing weeds and losing topsoil. Cover crops are how you make sure it's the first one. In this episode, we get into why cover crops work in both in-ground beds and raised planters, which ones perform best when you sow them in fall, and which ones are worth a spot in your rotation come spring. We'll look at nitrogen-fixing legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch, soil-building grasses like winter rye and oats, and fast-growing summer options like buckwheat that can turn a bare bed around in a matter of weeks. Then we'll cover how to actually terminate a cover crop, whether that's mowing, crimping, tarping, or letting winter do the work for you, so it feeds your soil instead of becoming a weed problem of its own. Let's dig in! References and Resources: Get your sustainably grown coffee and support the show at LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow! University of Maryland Extension — Cover Crops For Gardens: umd.edu/resource/cover-crops-gardens University of Maryland Extension — Offing Cover Crops for Weed Suppression: Featuring the Roller Crimper and Other Mechanical Contraptions: umd.edu/resource/offing-cover-crops-weed-suppression University of New Hampshire Extension — Cover Cropping for the Home Garden [fact sheet]: unh.edu/resource/cover-cropping-home-garden-fact-sheet University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management, Missouri Environment & Garden — Cover Crops Improve Garden Soil: missouri.edu/meg/2014/9/Cover-Crops-Improve-Garden-Soil Oregon State University Extension — Buckwheat Makes a Good Summer Cover Crop for Gardens: oregonstate.edu/news/buckwheat-makes-good-summer-cover-crop-gardens Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program, Cover Crop Guide for NY Growers — Buckwheat as a Summer Cover Crop for Weed Suppression: org/blog/buckwheat-as-a-summer-cover-crop-for-weed-suppression UF/IFAS Extension Duval County — Cover Crop Termination: What Do I Do When It's Over?: ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/2025/09/15/cover-crop-termination-what-do-i-do-when-its-over Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products — Hairy Vetch: purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/vetch.html USDA Agricultural Research Service — Crimson Clover Cover Crop Fact Sheet (PDF): usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60100500/FactSheets/FS04e.pdf Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Cover Crops in the Home Garden - Ep. 318

  7. Sep 8

    Fall-Planted vs. Spring-Planted Onions: Choosing the Right System for Your Garden - Ep. 317

    Onions are having a moment in the seed catalogs right now, and a lot of that buzz is about overwintering them, tucking small transplants into the bed in September, letting them sit through the cold, and pulling bigger, earlier bulbs the following June. It sounds like a clear win. But the biology underneath it is more particular than the marketing lets on, and the trade-offs are real. In this episode, I'm breaking down the day-length science that controls when an onion decides to bulb, the separate cold-exposure trigger that can send it to flower instead, and why those two mechanisms together explain both the promise and the risk of overwintering. I'll walk through the specific varieties that university research has found reliable for this system versus the ones that bolted their way out of a harvest, and I'll lay out the honest cost side of the ledger: a bed occupied for the better part of a year, a real chance of premature flowering if timing or variety selection is off, and whether any of that beats simply direct-seeding or transplanting in spring. Whether you've got seed garlic already planned for a bed and you're eyeing the space next to it for onions, or you're just trying to figure out which system fits your garden, this episode will give you the research to make that call yourself. Let’s dig in. References and Resources: Short Day Onions • Latitude: ~25°–35° N • Daylength trigger: 10–12 hours • Climate: Mild winters (USDA Zone 7+), These are generally planted in fall, mature in late spring. Intermediate Day Onions • Latitude: ~32°–42° N • Daylength trigger: 12–14 hours • Climate: Central U.S. conditions; planted in spring (or early spring in cooler areas) Long Day Onions • Latitude: ~37°–47° N • Daylength trigger: 14–16 hours • Climate: Northern latitudes; often sweet, specialty, or long storage types. Planted in fall or spring depending on climate Get your free fair-trade gift and support the show at https://LarrysCoffee.com/JustGrow Episode 296 — Successions: Never an Empty Bed: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/succession-planting-101-how-to-keep-your-garden-producing-from-spring-through-frost-ep-296 Oregon State University Extension — Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades (PNW 548): oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-548-winter-vegetable-production-small-farms-gardens-west-cascades University of New Hampshire Extension / NH Agricultural Experiment Station — Research Report: Overwintering Onions, 2014–15 (Becky Sideman et al.): unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005477_Rep7652.pdf Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — What Is a Long-Day Type Onion Variety?: extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-long-day-type-onion-variety University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Onions in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-onions NC State Extension Publications — Bulb Onions: ces.ncsu.edu/bulb-onions University of Missouri Extension — Planting, Growing and Harvesting Onions: missouri.edu/news/planting-growing-and-harvesting-onions Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center — Onion, Leek, Shallot & Garlic: clemson.edu/factsheet/onion-leek-shallot-garlic Oregon State University Extension — Plant Onions Early for Bigger Summer Bulbs: oregonstate.edu/news/plant-onions-early-bigger-summer-bulbs Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Newsletter link: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/757286/109572786559649154/share Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Fall-Planted vs. Spring-Planted Onions: Choosing the Right System for Your Garden - Ep. 317

  8. Sep 1

    Choosing a Garlic Variety Based on the Science - Ep. 316

    It's the middle of summer, and I want you thinking about garlic. Not because it's time to plant, but because if you wait until it's time to plant, the good seed garlic may already be gone! In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between hardneck and softneck garlic: the cold-exposure requirement called vernalization that decides which type will bulb properly in your garden, how clove structure and storage life differ between the two, and how to match your choice to your specific climate. I'll also cover why garlic bought at the grocery store is a gamble, what certified disease-free seed garlic protects you from, how much seed to order for the bed you're planting, and exactly what to do in your garden bed this month to set yourself up for a strong harvest next summer. Whether you've grown garlic for years or you're planting your first clove this fall, this episode will get your ordering and your bed prep sorted before the window closes. Let’s dig in! Episode References: Episode 302 — Mulch Matchmaking (winter mulch materials and application for newly planted garlic beds): https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/mulch-matchmaking-choosing-the-right-mulch-for-your-vegetable-garden-ep-302 All the garlic episodes: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/search/garlic Resources: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production for the Gardener (Circular 854): caes.uga.edu/publications/C854/garlic-production-for-the-gardener University of Minnesota Extension — Growing Garlic in Home Gardens: umn.edu/vegetables/growing-garlic University of Missouri Extension — Fall Is a Good Time to Plant Garlic: missouri.edu/news/fall-is-a-good-time-to-plant-garlic Lincoln University of Missouri Cooperative Extension — Garlic Production in Missouri: edu/publications/garlic-production-in-missouri.html Utah State University Extension — How to Grow Garlic in Your Garden: usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/garlic-in-the-garden Oregon State University Extension — Get Your Garlic On: A Primer on Planting, Growing and Harvesting: oregonstate.edu/news/get-your-garlic-primer-planting-growing-harvesting Cornell Cooperative Extension, Warren County — Garlic: cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/garlic Penn State Extension — Garlic Production: psu.edu/garlic-production University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (Contra Costa Master Gardeners) — Garlic, Love It or Leave It: edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/garlic-love-it-or-leave-it Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Choosing a Garlic Variety Based on the Science - Ep. 316
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About

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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