The Messed Up Gardener

Esther William (Aitken)
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  • Home & Garden

Welcome to The Messed-Up Gardener, where gardening doesn't have to be perfect, expensive or complicated to be incredibly rewarding. I'm Esther Williams, also known as The Plant Lady, and if there's one thing I've learned from years of getting my hands dirty, it's that there's no single right way to garden. Some days everything grows beautifully. Other days the seedlings fall over, the tomatoes refuse to cooperate, and something has eaten the lettuce before you've even had a chance to pick it. That's gardening. And I wouldn't have it any other way! Whether you're growing your very first tomato plant, trying to make sense of what's happening in your soil, or you've been gardening for years and still find yourself scratching your head, there's something here for you. Each week, we explore the practical side of gardening, from growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to understanding soil health, plant problems, composting, propagation and everything in between. We'll also venture into the wonderful worlds of bees, mushrooms, hydroponics and a few other gardening adventures along the way. With decades of hands-on horticultural experience and a background in plant ecology, I love getting beyond the usual gardening advice and exploring why things happen, not just what we're supposed to do about them. No unnecessary complications, no expectation of picture-perfect gardens, and certainly no need to spend a fortune. Just practical gardening knowledge, a little humour, plenty of real-life experience and the occasional gardening disaster. Because I firmly believe that gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. So grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and come get a little messy in the garden with me. I'll buzz you later!

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 197: What Does “Well-Drained Soil” Actually Mean?

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes “Plant in fertile, well-drained soil.” We see that advice everywhere. But what does well-drained soil actually mean? Does the water need to disappear immediately? Should the soil ever stay wet? And why can a plant still struggle even when water seems to drain away perfectly well? In Episode 197 of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams goes back to one of the basics and looks at what good drainage really means for plant roots. 🌱 In This Episode You’ll Discover: 🌿 Why well-drained soil does not mean dry soil 🌿 Why roots need oxygen as well as water 🌿 How soil texture, structure and compaction affect drainage 🌿 Why gravel in the bottom of pots does not work the way many of us were taught 🌿 How to tell whether your soil is genuinely draining well If “plant in well-drained soil” has always felt a little vague, this episode will help you understand what is actually happening around the roots. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🎄🍄 Christmas Mushroom Grow Kit Pre-Orders Our limited Christmas Mushroom Grow Kit pre-orders are now open. Stock is limited, and kits will be sent out the week before Christmas so they arrive fresh and ready to grow over the holiday period. 🎁 Pre-order here: https://www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz/products/christmas-mushroom-grow-kit-limited-pre-order 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Want to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Use code SHROOM10 at checkout for 10% off your first full-priced order at Mushrooms By The Sea. 🌐 https://www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz/ Discount applies to full-priced products only and excludes already discounted products and bundles. 🌿 Let’s Keep the Conversation Growing Have you ever struggled with waterlogged soil, heavy clay or a garden bed that just never seems to dry out? I’d love to hear what is happening in your garden. 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms By The Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms By The Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles. The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 197: What Does “Well-Drained Soil” Actually Mean?

  2. Oct 31

    Ep 196: Why Do Your Tomatoes Look Healthy but Refuse to Grow?

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Your tomato plant looks healthy. The leaves are green. There are no obvious pests or disease. But while the tomatoes around it are growing... ...this one seems to be doing absolutely nothing. So does it need more water? More fertiliser? Or is something else slowing it down? In Episode 196 of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams looks at why healthy tomato plants can suddenly stall and what may really be slowing them down. 🌱 In This Episode You’ll Discover: 🍅 Why temperature, roots, water and light can all affect growth 🍅 Why more fertiliser is not always the answer 🍅 How transplanting, wind and competition can slow a plant down 🍅 How to tell whether your tomato has genuinely stalled—or simply needs more time If your tomato looks healthy but seems to be going nowhere, this episode will help you work out what may be holding it back before you start trying to fix everything at once. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Want to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Use code SHROOM10 at checkout for 10% off your first full-priced order at Mushrooms By The Sea. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced products only and excludes already discounted products and bundles. 🌿 Let’s Keep the Conversation Growing Do you have a tomato plant that seems to have stopped growing while everything around it is taking off? I’d love to hear what is happening in your garden. 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 196: Why Do Your Tomatoes Look Healthy but Refuse to Grow?

  3. Oct 10

    Ep 195: The Art of Growing Crops in Shady Spaces

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Every garden seems to have that one awkward spot. Beside the house. Behind the shed. Under a tree. Or along a fence where the sunshine barely makes an appearance. You plant something, water it, feed it and hope for the best. But the plants struggle, the harvest disappoints, and eventually you start wondering whether anything useful will grow there. Here's the thing... Shade doesn't automatically mean wasted garden space. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores which vegetables, herbs and other edible crops can grow in shady conditions, why some plants struggle with reduced sunlight, and how to make those overlooked garden spaces productive. Because not all shade is the same. And choosing the right crop can make an enormous difference. 🌱 In This Episode You'll Discover: 🌿 The difference between full shade, partial shade and dappled sunlight 🌿 Which leafy vegetables grow best in partially shaded gardens 🌿 Why tomatoes, courgettes and other fruiting crops often struggle with reduced sunlight 🌿 Which herbs and root crops are worth trying in lower-light conditions 🌿 How shade changes watering, soil moisture and airflow 🌿 Why some plants survive in shade but never produce a worthwhile harvest 🌿 How containers can help you make better use of changing sunlight 🌿 Why oyster mushrooms offer another way to grow food in sheltered, shady spaces 🌿 How to create productive growing zones within a shady garden 🌿 A simple shade assessment to help you choose what to grow next If you've been struggling with a shady garden bed, this episode will help you stop fighting the conditions and start working with them. Because sometimes the answer isn't more fertiliser, more water or another gardening trick. It's simply choosing a crop that actually wants to grow there. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 Turn Your Shady Corner Into a Mushroom Patch Did you know that shaded garden spaces can also be suitable for growing gourmet oyster mushrooms? At Mushrooms By The Sea, we have outdoor oyster mushroom patch kits available in Raglan, Pink and Phoenix Oyster varieties. Each kit contains approximately 3 kg of mushroom mycelium, enough to establish a patch of approximately 2 m × 2 m with suitable straw and fresh woodchips. With the right moisture, airflow and growing conditions, that forgotten shady corner could become another productive part of your garden. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Want to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Use code SHROOM10 at checkout for 10% off your first full-priced order at Mushrooms By The Sea. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and excludes already discounted products and bundles. 🌿 Let's Keep the Conversation Growing Do you have a shady corner in your garden that you've struggled to grow anything in? Or have you discovered a crop that thrives where others struggle? I'd love to hear about it! 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share helps more people discover the show. 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden and the Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. Have an incredibly abundant week, and I'll buzz you later. The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Use code SHROOM10 for 10% off your first full-priced order. Excludes discounted products and bundles. The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 195: The Art of Growing Crops in Shady Spaces

  4. Oct 3

    Ep 194: Why Are Your Seedlings Growing Tall, Thin and Weak?

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Your seedlings germinated beautifully. Everything seemed to be going exactly to plan. Then almost overnight... ...they stretched. The stems became long and thin. They started leaning toward the window. Some began falling over. Others looked pale and weak. And suddenly that tray of promising little seedlings looks as though it may never survive the journey into the garden. So what has gone wrong? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams takes a closer look at why seedlings become tall, thin and weak, what is actually happening when they stretch, whether leggy seedlings can still be saved, and how to grow stronger seedlings from the beginning. Because a leggy seedling is not simply growing too much. It is growing in the wrong proportions. And one of the biggest clues is usually light. Seedlings naturally grow toward light. But when the available light is too weak, they can begin investing heavily in height as they try to reach better conditions. Add warmth, overcrowding, still air or poor watering habits into the mix... ...and those little seedlings can become surprisingly weak, surprisingly quickly. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why seedlings become tall, thin and "leggy" 🌱 What phototropism is and why seedlings naturally lean toward light 🌱 Why a bright-looking windowsill may still not provide enough useful light 🌱 Why simply rotating your seed tray doesn't actually solve the underlying problem 🌱 How warm conditions combined with weak light can encourage rapid, stretched growth 🌱 Why seedlings may benefit from slightly cooler conditions once germination has occurred 🌱 How overcrowding causes seedlings to compete for light, root space, water and nutrients 🌱 Why thinning seedlings can result in stronger plants 🌱 How gentle air movement can help seedlings develop sturdier stems 🌱 Why a leaning seedling doesn't automatically need more water 🌱 How to tell the difference between an ordinary leggy seedling and damping-off 🌱 Whether stretched seedlings can be rescued — and when restarting may actually be the better option 🌱 Why tomatoes are particularly forgiving when it comes to planting leggy seedlings deeper 🌱 Why not every seedling should be buried deeply when it is transplanted 🌱 How hardening off helps prepare indoor-grown seedlings for sunlight, wind and changing outdoor conditions 🌱 A simple seedling check to help you work out what is actually causing the problem If your seedlings are racing upward but becoming weaker rather than stronger, this episode will help you stop guessing and start looking at the growing conditions around them. Because fast growth is not always good growth. And sometimes the solution isn't more fertiliser... ...or more water. It is giving the plant the conditions it needs to grow strong, rather than simply the conditions that encourage it to grow fast. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Many of you know that growing food is a big part of my world. Alongside the vegetable garden, I also grow gourmet mushrooms through Mushrooms By The Sea. If you’ve ever wanted to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home, I’d love to give you 10% off your first full-priced order. Simply use the code: 🍄 SHROOM10 at checkout. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show. I’d also love to hear... What are you growing from seed at the moment — and are your seedlings short and sturdy, or enthusiastically leaning toward the nearest window? 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook / Instagram 🌿 The Messed-Up Gardener 🍄 Mushrooms By The Sea 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌱 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. Have an incredibly abundant week, and I’ll buzz you later. The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 194: Why Are Your Seedlings Growing Tall, Thin and Weak?

  5. Sep 26

    Ep 193: Is Your Mulch Helping the Garden - or Hiding a Problem?

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Your garden bed looks beautiful. Fresh mulch covers the soil. The weeds are hidden. Everything looks tidy and protected. But what is actually happening underneath? Is the soil staying too wet? Are slugs sheltering beside your seedlings? Or is the mulch absorbing water before it ever reaches the roots? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams explores how mulch affects your garden soil, when it helps, and when it can create problems you might not even realise are there. Because mulch is not automatically beneficial simply because it covers the soil. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 How mulch affects soil moisture, temperature and root health 🌱 Why too much mulch can cause waterlogging, delayed soil warming and poor plant growth 🌱 The advantages and disadvantages of different mulching materials 🌱 Why mulch depth matters and why stems, crowns and trunks need breathing space 🌱 How mulch can shelter slugs, snails and persistent weeds 🌱 Why wet mulch doesn't always mean wet soil 🌱 How mulch can conceal compaction, poor drainage and unhealthy root conditions 🌱 A simple mulch diagnosis to help you identify problems before adding another layer If your plants are struggling despite regular watering and careful garden maintenance, it might be time to look beneath the surface. Because a beautifully mulched garden bed is not necessarily a healthy one. Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is pull the mulch aside and see what is actually happening underneath. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Many of you know that growing food is a big part of my world. Alongside the vegetable garden, I also grow gourmet mushrooms through Mushrooms By The Sea. If you’ve ever wanted to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home, I’d love to give you 10% off your first full-priced order. Simply use the code: 🍄 SHROOM10 at checkout. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and cannot be used on products already on sale, discounted products or bundles. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show. I’d also love to hear... What are you using to mulch your garden right now – and have you ever checked what is happening underneath? 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook / Instagram 🌿 The Messed-Up Gardener 🍄 Mushrooms By The Sea 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌱 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. Have an incredibly abundant week, and I'll buzz you later! The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.   The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 193: Is Your Mulch Helping the Garden - or Hiding a Problem?

  6. Sep 19

    Ep 192: Why Flowers Appear but Fruit Never Follows

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Your plant is covered in flowers. The bees are visiting. Everything looks as though a bumper harvest should be just around the corner. Then the flowers fall off... ...and nothing follows. No tomatoes. No courgettes. No pumpkins. No fruit at all. So what has gone wrong? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams takes a closer look at what actually has to happen between a flower opening and a fruit beginning to grow - and the surprisingly large number of places where that process can stop. Because flowers are only the beginning. Pollination still has to happen. Fertilisation has to succeed. The right kind of flower needs to be present. The weather has to cooperate. And the plant needs enough water, energy and healthy root function to support the developing fruit. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why seeing flowers doesn’t necessarily mean fruit will follow 🌱 The important difference between pollination and fertilisation 🌱 How to tell male and female flowers apart on courgettes, pumpkins, cucumbers and squash 🌱 Why bees visiting your flowers doesn’t always mean successful fruit set 🌱 How heat, cold, rain and wind can interfere with pollination and fertilisation 🌱 Why inconsistent watering can cause flowers and young fruit to drop 🌱 Why adding more fertiliser may not solve the problem - and can sometimes make it worse 🌱 How incomplete pollination can lead to misshapen strawberries, poorly filled corn cobs and courgettes that begin growing before stopping 🌱 Why some fruit trees need a compatible pollinator flowering at the same time 🌱 A simple flower-to-fruit check to help you work out where the process may be failing If your garden is producing plenty of flowers but very little fruit, this episode will help you stop guessing and start looking at what is actually happening. Because a fallen flower is only the visible result. The real cause may have happened hours - or even days - earlier. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Many of you know that growing food is a big part of my world. Alongside the vegetable garden, I also grow gourmet mushrooms through Mushrooms By The Sea. If you’ve ever wanted to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home, I’d love to give you 10% off your first order. Simply use the code: 🍄 SHROOM10 at checkout. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and cannot be used on products already on sale or discounted. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show. I’d also love to hear... What is flowering in your garden right now - and is the fruit actually following? 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook / Instagram 🌿 The Messed-Up Gardener 🍄 Mushrooms By The Sea 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌱 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 192: Why Flowers Appear but Fruit Never Follows

  7. Sep 12

    Ep 191: Why Your Compost Is Not Breaking Down

    🎧 Press Play to Listen to Today’s Episode Free Gardening Resources at the bottom of the show notes Your compost pile is full. You’ve added kitchen scraps, grass clippings, dry leaves and cardboard. But weeks later... ...not much seems to be happening. The pile is cold. The cardboard is still cardboard. Or worse, everything has become wet, slimy and smelly. So what has gone wrong? In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams takes a closer look at what is actually happening inside a compost pile — and why decomposition sometimes slows down or seems to stop altogether. Because composting is a living process. And when the organisms doing the work are missing the right balance of food, moisture, oxygen or time, the pile will tell you. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 Why some compost piles break down faster than others 🌱 How to balance carbon-rich browns and nitrogen-rich greens 🌱 How to tell whether your compost is too wet or too dry 🌱 What bad smells can reveal about conditions inside the pile 🌱 When turning your compost helps — and when it doesn’t 🌱 Why a cold or slow compost pile is not necessarily a failed one 🌱 A simple way to diagnose what your compost actually needs If your compost has been sitting there doing very little, this episode will help you stop guessing and start reading the clues. Because sometimes your compost doesn’t need another activator, ingredient or quick fix. It simply needs the right conditions to get back to work. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Many of you know that growing food is a big part of my world. Alongside the vegetable garden, I also grow gourmet oyster mushrooms through Mushrooms By The Sea. If you’ve ever wanted to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home, I’d love to give you 10% off your first order. Simply use the code: 🍄 SHROOM10 at checkout. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and cannot be used on products already on sale or discounted. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show. I’d also love to hear... What is happening in your compost pile right now: too dry, too wet, smelly, cold—or simply very slow? 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook / Instagram 🌿 The Messed-Up Gardener 🍄 Mushrooms By The Sea 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌱 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Ep 191: Why Your Compost Is Not Breaking Down

  8. Aug 29

    Episode 190: What Is Really Happening When a Plant Wilts?

    A wilted plant can make us reach for the hose before checking anything else. But wilting does not always mean the soil is dry. A plant can wilt in wet soil, after transplanting, during hot weather, in cold conditions, or when damaged roots cannot move water properly. In this episode of The Messed-Up Gardener, Esther Williams takes a slightly more technical look at what wilting really means and why very different problems can create the same drooping leaves. In this episode you’ll discover: 🌱 What turgor pressure is and why plants lose their firmness 🌱 How both dry soil and waterlogged roots can cause wilting 🌱 Why some plants droop during the hottest part of the day and recover later 🌱 How transplant shock, root-bound pots, wind and cold soil affect water movement 🌱 Why water can run through a pot while the root ball remains dry 🌱 How the timing of the wilt can help reveal the cause 🌱 A simple diagnosis process to use before reaching for the hose If you have ever looked at a drooping plant and assumed it needed water... This episode will help you slow down and check what is really happening. Because watering a thirsty plant may save it. But watering a plant with damaged, oxygen-starved roots may make the problem worse. The symptom may look the same. The response should not be. 🎧 Press play above to listen. 🍄 A Little Gift for NZ Podcast Listeners Many of you know that growing food is a big part of my world. Alongside the vegetable garden, I also grow gourmet oyster mushrooms through Mushrooms By The Sea. If you’ve ever wanted to try growing your own gourmet mushrooms at home, I’d love to give you 10% off your first order. Simply use the code: 🍄 SHROOM10 at checkout. 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz Discount applies to full-priced items only and cannot be used on products already on sale or discounted. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another gardener or leaving a review. Every share and every review helps more people discover the show. I’d also love to hear... What is the first thing you usually do when one of your plants begins to wilt? 📩 themessedupgardener@gmail.com 🌐 www.themessedupgardener.com 🌐 www.mushroomsbythesea.co.nz 🌿 Follow the Journey Facebook / Instagram 🌿 The Messed-Up Gardener 🍄 Mushrooms By The Sea 🌱 Helpful Garden Resources If you’d like to keep learning, you can explore some of my practical gardening resources: 🌱 Create Your Own DIY Self-Watering Planters A step-by-step guide to building simple systems that help your garden thrive. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters 🌿 Free Gardening Resources 🌱 12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden Practical guidance from planning through to harvest. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Organic Gardening Cheat Sheet Simple natural methods for chemical-free growing. https://stan.store/EstherA 🌿 Garden Goals Planning Worksheet A practical worksheet to help you design your garden with purpose and intention. https://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now Until next time, remember... The Messed-Up Gardener is brought to you by Mushrooms by the Sea. Want to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home? Visit Mushrooms by the Sea and use code SHROOM10 at checkout to receive 10% off your first full-priced order. Discount applies to full-priced products only and does not apply to already discounted products or bundles.

    Episode 190: What Is Really Happening When a Plant Wilts?
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Trailer

About

Welcome to The Messed-Up Gardener, where gardening doesn't have to be perfect, expensive or complicated to be incredibly rewarding. I'm Esther Williams, also known as The Plant Lady, and if there's one thing I've learned from years of getting my hands dirty, it's that there's no single right way to garden. Some days everything grows beautifully. Other days the seedlings fall over, the tomatoes refuse to cooperate, and something has eaten the lettuce before you've even had a chance to pick it. That's gardening. And I wouldn't have it any other way! Whether you're growing your very first tomato plant, trying to make sense of what's happening in your soil, or you've been gardening for years and still find yourself scratching your head, there's something here for you. Each week, we explore the practical side of gardening, from growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to understanding soil health, plant problems, composting, propagation and everything in between. We'll also venture into the wonderful worlds of bees, mushrooms, hydroponics and a few other gardening adventures along the way. With decades of hands-on horticultural experience and a background in plant ecology, I love getting beyond the usual gardening advice and exploring why things happen, not just what we're supposed to do about them. No unnecessary complications, no expectation of picture-perfect gardens, and certainly no need to spend a fortune. Just practical gardening knowledge, a little humour, plenty of real-life experience and the occasional gardening disaster. Because I firmly believe that gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget. So grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and come get a little messy in the garden with me. I'll buzz you later!

Information

  • Creator
    Esther William (Aitken)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    212
  • Rating
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