Homegrown: Your Backyard Garden Podcast

Kathi Rodgers
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Biweekly

Grow a successful vegetable garden, no matter where you live.

  1. Jul 27

    30 Years of Growing Tomatoes: Lessons From My Garden

    After 30 years of growing tomatoes, I've made just about every mistake there is to make. I've experimented with varieties, trellises, pruning methods, containers, raised beds, and just about everything in between. In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons my tomato plants have taught me. We'll talk about finding what works in your garden, why experimenting is part of the process, and the simple practices I've settled on after three decades of trial and error. If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing it right," this episode is for you. Transcript/related article: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/07/tomato-growing-tips.html Download your FREE Tomato Growing Guide here. Tomato growing articles on OakHillHomestead.com: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/p/gardening.html#tomatoes Homegrown Garden Blueprint: https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/ Sign up for garden tips, seasonal ideas, and to be notified of new episodes by email:  https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  2. Jul 13

    When to Harvest Vegetables from Your Garden

    The seed packet says your carrots should be ready in 70 days - but what if they're still tiny? Or your broccoli starts flowering before you harvest it? In this episode of HOMEGROWN, we're talking about how to know when your vegetables are truly ready to harvest. You'll learn why "days to maturity" are only a guideline and how to recognize the signs that common garden crops are ready to pick. Thanks for hanging out in the garden with me today! Transcript/related post: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/07/when-to-harvest-vegetables.html Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook - https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/ Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  3. Jun 29

    Tomato Hornworms: How to Spot Them and Save Your Plants

    Tomato hornworms are one of the most destructive pests in the vegetable garden. These giant green caterpillars can strip a tomato plant of leaves before you even realize they're there. Learn how to identify tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms, recognize the signs of damage, protect your tomato plants using companion planting, beneficial insects, and other organic gardening methods. You'll also discover a surprising and fun way to find hidden hornworms. Download your FREE Tomato Growing Guide here. Related post/transcript:  https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/tomato-hornworm-control.html Blacklight flashlight (UV light): https://amzn.to/4xOnEnm  (affiliate link) Companion Planting episode #31 for more information on preventing insect pests: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/05/beginners-guide-to-companion-planting.html If you’re ready to take your garden a step further, the Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook will help you map out your entire garden with confidence, from what to plant to how it all fits together.  Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email:  https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  4. Jun 15

    Beyond Vegetables: Growing Fruit in Your Backyard

    Let's talk about simple ways to grow fruit right alongside your vegetables - no fruit trees required! From strawberries in containers, to melons, berries, kiwi and some unusual curiosities too, you'll discover how fruit can fit into gardens of almost any size. No matter how large or small your backyard garden might be - even containers on a patio - adding fruit to your garden can increase your harvest and make your space even more productive. Join me as we explore practical ideas for growing fresh, homegrown fruit right where you're already growing your vegetables. Related post/transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/grow-fruit-in-your-vegetable-garden.html.html Kiwiberry botanical name: Actinidia arguta Homegrown Garden Blueprint: https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/ Seed source for berry seeds, melons, cucamelons and more: Mary's Heirloom Seeds Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email:  https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  5. Jun 1

    How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden, and Why It's Important

    Want more tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons from your backyard garden? Pollinators may be the missing piece: they help your vegetables produce bigger, better harvests. In this episode, we’re talking about how pollination works, which pollinators are helping in your garden, and simple ways to attract more bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects naturally. Small changes can make a surprisingly big difference. Grab your free Pollinator-Friendly Plants guide - a handy reference chart of plants that will compliment your vegetable garden and attract pollinators.  Transcript/Related blog post: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/why-your-garden-needs-bees.html Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook - https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/ Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  6. May 18

    How to Get Rid of Cabbage Worms Naturally

    Cabbage worms can turn healthy plants into a mess almost overnight, but you don’t have to let them take over your garden.  In this episode, I’ll walk you through what they are, how they get there, and the simple, effective ways to stop them before the damage gets out of hand. We’ll talk about prevention, and organic solutions.  If you grow cabbage, broccoli, kale, or other brassicas, this is one problem you can get ahead of. Related post/transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2018/05/fighting-cabbage-worms.html How to Grow Cabbage in Your Backyard Garden: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2019/03/how-to-grow-cabbage.html Homegrown Garden Blueprint: https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/ Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email:  https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  7. May 4

    Not All Plants Get Along: Companion Planting for Beginners

    Not all plants get along in the garden, while others actually help each other grow better. Let's walk through the basics of companion planting - you’ll learn what it is, why it works, and a few easy combinations you can try in your own garden, along with a few to avoid. Transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/05/companion-planting-explained.html And if you’re ready to take it a step further, the Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook will help you map out your entire garden with confidence, from what to plant to where it all fits together.  If you’d like an easy way to try companion planting, my free Mini Salad Garden printable shares simple plant combinations you can grow together - https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/jzof20c210  Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

  8. Apr 21

    4 Beginner Gardening Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

    Starting a vegetable garden is exciting, but many new gardeners unknowingly make a few simple mistakes that can affect how well their plants grow. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 beginner gardening mistakes and how to avoid them so your garden can grow healthier and more productive this season. If you're just getting started and would like help planning your garden, take a look at The Homegrown Garden Blueprint, my step-by-step workbook designed to help you avoid common mistakes and grow with confidence. Transcript/Related blog post: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/04/beginner-gardening-mistakes-how-to-avoid-them.html    Homegrown Garden Blueprint:  https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/p/homegrown-garden-blueprint.html Subscribe and Review New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas. If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify Keep in Touch Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

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Grow a successful vegetable garden, no matter where you live.

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