The Dirt on Gardening

Andre Baptiste, Graylen Brown, Derek Haynes
  • 5.0 (1)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Dirt on Gardening Podcast brings real talk and real science to gardeners of every level. Hosted by Andre the Farmer, Urban Gardening with Gray, and The Chocolate Botanist, this near-weekly podcast (Tuesdays at 7 PM EST) blends casual conversation with expert insight on horticulture, botany, and practical gardening. Whether you're growing in a small urban space, tending land in the countryside, or nurturing houseplants indoors, you’ll get actionable how-to advice, plant science made approachable, and honest discussions rooted in experience. From beginner basics to advanced techniques, these three friends dig into sustainable gardening, urban farming, plant care, and the science behind how plants grow. If you love gardening tips, plant education, and authentic conversations about horticulture, then you'll dig The Dirt on Gardening!

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Cold Weather Gardening Tips: How to Protect Plants from Frost and Freeze

    A major cold snap is pushing freezing temperatures deep into warm climates—bringing serious frost and freeze risk for gardens, fruit trees, and container plants. In this episode of the Dirt on Gardening Podcast, Andre the Farmer, Urban Gardening with Gray, and The Chocolate Botanist (Derek) share practical cold weather gardening tips to help you protect plants from frost damage, hard freezes, and sustained cold. You’ll learn why tropical and subtropical plants (like mango trees and banana plants) are more vulnerable than cold-hardy trees, what freezing does to plant cells, and the best DIY methods for freeze protection—including plant covers, breathable blankets and sheets, propping covers to avoid leaf contact, moving pots near the house for a windbreak, grouping containers for warmth, and using mulch to insulate roots. The crew also discusses simple heat-boosting options like incandescent Christmas lights, gentle heaters, and DIY heat sinks (dark buckets of water) to raise temperatures just enough to save buds, blooms, and fruit. Plus: a reality check on whether gardening can replace your grocery bill, what “intentional gardening” really means, and a debate on planting by moon phases—tradition vs. measurable results. If you’re searching for how to cover plants for frost, how to protect tropical plants in winter, or freeze prep for container gardens, this episode is your cold-snap survival guide.   Support Our Sponsors: Retain Spray: retainspray.com Sonia’s Bug Spray: https://sonias-essentials.myshopify.com/ Thryve Roots: ThryveRoots.com Andre The Farmer’s Pepper Sauce: andrethefarmer.com #Gardening #UrbanFarming #podcast #TheChocolateBotanist #BlackPlantCreators #GrowYourOwn #Horticulture #PlantCare #andrethefarmer #FarmToBalcony #BudgetGardening #GardenTips #GardenLife #PlantParent #UrbanGardening

    1 hr

  2. 3D AGO

    Seed Starting, Sans Stress: Kicking Off Season 2

    We’re back! In our Season 2 premiere, the three of us shake off some live-stream rust, catch up on travel, family news, and what’s sprouting in our lives and gardens. Then we dive into practical, no‑stress seed starting: start something you love, use your planting calendar, mind your media, keep lights close, and don’t fear a little failure. We talk germination triggers, damping off, fans for sturdier seedlings, when to pull domes and heat mats, how much daily light to give (often 14–16 hours), and making that tricky handoff from tray to garden. We also share what we’re growing this year—Andre’s finally tackling rice and kiwano; Derek’s dreaming gourds and uncommon mints; Gray’s running back Korean melons and firing up Gaillardia ‘Goblin’—plus a nifty sphagnum‑moss propagation box. We swap tips for protecting seedlings in cold snaps (thermal mass, wind shelter, grouping) and even wander into food hot‑takes (raisins? chocolate + fruit?) and the lore of perpetual stew. It’s a lively, learning‑packed kickoff to the season.'Andre the Farmer (site & shop)': https://andrethefarmer.com/'The Chocolate Botanist (Derek Haynes)': https://thechocolatebotanist.com/'Urban Gardening with Gray': https://urbangardeningwithgray.com/'PlantCon (official site)': https://www.plantcon.org/'PlantMania Expo (Raleigh, NC)': https://plantmaniaexpo.com/'Botanical Interests (seeds)': https://www.botanicalinterests.com/'Find Your Local Cooperative Extension': https://extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/'Epic Gardening (articles, videos, products)': https://www.epicgardening.com/'Kiwano (horned) melon — Cucumis metuliferus': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumis_metuliferus'Noni (Morinda citrifolia)': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morinda_citrifolia'Sonia’s Essential Mosquito Spray ("Sonia’s Bug Spray")': https://sonias-essentials.myshopify.com/'Retain — Organic Pruning Tool Cleaner (Walmart listing)': https://www.walmart.com/ip/14855670600'Thryve Roots (OMRI‑listed root & soil booster)': https://thryveroots.com/   Support Our Sponsors: Retain Spray: retainspray.com Sonia’s Bug Spray: https://sonias-essentials.myshopify.com/ Thryve Roots: ThryveRoots.com Andre The Farmer’s Pepper Sauce: andrethefarmer.com #Gardening #UrbanFarming #podcast #TheChocolateBotanist #BlackPlantCreators #GrowYourOwn #Horticulture #PlantCare #andrethefarmer #FarmToBalcony #BudgetGardening #GardenTips #GardenLife #PlantParent #UrbanGardening

    59 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

The Dirt on Gardening Podcast brings real talk and real science to gardeners of every level. Hosted by Andre the Farmer, Urban Gardening with Gray, and The Chocolate Botanist, this near-weekly podcast (Tuesdays at 7 PM EST) blends casual conversation with expert insight on horticulture, botany, and practical gardening. Whether you're growing in a small urban space, tending land in the countryside, or nurturing houseplants indoors, you’ll get actionable how-to advice, plant science made approachable, and honest discussions rooted in experience. From beginner basics to advanced techniques, these three friends dig into sustainable gardening, urban farming, plant care, and the science behind how plants grow. If you love gardening tips, plant education, and authentic conversations about horticulture, then you'll dig The Dirt on Gardening!

Information

  • Creator
    Andre Baptiste, Graylen Brown, Derek Haynes
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Dirt on Gardening