Hilary and guest Kelly Phelan discuss the importance of seed ordering in gardening, touching on topics such as the benefits of growing from seed, how to choose seed suppliers, and understanding seed definitions like organic vs. non-organic, open-pollinated vs. hybrid, and heirloom seeds. They also delve into the differences between hybrid seeds and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The episode aims to provide listeners with foundational knowledge that can help make informed decisions about their seed orders.

In episode 120 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by Meg Cowden, author of 'Plant Grow, Harvest, Repeat: Growing a Bounty of Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers by Mastering the Art of Succession Planting.' They discuss Meg's background in forestry and natural resource management, her journey into gardening, and the evolution of her extensive garden. The conversation delves into the nuances of succession planting, crop layering, and interplanting techniques, with Meg offering insights into her methods and how they can be applied in various garden sizes and climates. They also touch on the importance of understanding plant lifespans, direct seeding crops, and planning for fall gardens by considering the Persephone period.

In episode 119 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate, to dig into the cultivation of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. They discuss the importance of scientific nomenclature, focusing on Brassica oleraceae, and emphasize aspects of growing these crops, such as spacing, nitrogen requirements, and transplanting. The episode offers practical advice for dealing with pests, managing nitrogen levels, and ensuring proper growth conditions. It also touches on the challenges of growing cauliflower and the importance of timely harvesting. The discussion aims to help home gardeners improve the success of their brassica crops.

Here's a link to our books!

In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Kyle from Urban Farmstead discusses his experiences growing subtropical plants like oak leaf papaya and various guava varieties in his Sacramento backyard. Kyle shares insights into his zone 9B climate, how he adapts soil for his tropical plants, and specific techniques for growing and maintaining these crops. He also talks about the cold tolerance of different plant varieties, including lemon guava and white sapote, and mentions other noteworthy plants like Babaco papaya and ice cream bean. Check out Kyle's YouTube channel for a full garden tour and more detailed information on his diverse plant collection.

In Episode 117 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hillary Dahl discusses rainwater harvesting with Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening. Kevin details the extensive rainwater harvesting system he installed on his suburban San Diego property. They talk about the importance of capturing rainwater in a low-rainfall climate like San Diego’s and the logistics of such systems. Kevin provides insights into the economic and practical aspects of rainwater harvesting, while Hilary shares her experiences and thoughts on integrating these systems into home gardens. They also discuss the environmental benefits, costs, and challenges of rainwater harvesting, while offering practical advice for those considering similar projects.

YouTube video of Kevin's rainwater harvesting system

In episode 116 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl interviews Stefani Bittner, owner of Homestead Design Collective and author, about her latest book, 'The Fragrant Flower Garden.' They discuss the often-overlooked importance of fragrance in gardens, the role of fragrant plants in attracting pollinators, and tips for integrating these plants into existing gardens. Bittner also shares insights on designing a garden with a variety of fragrant plants, the art of creating flower arrangements, and practical advice for small-space gardening using multifunctional, fragrant edibles. The episode concludes with a conversation about ongoing projects, including Bittner's design work in Italy and upcoming workshops.

Order "The Fragrant Flower Garden" from Bookshop.org

Stefani's business, Homestead Design Collective

Morning Sun Herb Farm (source for flowering basil)

In episode 115 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl interviews Christian Douglas of Christian Douglas Design and the Backyard Farm Co. about his new book, The Food Forward Garden. They discuss Christian's principles of good food forward design. They also discuss integrating vegetable gardens into existing landscapes. Christian shares insights from his diverse background in horticulture, design, and permaculture, emphasizing the value of growing food for personal and environmental benefits.

Buy Christian's book from Bookshop.org: "The Food Forward Garden: A Complete Guide to Designing and Growing Edible Landscapes"

Shop the Freyr trellis and accessories: seattleurbanfarmco.com

In this episode we discuss the benefits and practicalities of installing and using drip irrigation systems in vegetable gardens. We delve into the specifics of drip irrigation, explaining how it delivers water efficiently to the soil, reduces weed pressure, and minimizes water waste. We also cover the basics of setting up a drip system and the maintenance required, as well as adapting watering schedules to various climates and soil types. 

Adding organic matter to your garden is crucial for vegetable growing success, and for many gardeners, compost is the most readily available source of organic matter. In this episode we discuss how to use compost as a fall garden amendment to improve and protect your soil over the wet winter months.

Hilary Dahl, host of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, announces a new season featuring guest gardening experts and enthusiasts. While Hilary continues to work on new episodes she'll be re-releasing a few timely fall favorites from the EB Podcast archives. This episode, "Cover Crops In The Home Garden", delves into the use of cover crops, explaining their benefits for soil health, nitrogen fixation, and carbon addition, alongside practical tips on planting and management. It also highlights the challenges smaller home gardens face with cover cropping, such as timing and space limitations, and stresses the importance of careful planning.

The quality of produce you grow is dependent on the quality of your soil. We are big advocates of doing everything possible to make garden soil the best it can be right from the start, and then working year after year to maintain and improve its quality. In this episode we're joined by award winning author Jeff Lowenfels to discuss the soil food web and garden soil ecosystems.

Jeff Lowenfels is the author of an award-winning trilogy of books on soil, Teaming With Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide To The Soil Food Web, Teaming With Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition and Teaming With Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae.