Epic Gardening: Daily Growing Tips And Advice

Not all of us have boatloads of cash to throw into the garden. If you're like me, you want creative solutions to make the gardening experience a little easier that don't break the bank. Well, you're in luck - here are 5 you can use today. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's an episode for you patio gardeners out there! 12 ornamental plants that you can grow well in containers on patio. Now there are NO excuses to getting something green and colorful on your property :) Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quick one today for you all - common question of what to do with your tomato vines and other garden debris at the end of the season. Can you compost, should you compost? The answer lies within this episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're like me, you've probably heard of Epsom salts as a "gardening hack." But...why? Why does everyone seem to love using them in the garden? In today's episode we'll go over a few different ways to creatively use Epsom salts and boost the flavor and health of your plants. Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I was growing up my Mom always complained to my Dad about her garden and flower beds. She would say things like “Nothing grows in this red dirt!”, or “I’m not planting anything this year, it never grows!” I always thought Mom just didn’t have a green thumb. Fast forward about twenty years, and now I understand her struggle. Digging in my flower beds and garden used to be like playing in a big mud pie that was left out in the sun to dry. The flowers and vegetable plants I planted always showed signs of being over-watered. Because yes, I have clay soil. I’ve figured out a few ways that have improved the quality of my garden and flower bed soil. These tips have made my efforts in the garden more fruitful and less back-breaking. Learn More: Clay Soil Got You Down? Top Tips For Amending Clay Soil Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and con

Have you ever tried growing tomatillos? Often used as part of salsa or Mexican cuisine, this relative of the cape gooseberry is a popular fruit. But what are tomatillos, really? The Mexican husk tomato, sometimes called jamberry but more commonly called tomatillo, is a strange little plant. Its fruit grows within a natural papery lantern-like husk. Once ripe, the husk splits open and the fruit of your labor is ready to use. While most tomatillo varieties have origins in Mexico, these fruits are common throughout the Americas in the wild. There are two species, Physalis ixocarpa and Physalis philadelphica, but there’s many cultivars. The greenish or purple tomatillo fruit is used in an ever-increasing number of dishes, not to mention the salsa verde we all love. Let’s talk about all of the requirements for growing tomatillos so that you can enjoy them yourself! Learn More: Growing Tomatillos: Enjoy Salsa Verde All Summer Long Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to fo

Anyone who’s been gardening for a while is familiar with the dreaded fusarium wilt. Also called damping off, this fungal disease causes newly-sprouted seedling stems to collapse. It’s frustrating, but it’s certainly not unknown. But did you know that fusarium itself is a widespread genus of multiple species which can also cause a number of blights and rots? In fact, fusarium species create a number of dangers for not just your plants, but even directly for you. Let’s go over some information on what fusarium is and learn about how and what it does. Then, we’ll go into ways to prevent against it and newly-developing information on how to fight back! Learn More: Fusarium Wilt, Blight, And Rot: How To Handle These Fungal Problems Keep Growing, Kevin Epic Soil Starter I've partnered with Garden Maker Naturals to formulate a custom organic fertilizer designed to take standard raised bed soil to the next level. I use it in all of my beds and containers. Order your Epic Soil Starter now. Follow Epic Gardening Everyw

We've all heard of the "Topsy Turvy" tomato planters that allow you to grow tomatoes upside down, but what about other plants. Specifically peppers? Would they work? In today's show I outline how to grow these spicy veggies upside down! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manure is a great source of organic matter and fertility in the garden...but does it make sense to use it fresh? Find out the pros and cons in today's show. Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever grown a rattlesnake plant? How about a peacock plant? A zebra plant? All of these are forms of calathea! Let’s explore the delightful and fun world of this gorgeous and popular houseplant. With many vivid variations, this leafy plant can be a perfect addition to your living space. In some areas of the world, they’re useful as well as decorative. Calathea leaves are used to wrap a specific type of tamale in Guatemala, for instance. In Thailand, calathea leaf rice containers are popular amongst the tourist trade. But enough about the uses of calathea. Let’s get on to what it is and how to grow it! Learn More: Calathea: Caring For The Rattlesnake Plant, Zebra Plant and More Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Downy mildew and powdery mildew are often confused. If you’re looking for how to get rid of powdery mildew, check here. But downy mildew is a completely separate problem, even if it might look similar. Both are common issues in the garden. Today, we’ll go over everything there is to know about downy mildew. I’ll tell you how to treat it, but more importantly, I’ll help you determine how to prevent it so you don’t get it again! Learn More: Downy Mildew: How To Stop This Plant Disease Before It Starts Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't throw your potting soil away once you're done growing with it for a season! It's easy to refresh or completely rejuvenate your soil using the methods in this episode. Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hand pollination is a fantastic way to increase fruit production on plants like cucumbers, zucchinis, etc. Here are two methods for both large and small-flowered plants! Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I've gotten a lot of questions about how to restart a hot compost pile, so I figured I might as well do a FAQ episode about hot composting. Enjoy :) Learn More: Composting on Epic Gardening Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever checked on your garden and found weird, grey, fuzzy looking spores on your plants, chances are you’ve run into botrytis cinerea. This common fungal pathogen goes by many other names as well. Grey mold, ghost spot, ash mold, or botrytis bunch rot are just a few! But to most of us, it’s that cursed grey-black mold that turns fruit into mush and wreaks havoc on our plants. You don’t have to suffer through it for much longer. I’ll walk you through what botrytis cinerea is, how it develops, and what to do if and when you find it. With good care and some preventative tactics, you can free yourself of the grey mould for good! Learn More: Botrytis Cinerea: How to Prevent and Control It Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arbor Day is celebrated nationally in the United States on the last Friday of April each year, although individual states celebrate it at different times. So in honor of National Arbor Day, I figured I’d share some fascinating information about ecotherapy as it relates to trees, and at the same time discuss some important aspects of tree care and stewardship! Ecotherapy is a reasonably new term, and refers to the process of growth and healing by interacting with nature. I’ve discussed it at length before while talking about gardening for the elderly. But did you know that just being in and around trees can be a healthy addition to people of all ages? Let’s start out by discussing some of those important health benefits that being under the living canopy can bring you! Learn More: Ecotherapy: How Trees Make You Healthier Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent years, it’s gotten a reputation as a superfood. Leaf cabbage, also called kale, is a brassica species which really packs a punch. But growing kale isn’t something a lot of people consider doing. They should! Vitamin-packed kale (Brassica oleracea) is considered to be among the world’s healthiest foods. Rich in Vitamins A, C, and K, it’s also mineral-rich, packing a good calcium and potassium punch. For a leafy green, it’s protein-rich as well. One cup of kale will give you 2.2 grams of protein. We’re going to go over everything you’ll ever need for growing kale, including information about the various types and a good number of planting tips. By the time we’re done, you’ll be a kale growing expert. Learn More: Growing Kale: The Ultimate Guide To Growing Your Own Superfood Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Getting the best pruning shears is a necessity. Your pruning shears are one of your best tools as a gardener. How else do you get rid of excess growth or keep your plants trimmed to an appropriate size? But choosing the best pruning shears for your task can be a matter of personal preference, or it can be job-specific. Most of us have a few different types available depending on what we’re doing. Today, I’ll help you break down the various components of a quality pair of pruning shears and decide what, exactly, you’ll need to get your job done. With a quality pair of pruning shears, you’ll have no problem keeping everything properly trimmed! Learn More: Best Pruning Shears: Different Snips For Your Pruning Needs Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most frustrating pests in many indoor gardens is the dreaded fungus gnat and its young, the fungus gnat larvae. These little buggers can absolutely destroy your plants if you’re not vigilant — and they can do it quickly. The primary way that fungus gnats affect your plants is through their larvae. They lay eggs in your growing medium. Once they hatch, the larvae will attach to the roots of your plants and drain them of nutrients. Although the larvae are the main negative actors, adult fungus gnats can carry disease, especially fungal diseases.​ These can be deadly on their own, but that’s not all. They also lay hundreds of eggs fast, which will devour plant roots! It’s absolutely essential that you stop these pests before they can take hold, whether indoors or out. The last thing you need is for your plants to succumb to a horrible fate. I’ll help you to overcome your fungus gnat woes, though. Let’s go into detail about fungus gnats and their larvae, and learn how to demolish them before they can t

Comfrey is a super-plant for your garden. You can use it in a million different ways, and in today's episode I'll go over four different ways. Keep Growing, Kevin Follow Epic Gardening Everywhere: YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Facebook Group Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices