The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Last time Jessica Walliser was on the show, she talked about biological controls, or allowing the ecosystem to “pest control” itself. Today, she talks about how you can use companion planting to bring in beneficials. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We don’t often think of companion planting to prevent diseases, but it’s definitely worth considering. And the strategies are quite practical! Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most popular request for companion planting has to do with pest management. Marigolds top the list...but today Jessica explains why the REASON marigolds are a good idea isn’t quite what you might think. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode contains some of the best tips you’ve never heard on weed management, including using cucumbers to control weeds?! Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With soil health, you have to broaden your idea of companion planting - some of the best strategies involve planting one crop months ahead of time to prepare the soil for your “real” crop. Cover cropping and other strategies are discussed in today’s show. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Companion planting is an often overused and misunderstood term in gardening. Jessica Walliser joins us on the show to talk about a science-based approach to companion planting, starting out with understanding the ways in which plants interact with one another. Connect With Jessica Walliser: Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, founding partner at Savvy Gardening, and the author of multiple books including the upcoming Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carrots are one of Kevin’s favorite crops to grow, but he’s never grown a giant. Ryan Cook shares some of his tips on how to make sure you get a massive carrot...including transplanting them!? Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Heavenly Hills Homestead Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Cook grew a 19.61lb rutabaga and bagged the West Virginia state record by over TEN pounds. Kevin and Ryan riff on rutabagas and how climate affects growing giant veg. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Heavenly Hills Homestead Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So you’ve grown a giant pumpkin…how do you know when to harvest…or how!? Remember, these bad boys can get up to 2,500+ lbs. Ryan shares some tips from a pro. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Heavenly Hills Homestead Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve got a giant pumpkin seed started and transplanted…what next? There’s a lot that goes into the growth phase that Ryan Cook explains in today’s episode. Connect With Ryan Cook: Ryan Cook is a giant vegetable grower from Summers County, West Virginia and set a world record for the most varieties of giant fruits and vegetables grown in a single season, along with a butternut squash world record. Heavenly Hills Homestead Shop the Store As an exclusive for listeners, use code EPICPODCAST for 5% off your entire first order on our store, featuring our flagship Birdies Raised Beds. These are the original metal raised beds, lasting up to 5-10x longer than wooden beds, are ethically made in Australia, and have a customizable modular design.   Shop now and get 5% off your first order. Get Our Books Looking for a beginner's guide to growing food in small spaces? Kevin’s book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, explains the core, essential information that you'll need to grow plants, no matter where you live! He also wrote Grow Bag Gardening to provide you with specialized knowledge that can bring you success when growing in fabric pots. Order signed copies of Kevin’s books, plus more of his favorite titles in our store. More Resources Looking for more information? Follow us: Our Blog YouTube (Including our Epic Homesteading and Jacques in the Garden channels) Instagram (Including Epic Homesteading, Jacques, and Chris) TikTok Facebook Facebook Group Discord Server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices