432 - Why Fall Gardens Fail
The Beginner's Garden
You followed all the fall gardening adviceā¦ so why isnāt your garden thriving? In this episode, Iām breaking down 8 subtle but critical reasons fall gardens struggleāeven when youāre doing āeverything right.ā From daylight changes to soil fatigue to surprising transplant pitfalls, these tips will help you troubleshoot and turn things around. š± What Youāll Learn: ā Why planting too late is one of the most common mistakes ā How fall sun is differentāand how it affects your crops ā The surprising issue of soil fatigue after summer crops ā Why cool-season crops can...
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431 - A Gardener's Guide to Snakes with Johnny Sain
The Beginner's Garden
Most of us have an instinctual fear of snakesābut are they really the enemy in our gardens? In this episode, Iām joined by nature enthusiast Johnny Sain to shed light on the misunderstood world of snakes. We talk about why snakes are more helpful than harmful, how to identify them safely, and what to do if you (or your chickens!) cross paths with one. Hereās what we cover: Johnnyās lifelong fascination with snakes Why gardeners shouldnāt fear them Tips for staying safe in snake territory Snakebite myths, facts, and first-aid advice How to educate kids about snake safety ...
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430 - Shade Solutions for Summer Crops: What to Try When Temps Spike
The Beginner's Garden
š Does Your Garden Need Shade in Summer? | The Beginnerās Garden Podcast Have you ever walked into your garden on a 100-degree day and thought, āHow are these plants still standing?ā The truth is, some of them arenātāand even heat-loving crops can struggle when temps soar. In todayās episode, weāre diving into: šæ Why summer shade might be the secret to a more productive garden ā° When to add shade (and when itās not necessary) š ļø How to do it effectively with materials you already have Whether you're working with young seedlings or struggling tomatoes,...
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429 - Start these Fall Crops Inside in July
The Beginner's Garden
š¬ Got questions? Join my Live Zoom Q&A on July 9 at 12PM Central! Dream to Garden students are already invitedāor you can join for $15: š„ Seed Starting Workshop ā Want more help with starting seeds indoors? Get my workshop for just $19 with code summer25 in July: š š Mentioned in this episode: Organic REV ā Use code JILL10 at to save on this soil-boosting solution I use all season long. š Subscribe, share with a gardening friend, and donāt miss part 2ācoming soonāon what to direct sow for your fall garden! Show Notes: Thank you to our sponsors:...
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428 - What to Plant in July: Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers That Thrive in the Heat
The Beginner's Garden
What to Plant in July (Yes, You Still Can!) Think itās too late to plant? Think again. In this episode of the Beginnerās Garden Podcast, Jill shares exactly what you can still plant in Julyāwhether you're refreshing your summer garden or squeezing in one more round before fall. From quick-growing veggies to heat-tolerant flowers and herbs, you'll walk away with a solid mid-season planting plan and key tips to help your garden thrive in the heat. In this episode: Fast-growing warm-season vegetables to plant now Heat-loving herbs and how to grow them Flowers that thrive in summer and...
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427 - Grow Mushrooms in Your Garden with Matt McInnis
The Beginner's Garden
Have you ever wondered if you could grow mushrooms right alongside your tomatoes? I hadnāt eitherāuntil recently. In todayās episode, I chat with Matt McInnis from about how beginners can grow mushrooms in their garden beds, mulch, or even garden paths. This episode is part beginnerās guide, part real-time experiment. After my conversation with Matt, I share my honest experiences growing mushrooms in my own raised bedsāwhat worked, what surprised me, and what Iāll do differently next time. Whether youāre mushroom-curious or looking for new ways to improve your gardenās soil...
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426 - Mid-Season Fertilizing: What Your Garden Needs Now
The Beginner's Garden
"I rarely use fertilizer." If you've listened to this podcast or joined a coaching call, you've probably heard me say that. And for years, itās been true. Iāve focused more on building healthy soil than feeding plants. But recently, Iāve started rethinking that approach ā and today Iām sharing why. In this episode, weāll explore how my mindset has shifted, plus: The difference between organic and synthetic fertilizers How to fertilize based on the type of crop Why your method matters more if you're growing in containers, raised beds, or in-ground How to apply fertilizer...
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425 - 5 Summer Pests and Organic Ways to Stop Them
The Beginner's Garden
By mid-June, your garden is thrivingābut pests are waking up too. Some are just a nuisance, while others can wreak serious havoc. In todayās episode, weāre talking about 5 common summer pests, how to spot them early, and what you can do to manage them using organic methods. Youāll learn: šŖ° How to deal with aphids without wrecking your beneficial insect population š The best time and way to stop squash bugs before they ruin your harvest š Why tomato hornworms show up when they doāand what to do about them š”ļø How to deter stink bugs before they damage your tomatoes and...
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424 - June Garden Checklist: What to Do Now to Keep Things Thriving
The Beginner's Garden
June might feel like the honeymoon phase in the garden ā everythingās green, lush, and thriving. But donāt let the beauty fool you ā this is a critical time to stay proactive if you want a healthy, productive summer garden. šŖ In this episode, Iām sharing what to plant, prune, harvest, and watch for in June ā plus a sneak peek at an upcoming live workshop that you wonāt want to miss! š š Hereās what weāll cover: š„¬ What to do with bolting lettuce, spinach & other cool-season crops š± Heat-loving crops to plant now (yes, itās not too late!) āļø How and...
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423 - Grow Organic Apple Trees: what to do in years 1-3 with Susan Poizner
The Beginner's Garden
Ever wondered if you can actually grow apple trees organicallyāand get fruit? Or maybe youāve got a tree thatās not thriving and youāre not sure why. In this episode, certified arborist and fruit tree expert Susan Poizner joins me to answer the most common questions about growing apple trees at home. Weāll talk about: š Choosing the right variety & planting tips š What your young tree needs in years 1ā3 for long-term success š How to revive a neglected or underperforming tree š Organic pest control that actually works š When and how to prune for health and...
info_outlineWhen you hear "companion planting," do you feel excited, skeptical, or just plain confused? In this episode, we're cutting through the myths and giving you a practical, science-backed approach to pairing plants in your garden.
What You'll Learn:
šæ Myth 1: Do certain plants really boost each otherās growth?
š Myth 2: Can companion planting truly prevent all pests?
š± Myth 3: Will plants always thrive together if paired correctly?
āļø Myth 4: Does plant height matter in companion planting?
šø Myth 5: Is companion planting only for pest control?
Along the way, Iāll share my personal experiencesāboth successes and surprisesāand help you see that companion planting doesnāt have to be complicated. Plus, Iāll tell you how to go deeper with my free live workshop and my garden planning course, Dream to Garden!
Links Mentioned:
š Join my FREE Live Workshop: https://journeywithjill.net/masterclass
š Enroll in Dream to Garden + Companion Planting 101 Bonus: https://journeywithjill.net/dreamtogarden
Donāt miss this oneāyour garden will thank you! šæāØ
Show Notes:
Thank you to our sponsors: Organic REV
Organic REV is an organic growth stimulant that can increase nitrogen efficiency by up to 25%, replaces depleted soil carbon and bacterial biomass, and absorbs nutrients to make them more readily available to plants via their root systems.
Promo Code: Use promo code JILL10 for 10% off your order
Want to learn more about Organic REV? Enroll in my FREE course that teaches you how to use REV in seed starting, transplanting and so much more! Click here to enroll.
My Products:
2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!)
https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux
Products I recommend:
Recommended Brands & Products page:
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden
Connect with Jill:
Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
The Beginner's Garden
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Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
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