In The Garden

Peter invites his neighbors and mushroom growers, Sarah and Steve Gallagher, to call in and talk about how they grow mushrooms and how they have found success, particularly with Shiitakes.

Hilling potatoes involves covering the plant with loose organic material periodically to encourage the tubers to grow deep and wide, improving the flavor of the potatoes. Peter talks about how to hill potatoes when you're growing them in a garden bed. Unlike in many other places, in a bed there isn't a lot of room and dirt around the plant to hill with. So instead, you can scoop up the soil you can around the plant and then add a mixture of germination mix and compost for additional material.

With outdoor garden season basically in full swing and a lot of new gardeners experimenting now that grocery store visits seem a bit risky, it's important to review the basics and refresh even the most seasoned gardeners. One of the biggest keys to garden success aside from permanent beds are the permanent pathways. They'll save you a lot of time and energy later weeding out grass and other weeds from your beds.

We had some hot weather this week, but this being Vermont there's still more cool weather on the way that can harm some plants. Peter goes over what to get outside now and what to wait on a little more for more consistent weather.

With the warming weather coming in, now is the time to start planting the rest of your plants. A few more tender things might still be affected by night time temperatures, but the majority should be good to go. Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather.

It's still a tad cold out, but there's still plenty you can plant right now. Peter tells his tale of getting a soil thermometer so you know what will grow right now and what to wait a bit longer on.

With the cold weather we're having right now, it's more important than ever to plant things that can handle this early season cold. Things like rhubarb, spinach, and arugala can thrive despite the cold. When things warm up, then you can plant the more heat-loving produce.

If you want your garden to be able to keep your panty stocked for the year with delicious produce, you'll need to do some planning. Think about how much produce your family would eat in a year. Then think about how you can get that amount of produce out of the space you have available. Peter explains how he plans his garden and takes listener calls to give his insight.

At a time when grocery stores are seeing some shortages and people are encouraged to stay home, the garden is a great place to look to fill out your produce needs. Peter goes over the garden basics to kick off another growing season and another season of "In the Garden."

Just because we're in September, doesn't mean the growing season is over. When something comes out of the garden, something else can go in. Peter gives his advice on what you can grow this time of year.

Peter interviews John Hayden, owner of The Farm Between in Jefferson, VT.  He and his wife Nancy wrote the new book "Farming on the Wild Side: The Evolution of a Regenerative Organic Farm and Nursery."

With the advent of the Labor Day weekend, the summer growing season begins to come to a close. There are things you can do to maximize the output of your plants in this time and ways to preserve your harvest through the winter.

Dietrich Gehring and Laura Ten Eyck join Peter to discuss their book, "The Hop Grower's Handbook" and how you can get started growing hops at home. Buy "The Hop Grower's Handbook" here: https://www.amazon.com/Hop-Growers-Handbook-Sustainable-Small-Scale/dp/1603585559/

Peter and Joel talk about the environmental benefits of organic materials both in the garden and on the farm.

It may be August, but that doesn't mean you can't plant some delicious produce. And with the hot summer we have had, it may be a great August to plant with temperatures expected to keep trending warm. You can still grow certain types of peas, carrots, parsnips, beets, lettuce, cilantro, and more late into the season.

Wondering when to pick your zucchini and squash? Peter tells you when the ideal time to harvest is and how to keep your zucchini and squash plants producing as much as possible. And a bonus tip, what to do when you get a huge zucchini that's overripe.

After taking phone calls from listeners, Peter gives his advice on how to protect your cabbage from pests. And don't forget to water your plants often during this hot weather. Try to keep water off the leaves as that can magnify the heat of the sun and keep the soil moist.

Peter takes a call about how to maximize apple yields and gives his tips on how to get the best apples from your apple trees. Then he talks about how to grow mint for tea without having it take over your whole garden.

Peter talks about how to water your garden most effectively. While we enter the hottest months, now is the most important time to make sure you're watering your plants properly.

Peter talks about one of the most frustrating pests that plague gardens, Cutworms, and how to protect your plants from them. And as always Peter takes calls to answer your most pressing garden questions.