Organic Gardening For Beginners: Tips To Plan And Grow Your Own Productive Garden

Homegrown Food and Flowers

Organic Gardening For Beginners is a podcast that helps overwhelmed and time-crunched new gardeners start and maintain their own thriving garden.


Join Jessica, owner of Homegrown Food and Flowers and a seasoned gardener with over 20 years of experience, as she shares her tips, resources, and inspiration to help you overcome common barriers to gardening.

Get valuable insight on topics like companion planting, seed starting, gardening planning, summer maintenance chores, growing cut flowers, attracting pollinators, and enjoying your garden produce.

Whether you're struggling with a lack of time, don’t know what to grow, or are simply overwhelmed with where to start, Jessica will show you how to create a successful garden that fits your lifestyle, budget, and creativity.


With a focus on easy, practical tips that you can put into action, this podcast is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the joy and satisfaction of growing their own food and flowers but has questions like these:


  • How do I start a garden?


  • How and when should I start seeds?


  • Which vegetables and flowers should I plant?


  • What is involved in organic gardening?


  • How do I get the most out of my garden space?



If that’s you, then you’re in the right place.  This is your year to get started. So let’s dig in!





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Episodes

046: Four Seasons, One Garden: Maximizing Your Harvest with Spring Planning
Feb 27 2024
046: Four Seasons, One Garden: Maximizing Your Harvest with Spring Planning
Spring is such a busy time of year that even knowing where to start can seem overwhelming. This episode breaks down how to avoid that overwhelm and instead learn how to take full advantage of your space and season, starting this spring. Use methods like succession planting, relay planting, transitioning beds, and overwintering to always have something growing in the garden, whether it's cold-hardy spring veggies or heat-loving summer flowers. Companion planting will help you squeeze in even more crops by sharing space, such as growing tomatoes up the pea trellis as summer rolls in, or planting lettuce in the spot you just pulled a carrot out of. To help you out with your planning and layouts, I created a set of Garden Layout Templates that can help you get a birds-eye view of your space and growing season. With templates for single beds, multiple beds, and container or border gardens, you'll find a cheat sheet that works for your space. Combine your Layout Templates with the free Garden Planning Toolkit and you have what you need for a full garden year.  Grab your Garden Layout Templates and follow along with this episode to get a clear plan for your season!📩 Questions? Email me at jessica@homegrownfoodandflowers.comPlease leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps new gardeners find the show 💚💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/
042: Use Your Frost Dates To Build A Planting Calendar
Jan 30 2024
042: Use Your Frost Dates To Build A Planting Calendar
Welcome back to this episode where I dive into the world of gardening with a seasonal twist. I'm Jessica, and in this episode, we cap off our January garden planning series with some golden nuggets of wisdom to take you from planning to planting. If you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode is your trusty guide to syncing your garden with the seasons.We kick things off by deciphering frost dates and growing seasons. I'll show you how to use these dates to create a planting calendar that aligns with your local climate. Remember, 'planted is better than perfect,' so don't stress about hitting every date precisely. And if you've missed our previous chats, episodes 39 to 41 are there for a quick catch-up, plus a handy downloadable calendar to keep things smooth.Next, we'll dive into how frost dates inform when to plant your seeds. You'll get practical advice on starting warm-season veggies like tomatoes indoors and why cold-hardy plants like snap peas can go straight into the garden earlier. The goal is to craft a planting schedule that leads to a full garden all season.Then, we ease into simple gardening strategies. I encourage starting with a few plants after the frost date using local seedlings. This way, you avoid overwhelming yourself with too many details. I also touch on adapting garden plans, like when I moved mid-season, and share some tips on extending your growing season with methods like low tunnels and row covers.Happy gardening!find your frost dates:Dave's Garden frost datesFarmer's Almanac frost datesHere's a great article I wrote that gives you a solid example of planting within your frost dates with cosmos flowers. 📩 Questions? Email me at jessica@homegrownfoodandflowers.comPlease leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps new gardeners find the show 💚💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/
040: Holistic Garden Planning: Not Your Usual Tips To Plan Your Garden
Jan 16 2024
040: Holistic Garden Planning: Not Your Usual Tips To Plan Your Garden
Unlock the secrets to a thriving organic garden with my deep dive into planning and preparation strategies that go beyond the norm. 1. Establish Your Garden Priorities:   - Discover the art of maximizing your gardening season, making the most of limited space, and creating a tranquil haven where productivity takes a back seat to the simple joys of gardening.2. Companion Planting and Mulch:   - I'm back to talking about the magic of companion planting! Mulching is another essential gardening practice. Learn why these two methods are the secret sauce for my garden, inspired by the natural diversity found in ecosystems.3. Be Flexible and Open-Minded:   - Understand the importance of flexibility in gardening. From unexpected frost to curious kids and rainy springs, I discuss how to adapt and pivot when challenges throw your plans off track.4. Mastering Seed Starting:   - Delve into the world of seed starting and unlock a realm of possibilities. Learn how starting your seeds can deepen your understanding of your garden, introduce you to new varieties, and extend your growing season.5. Use What You Grow:   - Beyond just growing, discover the joy of using what you grow. From cooking and canning to crafting medicinals and creating stunning bouquets, find ways to make your garden an integral part of your daily life.Check out the show notes for a curated checklist and calendar to help you implement these strategies in your garden. Don't miss this episode if you're ready to take your gardening to the next level!Don't forget to download your Garden Planning Toolkit and start marking down your sowing dates: Garden Planning Toolkit📩 Questions? Email me at jessica@homegrownfoodandflowers.comPlease leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps new gardeners find the show 💚💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/