How to Grow Nutritious Baby Salad Greens All Winter – Mike Cunningham -180 Mike Cunningham believes that having a salad every day is probably one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. In this episode we will discover how simple, easy, and quick growing greens can keep your salad bowl full all winter. […]

Amazing Native Vines for Your Garden – Dajawn Williams – 179 In this episode we discuss the benefits of native vines with guest Dajawn Williams, covering their ecological importance and management. The discussion highlights specific native vines like muscadine, climbing hydrangea, purple and yellow passion flowers, more and their roles in local ecosystems. The conversation […]

Plant Geeks in Love and Their Botanical Journey – Jon & Adrienne Rothling – 178 In episode 178 of ‘The Garden Question’ podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Adrienne and John Rothling, directors of the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC and  Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. respectively. They share […]

Becoming A Student of Your Garden – Jenny Simpson – 177 In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus converses with Jenny Simpson, co-owner of Creekside Nursery in North Carolina. They delve into the concept of becoming a diligent student of your garden by understanding its unique conditions and adapting to the […]

Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening Wisdom – Mike Cunningham – 176 Mike and Judy Cunningham are harvesting the last summer crops at Country Gardens Farm. Fall gardening is just beginning. Mike takes a break to talk about his favorite time of the year in the garden. Some of the things you will discover in this episode […]

Gardening Adventures, Myths, Dreams, and Inspiration – Troy B Marden – 175 In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews accomplished garden designer Troy B Marden. Troy shares his incredible journey in horticulture that began at the age of 14 and includes notable experiences at public gardens such as Calloway Gardens […]

Exploring The Smithsonian’s Ripley Garden – Janet Draper -174 Janet Draper gets to play in the dirt and talk to people from around the world. This is her 25th year as the sole horticulturalist for Smithsonian’s Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. This tiny 1/3 of an acre garden is located on the National Mall and in […]

Embracing Naturalistic Planting Designs – Jared Barnes -173 Naturalistic planting design begins with understanding what roles certain plants play in nature. One of the most useful concepts in a plants’ survival strategy is learning how to classify it on the Grimes Triangle. This is a new concept for me. I don’t remember every hearing about […]

Enhancing Your Garden with Native Plants – Jennifer Ceska – 172 You will be surprised how much your day-to-day gardening helps save our endanger plant species. In this episode Jennifer Ceska is determined to make native plants regular. How to wake up native plants already on your land and learning to love the untidy. She explains why connecting people […]

Mastering Perennials in Southern Heat and Humidity – Kata Wallace – 171 Do you often find it a challenging to grow perennials in the heat and humidity of the south? In this episode we talk with Kata Kress Wallace about the best ways to overcome those challenges. It’s no secret that perennials love the full sun, but […]

Understanding Your Garden Color – Dr. Laura Deeter – 170 Color excites us more than any design element in the garden because it speaks emotionally to us. In this episode we will dissect and learn how color speaks to us in our garden. In this episode of ‘The Garden Question’ podcast, host Craig McManus discusses the […]

Inside the Mind of Southern Living’s The Grumpy Gardener – Steve Bender -169 When Southern Living’s The Grumpy Gardener speaks gardeners listen. For more than 40 years Steve Bender has strived to make gardening fun. His writings about southern gardens and his hands in the dirt experiences are sought after by beginning and expert gardeners. […]

Preserving Your Harvest: Best Practices and Safety Tips – Denise Schreiber – 168 Denise Schreiber provides an in-depth guide on how to preserve an abundant vegetable garden harvest through various methods such as canning (both pressure and water bath), dehydration, and freezing in this week’s episode. She discusses the pros and cons of different preservation […]

The Untapped Potential of Grasses & Sedges – Shannon Currey – 167 In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Shannon Currey, a horticultural educator and consultant with Izell Native Plants. They delve into the distinctions between ornamental grasses and turf grasses, and the ecological benefits of using grasses and sedges […]

Crafting Gardens that Thrive Ecologically – Preston Montague – 166 In Episode 166 of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews landscape architect Preston Montague about creating impactful ecological landscapes. Preston discusses using plants from diverse regions, the importance of understanding ecosystem relationships, and integrating native plants to enhance ecological function. He describes his […]

Maverick Gardeners Breaking Garden Rules – Felder Rushing – 165 In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Felder Rushing, a celebrated horticulturalist and garden communicator. The episode delves into the concept of ‘Maverick Gardeners’-those who follow their own unique gardening practices regardless of trends. Felder shares insights on slow gardening, […]

Creating New Fun Plant Varieties: the Art and Science of Breeding – David Roberts -164 Welcome to another exciting episode of The Garden Question. Today, we’re venturing into the captivating realm of plant breeding, a topic that’s as fascinating as it is innovative. We all relish the joy of designing our own gardens, but have […]

Developing Your Strategy for This Year’s Bugs – Susan Mulvihill -163 Susan Mulvihill is passionate about growing vegetables! Her organic growing methods and pest control have yielded some mighty good eating. She and her husband, Bill, live and garden on 5 acres in Spokane, Washington. Their large raised-bed garden where they grow all sorts of edible […]

Craig LeHoullier is known for many things in the tomato world. Some know him as the NC Tomatoman. Some know him as the fellow who named the very popular heirloom tomato Cherokee Purple. To others, he is the author of two books Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. Craig is the co-host of Tomatopalooza and a […]

Embracing the New Perennial Movement in the South – Sarah Carter -161 Sarah Carter and her team have brought the New Perennial Movement to the south on a large scale. The new Entrance Garden’s large sweeps of grasses, perennials, native plants presented in a naturalistic style welcomes you to the Atlanta History Center. The garden […]

The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential – Bryce Lane -160 What can you do to improve your garden’s soil to reduce failures? In this episode 160 – The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential with Bryce Lane, we discover how understanding soils influences abundant plant growth. This is a remix and encore presentation. They […]

Antique Roses for Today’s Garden – Jason Powell – 159 Jason Powell declares the queen of the garden to be antique roses. Who could argue with old garden roses that exude excellent fragrance, shape, disease resistance and low maintenance? We talk about how these fragrant flowering shrubs make a huge impact in your garden when […]

Smart Water Practices and Your Garden – Jenny Rose Carey – 158 In this episode Jenny Rose Carey, a seasoned horticulturalist, shares how her garden thrives with her smart water-wise practices. Despite 45 inches of rain annually, she emphasizes harmony with natural weather patterns, practical tips and personal anecdotes. She offers valuable insights into tricks […]

Exploring Field Style Planting: A New Approach to Annuals and Perennials – C.L. Fornari -157 In this episode we delve into the fascinating world of gardening with none other than C.L. Fornari. We explore innovative approaches to plantings that challenge traditional gardening norms and embraces the beauty of nature’s design. C.L. is an accomplished artist, […]