Just Grow Something | The "Why" Behind the "How" of Gardening

Grow a better vegetable garden, whether you're a seasoned gardener or have never grown a thing in your life. Karin helps home gardeners learn to grow their own food using evidence-based techniques and research. She talks all about specific plants, pests, diseases, soil and plant health, mulch, garden planning, and more. It's not just the "how" but also the "why" that makes us better. The goal? For everyone to know how to grow their own food no matter what sized space they have or their experience level.Tune in each week to plan, learn, and grow with your friend in the garden, Karin Velez.

Smarter Planting for Bigger Harvests: Interplanting Strategies - Ep. 247
Apr 29, 2025 – 00:59:49
Companion Planting Myths and Tips - Ep. 246
Apr 22, 2025 – 00:40:18
Be Prepared for Garden Pests – Ep. 245
Apr 14, 2025 – 00:40:18
Easiest Crops for Beginners - Ep. 244
Apr 8, 2025 – 00:39:10
How to Prepare Seedlings for Transplant into the Garden - Ep. 243
Apr 1, 2025 – 00:21:59
How to Start a Compost Pile - Ep. 242
Mar 25, 2025 – 00:33:01
Gardening by Nature’s Signs: Old Wisdom Backed by Science - Ep. 241
Mar 18, 2025 – 00:21:37
Spring-Planted Bulbs and Garden Perennials - Ep. 240
Mar 11, 2025 – 00:35:17
Kitchen Garden Living with Bailey Van Tassel - Ep. 239
Mar 4, 2025 – 00:36:15
When and How to Pot Up Transplants - Ep. 238
Feb 25, 2025 – 00:42:46
Successful Indoor Seed Starting - Ep. 237
Feb 18, 2025 – 00:24:06
Essential Seed Starting Supplies (and one scam) - Ep. 236
Feb 11, 2025 – 00:33:12
How to Time Indoor Seed Starting - Ep. 235
Feb 4, 2025 – 00:25:23
7 Steps to Planning Your Entire Garden Year - Ep. 234
Jan 28, 2025 – 00:33:23
Getting More from the Garden: Succession Planting and Intercropping - Ep. 233
Jan 21, 2025 – 00:28:34
How Many Plants Do You Need? - Ep. 232
Jan 14, 2025 – 00:20:25
Setting Goals and Budgets for the Garden - Ep. 231
Jan 7, 2025 – 00:23:11
Top 5 Episodes, an Honorable Mention, and an All-Time Favorite
Dec 31, 2024 – 00:10:11
Reviewing Your Gardening Season: 10 things to track in your garden journal - Ep. 230
Dec 24, 2024 – 00:25:31
Attracting Pollinators and Predators to the Garden - Ep. 229
Dec 17, 2024 – 00:34:13
Integrated Pest Management in the Home Garden - Ep. 228
Dec 10, 2024 – 00:37:54
Ten Most Versatile Herbs for Fresh and Dried Use - Ep. 227
Dec 3, 2024 – 00:39:51
Top 5 Perennial Herbs by USDA Hardiness Zone - Ep. 226
Nov 26, 2024 – 00:35:00
Winter Produce Storage: Tips for Keeping Your Fall Harvest Fresh Through the Cold Months - Ep. 225
Nov 19, 2024 – 00:29:57
Three Ways to Grow Nutritious Greens Indoors - Ep. 224
Nov 12, 2024 – 00:46:21
Tropical Gardening, Plus Your Biggest Garden Failures of the Season - Ep. 223
Nov 5, 2024 – 00:40:26
How to Amend the Soil in Fall for a Better Garden in Spring - Ep. 222
Oct 29, 2024 – 00:34:54
Garlic Planting Tips by Climate - Ep. 221
Oct 22, 2024 – 00:29:48
Planting Onions in Fall for a Summer Harvest - Ep. 220
Oct 15, 2024 – 00:35:47
How to Dry and Store Cut Flowers - Ep. 219
Oct 8, 2024 – 00:20:11
Simple Compost Solutions for Every Garden Space - Ep. 218
Oct 1, 2024 – 00:27:50
Fall Garden Checklist by Hardiness Zone - Ep. 217
Sep 24, 2024 – 00:26:47
Proper Seed Drying and Storage - Ep. 216
Sep 17, 2024 – 00:29:01
Saving Seeds Properly - Ep. 215
Sep 10, 2024 – 00:26:52
How to Choose a Garlic Variety to Grow - Ep. 214
Sep 3, 2024 – 00:24:53
How to Grow Beets - Ep. 213
Aug 27, 2024 – 00:27:57
Artificial Intelligence and Gardening Advice - Ep. 212
Aug 20, 2024 – 00:21:27
Preparing to Preserve: Basic Canning Supplies for Beginners - Ep. 211
Aug 13, 2024 – 00:33:07
Heirloom vs Hybrid vs GMO - Ep. 210
Aug 6, 2024 – 00:36:58
Don't Overwater in the Heat - Focal Point Friday
Aug 2, 2024 – 00:06:06
Growing Brussels Sprouts - Ep. 209
Jul 30, 2024 – 00:35:01
Starting a Garden Side Hustle - Ep. 208
Jul 23, 2024 – 00:44:47
Managing Heat Stress in Garden Plants - Ep. 207
Jul 16, 2024 – 00:29:55
Epsom Salts - Magic or Myth? - Ep. 206
Jul 9, 2024 – 00:15:07
Steps for Planning the Fall Garden (and Why You Should Grow One) - Ep. 205
Jul 2, 2024 – 00:25:05
Summer Succession Planting for a Greater Harvest - Ep. 204
Jun 25, 2024 – 00:29:44
When Are Onions Ready to Harvest? - Ep. 203
Jun 18, 2024 – 00:25:45
Squash Vine Borers and Squash Bugs in Cucumber Plants - Focal Point Friday Ep. 202
Jun 14, 2024 – 00:14:49
Problems with Cucumbers - Ep. 201
Jun 11, 2024 – 00:33:52
Celebrating 200 Episodes: Ask Me Anything! - Ep. 200
Jun 4, 2024 – 01:05:20

Recent Reviews

wvrhodie

Always learning

Love this podcast. I’m a horticulturist in the green industry, and learn something every week. Motivating me to put more energy into my vegetable garden.
MoBama68

Binge worthy gardening podcast!

So happy I found this podcast. I am a Central MO Gal and excited my new favorite Podcaster & I share the same growing zone. Karin is a wealth of information & I will be utilizing what I have learned from her podcast in the upcoming growing season!!
ccchevynova77

Awesome podcast

So educational and entertaining!! Love it ! I’m going through all the old episodes and I’m learning so much!
liftyourlifewithlaura

The best out there!

This is the best gardening podcast out there. Karin is so knowledgeable but also so welcoming and makes you feel like you have so much power during your garden journey!
Dkp01

Very educational

Exactly what I need as a new gardener!
quirt 1989

Very good

Great information no fluff three out of five stars
LovelyLisa00

Love the Science of Gardening

I love the way Karin explains the science behind gardening!!! Great podcast!!!
Janna5573

Thank you

I have recently found this podcast and learning so much. This is my first year gardening, so thank you.
MariahinOregon

Accurate and Practical Gardening Knowledge

Love this podcast! I’ve been gardening for several years and still find lot of useful new information, but the episodes are also simple and straightforward enough for the beginner gardener. I’ve recommended it to several people I know who are just getting started. Keep up the good work!
CrazyPlantLady81

I can’t get enough

I have been gardening for many years and every episode has new and valuable information. Karin covers topics that are relevant to many growing zones and conditions, not just where she lives in the Midwest. Keep up the good work!
Sweetcodi

New fav for Midwest gardening advice

Love, love, love! I’ve been listening to all the garden podcasts I can get my hands on for hours a day for a year or more now, and only recently did the algorithm gods show this one to me. I’m in love! Karin has done some things well here that not all podcasters get right- she has a focused plan on what she is going to talk about; she rarely leaves me with just “her best guess” but instead offers science based answers, she shares all her sources(mostly universities!) and she’s funny!!! I love that she has brought back the blooper reel (all the things she says wrong that have been edited out) and I really appreciate that they are out here in the middle like me. They are not on a coast where the weather is borderline tropical. I love some of these shows don’t get me wrong (who doesn’t love Epic?) but I’m not going to bring a 6ft tall dragon fruit plant indoors for the winter, so there’s no point in talking about that for half an hour! Anyway.. did I mention that she and her husband are also former military?!? So…. Yeah. That hits all my high points! Hopefully it hits yours too! Thank you for your service if you read this, Karin, and thank you for your down to Earth approach to gardening, and garden podcasting! ❤️ 🌸 🧄🫐🍓🍉🍐🍑🫑🌶🥒🥦🥬🧅🌽