Organic Gardening For Beginners: Practical, Beginner-Friendly Gardening Tips To Grow Your Own Food and Flowers

Ready to get your April garden on track? In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to focus on in your garden this month—whether you’re just thawing out or already planting spring crops.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to quickly build last-minute beds
• What to sow and what to transplant now (and what you should give more time)
• Early season pest control methods
• Mulching and fertilizer tips for overwintered crops and ea...

Buying seedlings can save you time in the garden—but only if you choose wisely! The biggest mistake beginners make? Grabbing the biggest plant on the shelf without checking for hidden red flags. In this episode, I’ll break down where to shop, how to spot a healthy seedling, and which ones not to buy so you get the best value for your money.

In This Episode:

🌱 Best places to buy seedlings – Why local nurseries and farmer’s markets of...

Want to grow a productive food garden without spending a fortune on nursery plants? Starting your own seedlings in bulk is one of the best ways to save money, maximize space, and ensure a steady harvest all season long. In this episode, I’ll walk you through my streamlined seed-starting system, from supplies to scheduling, so you can grow strong, healthy plants—without the frustration.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

🌱 The Basic...

Choosing between direct sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings can impact how well your plants grow and how quickly you get a harvest. Each method has its benefits, and knowing when to use them can make a big difference in your garden’s success.

In this episode:

• The pros and cons of direct sowing vs. transplanting
• Best crops for each method
• Timing, soil conditions, and other key factors to consider
• How to combine both methods for ...

Starting your first garden? Every season brings new challenges and surprises! In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five phases of the gardening year—what to expect, common mistakes, and how to set yourself up for success. Whether you're in the dreamy planning stage, dealing with summer overwhelm, or wondering if it’s too late to plant, this episode will help you navigate the seasons with confidence.

In This Episode, You&a...

Let's look at six smart ways to decide what to grow in 2025—whether you’re looking to save money, maximize calories, or stock your pantry. From the crops you use daily to the most expensive produce at the store, this guide will help you grow what truly matters.

In this episode, I'll cover:

• How to choose crops based on what you actually eat
• The most calorie-dense foods to grow for self-sufficiency
• High-cost produce that’s ...

Get ready for spring with the return of Organic Gardening For Beginners! After a break away from the show, I'm back with tons of ideas, results, and new experiments to share with you all. My hope has always been to inspire you to get in the garden. Maybe this episode will be the one to get you there! 

📩 Questions? Email me at homegrownfoodandflowers@gmail.com

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps new garde...

June is a key month for both planting and prepping your garden for the season ahead! In this episode, we cover:

✅ Last-Chance Summer Crops – Get those tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, and squash in the ground before it’s too late!
✅ Direct Seeding Tips – Fast-growing flowers, root crops, and herbs you can still plant now.
✅ Succession Planting for Greens – Keep the harvest going with broccoli rabe and Napa cabbage.

We're diving into the world of companion planting and how you can boost your garden’s health and productivity by pairing plants that thrive together. Whether you have a small garden or are working with containers, these tips will help you make the most of your space!

✅ 10 Companion Planting Combinations – Pairings like tomatoes and basil, peppers and zinnias, that will enhance your garden.
 ✅ Boosting Plant Health – How cer...

Let's dive into the unique challenges of gardening in shade, from determining the type of shade you have, to selecting the best plants for these conditions. Whether you have wet or dry shade, you can use plenty of strategies to make the most out of your garden space. Tune in for practical tips on adjusting your gardening methods and finding shade-loving plants that will thrive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to iden...

You've got a flat of plants, a garden almost ready to plant out, and no time to get it done. Sound familiar? This episode will give you seven tips to help you get your garden in the ground with a minimum of fuss and no time wasted on tasks that don't move the needle the way you want it to go. 
-Which seedlings you should buy at this point in the season for earlier harvest
-Why getting a trellis in at planting will...

If you're still wondering what to plant, this episode lays it all out for you. Short and snappy instructions tell you how to lay out a single 4x8 raised bed with the right combination and location of your plants so they all thrive and you get months of harvests of fresh veggies, flowers, and herbs.

If you want a more detailed seasonal guide, snag a copy of my Garden Layout Templates that provide a visual guide to bri...

Here is an amazing list of resources during the peak learning time of the season. Plants are going in, seeds are getting started, and these channels will help you learn so much, from composting to self sufficiency to growing flowers in soil blocks.

Huw Richards

Charles Dowding

Shifting Roots

No-Till Growers: I misspoke here and said No Till Farmer, so make sure to search for himm as “No-Till Growers”

Epic Gardening

Growing In ...

Soil, fertilizers, compost, and more can all be so confusing when getting your garden started. This episode breaks it down in a very simplified manner that will help you know the next step you need to take to get your garden ready for the season.

I mention a ton of resources, including:
My seed starting recipe:
4 parts coco coir (or peat moss)
1 part compost, worm castings, or a mix
.5 part vermiculite (so...

Don't let your seedlings go into shock or die after you spent all that time growing them! In today's episode you'll learn about:

What is hardening off?

How do I harden off my seedlings?

What's the best time of day to transplant

Ways to protect seedlings: row covers, low tunnels

Beginner mistakes

Grab your seed starting checklist here with a full hardening off schedule:
Seed Starting Checklist

Th...

Seed starting is in full swing, and I've been getting a bunch of questions about the process. So this episode will share the answers I've been giving and help you in your own seed starting efforts.

Questions include:
Why aren't your seeds covered?
Why don't you cover your seed trays?
What's damping off?
What are leggy seedlings?
If the soil is too cold, will my seeds rot or spr...

It's March! In the gardening world, that's a big signal to get started with sowing indoors and out.

In this episode I'll have several lists for you, including veggies, flowers, and herbs to start indoors or direct sow, quick ways to get new garden beds up and running before prime planting time, and a few tips to help you have your garden plan ready for the season.

I mention a few resources in this...