Encyclopedia Botanica

Mar 06 2025 138 ep. 27 mins 123
Encyclopedia Botanica Podcast artwork

A weekly podcast about edible gardening.

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Stink Bugs in the home garden with Professor Raupp

Mar 06 2025 34 mins  
Episode 124 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast features a conversation with Professor Emeritus Michael Raupp from the University of Maryland. The discussion centers around stink bugs, identified as a major pest in gardens. Professor Raupp explains the characteristics, life cycle, and origins of stink bugs, noting their spread from Asia to most of the United States and parts of C

(Re-release) Peas with Calvin Lamborn

Feb 27 2025 32 mins  
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, guest expert Rod Lamborn discusses the legacy of his father, Dr. Calvin Lamborn, the father of the sugar snap pea. Rod shares anecdotes about his father's pioneering work in pea breeding, specifically the creation and development process of the sugar snap pea. The conversation also covers the challenges faced in maintaining

String Trellising with Colin McCrate

Feb 13 2025 28 mins  
In episode 123 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl and her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate discuss the practice of string trellising in gardening. Colin, an experienced gardener, explains the benefits and methods of vertical and horizontal string trellising, including the use of hemp and jute twine. They describe how this technique supports various cr

Growing Tea (Camellia sinensis) with Gavin McFarlane

Feb 06 2025 43 mins  
In episode 122 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Hilary discusses the cultivation of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant with Gavin McFarlane of Minto Tea Company . They delve into its specific needs such as soil type, irrigation, and ideal growing conditions. Gavin shares the history of Minto Tea Company, details his experience, and explains the process of developing tea varietie

Radicchio with Farmer Mary

Jan 30 2025 23 mins  
In episode 121 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast Mary Colombo of Wild Roots Farm in Oregon joins Hilary to discuss growing radicchio. They delve into the complexities and benefits of growing this Italian vegetable. Mary shares her experiences and strategies for growing radicchio, its history, the best planting and harvesting practices, and the different varieties available. They

(Re-release) Smart Seed Ordering, Pt. 2

Jan 23 2025 31 mins  
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Hilary and co-host Kellie Phelan discusses practical tips for smart seed ordering to optimize your home garden. Highlights include key considerations for determining the quantity of seeds needed, differences in starting crops from seeds versus buying transplants, and factors affecting seed longevity. This episode is designed to

(Re-release) Smart Seed Ordering, Pt. 1

Jan 16 2025 27 mins  
Hilary and guest Kelly Phelan discuss the importance of seed ordering in gardening, touching on topics such as the benefits of growing from seed, how to choose seed suppliers, and understanding seed definitions like organic vs. non-organic, open-pollinated vs. hybrid, and heirloom seeds. They also delve into the differences between hybrid seeds and genetically modified organisms (G

Succession Planting with Meg Cowden

Jan 06 2025 30 mins  
In episode 120 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by Meg Cowden, author of 'Plant Grow, Harvest, Repeat: Growing a Bounty of Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers by Mastering the Art of Succession Planting.' They discuss Meg's background in forestry and natural resource management, her journey into gardening, and the evolution of her extensive garden. The c

Growing Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage

Dec 16 2024 36 mins  
In episode 119 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate, to dig into the cultivation of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. They discuss the importance of scientific nomenclature, focusing on Brassica oleraceae, and emphasize aspects of growing these crops, such as spacing, nitrogen requirements, and transpl

Oakleaf Papaya and Guava with Kyle Haggerty

Dec 09 2024 33 mins  
In this episode of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, Kyle from Urban Farmstead discusses his experiences growing subtropical plants like oak leaf papaya and various guava varieties in his Sacramento backyard. Kyle shares insights into his zone 9B climate, how he adapts soil for his tropical plants, and specific techniques for growing and maintaining these crops. He also talks abou