S5E15 Garden myths, How the pandemic has changed gardening, Guest Christy Wilhelmi - The Gardening with Joey and Holly Radio show

The Gardening with Joey & Holly radio show Podcast/Garden talk radio show (heard across the country)

The gardening with Joey and Holly Radio Show heard weekly March - Oct
our 2021 anonymous Survey Garden survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11zLBO6dluGFLbLYqDUw6C3GA88Co39xbOCbOiUy7hVc/edit?gxids=7628
Is segment one Joey and Holly debunk a few garden myths
If you add sugar to the soil around your tomatoes, you’ll grow a sweeter vegetable.
Nope, sorry, it doesn’t work that way, but I sure wish it did. The only way to grow a sweet tomato is to choose a sweet variety.
Generally, you want to choose a smaller cultivar if you like them to be sweet.
You can still improve the overall flavor and taste of any tomato you grow by being consistent with your watering and the sunlight it receives.
Tomatoes benefit tremendously from steady nurturing, and if you set your plants in healthy soil, with careful watering and diligent care, you’ll be rewarded with a harvest of tasty fruit.
I have one earthworm. I will cut it in half and have TWO earthworms!
It doesn’t work that way. One part dies and the tries to heal
Earthworms are relatively simple organisms and they can regenerate after suffering severe damage, but they still have a brain, a circulatory system, and nerves.
If you cut a worm in half, the top end (the side with that big bump on it) could survive and repair the damaged tissue, but it’s impossible for the other half to do much of anything except rot in the ground.
It’s impossible to avoid injuring earthworms when we’re digging into the soil (believe me, I’ve tried), but the least we can do to help out our favorite aerators and composters is to avoid injuring them whenever possible, especially by not intentionally cutting them in two!
Coffee grounds will make you soil acidic and pine needles can too
The pH of coffee grounds has been reported to be anything from 4.6 to 8.4 (ref 1) . Coffee Grounds from local Starbucks is labeled with a pH of 6.8 and their testing report indicates a pH of 6.2 (ref 2). A commonly reported value is 6.7. That is just barely acidic.
What Type of Soil do You Have?
It is important to know the type of soil you have. Armed with this knowledge, you can then estimate how effective any soil amendment might be in acidifying soil. Slightly acidic soil amendments will not change the pH of most soils–very sandy soil may be the exception.
Adding organic material with a pH of 6.7 will not make your soil acidic.
Organic pesticides are safer than conventional
MYTH: Using organic pesticides are safe.
Pyrethrum, for example, is made from chrysanthemums but is still
toxic to people and pets when handled improperly
Read and follow all label directions –
these products are tools, not miracle
workers
Even if not lethal, many of these
pesticides can cause serious health
complications
Misused pesticides can be harmful, regardless of whether they are considered natural or synthetic
Watering during the heat of day burns plant leaves
Theory is - the sun will cause the water droplets formed on leaves to magnify the sun
Not true - physicists found that water droplets on a leaf surface were not able to focus the sun's energy sufficiently to damage the leaves before the water evaporated.
Plants are most likely having other issues - like lack of nutrients, or reactions to over fertlization, etc.
In segment two Joey and Holly talk about how has the pandemic changed the garden world
In 2020 16 to 18 million people started a garden for the very first time. And 86% of them are planning to garden again in 2021. My garden talk radio show provides that platform to reach many of them. Turning them into your next customer and new sales.
More than 20 million novice gardeners picked up a trowel for the first time swelling the ranks of American gardeners to more than 63 million according to Bonnie Plants CEO Mike Sutterer. Most of them were males under age 35, and they want to continue gardening in 2021.
source:
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/31/gardening-20-million-novices-took-up-hobby-in-2020/
Minneapolis-based Axiom Marketing. The survey indicated that half of those who gardened this year did so as a way to get out of the house, relieve stress, provide security and for something to do while sticking close to home.
Growing flowers is by far the most popular gardening activity at nearly 73%, with shrubs and vegetables rounding out the top three. More than 32% rank container gardening high on their list. Houseplants are also important with 46% saying indoor gardening is a meaningful activity.
Will the gardening trend continue? Axiom's research reported that 80% of those surveyed felt they were successful in this year’s gardening efforts. In the 19-40 age group, 80% indicated they would plant even more next year. Of those 40-55, 64% plan to increase plantings.
At least in the near future, prospects look good for continued gardening activity, especially as a younger age group became involved in gardening, many for the first time. Of gardeners aged 19-29 in Axiom’s reporting, 49% said they were planning to spend even more time gardening in future seasons.
Through pandemics and past wars, we've needed all the help we can get — and gardening continues to serve as a trusty friend.
cOVID-19 influenced younger homeowners to garden more, according to the research. In the 19-28 age range, 23% said they spent “more time” gardening (that includes indoors or out) and 49% of that age group said they spent “definitely more” time gardening. In the 29-39 age bracket, 26% spent “more time” gardening, while 50% said “definitely more.”
That younger demographic also said they plan to grow more in 2021 – 81% of 19- to 28-year-olds and 83% of 29- to 39-year-olds. The response from 40- to 55-year-olds was impressive, too, with 64% saying they’ll garden more next year.
Better control of one’s food supply wasn’t the only reason for this year’s gardening rush. People have frequently turned to the soil in times of trouble. As COVID-19 caused a need for social distancing, gardening provided contact with something real. The smell of soil and flowers, the taste of herbs and fresh produce, and the feel of warm sunshine provided stability in an otherwise unreal world.
Attending virtual online sessions does not immerse us in reality the way gardening does. Rutgers University professor Joel Flagler described the situation well. “There are certain very stabilizing forces in gardening that can ground us when we are feeling shaky, uncertain and terrified. It’s these predictable outcomes and predictable rhythms of the garden that are very comforting right now.
https://www.brecks.com/blog/covid-gardening-retail-boom ?
In 2021 Those gardeners are coming back
The research, conducted by the Minneapolis-based firm Axiom Marketing, found that 86% of homeowners plan to continue gardening in 2021. Nearly 40% of those surveyed say they will plant about the same as last year, with 47% say they will be planting more and expanding their garden spaces next season.
Source:
https://www.nurserymag.com/article/post-pandemic-gardening/
In segment three Joey and Holly welcome their guest Christy Wilhelmi is the driving force behind Gardenerd https://gardenerd.com/ Christy believes that gardening unifies both physical activity and healthy food choices, while providing a grounding spiritual and creative outlet. She has dedicated herself to the study of organic gardening and its benefits. She is an author, speaker, and more. Her latest book, Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden just came out in May.
1. We all learn from each other. That is why we bring people on the show like yourself to educate all of us. We would like you to share the benefits of using worm castings around your plants and how they can eliminate aphids.
2. Composting is easy if you have a big piles and equipment to turn it, but many of us are in small backyards with limited space. What are some easy ways we can all compost that doesn't take up a large area?
3. Your newest book, Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden was recently published - what can our listeners expect when they pick up a copy, and what is a unique tip or something notable to pique their interest?
4. Some people might say, "fruit really isn't that expensive" or "I can get it from the farmers market, why would I grow my own?"- what are some good reasons to start a fruit garden? What are some challenges one may face when starting a mini fruit garden?
5. How can people find out more about you?
In segment four Joey and Holly answer garden questions
1. How do I keep the birds from eating my strawberries?
2.. What is the purpose of the whole grain cornmeal around the tomato plant? Does it have to be whole grain?
3.Carrot Fly
Monitoring rust fly arrival
The most accurate way to determine when carrot rust fly arrive in your own garden is with the use of yellow sticky cards. In early May, place one card at the canopy level every 10 feet of carrot bed. Check these cards twice a week for adult carrot rust fly. As soon as adults are detected, implement row covers or barriers.
Since each garden has its very own ecosystem, the timing of rust fly will vary from location to location. A great indicator is to take note of what is blooming at the time of their discovery. In the following years, you can use this bloom time as your cue to start management practices.
Effective cultural controls
If late seeding is not an option, or there is a plan for successive plantings, then a more intensive approach is necessary. First, carrot rust fly overwinters in the soil of the previous year’s crop, so yearly crop rotation is essential to avoid re-infestation. The farther away you can get from the previous year’s bed the better. They have a number of alternative hosts upon which they can survive (see below), so those crops must also be taken into consideration in crop rotation plans. Certain weed species also provide habitat, so eliminating them around your garden will also help with management.
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