Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Fred Hoffman

2 Creators

Tips for beginning and experienced gardeners. New episodes arrive every Friday. Fred Hoffman has been a U.C. Certified Master Gardener since 1982 and writes a weekly garden column for the Lodi News-Sentinel in Lodi, CA. A four-decade fixture in Sacramento radio, he hosted three radio shows for Northern California gardeners and farmers: The KFBK Garden Show, Get Growing with Farmer Fred, and the KSTE Farm Hour. Episode Website: https://gardenbasics.net

#2 in the Top 100 gardening All time chart

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Top 10 Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Garden Basics with Farmer Fred episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Garden Basics with Farmer Fred for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Garden Basics with Farmer Fred episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

120 How a Tree Works. Dahlia Rescue!

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

07/16/21 • 28 min

Trees are subject to many problems, including insects, diseases, weather-related issues...but probably the biggest threat to the trees in your yard...is you. From the day you plant that tree until its demise, you may not be helping it live a healthy life in so many ways. Master Gardener and Urban Forester Pam Bone talks about how a tree works, and what we can do to keep it healthy by knowing how your trees actually function.

It’s on episode 120 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
A diagram of the parts of a tree (Courtesy US Forest Service)

Links:

Smart Pots
How to Stake a Tree
Book: Plant Propagation by Alan Toogood
Find a Consulting or Certified Arborist Near You: treesaregood.org

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.
E-mail: [email protected]
or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below.
Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter @farmerfred
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

2 Listeners

118 Attracting Pollinators. Wasp: Friend or Foe? Mystery Fungus.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

07/09/21 • 27 min

We do a deep dive into your garden questions on this episode. We attempt to identify a giant wasp in a listener’s yard.
A mysterious, underground white fungus has another listener perplexed.
And we help out people who want to attract beneficial insects and pollinators to their garden.

It’s all on episode 118 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots.

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
A bee on an artichoke flower.

Links:

Smart Pots
The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman
Kim Eierman's Ecobeneficial.com website
Pollinator-Friendly Regional Plant Lists from the Xeres Society
Calscape.org Pinpoints California native plants via your CA zip code
Cicada Killer Wasp info
Mushrooms and Other Nuisance Fungi in Yards

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

2 Listeners

113 Avocado Growing Tips. The Coral Yucca.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

06/22/21 • 26 min

If you live in USDA Zone 9, chances are you have attempted to grow an avocado tree. Sure, it’s easy...if you live in Santa Barbara, Ventura or San Diego, where the temperature range is between 50 and 85 degrees, usually. But for the rest of us, growing avocados is a challenge. Tom Spellman of Dave Wilson Nursery says he can make it a heck of a lot easier for you to grow backyard avocados throughout USDA Zone 9. He has tips. And the Plant of the Week is a low water use succulent that attracts squadrons of hummingbirds: the coral yucca. Warren Roberts of the UC Davis Arboretum tells us all about it.

It’s all on episode 113 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery.

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
The Bacon Avocado

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery Fruit Tube Videos
Avocado Growing Advice (from UCANR)
UC Davis Arboretum
Fruit basket picker with pole
More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

Text us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: [email protected] or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com

Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog

Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman

Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

103 Is Fish Fertilizer Safe? The Buckeye Tree.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

05/18/21 • 28 min

Liquid fish fertilizer (fish emulsion), is a popular way to feed your plants. But is it safe to foliar feed your edible greens with it...and then eat those greens? Soil professional Steve Zien advocates for the fishy stuff, along with a dollop of sea weed. And, it's always a good idea to thoroughly rinse and wash all your garden produce before serving it.
The Plant of the Week is the buckeye tree, one very eccentric plant.
It’s all on episode 103 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
The California Buckeye tree
Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
Dave Wilson Fruit Tube Videos
Fish Fertilizers/Emulsion, Seaweed, Kelp Meal
Everything You Need to Know about the Seaweed, Ascophyllum nodusum
More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

Text or call us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: [email protected] or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.

And thank you for listening also to the Green Acres Garden Podcast with Farmer Fred .

All About Farmer Fred:

Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

185 What's Lasagna Gardening? Potato Planting. Fruit Trees vs Lawns

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

04/15/22 • 28 min

You’ve heard of No-Till gardening. How about No-Dig gardening? Or creating a Lasagna garden? Emily Murphy, author of the book, Grow Now, explains.
In our Question and Answer segment, one listener wants to know if it is too late to plant potatoes, and how to prepare the soil for potatoes? As we like to say on this podcast, it depends. Master Garden Gail Pothour has the answer, with all the variables.

And in a quick tip, we find out why you don’t want to grow your fruit trees in the middle of your lawn.

We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the new home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net or (for transcripts) Buzzsprout

Pictured:
Well-mulched plum tree in dormant pasture grass

Links:
Subscribe to the free, Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
Dave Wilson Nursery https://www.davewilson.com/home-garden/

Book: Grow Now by Emily Murphy

Growing Potatoes in the Home Garden

Texas A&M: Lawn Care Around Trees
UCANR: Sheet Mulching (Lasagna Gardening)

Hugelkultur (extreme lasagna gardening)

Got a garden question?

• Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.

• Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net

• E-mail: [email protected]

All About Farmer Fred:
The GardenBasics.net website

The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter
https://gardenbasics.substack.com

Farmer Fred website:
http://farmerfred.com
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter
https://twitter.com/farmerfred

The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com

Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"

Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/

Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube
https://gardenbasics.net/videos
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchase

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

117 All About Smart Pots. The Asian Lotus Flower.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

07/06/21 • 29 min

Today we find out more details about using a certain fabric plant container in your garden. Of course, it’s Smart Pots, which is no ordinary fabric container. Did you know they come in a wide variety of sizes and can stay much cooler in the summer heat versus other plant containers? And we will find out why Smart Pots are perfect for the organic gardener.
The Plant of the Week is something a little different. It’s a water plant. The beautiful and fragrant Asian or Chinese Lotus.

It’s all on episode 117 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery.

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
Smart Pots Big Bag Bed

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
Nelumbo (Asian Lotus Flower) info
UC Davis Arboretum

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.

E-mail: [email protected]

or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below.

Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

111 Tips for Establishing Low Water-Use Plants. The Smoke Tree. Tart Cherries.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

06/15/21 • 29 min

Much of the Western United States, right now, is under extreme drought conditions. Watering restrictions are already being established in many places. If this is the new normal, and you want a landscape, low-water use plants, especially native plants, may be part of your future. But just because they will eventually become able to thrive with less water, they still will need regular watering after planting for a short time. Today, we talk about the watering precautions necessary when putting in low water use plants. And the Plant of the Week is a plant that does its best in poor soil, and puts on a show for an extended period throughout its wide growing region: the smoke tree. Plus we’re talking the best tart cherry varieties to plant,

It’s all on episode 111 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery.

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
The Smoke Tree (Continus coggygria 'atropurpurea')

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
UC Davis Arboretum

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

And thank you for listening.

All About Farmer Fred:
Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com
Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog
Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman
Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

109 Tomato Troubleshooter, 2021 Pt1. Feather Grass.

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

06/08/21 • 29 min

Gardeners around the northern hemisphere have their tomato plants in the ground. They’re growing, but some of them are developing problems, already! Why are there cracks appearing in the tomatoes? Why is the skin yellowing? And what is that big ugly brown spot on the bottom of the tomato? What’s a gardener to do? Today, it’s Tomato Troubleshooter 2021, Part 1.
It’s all on episode 109 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
Blossom End Rot in a San Marzano paste tomato.

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery
Farmer Fred Rant: Tomato Troubleshooting
Farmer Fred Rant: Blossom End Rot
UC Davis Arboretum

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

And thank you for listening.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

107 Worm Castings. Poppies. Supermarket vs Homegrown Nutrition

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

06/01/21 • 29 min

You’ve seen it with the bagged soils goods at the nursery: worm castings. What role should they play in your garden?
The Plant of the Week is a big family of different plants: the poppy. There’s probably one, or two, that are right for you.
Just because a homegrown fruit is smaller than what you might see at a grocery store doesn’t mean it’s inferior. On the contrary, that smaller, homegrown fruit may be healthier for you. We’ll explain.
It’s all on episode 107 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery.
And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
California poppies

Links:
Smart Pots
Dave Wilson Nursery / Tom’s Picks
Farmer Fred Rant: Supermarket vs Homegrown Nutrition
Worm Castings
UC Davis Arboretum

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

110 Tomato Troubleshooter Part 2. Harvesting Garlic

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

06/11/21 • 28 min

Last time, here on the Garden Basics podcast, we were talking about Tomato Troubleshooting with Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis, California. We talked about dealing with blossom end rot, sunburn issues and problematic watering, which can cause your tomatoes to suffer. Today, it’s Tomato Troubleshooter 2021, Part 2, with Don. We’ll delve into the scary world of tomato hornworms and fruit worms, beautiful but deadly diseases such as late blight, wilts. And, more troublesome tomato critters, such as the leaf-footed stink bug.

On a happier note, it’s coming up to garlic harvest time! We have tips for getting the garlic out of the ground and into storage...and that takes awhile.

It’s all on episode 110 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots.

And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!
Pictured:
Tomato Hornworm

Links:
Smart Pots
Farmer Fred Rant: Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects
Farmer Fred Rant: Tomato Troubleshooting
Nematode Control
Leaf Footed Bug pictures, description
Redwood Barn Nursery, Davis CA
Filaree Farm garlic catalog
Book: Growing Great Garlic
Book: The Complete Book of Garlic
University of Minnesota: Growing Garlic

More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch:

leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics

And thank you for listening.

As an Amazon Associate, I ear

Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

1 Listener

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FAQ

How many episodes does Garden Basics with Farmer Fred have?

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred currently has 370 episodes available.

What topics does Garden Basics with Farmer Fred cover?

The podcast is about Leisure, Home & Garden, Gardening, How To, Podcasts and Education.

What is the most popular episode on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

The episode title '120 How a Tree Works. Dahlia Rescue!' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

The average episode length on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred is 34 minutes.

How often are episodes of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred released?

Episodes of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred are typically released every 4 days.

When was the first episode of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

The first episode of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred was released on Apr 11, 2020.

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Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Fred Hoffman

Top 10 Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Garden Basics with Farmer Fred have?

What topics does Garden Basics with Farmer Fred cover?

What is the most popular episode on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

What is the average episode length on Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

How often are episodes of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred released?

When was the first episode of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred?

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