This week on Growing Deeper, Sarah and Hannah welcome Dana Freeman, Urban Agriculture and Local Food Systems Extension Educator, to tackle a problem many gardeners face: Why do vegetables thrive one year and fail the next?
Learn why soil quality matters, how to water your containers correctly, and what to do when the weather doesn't cooperate. Dana shares practical solutions and fall gardening tips that will help beginners and experienced growers alike. Whether you're struggling with cucumbers or wondering if your lettuce can handle the heat, this is a can't-miss episode for home gardeners.
What We’re Talking About:
- Why plants struggle in containers vs. raised beds
- Choosing and improving potting soil
- Fertilizer myths and facts
- DIY container hacks (hello, gym scooters and trash cans!)
- Watering strategies that actually work
- Using mulch and straw in pots
- Fall crop planning and frost dates
- When and how to clean up your veggie garden
- Preventing common problems like blossom end rot and sunscald
- How weather and microclimates affect vegetable performance
- Seed-starting, record-keeping, and variety selection for next year
Plants we mention in this episode:
- Tomatoes (including San Marzano, cherry tomatoes)
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Pumpkins (including ones grown for pepitas)
- Corn (strawberry popcorn)
- Beans (green beans, purple beans)
- Zucchini
- Okra
- Sweet potatoes
- Melons
- Lettuce (leaf and head)
- Spinach
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Carrots
- Beets
- Turnips
- Garlic
- Snap peas
- Parsnips
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Radishes
- Leeks
- Saffron crocus (for growing your own saffron!)
Resources we mention in this episode:
- Midwest Regional Climate Center Freeze Date Tool: Purdue MRCC
- Local Extension Offices for soil and pest help: https://extension.unl.edu/our-people-locations/
- All-America Selections edible trials: https://all-americaselections.org/product-category/edibles-vegetables/
- Fall plant sales at the Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office
Our Plant of the Week:
- Sarah: Strawberry popcorn, grown in a tub with her son
- Dana: Parsnips – underrated and delicious, especially after frost
- Hannah: San Marzano tomatoes inspired by a culinary trip to Italy
Links
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