Growing your own food has become an important, national trend, with kitchen gardens popping up in backyards, as well as front porches, apartment balconies and urban fire escapes. So, it seemed only appropriate to focus this episode of Nest in Style on Horticulture Radio on edible gardening.
Don’t miss co-host Teresa O’Connor’s interview with internationally renowned chef and television personality Graham Kerr (aka “The Galloping Gourmet”), who explains why he has finally started a kitchen garden of his own. Then Teresa and co-host Jayme Jenkins review some of their favorite products for getting your own food garden off the ground, even if you’re short of space.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Not only that, Jayme and Teresa are kicking off another great giveaway for gardeners! But before we announce details on this month’s contest, thanks to everyone who entered the Proven Winners random drawing in April. Congratulations to these six lucky winners:
- Kathy Juracek
- Crystal Knodel
- Patty Hicks
- Andrew Shields
- Joy Myer
- Donna Wright
The winners’ prizes will be shipped shortly, so they can enjoy these Proven Winners plants in their own gardens soon. Thanks again for entering.
Enter to Win May’s Edible Garden Giveaway
Graham Kerr's New Book
- Autographed copy of Graham Kerr’s Growing At The Speed of Light: A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden (100 delicious recipes along with gardening advice about 60 vegetables, fruits and herbs.)
- A Greenland Gardener raised garden kit (A raised bed that assembles in minutes for growing vegetables, herbs and flowers.)
- P. Allen Smith – How-To Garden Cards for Veggies and Herbs (Expert growing advice from one of America’s most famous gardeners. Includes DVD!)
To win, all you have to do is leave a comment below. If you’re a new gardener, tell us which edibles you are eager to grow this year. If you’re an established gardener, tell us 1) which new vegetables, fruits or herbs you want to try this season, and 2) what you can’t wait to grow again this year.
Winners will be randomly selected by the end of May. Good luck, and happy gardening!
More Edible Gardening Resources
 Greenland Gardener Raised Bed |  P. Allen Smith's Garden Cards |
Raised Beds
- Easy Gardener Instant Garden
- Gardener Supply Periwinkle Grow Beds and Raised Bed Liners
- Greenland Gardener – PRIZE PACKAGE
Cold/Frost Protectors
- Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season by Colorado State University Extension
- Patio Grow House from Gardener’s Supply
- Pop-Up Protection for Grow Beds (Frost, plus bird and insect protection too) – for 3×3 and 3×6 boxes
- Cloches from English Creek Gardens
Plant Supports
DIY Broom Support
- Bean Teepee in Teresa O’Connor’s yard
- How to make your own bean teepee (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
- Plant supports from H. Potter
- Collapsible Veggie Cages
- DIY supports like ladders, bamboo teepees and salvaged gates
- Support ties – Rapiclip Foam Wire Ties and Velcro Plant Ties
Keeping Track
- Write and Erase Plant Tags
- Old calendars for record keeping
- Territorial Seed Company’s Vegetable Planner
- Crop Rotation Tips from Seasonal Wisdom
Harvesting
- Wooden Trug by Kinsman Company
- Large Trug Tub by Kinsman Company
More Help
P. Allen Smith – How-To Garden Cards for Veggies and Herbs – PRIZE PACKAGE
Tune in next month when Jayme and Teresa review great plants, products and tools for gardening with children. You can always find more gardening information at aHa! Modern Living and Seasonal Wisdom. Now, go grow something!
Pingback: Credit counseling and credit card debt help
I am trying all sorts of new vegetables this season. Red potatoes in an old whiskey barrel, Artichoke, radishes,celery, carrots, Walla Walla onions, red and green peppers, banana and jalapeno peppers,cauliflower, broccoli, and mixed in some Nasturtiums in an old manure spreader. Planted the pumpkins in front of the manure spreader tire. Also have an 8×8 with old wooden picket fence around it with green beans and squash vining up an old windmill, corn, snap peas, cucumber, zucchini, also still have asparagus to plant…both green and purple. 4 different types of tomatoes and Strawberries too! Also doing a Herb garden in my window box. And a lettuce bowl sitting atop an old plant stand. I feel like I am forgetting something….
This year, our 3rd in this location, we are working for more diversity in the garden. 12 kinds of tomatoes, 4 kinds of sage, 2 kinds of mint and 3 of peppers are only the beginning. We’ve established an orchard in large pots with 3 different apples, 2 of blueberry, a bush cherry and 2 hazelnut bushes, 2 kinds of raspberry and 2 of strawberry. As renters we are fortunate to have a gardening landlord who appreciates the raised beds and giant pots we have all over the place. It’s exciting and fun. Actually very therapeutic to work in the garden and preserve the food for our winter use.
I just moved and have a huge yard. Right now trying my hand at container. Have 3 tomate plantes just starting to flower, and 3 bell pepers (green, yellow,and bertha) hum might have a green thumb. I would like to get started on Veg box above ground. So hard to decide what to do yard/gargen or unpack. ( : Thank you for all the tip, still a lot of learning, I want to plant so much more can’t wait
We are growing purple artichokes in the very back of the flower bed.
I do container gardening on my deck – this is my second year. I’m looking forward to growing tomatoes (grape, roma and slicing), cukes, yellow squash, zucchini, peppers (red, banana and jalepeno), potatoes, onions, and lots of herbs. I also want to try lettuces and beets, but I think I may wait until next year for those.
Semi-established gardener that finally got parsnips to grow profusely after planting seeds for 3 years – and not one plant until this year! Also new this year are brussel sprouts, spinach and buttter lettuce. Exciting repeats from last year include lavender eggplant and detroit dark red beets amongst the usual veggies…. FUN! Just love playing in the dirt…even after all these years…
new gardener- hoping to grow peppers, tomatoes and spinach…we planted more but tornadoes ripped through the area twice and have a feeling if the back garden grows it will be a huge mess of mixed spinach corn, pumpkin, etc
i’ve only planted in my wee patch for 2 years. new for this year is spearmint & red cabbage. looking forward to another lovely crop of chamomile & mini cabbage. i’m looking forward to planting beets in late june (will start seedlings inside & move them out once the minicabbage is set). am still learning the soil as even though small it is clay-heavy, especially one corner, & has enough of a slope that when heavy rain hit 3 days after planting, all of my flower seeds (literally) floated out & onto the sidewalk!
I am growing all kinds of herbs this year and the new veggie is summer squash.
I’ve been growing food for over 25 years, and now grow most of what my family eats. I love trying new things- this year I planted cranberries for the first time, dwarf plum and cherry trees, and will be growing Ground Cherries- always trying different varieties of veggies, new this season is Popping Corn and Yardlong Beans.
That’s impressive, Gardening Jones. I love plum and cherry trees, especially in the spring. And I’ve never tried to grow ground cherries before. You’ll have to let us know how they grow. Thanks for entering our random drawing. Teresa
Getting ready to house sit for the Summer in the LA hills. Excited about growing veggies & herbs. First time Cali gardener, was in NYC before. I am sure it will be different! Will keep you posted ; )
Good luck Carol. You’ll find lots will grow in that Southern California climate. Thanks for entering the drawing! Teresa
I’m fairly new to gardening. I tried to build a raised bed last year, but it didn’t turn out very well! I’m now dealing with a termite problem!
But I’m going to get back on the horse (and move the location away from the house), and I’m looking forward to growing some bell peppers, tomatoes, and maybe carrots! I’m also thinking about trying to grow potatoes.
Hoping to win the contest so maybe I won’t mess up quite so spectacularly this year!
Oh dear Emily, a termite problem? I hope the relocation technique works out better for you this year. Good luck with the contest and thanks for your comments. We always love hearing what others are growing.
I am looking forward to growing tomatoes, kale, and melons this year!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I hope the weather is cooperating this growing season Michelle. Mine seems to keep getting shorter and shorter. We’re expecting our summer to be 5 degrees cooler this year. I hoping for a few red tomatoes. Good luck!
I’m looking forward to growing my own tomatoes,peppers,oregano and basil, – can’t wait to make my own organic homemade pasta sauce.
Patricia: Yum! What I love about making pasta sauce is that it allows you to eat your summer produce at other times of the year. Enjoy… Teresa
I enjoy growing tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers and look forward to growing these every year.
Dana: Enjoy your garden, and thanks for entering our giveaway. Teresa
I added 5 additional raised beds this year bringing my number to 20 of various sizes. I am growing artichoke for the first time as well as using marigolds as a companion plant. It has been so wet here that I am weeks ahead of my neighbors. We are harvesting broccoli already with cauliflower and cabbage getting close. Lettuce, radishes, and carrots are about finished with the days heating up.
Wow, Eric. You certainly have created a large garden. Best of luck this growing season … and in the drawing. Teresa
first time growing strawberries. also trying big beef tomatoes, butter and sweet corn, and watermelon.
Best of luck to you, Keith. Thanks for entering our random drawing.
I am growing tomatoes, crookneck squash, zuchinni and cucumbers again this year. For the first time, I am trying a small herb garden with cilantro, chives, basil and tarragon. I want to get some rosemary, but i’ve gotten it twice before and cannot seem to get it to live–and i’ve been told by others that they can’t kill it, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I also want to try my hand at eggplant this year–yum!
Hi Pamela: Your garden sounds wonderful. Make sure your rosemary has full sun. This herb likes slightly lean, alkaline soil with plenty of drainage. They don’t like wet roots. Also, depending on your growing zone, you may want to look for varieties that can stand colder temperatures, such as ‘Madalene Hill.’ Good luck, Teresa
I’m trying tomatoes, red bell peppers, started them from seed this year…Heirloom seeds. I’ve also planted beans, cucumber, onions, and corn and strawberries, plus transplanted raspberry bushes for future berries. I’m such a beginner and really need help, feel like I’m stumbling through.
Marlene: You sound like you’re off to a great start. Don’t forget to check in with your local Master Gardeners, connected with your Cooperative Extension Service. They provide free gardening advice. All best, Teresa