If you've ever struggled to get carrot seeds to germinate, you're not alone. Carrots have frustrated me for years - until a simple garden experiment completely changed the way I grow them.

In this episode we'll discuss planting tips for carrots, why fresh carrot seed makes such a difference, the carrot life cycle, why it's important to grow open-pollinated seeds if you want to save your own seeds, and one of my favorite ways to attract pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden.

Companion article:
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/08/carrot-germination.html

My favorite open-pollinated seed sources:

• Mary's Heirloom Seeds (affiliate link)
• Baker Creek Seeds

Related episodes and articles:

Survival seeds - Are They Necessary? - Episode #13

Heirloom vs Hybrid seeds

Listener's question: Saving Seeds From Hybrid Tomatoes - Bonus episode

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If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
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You spot a dark, sunken patch on the bottom of a beautiful tomato - and immediately wonder what went wrong. Blossom end rot is frustrating, but the good news is that it isn't a disease, and it doesn't mean your whole crop is doomed.

In this episode, we'll talk about what really causes blossom end rot, and how watering, weather, and growing conditions affect your tomato plants' ability to take up the calcium they need.

You'll also learn what to do when blossom end rot appears and some simple ways to help prevent it from happening again. Don't worry - your tomato harvest can be saved!

Companion article:
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/08/blossom-end-rot-in-tomatoes.html

Visit the HOMEGROWN Podcast Page:
OakHillHomestead.com/p/podcast

Tomato Resources:
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/p/gardening.html#tomatoes

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

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Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
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After 30 years of growing tomatoes, I've made just about every mistake there is to make. I've experimented with varieties, trellises, pruning methods, containers, raised beds, and just about everything in between.

In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons my tomato plants have taught me. We'll talk about finding what works in your garden, why experimenting is part of the process, and the simple practices I've settled on after three decades of trial and error.

If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing it right," this episode is for you.

Transcript/related article:
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/07/tomato-growing-tips.html

Download your FREE Tomato Growing Guide here.

Tomato growing articles on OakHillHomestead.com:
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/p/gardening.html#tomatoes

Homegrown Garden Blueprint:
https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/

Sign up for garden tips, seasonal ideas, and to be notified of new episodes by email: https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead
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Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

The seed packet says your carrots should be ready in 70 days - but what if they're still tiny? Or your broccoli starts flowering before you harvest it?

In this episode of HOMEGROWN, we're talking about how to know when your vegetables are truly ready to harvest. You'll learn why "days to maturity" are only a guideline and how to recognize the signs that common garden crops are ready to pick.

Thanks for hanging out in the garden with me today!

Transcript/related post: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/07/when-to-harvest-vegetables.html

Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook - https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead
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Tomato hornworms are one of the most destructive pests in the vegetable garden. These giant green caterpillars can strip a tomato plant of leaves before you even realize they're there.

Learn how to identify tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms, recognize the signs of damage, protect your tomato plants using companion planting, beneficial insects, and other organic gardening methods. You'll also discover a surprising and fun way to find hidden hornworms.

Download your FREE Tomato Growing Guide here.

Related post/transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/tomato-hornworm-control.html

Blacklight flashlight (UV light): https://amzn.to/4xOnEnm (affiliate link)

Companion Planting episode #31 for more information on preventing insect pests: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/05/beginners-guide-to-companion-planting.html

If you’re ready to take your garden a step further, the Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook will help you map out your entire garden with confidence, from what to plant to how it all fits together.

Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email: https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead
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Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh

Let's talk about simple ways to grow fruit right alongside your vegetables - no fruit trees required! From strawberries in containers, to melons, berries, kiwi and some unusual curiosities too, you'll discover how fruit can fit into gardens of almost any size.

No matter how large or small your backyard garden might be - even containers on a patio - adding fruit to your garden can increase your harvest and make your space even more productive. Join me as we explore practical ideas for growing fresh, homegrown fruit right where you're already growing your vegetables.

Related post/transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/grow-fruit-in-your-vegetable-garden.html.html

Kiwiberry botanical name: Actinidia arguta

Homegrown Garden Blueprint: https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/

Seed source for berry seeds, melons, cucamelons and more: Mary's Heirloom Seeds

Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email: https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead
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Want more tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons from your backyard garden? Pollinators may be the missing piece: they help your vegetables produce bigger, better harvests. In this episode, we’re talking about how pollination works, which pollinators are helping in your garden, and simple ways to attract more bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects naturally. Small changes can make a surprisingly big difference.

Grab your free Pollinator-Friendly Plants guide -
a handy reference chart of plants that will compliment your vegetable garden and attract pollinators.

Transcript/Related blog post: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2026/06/why-your-garden-needs-bees.html

Homegrown Garden Blueprint workbook - https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
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Cabbage worms can turn healthy plants into a mess almost overnight, but you don’t have to let them take over your garden.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through what they are, how they get there, and the simple, effective ways to stop them before the damage gets out of hand. We’ll talk about prevention, and organic solutions.

If you grow cabbage, broccoli, kale, or other brassicas, this is one problem you can get ahead of.

Related post/transcript: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2018/05/fighting-cabbage-worms.html

How to Grow Cabbage in Your Backyard Garden: https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2019/03/how-to-grow-cabbage.html

Homegrown Garden Blueprint: https://homegrown-garden-blueprint.milotreecart.com/

Sign up to be notified of new episodes by email: https://oakhillhomestead.myflodesk.com/homegrown

Subscribe and Review
New episodes drop every other Tuesday during the gardening season - subscribe so you don’t miss a single one! Subscribe to my emails for even more gardening tips and seasonal ideas.

If you’re enjoying HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Keep in Touch
Website: https://oakhillhomestead.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/oakhillhomestead
Instagram: https://instagram.com/oakhillhomestead
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/oakhh