Tips and Resources For All Gardeners

July 14, 2020

By Beatrice Alvarez

When several states and cities began to quarantine residents to slow the spread of COVID-19 back in March, many found themselves spending a lot more time at home than ever before. Some were able to learn mathematics (again) thanks to their children's distance learning. We know the bakers baked edible masterpieces and the crafters got crafty. Today, we're shining a light on the gardeners. Plant people and backyard farmers alike, you went for the green!

Gardening gives us a harvest or bloom to look forward to, a project to put care into, and a daily routine that centers us when everything else can feel chaotic. So if you are just discovering your green thumb or tending to your mature garden we applaud you and offer shows from local stations (with varied climate zones!) to build your gardening skills.

You Bet Your Garden | Enjoying Plants During Quarantine

PBS 39 (Lehigh Valley Public Media) in Bethlehem, PA has continued making new episodes of their podcast, "You Bet Your Garden," during the pandemic. In this episode, host Mike McGrath reminds listeners that no matter what else is on hiatus, the plants don't stop.

Backyard Farmer | Plants To Buy In July

For everything there is a season. And July is a good time to swoop in and get good deals on plants. Backyard Farmer (from NET in Lincoln, Nebraska) digs deeper with an expert to help you buy plants next time you find yourself at a nursery or farm stand.

PBS NewsHour | Finding Solace In The Garden

PBS NewsHour's Jeffrey Brown talks to world-renown landscape designer Piet Oudolf about the benefits of being in the garden. He remarks: "You can think while you're gardening. You can think about life and how to follow up after this crisis." We couldn't agree more: gardening brings clarity to a racing brain.

Modern Gardener | Regrowing Food From Kitchen Scraps

Scarcity of household items made a lot of people search for homemade alternatives. It also got people thinking about how else we could be more self-sustaining, starting with our food supply. Regrowing food from kitchen scraps is good for the environment and is budget-friendly, but don't start without consulting PBS Utah's Modern Gardener.

Central Texas Gardener | Plant Propagation Made Easy

Central Texas Gardener (from Austin PBS in Austin, Texas) has a great show that showcases local landscape and also talks about how to propagate plants. That's right, your plants can make plant offspring. So that would make you a plant grandparent? No, no, they're just plants, even if you did name them after your favorite Masterpiece characters.

Prairie Yard and Garden | Houseplants

Houseplants purify air and brighten any room. If outdoor gardening isn't your cup of tea, then enjoy the beauty and benefits of houseplants. Prairie Yard & Garden (from Pioneer PBS in Granite Falls, Minnesota) host Mary Holm and her husband give care tips for houseplants and have excellent recommendations for first-time plant parents.

The Family Plot | Community Gardens

Community gardens are a great resource for those of us who don't have a ton of spare land to make a beautiful garden. Of course, community gardens also bring people together in a productive (and socially-distant) way. This episode of The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South (from WKNO in Cordova, Tennessee) features information on the popularity of community gardens and how to start one in your neighborhood.

Let's Grow Stuff | Planting In Your Container

Let's Grow Stuff (from PBS Wisconsin) gives straight-forward tips for beginner gardeners. We love this one because you don't need a lot of space or even a plot of land to grow beautiful plants.

Plants Behaving Badly | Available in Passport

Okay, this one isn't actually about gardening tips but it is an experience. Plants Behaving Badly is like a noir mystery, but about orchids and carnivorous plants. This episode here is called Murder & Mayhem. You're welcome.