The best gardening resources to prepare you for spring and answer (most) of your gardening questions!

There are a million different gardening resources available, and you can bet that almost every one of them says something slightly different. The resources in this article are some of my favorite go-tos when I have a question that I just can’t crack, or when I simply want to listen to people talk about plants. Whether you like listening to podcasts, reading pages, or enjoy something a little more interactive, there’s something available for everyone. 

Online Tools

It’s my first year using The Farmer’s Almanac Garden Planner, and I have to say it’s a pretty neat tool. Keeping track of your garden is important for planning future crop rotations, and documentation helps you remember big events that happen in your garden year to year. This planner could be the answer to your garden organizing needs. It is available online and on a mobile app, however, I chose to stick with the online version and really enjoyed it. Farmer’s Almanac offers a free 7 day trial, with no payment info required at sign up, just a name, email, and address (for climate zoning) and you’re good to go. Once you’re on you can scroll through the vegetables, herbs, and flowers and select the ones you want to use. Each icon has an information option that will provide you with plant care instructions and ideal companion plants so that you know just what to put where.  They also have a section for common pests and diseases that may plague your garden, and how to treat for them. When your 7 day trial is up, you can decide to sign up for the planner, or you can download a PDF and/or print it.  My only complaint is that it can be a bit glitchy, but if gardening teaches us anything, it’s patience. 

 

Podcasts

The Epic Gardening Podcast, hosted by Kevin Espiritu, creator of the Epic Gardening YouTube channel and website, is short, informative, and fun. The podcast usually runs between 5 and 10 minutes, and each topic continues for a week. So you get all of the information, just broken into timely clips that always leave you wanting more. Thank goodness there’s a new one every day! He covers every gardening topic you can imagine, from seedlings to tillandsia, and aquaponics to starting a landscaping business. If you want to listen in, it is available on Pandora and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

We Dig Plants is another one of my favorite podcasts. Carmen Devito and Alice Marcus Krieg broadcast from Brooklyn, where they focus on adding life to the NYC landscape by creating rooftop gardens. They explore gardening in all zones and bring on guests from various green industries all around the country. Last year they really focused on climate conditions by creating a special on each of the USDA gardening zones, interviewing people in each area and providing a glimpse into the different growing conditions and communities around the U.S. This podcast is also available on Pandora and wherever you find podcasts. 

Quick mention: Joe Gardener Podcast and website.

Websites

The Spruce – If you’re looking for some DIY inspiration in the garden, or looking for something to do with your produce, The Spruce may be a great place to start. Along with unlimited DIY projects and recipes, the writers also focus on garden crafts, outdoor design, and how to grow and care for different types of plants. They provide clearly written articles on all things ranging from lavender lemonade to options for starting seeds. This could be a fun one to flip through with the kids. 

Colorado State University Websites: CSU has put together an extensive amount of detailed plant information. Although much of their content is geared towards Colorado landscapes, many North American plants span several zones, and the content can be useful for anyone. The plant lovers at CSU are always invited to speak at horticulture events around Colorado, and I love attending their talks and absorbing their infinite knowledge. 

Plant Talk covers all things plant related, indoors and out. There is also information on trees, lawn, soil, growing conditions and care, and pests and diseases. Check out the website for fun videos! Maybe learn how to create your own rain barrel. 

The CSU Extension page includes a variety of subjects and covers things like agriculture, energy, and home gardening. Utilize the search bar for any specific questions you have on subjects such as drought-tolerant plants,  cost of solar panels, or the emerald ash borer. 

 

These are just a few of the many, many resources out there for your consumption. Let me know what gardening resources you enjoy! What’s your favorite way to consume gardening information? Do you like the feel of a friendly conversation that a podcast provides, or do you prefer to dive head first into a book and break down the information yourself?

 

Published by ClaireM