Building Your 2026 Garden Plan - Ep. 282

Building Your 2026 Garden Plan - Ep. 282

Author: Karin Velez January 6, 2026 Duration: 33:30
If you’ve ever stared at a seed catalog in January and thought, “I want all of it,” and then somehow ended up with a garden that felt chaotic by mid-summer, today’s episode is for you.Because most “garden planning” advice starts with the fun part—varieties, colors, wish lists—and then we wonder why the plan falls apart when real life shows up.So today on Just Grow Something, we’re going to flip the order.I’m going to give you four questions that can lead you to an actual usable plan. These questions help you decide what to grow, where it goes, when it happens, and how to keep the plan realistic for the space and time you actually have.And the best part is you can use these four questions whether you garden in a single planter, a few raised beds, or a bigger in-ground plot.Let's dig in!References and Resources:My Plan Like A Pro Course is Open for Registration: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/proHow to Plan Your Raised Bed Garden, Ep. 269: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/how-to-plan-a-raised-bed-garden-ep-269Seven Steps to Planning Your Entire Garden Year - Ep. 234: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/7-steps-to-planning-your-entire-garden-year-ep-234Virginia Cooperative Extension (2025). “Planning the Vegetable Garden.” VCE Publications: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-312/426-312.htmlWashington State University Extension (2015). “Crop Rotation in Home Gardens” (PDF): https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2070/2015/08/Crop-Rotation-in-Home-Gardens.pdfPenn State Extension (2023). “Keeping a Garden Journal.”: https://extension.psu.edu/keeping-a-garden-journal/Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.comJust Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shopJust Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomethingBonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomethingAmazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

Ever find yourself staring at a seed packet or a struggling tomato plant, wondering what it really needs to thrive? Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening digs into those questions, moving beyond folklore and guesswork. Host Karin Velez believes that understanding the science behind gardening-the "why" as much as the "how"-empowers you to become a more confident and successful grower. Each episode feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, one who sifts through research and practical experience to offer clear, actionable advice. You’ll hear detailed discussions on everything from soil health and specific plant varieties to managing pests and planning your garden layout effectively. This podcast is designed for anyone with a patch of dirt or a few containers, whether you’ve been cultivating for decades or are just planting your first herb. Karin’s approach demystifies the process of growing your own food, making it accessible and deeply rewarding. The ultimate aim is simple but profound: to equip you with the reliable knowledge needed to harvest something delicious from your own space, season after season. Tune in for a grounded, thoughtful take on home gardening that celebrates both the triumphs and the learning moments inherent in getting your hands dirty.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening
Podcast Episodes
Essential Fall Garden Clean Up - Ep. 276 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
Today we’re talking about one of my least favorite but probably most important fall garden rituals: the great garden clean-up. This is the part of the year where we get to close one chapter of the garden season and start…
How to Store the Fall Harvest - Ep. 275 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:22
The frost has settled, most of the garden has gone to sleep, and now we’re turning our attention to what’s left — the fruits (and roots) of our labor.I’m talking about how to store and preserve that late-season harvest,…
One More Month of Harvests - Ep. 274 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:16
If your forecast is flirting with frost and you still have all those lovely greens and root veggies out there, don’t panic, prepare.Today on Just Grow Something we’re talking row cover and low tunnels: what to buy, how t…
How to Clone Your Best Plants from the Garden (and Why) - Ep. 273 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
Whether you live in a climate that allows for a veery long growing season or you’re like me and need to cram as much growing into a shorter season as possible, cloning is a shortcut to making the most of our best plants.…
Garlic, Onions and Shallots: Your Fall Planting Guide - Ep. 272 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:13
Now is the time to be getting our garlic, shallots and even onions planted in some places. If you can give me one good hour in the garden this month, you can set yourself up for big flavor next summer.Today on Just Grow…
Leave the Leaves Strategically - Ep. 271 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Fallen leaves in the garden will blanket the soil, slow weeds, and shelter a whole mini-wildlife community. Many native butterflies, moths, beetles, and even some queen bumble bees ride out winter tucked into leaf litter…
Planting by the Moon - Ep. 270 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:03
As I record this, tonight will be a full moon. In fact, it’s the Harvest Supermoon here in the northern hemisphere. And it’s very possible that your online gardening group is absolutely abuzz with advice that tomatoes gr…
How to Plan a Raised Bed Garden - Ep 269 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:30
For this final episode in our Raised Bed series, we’re talking about how to plan your raised bed garden. If you’ve never grown in a raised bed, there are some nuances to the planning and planting aspect, no matter what m…
Raised Bed Gardening with Gardener Scott - Ep. 268 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:25
All this month we've been talking about creating new raised beds, what materials to use, and how to fill them. So, I thought it would be fitting to have on an expert on the subject.Scott Wilson, otherwise known as Garden…
Layer by Layer: How to Fill a New Raised Bed - Ep. 267 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:58
This week we tackle one of the biggest questions in raisedbed gardening – how to fill it! It can be daunting, staring at this gaping box, trying to figure out how you’re going to fill 18” or even 36” of depth without goi…