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
Fall Garden Checklist by Hardiness Zone - Ep. 217 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:44
As the fall season is practically upon us and the pumpkin spice gods are already blessing us with their bounty, it’s time to get your garden ready for the changing weather. Fall gardening can look very different dependin…
Proper Seed Drying and Storage - Ep. 216 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
Last week on the podcast we talked about which seeds we should be saving from the garden, how mature the fruits need to be when we harvest seeds and a bit about how to dry and test them. This week, we’re focusing on stor…
Saving Seeds Properly - Ep. 215 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
Saving seeds from our gardens to use the next spring it is a great way to not only help our budget out a little bit but also to give ourselves some food security and doesn’t sound like it should be a very difficult task.…
How to Choose a Garlic Variety to Grow - Ep. 214 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:50
If you have intentions of growing garlic for next year, now is the time to be ordering your seed garlic. Garlic needs about six months in the ground to get to maturity so, here in the northern hemisphere, we may be plant…
How to Grow Beets - Ep. 213 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:24
If you didn’t plan for a fall garden and maybe have changed your mind a little bit and want to give it a go, you might be looking for something you can very quickly put into the ground and grow directly from seed. Enter…
Artificial Intelligence and Gardening Advice - Ep. 212 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
I do searches online for gardening topics all the time. I will search key phrases to see if I can come up with topics that people seem to be searching for or gardening questions that may be trending. I even search specif…
Preparing to Preserve: Basic Canning Supplies for Beginners - Ep. 211 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
There is something very satisfying about growing your own food, for sure, and being able to walk out into the garden to pick your lunch or your dinner. But, in the dead of a Midwest winter, the ability to be able to “sho…
Heirloom vs Hybrid vs GMO - Ep. 210 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
Over the past decade or so there has been much debate about whether open-pollinated and heirloom varieties should be the preferred choice for gardeners over hybrids. And there's been even louder discussion (arguments) ov…
Don't Overwater in the Heat - Focal Point Friday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:06
Mother Nature has opened the blast furnace door on west central Missouri. I recorded this quick episode on the fly in the gardens to share with you a little wisdom about what our plants are doing in the heat and how to a…
Growing Brussels Sprouts - Ep. 209 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:42
Back on episode 200, the Ask Me Anything episode, someone asked if I would do an episode on growing Brussels sprouts. I said no at the time because I hadn’t yet successfully grown them but indicated it may be soon becaus…