Sacramento County Master Gardener and orchardist Quentyn Young answers a question from Missouri  about raising mason bees, an excellent garden pollinator (better than honeybees!).

Mason Bee Basics, Pt. 1    0:23
Mason Bee Basics, Pt. 2  11:06

Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout. Pictured:  Mason Bee Houses in Barcelona, Spain Links:
 Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
 Dave Wilson Nursery https://www.davewilson.com/home-garden/ Master Gardener Quentyn Young: “Mason Bees” Video Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, Sacramento Co., California Pennsylvania State University: Mason Bees for Pollination Insectary Plants (UC-IPM) Farmer Fred Rant Blog: “Bring on the Bees” Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.  • Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com  
 All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com
Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com
The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com
Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred" 
Instagram: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/
Twitter: @farmerfred
Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube 
 
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here.Create Harmony 
This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and ...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

306 Q&A Mason Bee Basics

Tips for beginning and experienced gardeners. New episodes arrive every Tuesday and Friday. Fred Hoffman has been a U.C. Certified Master Gardener since 1982 and writes a weekly garden column for the Lodi News-Sentinel in Lodi, CA. A four-decade fixture in Sacramento radio, he hosted three radio shows for Northern California gardeners and farmers: The KFBK Garden Show, Get Growing with Farmer Fred, and the KSTE Farm Hour. Episode Website: https://gardenbasics.net

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Master Gardener Fred Hoffman and his guests answers garden questions from listeners on the Tuesday edition of the Garden Basics podcast. The first question is about weed cloth and its impact on soil improvement and fertilization. Fred and Debbie Flower advise removing the weed cloth and using just mulch instead. 
The second question is about planting carrots in California's climate. Fred explains that carrots can be grown year-round in milder coastal climates, but in the Central Valley, they have a hard time germinating and growing in hot temperatures. Master Gardener Gail Pothour also shares tips for planting carrot seeds and suggests using radishes as an indicator for carrot germination.

Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout. 
 Pictured: Garden Carrots 
 Links: Subscribe to the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
 HeirloomRoses.com (with the FRED discount link, good until Oct. 31, 2024) Top 5 Garden Vegetables, Ep. 263 Garden Basics Podcast
Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination (GN 154)
Soil Thermometer
Landscape Fabric - A Cautionary Tale Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics
• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. 
• Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net
• E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com  
 All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"  Instagram/Threads: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/ Twitter/X: @farmerfred Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube  
  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here. 
 Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

342 Q&A Grow Carrots in Summer? Weed Cloth - Good or Bad?

Something a little different today.  America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower and myself take a stroll through the Farmer Fred backyard garden, talking about the plants, and discussing the strategies to make them successful plants, with, of course, all sorts of garden tips thrown in. It’s the ultimate scenic bypass episode yet! It’s all in Episode 341 of today’s Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast: Fred’s Garden Tour, with Debbie Flower. Next Friday, we’ll be touring Debbie’s fabulous garden. By the way, what’s a garden tour without pictures? Get a look at the plants we’re talking about, in this week’s Beyond the Garden Basics newsletter, which will also have this podcast, so you can listen to what we have to say and scroll down to see the plants and paraphernalia, as well. Find a link to the Beyond the Garden Basics newsletter in today’s show notes, or go to substack.com/gardenbasics and subscribe, as well. It’s free. Meanwhile, we’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory,  it’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. Let’s go!

Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Audio, transcripts, and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout. Pictured:  Fred's backyard raised beds 
 Links:
 Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com

 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
Dave Wilson Nursery
 HeirloomRoses.com (with the FRED discount link)

 Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics
• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. 
• Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net
• E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website
The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"  Instagram: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/Create Harmony 
This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and ...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

341 Fred's Garden Tour with Debbie

Farmer Fred and Debbie Flower discuss:
•The impact of climate and weather on gardening success. •Understanding cross-pollination and its implications for seed saving and plant breeding. •The importance of local conditions and location-specific knowledge in gardening. •Different perspectives on the best US cities for gardening, highlighting the influence of location on gardening success.


Pictured: Bees on Flowering Onions 
 Links: Subscribe to the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
 HeirloomRoses.com (with the FRED discount link, good until Oct. 31, 2024) Seed Savers Exchange Isolation Guide
Sacramento Digs Gardening - A Gardener’s Summer Tool Kit
Tulle Fabric (Alternate use for Insect/bird protection)
Insect Netting 
 Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.  • Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com  
 All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"  Instagram/Threads: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/ Twitter/X: @farmerfred Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube  
  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here. 
 
 Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

340 Q&A Cross-Pollination Concerns, Best Cities and States for Gardening

In this episode of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, the focus is on how to water clay soil and other tips for gardening in clay.  Debbie Flower,  America's Favorite retired college horticultural professor,  shares valuable insights on the topic. The episode covers the characteristics of clay soil, the importance of organic matter, watering techniques, mulching, and the use of cover crops. The conversation also delves into the impact of soil structure on crop production and the benefits of no-till and cover cropping practices.

Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Audio, transcripts, and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout. 
 Pictured: Fred on Mulch Mountain 
 Links:
 Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/ Dave Wilson Nursery
 HeirloomRoses.com (with the FRED discount link) Sand-Silt-Clay Jar Demonstration
Lawn Sprinkler Watering Measuring Cups
Moisture Meters
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply cover crop chart
Results of study of soil benefits of no-till, cover cropping on CA farmland 
 Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.  • Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com  All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"  Instagram: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/ Twitter/X: @farmerfred Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube 
 As an Amazon AssociateCreate Harmony 
This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and ...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

339 How To Water Clay Soil (and more clay gardening tips!)

In this episode of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, Fred and his expert guests answer questions about: 
• Squash pollination woes with Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour.
•  The timing and application of  plant fertilizer, with America's Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower. 
• Choosing tart/sour cherry trees for cooking purposes, with Phil Pursel of Dave Wilson Nursery. 

Pictured: Male, Female Summer Squash Flowers 
 Links: Subscribe to the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com
 Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/
 HeirloomRoses.com (with the FRED discount link, good until Oct. 31, 2024) Dave Wilson Nursery Cherry Varieties Dave Wilson Nursery You Tube Videos Got a garden question?  • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964.  • Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com  
 All About Farmer Fred:
 The GardenBasics.net website The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics
 https://gardenbasics.substack.com Farmer Fred website: 
 http://farmerfred.com The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog 
http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"  Instagram/Threads: farmerfredhoffman 
 https://www.instagram.com/farmerfredhoffman/ Twitter/X: @farmerfred Farmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube  
  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here. 
 


Create Harmony 
This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and ...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

306 Q&A Mason Bee Basics

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