Recent Volunteer Gardener Clips

Monoculture on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Monoculture

July 27, 2023

Diversity in an ecosystem such as a farm is a sign of health. Fields of only one crop create many problems, but there are positive and negative aspects to everything. That is defiitely true in farming. Jeff Poppen grows a wide variety of crops, but also identifies good reasons to fill a field with just one. We explore the benefits and detriments of monoculture.

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Freshening garden containers mid-summer on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Freshening garden containers mid-summer

July 27, 2023

It's the middle of summer, and those garden containers that were lovely and full in the spring are showing signs of fatigue and stress. Good news! You don't have to completely start over to get it through the remainder of the growing season. Annette Shrader guides us through several examples of how to go about rejuvenating the plants, and the overall look.

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Birds Welcomed in this Garden on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Birds Welcomed in this Garden

July 27, 2023

A backyard can come to life, just like you've envisioned. Sheri Gramer visits with homeowners who made their plan a reality. They always wanted a pond, so they built one. They installed attractive border beds, raised beds, and have provided a supportive space for birds, bees, and butterflies.

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Seed Collection/Storage on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Seed Collection/Storage

July 20, 2023

Seed collecting costs nothing, and you'll find you have plenty to share. April Moore explains what plants are suitable, the best time to harvest, how to separate the seed from plant debris, and also how to store seeds to keep them viable.

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The allure of daylilies on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

The allure of daylilies

July 20, 2023

Since the early 1930s, hybridizers have made great improvements in daylilies. From the color range, to the patterns, to the form, there's a lot to love. Annette Shrader visits Bluebird Springs Farm where the daylilies are blooming, and taking center stage.

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Color Garden Inspiration on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Color Garden Inspiration

July 13, 2023

If you are looking for a big impact in the landscape, it's hard to beat the eye-catching color that annuals provide. Tammy Algood gets inspired by the great combination of annuals featured in the color garden at the Botanical Garden of Tennessee - Knoxville.

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Cost of a nursery plant on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Cost of a nursery plant

July 13, 2023

What determines the price of a potted perennial, or a mature field-grown tree? Troy Marden visits with Matt Dawson, the owner of Samara Farms wholesale plant nursery, to gain insight into what costs are incurred from acquisition to consumer. It goes beyond the nursery pot, media, fertilizer, and infrastucture.

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Propagating blueberries on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Propagating blueberries

July 13, 2023

Jeff Poppen harvests blueberries from Southern highbush plants that are 5th generation from ones he purchased 40 years ago. He demonstrates how to propagate from root runners, and how to plant for the best chance of success.

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Fall/Winter crops for the home garden on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Fall/Winter crops for the home garden

July 06, 2023

No doubt that the summer harvest in Tennessee is plentiful. There are so many vegetables that grow well here. But a fall garden can produce a big bounty too. Tammy Algood is at Red Thread Farm in Franklin Tennessee to learn what varieties of carrot, radish, and kale they grow in their high-yielding garden.

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Mosquito bucket of doom on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Mosquito bucket of doom

July 06, 2023

Here's a tip on how to eliminate mosquitoes from the yard without the use of harmful chemicals. It targets mosquitoes in a larval stage.

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Downsizing without sacrificing style on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Downsizing without sacrificing style

July 06, 2023

A backyard doesn't have to be large to grow a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and vegetables. Sheri Gramer tours a beautiful space that has border beds all along the house foundation and fence line. There are some stunning specimens.

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Squash Woes on NPT's Volunteer Gardener

Squash Woes

June 29, 2023

To avoid problems with growing squash, Jeff Poppen employs the principles of farming developed long ago. This includes an emphasis on soil drainage, and the liberal use of compost.

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