GardenDC Podcast Episode 282: Growing a Perpetual Food Garden

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with expert gardener Charlie Nardozzi about his new book, The Continuous Vegetable Garden*. The plant profile is on Bloodroot and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "A Growing Gardener" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Charlie's book at https://amzn.to/42e8I34. This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we main eran a few pennies from these sales, but it wil not impact your purchase price.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 124: Raised Bed Gardening with Joe Lamp'l

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-124-raised-bed.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 110: Self-Sowing Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-110-self.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 186: Planning Your Vegetable Garden

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-186-planning.html

Show Notes will be posted after 4/28/2026.

This episode is archived at: 

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We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Order at https://amzn.to/42e8I34*

Fenton Friday: April Heat Wave

This week was another weather rollercoaster with no rain and record-setting heat mid-week in the 90s! This is insane to think of in mid-April in the DC-area. I was away touring gardens with the Azalea Society of America in Athens, Georgia, and it was hot down there, but it was hotter here!

I did not anticipate the weather would be so extreme, so I didn't bother to ask anyone to water or watch over the plot. As soon as I got home yesterday, I ran over and watered all the seedlings and was grateful to see the covercloths I put in place had helped a bit. 

A few of the Asparagus spears had shot up to several feet high, so I cut them off and put them in the compost pile. Then I was able to harvest several smaller spears too for dinner. 

The 'Seascape' Strawberry plants are settling in and starting to flower -- as are the Blackberries (see pic above). These early flowers hopefully mean a nice harvest of early fruits.

The Kale, Peas, Lettuce, and other seedlings are doing fine.

In the pollinator strip, soon we need to thin the seedlings for both the California Poppies and the Wildflower Mix -- and to weed! However, that will have to wait until I get some time next week and the weather cools off.

Next week, we will plant any herbs or other veggie starts that we purchase at the Franciscan Monastery Graden Guild's plant sale -- we will have a table there all day on Saturday, 4/18. Please come by and see us there!

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

English Daisy Plant Profile

English Daisy Plant Profile

English Daisies (Bellis perennis previously known as Aster bellis, Bellis hortensis, and Bellis pumila) are cool-season annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials -- depending on your local climate. The red, white, or pink daisy blooms of this plant are cute and round with yellow centers.

They have a number of common names including Bairnwort, Bone Flower, Bruisewort, Common Gowan, Dog Daisy, Double Daisy, Goose Flower, Herb Margaret, Lawn Daisy, Marguerite, May Gowan, Noon Flower, True Daisy, and Woundwort.

They are also called “Day’s eyes” because they open at dawn and close at dusk.

They are native to Europe and are hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 8.

They prefer to grown in full sun-to part-shade in well-draining, rich soil.

English daisies are heavy feeders and benefit from using a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer. 

They like consistent moisture. If they don't receive enough water, English daisies will wilt. 

English Daisies grow to about 6 inches high and wide.

English Daisies are a great addition to spring containers, rock gardens, or borders in early spring along with other cool-season annuals such as Snapdragons and Alyssum.

English daisies will reseed themselves in cooler climates. In warm climates, you can start them from purchased or collected seed. 

English daisies are used in herbal healing for a number of ailments from sunburn to gastritis.

They are an early nectar source for butterflies and other pollinators.

They are deer-resistant.

English Daisy: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

Additional images from Wikimedia Commons.

 

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Shasta Daisy Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/08/shasta-daisy-plant-profile.html

~ Fleabane Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/05/fleabane-plant-profile.html

~ Sweet Alyssum Plant Profile  

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2019/11/plant-profile-sweet-alyssum.html

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Happy National Gardening Day! Win a copy of The Urban Garden

Almost exactly to the day four years ago, our book, The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City, came out. (This Amazon link is an affiliate link and Washington Gardener Magazine may earn a few pennies, if you click through on it.) You can also order it though BookShop to support independent book sellers.

Co-author Teri Speight and I are always hearing from readers of our book “The Urban Garden,” how much it inspires and teaches them about small-space gardening. Teri and I are hoping to inspire even more folks to get out and garden no matter how small their gardening space. Leave a comment to enter for your chance to win a copy of “The Urban Garden.” You have additional chances to win by commenting under our @WDCgardener social media posts as well

Happy Gardening Day, everyone! 

Monday Thoughts:"The beauty of the garden flows into your dreams and psyche. Your eyes, now accustomed to noticing the smallest bit of earth awakening in early spring, can spot the impossibility of a buttercup emerging from a ,..

“The beauty of the garden flows into your dreams and psyche. Your eyes, now accustomed to noticing the smallest bit of earth awakening in early spring, can spot the impossibility of a buttercup emerging from a crumbling bit of pavement."

~ Elizabeth Brown 

GardenDC Podcast Episode 281: The Healing Power of The Gardener

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with filmmaker Dabney Day, about her new movie The Gardener. The plant profile is on English Daisies and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Playing with Frost" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 202: Documenting Gardens

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-202.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 211: Gardening Meets Hollywood

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-211-gardening.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 137: Into the Heart of the Garden with Maria Rodale

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-137-into-heart.html

Show Notes will be posted after 4/21/2026.

This episode is sponsored by the FONA Garden Fair & Plant Sale:

Celebrate spring at the U.S. National Arboretum! Shop from thousands of plants, get expert gardening advice, browse from 25+ local vendors, and enjoy free family activities.

FONA members get early access to the Plant Sale tent from 9 AM to 11 AM. Whether you’re looking for herbs for your apartment balcony or shade-loving perennials for your yard, the Plant Sale tent has great options at great prices. Make a donation of any amount to become a FONA member.

This event is hosted by Friends of the National Arboretum and raises funds to support FONA’s work celebrating the science, beauty, and community impact of the National Arboretum. Register for the Garden Fair & Plant Sale  to let FONA know you’re coming and to receive important event updates.

This episode is archived at: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LykU18e1bbRDY7JGOsOC2?si=byMTopYcQ26EiNhybgkesA

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We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Fenton Friday: Strawberries and Asparagus

This week was another weather rollercoaster with a good, soaking rain on Sunday and then near freezing temps mid-week.

I planted three 'Seascape' Strawberry plants that came from my brother's garden. They are a day-neutral, ever-bearing variety and already have some flowers on them. My old Strawberry patch there had petered out and while planting these three, I found one of my old strawberry rocks buried there. It still looks great!

I dug up a patch of Lesser Celandine. The same cursed patch that keeps creeping back into my plot! I know this came in with a pot of "strawberry plants" from a garden club plant exchange. Be cautious of gifted plants -- especially if you don't know the gardener or the state of their garden!

We had a compost delivery, so I spread a bucketfull around the newly planted Strawberries and another one around the Peas.

The Kale, Peas, Lettuce, and other seedlings are doing fine.

I harvested a few more Aspargus spears (pictured above) and weeded a bit.

I cut out the old Blackberry canes -- leaving just the few that are already leafing out. 

The Garlic is growing fast and the Dahlia bed is starting to show signs of life.

In the pollinator strip, soon we will need to thin the seedlings for both the California Poppies and a Wildflower Mix. I also need to cut back the stems of the perennial plants in there and weed a bit there, too.

Next week, I will see if we are ready to start seeds of some warm-season crops -- depending on what the weather report looks like for mid-April and beyond.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

Barren Strawberry Plant Profile

Barren Strawberry Plant Profile

Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides formerly known as Geum fragarioides and  Dalibarda fragarioides) is a perennial that is native to the Eastern United States. It is also known as the Appalachian barren strawberry. It is a member of the Rose family. It is related to the nonnative Siberian barren strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata).

It has pretty yellow flowers that bloom in spring. The inedible fruits develop shortly afterward – hence its common name of “barren” strawberry.

Barren Strawberry prefers to grow in part- to full-sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.

Barren Strawberry is hardy to USDA Zones 3 to 7. It is found naturally in forests and along stream banks.

It spreads by underground rhizomes into a dense, low mat and it can be used as a groundcover. Unlike many other natives, it is evergreen. The foliage turns a pretty bronze in winter.

It is pollinated by a variety of small bees and it is deer-resistant.

Barren Strawberry can be grown from seed, but it is much easier to propagate it by division.

Barren Strawberry: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

Additional images from Wikimedia Commons.

 

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Sundrop Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/sundrops-plant-profile.html

~ Amur Adonis  Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/03/amur-adonis-plant-profile.html

~ Winter Aconite Plant Profile  

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/02/winter-aconite-plant-profile.html

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