GardenDC Podcast Episode 256: Perennial Secrets with Matt Mattus

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with horticulturist Matt Mattus, all about perennials. The plant profile is on Hummingbird Mint 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 Carrot Tops by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 168: Favorite Fall Perennials

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-168-favorite.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 53: Superior Perennials

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-53-superior.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 254: The New American Gardener

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-254.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store including many newly added perennials!

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xeyGlzxBvjIsHGtl1LvjP?si=sr8wFx6NRpGZDv_eRP5uWw

Show Notes will be posted after 9-23-2025.

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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

Interview Edit: Cavit Ireland

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Fenton Friday: Vandals Strike

I returned from a weekend away to find the Fenton Community Garden's corner pollinator planting had been vandalized. I flagged down a passing bicycle policemen and reported it. There are traffic cameras directly filming that corner 24/7 and I am hoping some footage was caught.

It appears the person was interrupted as they only pulled 2/3rds of the plant tags and stopped their rampage midway through. I was able to repair and re-set most of the damage. The whole thing is very disheartening really. Why can't people use their excess energy for good instead of destruction?

This week, I harvested a handful of Sweet Peppers (shown above), a Zucchini, some Cherry Tomatoes, and cut several Dahlia flowers. 

The cool-season greens we sowed last week are barely starting to show. I'm giving them another week to make sure they come in.

I purchased some Romanesco Cauliflower seedlings to try out. I've never grown them before so wanted to give them a shot.

I'm still waiting on the seed Garlic I mail-ordered, but we have a few weeks to get them planted.

Next week, we will pull out the dying Cucumber vines and sow a cover crop in that open spot.

What are you growing and harvesting in your edible 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 14th 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.)

Patrinia Plant Profile

Patrinia Plant Profile

Patrinia (Patrinia scabiosifolia) is a perennial plant with bright, citrus-yellow flowers that looks great in a mixed border. The basal foliage resembles Scabiosa – hence its Latin name. These lower leaves turn red-ish in the autumn as a bonus.

It's native to Eastern Asia and is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.

Patrinia is also known as eastern valerian or golden lace.

It requires a full-sun location with well- draining soils.

It blooms throughout the summer and grows to about 3-6 feet high. It is best planted closely with other plants that can support it or you will need to stake it.

You can propagate it from seed or divide it in the spring.

Do not deadhead it the first year, but then do so in subsequent years if you do not wish it to self-sow.

Patrinia attracts pollinators, including beneficial bees. It's generally considered to be deer- and rabbit- resistant.

Patrinia: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Ellen Isaacson

 

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

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~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

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

~Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) Plant Profile

 https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/globe-amaranth-plant-profile.html

~ Celosia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/celosia-plant-profile.html

~ Monkey Balls Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/11/plant-profile-monkey-balls-gomphocarpus.html

~ Blazing Star Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/blazing-star-plant-profile.html

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Monday Thoughts: “Gardening always has been an art, essentially.” ~ Robert Irwin

“Gardening always has been an art, essentially.” ~ Robert Irwin

GardenDC Podcast on Short Pre-Autumn Break

  

The GardenDC Podcast is on a short pre-autumn break. We encourage you to catch up with some of the past episodes that you may have missed or re-listen to some past favorites.

May we suggest these episodes focusing on late summer/early autumn gardening topics?

- GardenDC Podcast Episode 112: Summer Garden Refresh

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-112-summer.html

- GardenDC Podcast Episode 210: Fall Garden Prep

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-210-fall.html

- GardenDC Podcast Episode 212: Pumpkins and Squash

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-212-pumpkins.html

- GardenDC Podcast Episode 34: Colorful Foliage and Longwood's Mum Show

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-34-colorful.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

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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!

Fenton Friday: Cool-Season Seed Starting

Photo by Ellen Isaacson. 

The past week was cool and we got a bit of rain, but could use more. It is pretty dry when you dig down an inch or so.

This week we planted Parsley, Buttercrunch Lettuce, and two kinds of Cilantro. (See pic above for the varieties and seed sources.) We also moved the bunny-proof wire (hardware cloth) barrier from the old greens bed to this one and add some compost to adjacent areas to keep the weeds down.

This week we harvested a couple Cucumbers, some Zucchini, lots of 'Sun Gold' Tomatoes, a few 'Lunchbox' Sweet Peppers, Thai Hot Red Peppers, a handful of 'Rattlesnake' Green Beans, and a big bunch of Basil for making pesto to freeze for winter meals. I also cut Dahlias for bouquets.

The cucumber vine is looking very past prime and I think I should yank that as well as the Green Bean vines soon. The Cow Peas are not producing pods yet, but the plants look great now that the rabbits are leaving them alone!

I am waiting on the Hibiscus to produce a few more flower pods, then plan to test out brewing tea with several of  them. Anyone have experience with this? Pointers?

Next week, we will plant more cool-season veggies in the bed of last season's greens that we cleared this week.

What are you growing and harvesting in your edible 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 14th 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.)

Basil Plant Profile

Basil Plant Profile

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an annual herb in the mint family that is native to southern Asia. The leaves and stems are edible and highly aromatic. It is used as a culinary addition to soup, sauces, salads, and many other dishes.

Cultivars of Basil include Thai Basil, Genovese Basil, Sweet Basil, African Blue Basil, and many more. Newer varieties such as Prospera and Rutgers Obsession are bred to be more downy mildew resistant.

Basil is very easy to grow from seed. Direct sow it in the ground or a container as soon as the chance of a frost in the spring has passed. It can also be propagated by taking stem cuttings and rooting them in water before transplanting them outside.

It is rabbit- and deer-resistant. Slugs, snails, and Japanese beetles can be an issue, so be on the lookout for these pests and handpick them off when you see them.

It prefers to grow in full sun and in moist, but well-draining soils. There is no need to fertilize it. It is hardy to USDA Zone 10 to 11.

Prune it regularly by pinching out the tips once it grows to a foot or so tall. This will encourage lots of leafy full growth and discourage flowering.

Towards the end of the summer, stop pinching it back and let it go to flower and seed. Pollinators go crazy for the flowers and you can collect the seeds for sowing next year.

Basil: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio, video, and text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Ellen Isaacson

➤ 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 enjoyed this Plant Profile, check out:

~ Dill Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/04/dill-plant-profile.html

~ Borage Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/borage-plant-profile.html

~ Bronze Fennel Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/bronze-fennel-plant-profile.html

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Win a 2026 calendar from Workman Publishing in our September 2025 Washington Gardener Reader Contest

For our September 2025 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a 2026 calendar from Workman Publishing (value $17, workman.com). Workman 2026 calendars are the perfect gift for the green thumbs and nature enthusiasts in your life.

   Escape somewhere beautiful all year long with vibrant full-color photographs paired with literary passages that bring the porch to you. Settle in with these tranquil porches, verandas, patios, and terraces. Each month brings a different locale and an evocative porch-themed quote. Great for travelers, home design and décor fans, nature-lovers, and anyone who needs a little quiet time. 

  To enter to win the Out on the Porch calendar, send an email by 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 30, to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com with “Porch Calendar” in the Subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in the September 2025 Washington Gardener issue and why. Please include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on/about October 1. Replies might be published. 

Monday Thoughts: "The essence of the enjoyment of a garden is that things should look as though they like to grow in it." ~ Beatrix Farrand

 

"The essence of the enjoyment of a garden is that things should look as though they like to grow in it." 

~ Beatrix Farrand