Growing Gardeners

Welcome back to the podcast! This week we are bringing back an oldie but goodie podcast episode!! This episode is from 2023, but it is just as relevant today as we dive into how to garden with kids! I got to sit down and chat with the Wild Child Kitchen Gardens community manager, Lindsey Kennedy. Lindsey is a busy mom of 4 with a suburban garden, where she teaches her kids how to grow through gardening. Whether your kids are 2 or 22, there is a place for them in your garden!   Can’t wait to bring your kids into the garden? Grab my FREE e-book Growing Gardens With Kids.  It is filled with tips and tricks to make garden time great with kids HERE Grab the latest issue of In Season, the NEW magazine from Wild Child Kitchen Gardening HERE  

Thinking about starting all your vegetables from seed this season? Hold on—today we’re talking about the three mistakes I see gardeners make the most and why they are detrimental to your success. In this episode of Growing Gardeners, I'm sharing some "learned the hard way" lessons that I think you need to know before you ever drop one seed into your soil!   Whether you’re a first-time seed starter or a seasoned gardener looking to simplify, this episode will help you make smart seed-starting choices and avoid the most common traps gardeners fall into.   In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why timing is so critical in seed starting The truth about seed starting supplies How to determine what you need to be successful with seeds Why outdoor greenhouses are gorgeous but not the best idea for starting seeds   Resources From This Episode: ➡ Grab your FREE Seed Starting Timeline HERE   ➡ Join my 8 week class: Success With Seeds where you will learn how to confidently grow your garden from seed, indoors, without overwhelm. Designed especially for busy women ready to grow smarter, not harder, this is the only course you need! ➡ Visit my Amazon shop to grab the necessities of wild child seed starting HERE       Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

  Thinking about starting all your vegetables from seed this season? Hold on—today we’re talking about four veggies (and a fruit) that are better off NOT started indoors. In this episode of Growing Gardeners, I’m saving you time, energy, and a whole lot of frustration by breaking down why certain vegetables—like carrots, garlic, asparagus, and onions—just don’t belong under your grow lights.   Whether you’re a first-time seed starter or a seasoned gardener looking to simplify, this episode will help you make smart seed-starting choices and avoid the most common traps gardeners fall into.   In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why garlic indoors = a waste of a perfectly good clove The truth about carrots and why they should always be direct sown Why asparagus seeds will test your patience and your lighting setup The misunderstood nature of onion (and easier alternatives to starting by seed) Why strawberry seeds are cute… but crowns and runners are the real MVPs    Resources From This Episode: ➡ Grab your FREE Seed Starting Cheat Sheet HERE   ➡ Join my 8 week class: Success With Seeds where you will learn how to confidently grow your garden from seed, indoors, without overwhelm. Designed especially for busy women ready to grow smarter, not harder, this is the only course you need!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

In this episode of Growing Gardeners, I am sharing all about seeds!!  Saving them, planting them, and starting them for the next season! This is such a packed episode that I know you are going to love!!  Stop everything and listen! I promise it will be worth it!!   In This Episode You'll Learn What you can still plant right now How to make the most of the time we have left When you should save seeds, and my two must save seeds this time of year What happens when you try new things in the garden And so much more   Resources From This Episode: ➡ Get my Summer Timing Success Tool to get your timing right in the garden! ➡ Get Seed Saving For Beginners FOR JUST $5 this month only!!!   ➡ Learn how to save tomato seeds HERE ➡ Get my Seed Starting Cheat Sheet HERE ➡ Learn if seed starting is right for you in my FREE class Seed Starting Made Simple  ➡ Start seeds with me in Success With Seeds HERE ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! ✨   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

In this episode of Growing Gardeners, I am pulling back the curtain on a tomato tip that might feel a little scary—but can completely transform your harvest: topping your tomato plants. If you’ve ever felt like your tomatoes are growing everywhere but not producing the way you hoped, this episode is for you.   In This Episode You'll Learn What topping is and why it matters When to top for maximum fruit and minimal regret How to confidently top your plants without harming them What to expect afterward (spoiler: more growth + ripening!)   You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective—and maybe a lot more tomatoes with a lot less pests.  This is an episode you don't want to miss!!     Resources From This Episode:     ➡ Get my Summer Decisions Guidebook to help you make the best decisions for your summer garden. ➡ Sign up for the Hands-Off Summer Gardening Masterclass to learn how to simplify your garden, set your fall season up for success, and still grow a lot this summer. ➡ Listen to more episodes focused on growing tomatoes HERE, HERE, and HERE!! ➡ Visit the Amazon shop for all things summer gardening HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡ Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! ✨   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com    

What if we've got summer all wrong??  Summer feels intimidating overwhelming and HOT!  We envision ourselves sweating in the sun all day, fighting pests, and endless watering, and most of us say, "no thank you."   But what if we are missing the whole point of the summer garden?  What if the summer garden would grow itself? What if it was the smallest but most important season of the entire year? And what if you missed it??   Don't miss it this year!! I will show you exactly how to grow a summer garden that you love!    In This Episode You'll Learn:   The right and wrong things to grow in the summer garden How to set your fall garden up for success by growing more in the summer The easiest way to build soil and when it has to be done   Resources From This Episode: ➡ Get my Summer Decisions Guidebook to help you make the best decisions for your summer garden. ➡ Sign up for the Hands-Off Summer Gardening Masterclass to learn how to simplify your garden, set your fall season up for success, and still grow a lot this summer. ➡ Visit the Amazon shop for all things summer gardening HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡ Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! ✨   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

  If it feels like your garden is fighting you, this episode will help you shift from controlling to collaborating with your garden. We’ll explore how to align with nature’s rhythms so your garden starts to feel like a partner, not a problem.   In This Episode You'll Learn: Common mistakes that create resistance How to listen to your garden’s signals Strategic neglect and letting nature lead   Resources From This Episode: ➡ Sign up for the Hands-Off Summer Gardening Masterclass on June 28 to learn how to simplify your garden and still grow a lot. ➡ Visit the Amazon shop for all things summer gardening HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡ Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! ✨    Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

  In this episode, we will explore how to meet the version of yourself that thrives in the June garden rhythm—harvesting, observing, and slowing down. This episode invites you to connect deeply with the gardener you’ve become, and to step into the ease of seasonal alignment.    In This Episode You'll Learn: How to identify as your “June Garden Self” How to celebrate what you’ve already grown and see the summer as a new beginning The practice of distinguishing between what you want and what you want right now How to set yourself up for a summer garden that you love!   Resources Mentioned In This Episode: ➡  Join the Hands Off Summer Garden Masterclass HERE! ➡ Visit the Amazon shop for all things summer gardening HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! ✨    Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com            

  Feeling discouraged with your spring garden?  Had enough of the heat already? This episode of Growing Gardeners is your summer survival guide for the garden! Kellye shares three practical ways to keep growing—even in the dog days of summer. Whether you're giving tomatoes a second shot, dreaming of a garden that can handle the heat, or maybe you want to create a shade-loving container setup for the porch, there’s still plenty of time to grow something beautiful.   Plus, she shares a special invitation to her brand new Hands-Off Summer Gardening Masterclass and answers a listener question about late starts and feeling behind.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why it’s not too late to plant another round of tomatoes (if you must) What makes okra, southern peas, and sweet potatoes a great option for your summer garden Shade-loving herbs and veggies that thrive in containers How to water in the summer (the wild child way) How to grow with intention without sweating all summer   Resources Mentioned In This Episode: ➡  Join the Hands Off Summer Garden Masterclass waitlist HERE! ➡  Last chance to get the Spring Gardening Bundle HERE! ➡ Get my favorite shade container plans HERE! ➡ Visit the Amazon shop for all things automatic watering HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com  

In this episode, we’re talking about the one plant you didn’t know your garden was missing: roselle hibiscus. This bold, beautiful, and wildly useful plant is a game-changer for busy women who want to grow something simple, stunning, and seriously satisfying. From homemade herbal teas and spiced syrups to kid-friendly harvests and pollinator beauty, roselle hibiscus is the must-grow gem of the season. Whether you’re just getting started with gardening or you’re looking for something new and exciting to grow, roselle may become your new favorite plant.   What You’ll Learn: • What roselle hibiscus is and how it fits into a kitchen garden • Why it’s perfect for Southern climates and seasonal living • How to grow, harvest, and preserve your own roselle • Simple and delicious ways to use roselle in your home • Why roselle is a hit with kids, pollinators, and wild child gardeners   Resources Mentioned In This Episode: ➡  Get my Roselle Growing Guide HERE! ➡  Get Roselle Seeds HERE! ➡  Get the Spring Gardening Bundle HERE! ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE! ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   Connect with Me:   Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com       If you loved this episode… Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a garden-loving friend! And don’t forget to check out our other episodes on seasonal planting, garden rhythms, and growing a kitchen garden that fits your life.

May is the "make or break" month in the zone 9 garden.  What you plant or don't plant this month is setting the stage for your summer success.  In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what I'm doing in my garden, and a decision that might surprise you.     What You’ll Learn: What I'm planting this month and why Why melons are my top priority for summer gardening  The honest reason I am not planting more tomatoes this month How to set your garden up for long term success this month   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:   ➡ Get the May Planting Guide HERE!   ➡ Get my class May is For Melons HERE!   ➡ Get my class The Tomato Grower's Playbook HERE!   ➡ Check out the Spring Gardening Bundle with 9 classes and save $100 HERE!   ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE!   ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

Tomato suckers—should you pinch them, leave them, or root them? In this episode, we dive into the truth about these controversial little shoots and how to decide what’s best for your garden. You’ll learn when to prune, when to never prune, and how to multiply your tomato plants for free. Plus, we answer a great listener question about over-pruning!   What You’ll Learn:  What a tomato sucker actually is Why some gardeners pinch and others don’t When you should never remove a sucker How to root suckers and grow new tomato plants The real answer to the sucker debate: it depends on your garden    Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode: ➡ Check out the Spring Gardening Bundle with 9 classes and save $100 HERE!   ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE!   ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com    

In this episode of Growing Gardeners, we’re digging into the quiet, powerful truth that growth—real growth—takes time. In the garden and in the gardener.   I’ll share why quick-fix gardening hacks aren’t enough, why legacy matters more than trends, and how finding a mentor (instead of just consuming content) can transform the way you learn to grow. This is your invitation to slow down, dig deep, and honor the process. Because gardening isn’t just something you do—it’s something you become.   In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔ Why you won’t find real gardening wisdom in 5-second reels....even the ones I post. ✔ How gardening connects us to a living legacy....that we can pass down like a family recipe. ✔ The difference between influencers and mentors....and why you need a mentor.    Resources & Links: ➡ Join the Kitchen Garden Academy – Want step-by-step guidance for growing an abundant, low-maintenance garden? Sign up HERE!   ➡ Learn more about the "garden circus" and how to get out of it in this FREE CLASS!!   ➡ Get your FREE Wild Child Garden Guide HERE!   ➡Subscribe to the Growing Gardeners newsletter for weekly tips and seasonal inspiration   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com

When the weather warms, garden planting gets more and more of a priority.  And no garden should be planted without a fresh layer of compost.  In this episode, we are breaking down compost— why it's considered garden gold, the options when buying compost, and how to make your own.  Whether you are working with a big backyard or a small patio, this episode is packed with the info you need to get started composting this season.   And if you are ready to grow a garden this season, don't forget to check out the Kitchen Garden Academy, my eight week online course that helps you go from dreaming of a garden to a harvest on your table.  Enrollment is open NOW!!!  Get more info at www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/academy.   In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔ Why compost is so important in the garden ✔ How worm castings are different from compost ✔ Compost bins, compost piles, and the wild child way of composting ✔ How to purchase compost and what your options are when it comes to adding nutrients   Resources & Links: ➡ Join the Kitchen Garden Academy – Want step-by-step guidance for growing an abundant, low-maintenance garden? Sign up HERE!   ➡ Are you reading to next level your composting and make it so much easier??  Learn how we compost in the wild child gardening method in my class Composting Made Easy (spoiler alert:  you don't need a bin or a pile)!   ➡ Do you want compost at the ready all the time?? Build a worm bin!!  HERE is a blog post tutorial for you that will teach you step by step how we do it!!  And learn about worms HERE!   ➡ Get an in depth understanding of soil science in my free class The Science of Soil.  You won't believe the world underground that is at work for you!!   ➡ Give your microbes a boost with our specially blended and locally sourced Wild Child Soil Booster.  Get yours in the Garden Goods shop HERE.   ➡ Make sure you are the first to sign up for my brand new class Wild Child Chicken Keeping as seats are limited.  We are only opening 25 seats for this class!!  It is a 3 day live online event with an in person coop tour AND morning with the wild child flock! If you want to raise chickens the easy way, don't miss this class!! BONUS:  Their bedding makes amazing compost!!     ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Get My Weekly Newsletter:  www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/subscribe Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com  

Thinking about starting a raised bed garden but not sure which type of bed to choose?  In this episode, we are breaking down everything you need to know about selecting the right raised bed— from material to sizing, we are going to talk about it all.  Whether you are working with a big backyard or a small patio, I will help you find the perfect raised bed setup for your space. PLUS, I'm answering some of your questions about soil, lining your beds, and so much more!   And if you are ready to grow a garden this season, don't forget to check out the Kitchen Garden Academy, my eight week online course that helps you go from dreaming of a garden to a harvest on your table.  Enrollment is open NOW!!!  Get more info at www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com/academy.   In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔ Why raised beds are a game changer for gardeners ✔ The best materials for raised beds in our climate ✔ How to choose the right size and depth for your space ✔ Tips for picking the perfect location for your raised bed   Plus, I’m answering listener questions about growing in raise beds—so stick around to the end!   Resources & Links: ➡ Join the Kitchen Garden Academy – Want step-by-step guidance for growing an abundant, low-maintenance garden? Sign up HERE!   ➡ Shop My Favorite Garden Goods – Everything I use for seed starting, raised beds, and soil prep is in my Amazon shop HERE!   ➡ Jump into my on-demand FREE Class The Busy Woman's Guide To Gardening to learn how you can start growing right now with any amount of time and any amount of space HERE!   ➡ TWP raised bed stain can be found HERE!   ➡ Corner blocks for wooden raised beds can be found HERE!   ➡ Check out corten steel beds HERE!!   ➡ Need more raised bed inspo?? Check out my Pinterest board HERE!   ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!   Connect With Me On Socials Facebook: @wildchildkitchengardens Instagram: @wildchildkitchengardens TikTok: @wildchildkitchengardens Learn More About Growing With Me: www.releaseyourinnerwildchild.com