Beyond the Garden Basics

In today’s podcast, Farmer Fred describes a disappointing harvest of Bodega Red potatoes grown in a 20-gallon fabric pot: three plants produced five potatoes, mostly small. Sacramento County Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour suggests the main culprit: operator error. If you grow potatoes, don’t be like Fred!


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The high points of our chat with Lance Walheim in today’s podcast:
* Pick the right variety first. Sweet types like navel oranges struggle indoors, so go with acidic fruit that ripens with less heat.
* Meyer lemons, kumquats, Bearss limes and calamondins are the best bets. They’re compact, bloom often and fit in containers.
* Regular lemons and grapefruit can survive indoors, but don’t expect much edible fruit from them.
* Moving trees in and out is workable, but you need a transition period. Going outside in spring, start in shade after the last frost and increase light over several weeks. Coming inside, reverse the process and reduce light gradually.
* The shock is real. Outdoor humidity can top 50 or 60 percent, while a heated house can drop to around 10 percent.



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Redwood Barn Nursery owner Don Shor of Davis, California and myself finally got around to putting the 2026 Tomato season to bed…except for the ones that are hanging on for dear life. In today’s podcast, we sing the high notes and low notes of our tomato growing efforts this year, with lots of gardening advice thrown in for good measure.
How was your tomato season? Any favorites? Any failures? Any surprises? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to mention where you were doing your gardening this summer.
One of the first to comment was Keith, located in the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay area. He actually commented before the tomato season was ending:
“When you two get together to talk about the 2026 tomato season, I'd like to put in a good word for my San Marzano tomato harvest in Contra Costa County. I had a good crop, mostly because the weather wasn't too hot. Tomorrow is sauce-making day! I have a set-up that lets me cook outside.”
There’s a complete, human-edited transcript of the podcast near the bottom of this newsletter.
Here are the main points of our podcast conversation:



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In today’s podcast, I tell a long, drawn out story about what happened the night before my wedding in 1980. Yes, it is a garden story, about the Cecile Bruner rose. But, we quickly turn to a chat with Ben Hanna of heirloomroses.com, who describes how he and his wife came to own the company after leaving corporate life over a decade ago. He says their shared love of gardening and roses, plus the chance to work closer to family, made the business a good fit. He also notes that all five of his children have worked at the nursery in different roles.
In the newsletter, it's a list of the best roses for fall blooming color!



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In today’s podcast, we talk with Mark Seibert of Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Oregon. The interview covers key considerations for first-time greenhouse buyers, including choosing the right site, with emphasis on sunlight, southern exposure when possible, and local hazards such as trees or lawn equipment. It also discusses heat control and utilities, recommending ventilation, shade cloth, fans, water access, and electrical service with safety protections.
Seibert also explains that lean-to greenhouses can work if the roof pitch and site conditions fit, and says a well-built greenhouse can last 20 to 30 years.
Growing Hobby Greenhouse Tomatoes in the Winter
If you really want to demonstrate to your friends what a great investment your greenhouse is, nothing beats serving them home grown tomatoes...on New Year’s Day. Here’s What You’ll Need to Grow Greenhouse Tomatoes for the Winter and Spring:



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