Jun 16, 2026
A bus full of seasoned gardeners showed up to tour my garden, and
the questions they asked were so good I wrote every one down. How
close is too close when you plant? Why is the garlic browning
early? What do you do about squash vine borers?
This episode walks through the real questions from that visit, with
practical answers on companion planting, succession planting,
tomato blight, and growing celery in a hot, humid climate. If
you've ever looked at your own beds and wondered whether you're
doing it right, this one's for you.
Free Download: Beginner's Garden Resource Vault A growing library of free guides, cheat sheets, and planning tools to help you garden with less guesswork. → http://journeywithjill.net/free-garden-downloads
Key Takeaways
- Companion planting can pack a bed full and cut your weeding to almost nothing.
- Celery and carrots make great neighbors — the celery helps pull excess moisture away.
- For early blight, prune low stems and learn to live with it instead of spraying.
- Beat squash vine borers by succession planting, not fighting each plant.
- A late-summer planting often escapes the pests that wreck your spring crops.
Chapters
- 00:00 – Why I hosted a garden visit
- 03:30 – The bed that calmed my nerves
- 06:00 – Are these crops too close?
- 09:30 – Growing and harvesting celery
- 13:00 – Dealing with tomato blight
- 18:00 – Keeping tomatoes from taking over
- 22:00 – Early jalapenos and new varieties
- 25:00 – Seed starting vs. the greenhouse
- 30:00 – Why I grow nasturtium
- 35:00 – Keeping lettuce from bolting
- 38:00 – Why my garlic matured early
- 41:00 – My approach to squash vine borers
- 45:00 – Rabbits, squirrels, and what works
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- Lazy Gardener's Guide to Fungal Tomato Diseases → http://journeywithjill.net/lazy-gardeners-guide
- Chicken Tunnel YouTube Video → https://youtu.be/K5RvpLZVQLw
- Dream to Garden Garden Planning Course → http://journeywithjill.net/dreamtogarden
Products Mentioned in this Episode
- Garden in Minutes — The garden grids I used to lay out that peppers-celery-carrots bed, plus the tomato cage that's become my favorite. Code Jill for 7% off regular-priced items. → http://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes
- Cross Country Nursery — Where my Marglobe and Jolene tomato plants came from, with a huge selection of pepper and tomato starts. Code JILL for 15% off. → http://www.chileplants.com/jill
- More brands I recommend and discount codes → https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/
More Free Downloads
- Beginner's Garden Resource Vault → http://journeywithjill.net/free-garden-downloads
- Companion Planting for Pest Control → http://journeywithjill.net/companion-planting-for-pest
- Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet → http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet
Connect
- Friday Emails → https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
- YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
- Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
- Podcast archive → https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
One simple system Ready for a simple system to plan and track? My Complete Garden Planner makes it easy. → https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.
Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.