The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

Struggling to tell which garden products are worth your money? You're not alone.
Today I'm sharing what I learned on a behind-the-scenes visit to GreenStalk in Knoxville—how they design, test, and support a planter I've used for five years.
You'll leave with practical ways to use a vertical planter this fall for salad gr...

Worried your garlic sprouted too soon or won't survive winter? In this episode, I walk you through a clear garlic growing timeline so you know what's normal, what to expect by zone, and when to harvest. You'll learn planting windows, mulch depth by zone, vernalization for warm climates, spring care, scapes, and curing. Primary keyword: garlic growing timelin...

This past week has been heavy — my dad's heart surgery and walking with friends through hard times. Normally my garden is my refuge, but lately it's been more discouraging than refreshing. From cutworms in the carrots to nematodes on summer crops, the struggles have piled up.

In this episode, I'm sharing honestly about choosing whether to push through or let go, ...

How many times have you said, "It's just been too hot," or "We haven't had enough rain"? Weather is an easy scapegoat when our gardens struggle — but is it really the whole story?

In this episode, I'm sharing a personal parallel from my years in the car business to show how blaming outside fac...

September can leave gardeners feeling torn — the weather whispers fall, but the garden seems ready to shut down. Should you plant more, or just call it quits until spring? In today's episode, I'll show you why the answer is yes — you can still plant, and you'll be glad you did.

We'll cover four categories of crops you can grow ...

September can feel like a juggling act—summer crops still hanging on, fall crops needing attention, and the pressure to preserve your harvest before it goes to waste. In this episode, Jill shares a practical September checklist to help you stay focused and finish the season strong.

🌱 In this episode:

Have you ever wondered if cover crops are worth the effort in a small garden or raised bed? In this episode, we're bringing back one of the most practical and eye-opening conversations from the podcast archives—with Parker from True Leaf Market.

Together, we explore:

Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world—and according to neurologist and author Dr. Ray Dorsey, our environment may be playing a much larger role than we think.

In this conversation, Dr. Dorsey shares key insights from his book The Parkinson's Plan, including how certain pesticides and che...

You've got a few tomatoes, a handful of cucumbers, maybe a pepper or two—but not enough for a full-blown canning session. In this episode, I'm sharing practical and easy ways to preserve those small harvests so nothing goes to waste. From freezing and fermenting to quick pickles and creative herb uses, you'll learn how to build your pantry one handful at a time.

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Depending on where you live, August can be a month of harvest abundance or extreme garden fatigue—or both. In today's episode, I'm meeting you where you are. Whether you're coasting through harvests or struggling with heat, pests, and burnout, this is a chance to regroup, reset, and prep for fall without overwhelming yourself.

Here's what we cover:

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