The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

• 446 - Overwintering herbs indoors and out

  Worried about what happens to your herbs when frost arrives? In this episode you'll learn which herbs survive winter outside, which to bring indoors, and simple steps to protect them. We'll cover pruning timing, zone hardiness, and indoor care so you go into winter with confidence. Keywords: overwinter herbs, herb winter care, pruning. live workshop: 5-Day Garden Audit + Optional Live Q&A Reflect on your season and plan smarter for next year. Join the free 5-day email audit; add the live workshop on Thursday, November 6 for $15. https://journeywithjill.net/audit free download: Herbs Quick Reference Chart One-page, printable cheat sheet for growing and using popular herbs. http://journeywithjill.net/herbchart Key Takeaways Know your herb's life cycle (annual, biennial, perennial) and zone limits before winter. Stop heavy pruning 4–6 weeks before first frost; save shaping for spring. Cold + wet kills faster than cold alone—prioritize drainage and light mulch after first freeze. For borderline zones, protect rosemary from wind; use frost cloth or natural boughs. Bringing herbs indoors? Use bright light, let soil dry slightly between waterings, and check for pests. Chapters 00:00 – What to expect in winter 03:00 – Rosemary: tender perennial tips 07:00 – Sage: prune in early spring 09:50 – Thyme: divide and overwinter inside 12:20 – Oregano: harvest low before winter 14:30 – Mint & lemon balm: dies back, returns 16:50 – Chives: freeze better than dry 18:40 – Perennial recap & zones 21:50 – Parsley (biennial): winter + spring bolt 24:30 – Cilantro: winter star, bolts in heat 26:40 – Basil/dill: bring in or replant next year 28:40 – General winter herb care 31:00 – Final reminders Resource Links Herbs Quick Reference Chart (free): http://journeywithjill.net/herbchart Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Podcast archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/ Sponsor(s) for this Episode Organic Rev — I use Rev at transplant and before moving herbs indoors to support roots. Use code JILL10 for 10% off: http://journeywithjill.net/organicrev. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclaimer 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 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.

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• 445 - What I Learned... about my capacity in this season of life

  Feeling guilty that your garden doesn't look like it used to? You're not alone. In this episode, I share how my own season of life changed my garden—and how you can adjust yours with less stress and more joy. You'll learn practical ways to right-size your garden for your time, energy, and goals (no shame required). Seasonal series (starts Nov 2): Garden Audit – free 5-day email Quick daily prompts + optional short videos to review what worked, what didn't, and shape a vision for next season. Join here: https://journeywithjill.net/audit free download: Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet Your first (or best) garlic crop—timing, spacing, curing. https://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet Complete Garden Planner – Plan and track your season simply: https://shop.journeywithjill.net/   Key Takeaways Your garden should fit your current capacity, not your past one. Define success for this season: a few crops you love may be enough. Scale systems, not just space—irrigation, succession planting, simple trellises. Use transitions (injury, grief, busy years) to pause, simplify, and reset. Fall is prime for planting garlic; set it up well and let it work all winter. Resource Links Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet (free): https://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Podcast archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/ Sponsor(s) for this Episode Organic Rev – I mix Rev 50/50 with water to water in garlic trenches and often pre-soak cloves. Use code JILL10 to save 10%: https://journeywithjill.net/organicrev. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclaimer 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. 

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• 444 - What I Learned... from planning 10 fall gardens

  If your fall garden isn't producing the way you hoped—or if you're wondering whether your plants will even mature before frost—this episode is for you. After helping 10 gardeners across the country plan their fall gardens, I noticed clear patterns that explain why some thrive while others struggle. You'll learn what timing mistakes most gardeners make, how to simplify your plan, and how to maximize your space for more harvests before winter. Free Download: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar Plan your fall harvest with confidence—know exactly when to plant for fresh greens all season long. 👉 https://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden 🌿 Key Takeaways Why most fall gardeners plant too late—and how to fix it. The surprising reason fall gardening starts in the heat. How simplifying your plan leads to more success. Simple ways to double your space with interplanting. How to use light and microclimates to your advantage. Why observation beats perfection every time. 🕒 Chapters 00:00 – Why fall gardens often fail 02:40 – Lesson #1: The planting window is earlier than you think 05:00 – Lesson #2: Start in the heat, protect seedlings 07:30 – Lesson #3: Simplify your plan to reduce overwhelm 12:30 – Lesson #4: Use interplanting to double your harvest 15:20 – Lesson #5: Map your sun and shade for better results 18:30 – Lesson #6: Observation over perfection 🌻 Resource Links Free: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar → https://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden Shop the Greenstalk Vertical Planter Sale: https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk – Use code JILL10 for $10 off $75+ 2026 Complete Garden Planner: Plan your next season now → https://journeywithjill.net/shop Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden Podcast Archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast 🌱 Sponsor Greenstalk Vertical Planter – Space-saving planters that water evenly from the top down. Use code JILL10 for $10 off $75+. https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk 🪴 Disclaimer 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. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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• 443 - What I learned... from the failures of this season

  Feeling discouraged by garden failures? You're not alone. In this episode, I walk through four issues I faced this year and how I'm troubleshooting each one so you can apply the same practical steps in your garden. You'll learn simple ways to read plant stress, reduce disease and pest pressure, and plan smarter for next season. free download: Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet Your first (or best) garlic crop—timing, spacing, curing. http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet Key Takeaways Why peppers sometimes need light shade in hot summers and when to add it What root-knot nematodes look like and how cover crops can help Signs of southern blight on peppers and prevention options Bitter vs. diseased cucumbers: what to change next season A gentle reminder to list your wins before planning fixes Chapters 00:00 – Why failure grows better gardeners 02:18 – Reframe: successes you might be missing 04:12 – Failure #1: Bell peppers + full-sun stress 08:53 – Failure #2: Okra + root-knot nematodes 19:35 – Sponsor break: Organic Rev + garlic routine 21:28 – Time-sensitive: Greenstalk warehouse sale 23:06 – Failure #3: Jalapeños + southern blight clues 30:22 – Failure #4: Cucumbers—bitterness vs. downy mildew 34:36 – Reflect, note, and plan next steps Resource Links Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet (free): http://journeywithjill.net/garliccheatsheet Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup Recommended Brands & Products: https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden — As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Sponsor(s) for this Episode Organic Rev – I soak garlic cloves 50/50 Rev-to-water before planting and often water in at ~1 oz/gal during cool-season transplants. Use code JILL10 for 10% off: http://journeywithjill.net/organicrev. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Greenstalk Vertical Planter – Warehouse sale through October 21. Grab closeout colors while supplies last. Use code JILL10 for $10 off $75+: https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Soft Paid Mention Complete Garden Planner – Plan and track your season simply: https://shop.journeywithjill.net/ Disclaimer 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.

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• 442 - What I learned... Visiting GreenStalk: The Story You Don't See Online

  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 greens, herbs, and flowers. free download: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar Plant at the right time for fresh greens all season. http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden Key Takeaways How a family-owned US company designs and tests products for real gardeners. Why quality materials and thoughtful R&D matter (and how that shows up in the planter). Practical fall ideas for your vertical planter: salads, herbs, pansies, and more. The role of good customer service—and how feedback shapes better products. When a vertical planter makes sense for beginners and for large-garden add-ons. Chapters 00:02 – Why I only share vetted tools 01:45 – Welcome & what to expect in this series 03:06 – Why fall is the perfect time for this story 04:17 – My first GreenStalk in 2020 05:40 – Five years of testing: what's worked 07:36 – Meet the family behind GreenStalk 09:06 – The affiliate weekend invite 11:31 – First impressions & thoughtful hospitality 13:48 – Community with fellow gardeners 16:02 – Touring R&D and prototypes 18:27 – Designing lids & the auto-watering system 20:34 – Quality over shortcuts 22:56 – Caring for employees in a tech-driven world 24:24 – US-made parts and sourcing 26:22 – Why this product helps new gardeners start 27:40 – My favorite fall uses (greens, pansies) 29:40 – Clearance event details + my code 30:40 – Final encouragement: why I recommend them 31:49 – What's coming next week Resource Links Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar (free): http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden Connect Friday Emails (newsletter): 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/ Soft mention Complete Garden Planner – plan and track your season simply: https://shop.journeywithjill.net/ Sponsor(s) for this Episode GreenStalk Vertical Planter – Family-owned, US-made vertical planters I've used for five years. Use code JILL10 for $10 off a $75 purchase: https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclaimer 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.

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