We’re back! In our Season 2 premiere, the three of us shake off some live-stream rust, catch up on travel, family news, and what’s sprouting in our lives and gardens. Then we dive into practical, no‑stress seed starting: start something you love, use your planting calendar, mind your media, keep lights close, and don’t fear a little failure. We talk germination triggers, damping off, fans for sturdier seedlings, when to pull domes and heat mats, how much daily light to give (often 14–16 hours), and making that tricky handoff from tray to garden. We also share what we’re growing this year—Andre’s finally tackling rice and kiwano; Derek’s dreaming gourds and uncommon mints; Gray’s running back Korean melons and firing up Gaillardia ‘Goblin’—plus a nifty sphagnum‑moss propagation box. We swap tips for protecting seedlings in cold snaps (thermal mass, wind shelter, grouping) and even wander into food hot‑takes (raisins? chocolate + fruit?) and the lore of perpetual stew. It’s a lively, learning‑packed kickoff to the season.

• 'Andre the Farmer (site & shop)': https://andrethefarmer.com/
• 'The Chocolate Botanist (Derek Haynes)': https://thechocolatebotanist.com/
• 'Urban Gardening with Gray': https://urbangardeningwithgray.com/
• 'PlantCon (official site)': https://www.plantcon.org/
• 'PlantMania Expo (Raleigh, NC)': https://plantmaniaexpo.com/
• 'Botanical Interests (seeds)': https://www.botanicalinterests.com/
• 'Find Your Local Cooperative Extension': https://extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/
• 'Epic Gardening (articles, videos, products)': https://www.epicgardening.com/
• 'Kiwano (horned) melon — Cucumis metuliferus': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumis_metuliferus
• 'Noni (Morinda citrifolia)': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morinda_citrifolia
• 'Sonia’s Essential Mosquito Spray ("Sonia’s Bug Spray")': https://sonias-essentials.myshopify.com/
• 'Retain — Organic Pruning Tool Cleaner (Walmart listing)': https://www.walmart.com/ip/14855670600
• 'Thryve Roots (OMRI‑listed root & soil booster)': https://thryveroots.com/

Support Our Sponsors:
Retain Spray: retainspray.com
Sonia’s Bug Spray: https://sonias-essentials.myshopify.com/
Thryve Roots: ThryveRoots.com
Andre The Farmer’s Pepper Sauce: andrethefarmer.com


#Gardening #UrbanFarming #podcast #TheChocolateBotanist #BlackPlantCreators #GrowYourOwn #Horticulture #PlantCare #andrethefarmer #FarmToBalcony #BudgetGardening #GardenTips #GardenLife #PlantParent #UrbanGardening