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Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Steven Biggs: Horticulturist and edible landscaping expert.
Want to grow your own food but need creative ideas so you can get the most from your space and your growing zone? Our passion is the edible garden. We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard. There are many ways to approach edible landscaping. Find out how to harvest enough fruit, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. Get top tips for exotic crops. And learn how to garden in a way that suits any situation. Host Steven Biggs was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada. Get started with one of our fan favourites. Season 6, Episode 10: Big Harvests from a Small Space with a Vertical Vegetable Garden.
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- Yesterday17 min
An Olive Tree in a Suitcase
Online classes happening soon: Grow a Potted Yuzu Citrus, Grow Angel's Trumpet (brugmansia) on Your Patio.--- I once flew home with an olive tree in a suitcase. Maybe not what the average traveller would do, but I was visiting a nursery that had a variety I wanted…which says something about my priorities.Even where olive trees aren’t winter hardy, they make superb potted plants. Their silvery foliage shimmers in a breeze, they look beautiful on a patio, and they make a cold-climate garden feel just a little more civilized.Olive trees are tough, forgiving, and well suited to pots. The trick is remembering that a pot changes everything, especially in winter. And while getting olives isn’t guaranteed, there are practical ways to improve your odds.In this episode, I talk about growing olive trees in pots where they’re not normally hardy: why to grow them, where to put them, how to overwinter them, and what helps them fruit.Want more? My 2026 Olive Camp recordings are available here. Or check out my book Grow Olives Where You Think You Can't, available at FoodGardenLife.com or on Amazon. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- 2 weeks ago34 min
Common Quince: The Fragrant Fruit Too Few Gardeners Grow
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---Common quince is beautiful, fragrant, useful in the kitchen—and still surprisingly uncommon in Canadian gardens. In this episode, I talk with Matt Soltys, The Urban Orchardist, about why this old fruit deserves another look.Matt shares what he’s seeing as he visits urban fruit trees across southern Ontario: backyard quince trees, older pawpaws, locally adapted genetics, and overlooked trees that could become the foundation of future breeding work. We talk about common quince as a small garden tree, how it differs from Japanese quince, why one tree can be plenty, how the fruit is used, its role as pear rootstock, and simple pruning ideas for healthier fruit trees.In this episode, we cover:Growing common quince in cold-climate gardens Why quince is such a good fit for home gardeners The difference between common quince and Japanese quince Quince preserves, cider, and other kitchen uses Fruit-tree breeding and locally adapted genetics Pawpaws, pears, and other unexpected urban fruit trees Pruning quince and other backyard fruit trees ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- May 6, 202640 min
How to Grow Tomatoes in Cool & Coastal Climates (Without a Greenhouse)
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---Growing tomatoes in a cool or maritime climate can feel like an uphill battle. It doesn’t have to be.In this episode, I’m joined by tomato expert Holly Farrell, author of The Tomato Grower’s Handbook, to talk about how to get reliable, flavourful harvests even when summers are mild, damp, or unpredictable.We dig into practical strategies for gardeners in places like coastal Canada, the UK, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest—where heat is limited and blight is always lurking.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why variety choice matters more than anything else The difference between bush (determinate) and cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes How to use microclimates (walls, courtyards, sunny corners) to your advantage Simple ways to add protection—from cloches to greenhouses How to reduce risk from blight in damp conditions Tips for growing tomatoes in: Balconies Containers Garden beds Tunnels & greenhouses How to deal with wind exposure (especially coastal winds) Holly’s favourite tomato varieties for different uses If you’ve ever struggled to ripen tomatoes or deal with disease pressure, this episode will give you a clearer path forward.If you would like to see what Holly is up to in the garden, here is her Instagram handle. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- Apr 30, 202641 min
Growing Hardy Pears in Cold Climates: What Actually Works
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---Pears deserve more respect in cold-climate gardens. While apples dominate the conversation, there are pear varieties that are just as hardy. The problem is, most growers don’t know about them. Varieties like Krazulya, Vekovaya, and Ure aren’t widely planted, but they probably should be.In this episode, I chat with Elisabeth Racine from Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery, where they’re testing about 200 pear varieties. We talk about what it takes to grow pears successfully in colder zones, including variety selection, pollination, feeding, and training.We also talk about some top cold-hardy pear varieties and the most common mistakes home growers make when planting pears.If you’ve ever wondered whether pears are worth the space in a northern garden—or which variety to choose if you only have room for one tree—this conversation will help you decide.Topics covered include:Why pears are a worthwhile cold-climate fruit crop How far north pears can realistically be grown The importance of variety selection Top cold-hardy pear varieties for home growers Pollination requirements What most people get wrong when planting pears How long it takes for pear trees to produce And if you’re looking for more on cold-hardy fruit, tune in to this episode about growing fruit in cold climates with Veronique from Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery! ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- Apr 23, 202642 min
Designing a Vegetable Garden That Actually Works (Rows, Beds & Smart Layouts)
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---Designing a vegetable garden can feel simple—until you try to make everything fit. Rows or raised beds? What goes where? And how do you plan it so it still makes sense in July?In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman, authors of The New Natural Food Garden, to talk through practical, thoughtful ways to design a productive vegetable garden.We cover the decisions that matter most—layout, crop choice, and how to make a plan that you’ll actually follow through on.In this episode:Rows vs. beds: what works, and why Choosing crops for your space, climate, and habits How to place crops so they grow well (and don’t get in each other’s way) Making a garden plan you’ll stick with A look at no-till methods and how they fit into garden design This is a conversation about making your garden simpler, more productive, and more doable—not more complicated.Find out more about the book and about their online gardening programs on their website. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- Apr 7, 202640 min
Perennial Vegetables: Edible Crops That Come Back Every Year (with Michalina Hunter)
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---In this episode, I chat with Michalina Hunter, founder of Cicada Seeds, about edible perennial crops.We explore:Ways to use perennial vegetables in a home-garden settingWhy perennial vegetables are a game-changer for sustainable gardening Top crops for home gardenersMichalina’s top recommendations for home gardenersAnd we also take a tangent to discuss an interesting tomato that Michalina introduced, the ‘Venus of Willendorf’ tomatoWhether you’re curious about food forests, edible perennials, or just want to try something new, tune in for practical advice from a seasoned grower. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- Apr 2, 202628 min
Grow More Food, Rethink Your Landscape, and Garden Smarter
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---Rising food costs have you looking at your food bill? This is a good year to grow more food at home. And in this episode, I have tips to help you hit the ground running this year.Find out about simple ways to add edible plants to the landscape, top crops for home gardens, how to grow more food in a small space, and edible hedges.In this episode, I share some of the ideas from my upcoming series of free online Earth Month gardening talks. These talks have been on my mind for a while—and this year feels like the right time.The earth month gardening talks are free. Please join me for one or all of them. Find out more about the free Earth Month series. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
- Mar 24, 202620 min
Favourite Vegetable Varieties with Donna Balzer: Tried-and-True and Something New
See the online classes: Landscaping with Fruit, Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot.---In this episode, I continue my cross-Canada tour to hear about top veggie varieties.I’m joined by my former co-host, horticulturist, author, and longtime gardening educator Donna Balzer to talk all about her favourite vegetable varieties. Donna shares her long-time favourite varieties—the ones she grows year after year—as well as varieties that have recently impressed her. Donna and I wrote No Guff Vegetable Gardening together in 2011, and I’m a big fan of her approach to gardening. (If you’re looking for a copy of this Canadian classic, drop by Donna’s website.)Whether you're planning your garden or interested in hearing about interesting varieties, this conversation will give you ideas for your 2026 garden. ---There’s a whole world inside figs. I explore it in my Fig Culture podcast—varieties, recipes, collectors, and the stories behind them. Join 6,000+ gardeners in The Food Garden Gang and get practical weekly tips to grow more food at home—free. It’s the best way to get started. [Join the newsletter]
About Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping
Want to grow your own food but need creative ideas so you can get the most from your space and your growing zone? Our passion is the edible garden. We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard. There are many ways to approach edible landscaping. Find out how to harvest enough fruit, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. Get top tips for exotic crops. And learn how to garden in a way that suits any situation. Host Steven Biggs was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada. Get started with one of our fan favourites. Season 6, Episode 10: Big Harvests from a Small Space with a Vertical Vegetable Garden.
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