There's always something new to learn about gardens and gardening!
Welcome to Empress of Dirt's Two Minutes in the Garden. In bite-sized informative updates—two minutes and some seconds each—we cover a wide range of topics from gardening basics to current research and assessing myths and folklore. Listen to all previous episodes below!
Subscribe to the podcast
Listen to the flash briefing on Alexa
On an Alexa device, you should be able to subscribe just by saying "Alexa, enable skill Two Minutes in the Garden." And then, to hear the latest episode, say "Alexa, what's my flash briefing?" You can also enable the briefing in the skills store for your country:
Amazon.com (US) / Amazon.co.uk (UK) / Amazon.ca (Canada) / Amazon.in (India) / Amazon.com.au (Australia)
I hope you enjoy the show!
Sep 15, 2025
We can't see them, but mycorrhizal fungi are growing in or on the roots of most of the plants in our garden, helping them get nutrients -- and likely providing connections between our plants.
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 5 Common Houseplant Myths That Seem True --...
Aug 4, 2025
Phenology is the seasonal timing of events in plants and animals -- when things bloom, leaf out, set seed, fruit, and so on. We can't make plans in the garden without it, and it's steadily changing with warmer temperatures.
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: August Garden Checklist: Tasks &...
Jul 4, 2025
Fireflies are a summertime icon for many people, especially in North America. What are they and what can we do to attract fireflies and support them in our garden?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: July Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects
Jun 24, 2025
Half the world now depends on synthetic fertilizers for food. But do we need them in the garden? And are they really derived from fossil fuels?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Root Pothos Cuttings
Jun 5, 2025
Peat has been a gardening staple for decades -- but at what cost? With growing concerns over climate and ecosystems, is it time we rethink our use of peat?
NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Hummingbirds Are Avoiding Your Feeders