About this episode
Summer heat can cause many plants’ leaves to droop on a hot afternoon. Does this pose a particular problem for cucumbers? Will that stress effect the cucumber flavor? Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has the answers to your cucumber questions. UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts tells us all about how to grow dahlias. And if you want a great plant to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, it’s hard to beat the butterfly bush. And the newest varieties are much more well mannered and easier to care for. We will tell you about the "Pugster Blue" Butterfly Bush. It’s all on episode 123 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery . And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go! Pictured: Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush , the 2021 Flowering Shrub of the Year Links: Smart Pots Dave Wilson Nursery UC Davis Arboretum Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush/Proven Winners Cucumber Care UC Ag & Natural Resources Video: Farmer Fred on Cool Season Vegetable Gardening Harvest Day Zoom link registration for Farmer Fred Q&A , Sat. Aug. 7 More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred . Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple , please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed. Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe , at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. And thank you for listening. All About Farmer Fred: Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred " Instagram: farmerfredhoffman Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying p Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter .