Uncle Josh Gardens

Uncle Josh Gardens 🌱 Master Gardener & Fruit Tree Grower 🏡 | Homesteader 🌾 | Tech Enthusiast 💻 | 10 Years of Growing

06/18/2026

What do you look for in a raised bed? 🤔

Not all metal raised beds are built the same. A few things I pay attention to are reflective finishes that may stay a bit cooler in the sun ☀️, rolled or protected edges for safety 👍, bed height based on what you’re growing 🌱, and center support bars to help prevent bowing over time 💪

For depth, around 10-12 inches works well for many vegetables, while deeper beds can be helpful for larger root crops and easier access in the garden 🌿

What features matter most to you when choosing a raised bed? 👇

06/18/2026

Are you growing in Smart Pots yet? 👀

Three reasons I love Smart Pots! 🌱

✅ They keep roots cooler. In my test, a black nursery pot hit 92°F while the Smart Pot stayed around 82°F at the hottest part of the day.

✅ They air prune roots. Instead of circling around the pot, roots branch back inward, creating a healthier root system.

✅ They breathe. Better airflow means healthier roots and less chance of root rot. 🌿

If you’re looking to try Smart Pots for yourself, checkout Park Seed! 🙌 They carry Smart Pots in all different sizes so you can find the perfect fit for your garden.

What’s your favorite container for growing plants? 🌱👇

06/18/2026

Have you ever seen garlic do this? 🤔🧄

I spotted bulbils forming on my garlic stalks for the first time! These tiny aerial bulbs can be planted to grow new garlic plants or even tossed into the kitchen for cooking. 😍

They’re common on some alliums like Egyptian walking onions, but they’re pretty unusual to find on garlic. 🌱

Have you seen bulbils on your garlic before? Let me know in the comments! 👇

06/18/2026

Have you ever seen a tea plant growing in person? 🍃👀

Most of the true teas we drink, from green tea to black tea, come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis! 🌱

I visited the Charleston Tea Garden Charleston Tea Garden in South Carolina, where they grow these plants in massive hedges and use specialized harvesters to collect the fresh new growth. 🚜🍃

The youngest leaves are processed and dried to make the tea we drink, and the plants can be harvested multiple times each year. Even more impressive, a well-maintained tea plant can live for hundreds of years! 🤯🌿

Have you ever grown tea at home? 🍵

06/17/2026

Have you tried Japanese eggplants? 🍆👇

One of my favorite eggplants to grow! 🌱 Japanese eggplants typically have thinner skin than globe eggplants, which often helps them cook more quickly and gives them a tender texture. 🍽️

Many Japanese varieties are also very productive, producing lots of fruit throughout the season. 🙌 You can harvest them young and tender or let them size up for larger slices. 🍆✨

I’ve found them to be especially tender and flavorful, but that’s just my experience. 😄

What’s been your experience growing or cooking with Japanese eggplants? 🤔

06/17/2026

Have you tried this type of fig? 🤔🍈

This Olympian fig might be one of the largest figs I’ve ever eaten! 😳 I found a perfectly ripe one at Mulberry Food Forest in Charleston, SC, and it was nearly the size of my hand. 🤚

When I cracked it open, the inside was absolutely beautiful 😍 Sweet, sugary, and packed with a mild berry flavor 🍓. This thing was massive!

Have you ever grown or tasted an Olympian fig? Let me know in the comments! 👇

06/16/2026

Are your onions ready to harvest yet? 🧅👇

I look for three signs before pulling mine:

✅ The tops are naturally falling over
✅ The tips are starting to yellow and die back
✅ The bulbs have developed nice shoulders above the soil

When you start seeing all three, harvest time is getting close! 🌱🧅

What stage are your onions at right now? 👇

06/16/2026

Have you ever seen holes like this on your plum tree? 🍑👀

At first I thought my plum tree was being attacked by a cat… and then Miss Fig decided to make an appearance to defend herself 😹🌿

These holes are most likely caused by shot hole disease, a common fungal disease on stone fruits like plums, peaches, and cherries. The purple-brown discoloration around the holes is a good clue that it’s disease-related rather than simple insect damage 🍃

A mild infection usually isn’t a big problem, but severe cases can weaken the tree over time, so it’s worth keeping an eye on. 👨‍🌾

Have you dealt with shot hole disease before? Let me know below! ⬇️

06/16/2026

Have you seen this on your apple trees? 🤔🍎

If you spot sudden brown dieback like this, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with fire blight. 🚨 This bacterial disease spreads most easily during warm, wet weather and can affect branches, trees, and even the fruit.

✂️ Don’t just cut where you see the damage. Prune at least 4 inches below the visible infection, and in more severe cases, 8-12 inches or more may be needed since the bacteria can spread farther than what you can see.

🌳 Another great option is choosing fire blight-resistant apple and pear varieties to help prevent the problem altogether.

Have you had to deal with fire blight before? 👇

06/15/2026

Have you tried either of these fruit trees before? 🤔🌳

Two of my favorite fruit trees growing side by side! 🍊✨ Loquat and pineapple guava are both beautiful evergreen plants, but they each have their strengths.

Loquats can produce delicious spring fruit, but crops are more reliable in warmer areas where winter freezes don’t damage the flowers. Pineapple guavas are a bit more cold-tolerant and can be grown as a hedge, shrub, or tree while still producing tasty fruit. 🌿🍈

A big thank you to Brownswood Nursery & Landscape for giving me a tour and letting me show off these incredible mature specimens! 🙌🌳

If you’re gardening in Zones 7, 8, or 9, these are definitely worth considering, especially if you want something ornamental that can also feed you! 😎

Which one would you plant in your yard? 👇

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Tempe, AZ
85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287

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