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The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

448- 7 Thanksgiving Foods You Can Grow in Your Own Garden: the history, health, and homegrown roots behind your favorite holiday dishes.

The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

Jill McSheehy

How To, Education, Home & Garden, Leisure

4.7 • 830 Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ever wondered how much of your Thanksgiving dinner could come straight from your garden? From potatoes to sage, your plate is packed with crops you can grow—and nutrients that nourish your body all winter long. In this episode, Jill shares seven Thanksgiving favorites you can grow yourself (plus one bonus!), and why each one deserves a spot in your garden plan.

🌱 Free Download: Seasonal Garden Task List
Stay on track in every season with clear, simple garden to-dos.
👉 https://journeywithjill.net/seasonal-task-list

Key Takeaways

  • Why Thanksgiving foods are some of the most nutrient-dense crops you can grow

  • How potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash each boost immunity in winter

  • The best potato varieties for different recipes (mashed, roasted, scalloped)

  • Tips for growing, curing, and storing potatoes through Thanksgiving

  • Easy ways to grow green beans, sage, and celery for your holiday table

  • Why your favorite indulgent dishes may actually help nutrient absorption

  • Jill's bonus crop you might not expect: cranberries

Resource Links

Sponsors for this Episode

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    As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Disclaimer
Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance. Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Well, hey there, I hope you're doing great today. And if you are in the U.S., then you are most likely preparing for Thanksgiving.

0:08.1

And while when we think about Thanksgiving, we think about this delicious meal, often we think a little bit about guilt at overindulging.

0:17.3

But I'm here to help you feel a little bit better about what things are going to be on your

0:21.3

plate this Thanksgiving. Did you know that your Thanksgiving dinner actually may be one of the

0:27.6

most nourishing meals that you'll eat all year? While it's easy to think of it as an overindulgence,

0:34.3

the foods on your table from sweet potatoes to squash to sage are packed with

0:39.9

nutrients that strengthen your immune system, support digestion, and prepare your body for winter.

0:46.7

And here's the best part. Every one of those dishes can start right in your garden.

0:51.9

Even the cranberries that add that bright pop of color to your plate.

0:56.2

I love some cranberry sauce. I don't know about you. In today's episode, we're going to be

1:00.8

exploring seven Thanksgiving foods that you can grow in your own garden as we look at what makes

1:07.9

dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and even homemade stuffing

1:12.8

so good for us, both on the table and in the garden. I don't know about you, but I absolutely

1:20.0

love putting things on my Thanksgiving table that I grew myself. It brings this beautiful

1:26.3

culmination to the harvest season that I can't wait to do

1:30.0

every year. And that's really what Thanksgiving is all about, right? Well, before we dig into

1:35.6

these Thanksgiving crops, if any of these are already on your radar for next year's garden,

1:40.8

or they will be once you hear about today's episode, then my 2026 complete

1:46.9

garden planner will help you get a head start to brainstorming all the ideas. It includes pages

1:53.0

to help you map out your garden beds, organize your garden schedule, and even there's a section

1:58.3

for variety research. So you can compare which types of potatoes, squash, or herbs will do best in your climate.

2:05.5

You can check this out.

...

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