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The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Grow Epic Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier | The Beet

The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

Epic Gardening

Home & Garden, Education, Leisure, How To

4.81.6K Ratings

🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode Description: In this episode of the Beet Podcast, we’re joined by Craig LeHoullier, for a deep dive into all things tomato. Craig shares his tips for growing epic tomatoes and how straw bales and containers can transform your tomato garden. We explore the groundbreaking Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project and how tomato color can actually hint at flavor. This juicy conversation is packed with wisdom from the Godfather of Tomato Growing. Connect with Craig LeHoullier: Craig LeHoullier, also known as the NC Tomatoman, is the breeder who named Cherokee Purple and authored Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. He’s co-led the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project and replaced his driveway with a thriving garden. With a vast collection of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, Craig has spent decades championing the colorful world of homegrown veggies. Find more from Craig LeHoullier on his website: https://www.craiglehoullier.com/ Find more from Craig LeHoullier at the Dwarf Tomato Project: https://www.craiglehoullier.com/dwarf-tomato-breeding-project/ Support The Beet: → Shop: https://growepic.co/shop → Seeds: https://growepic.co/botanicalinterests Learn More: → All Our Channels: https://growepic.co/youtube → Blog: https://growepic.co/blog → Podcast: https://growepic.co/podcasts → Discord: https://growepic.co/discord → Instagram: https://growepic.co/insta → TikTok: https://growepic.co/tiktok → Pinterest: https://growepic.co/pinterest → Twitter: https://growepic.co/twitter → Facebook: https://growepic.co/facebook → Facebook Group: https://growepic.co/fbgroup → Love our products? Become an Epic affiliate! https://growepic.co/3FjQXqV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Today's episode of The Beat is brought to you by Haven, a 10x10 greenhouse that two people can

0:04.2

set up in two hours using zero tools. How you ask, well, this isn't your standard greenhouse.

0:09.8

The Haven uses the inflatable patented technology, infinity fiber, which combines the same

0:14.6

rugged material used by whitewater rafting with composites that once inflated becomes absolutely

0:19.7

rigid. This allows the Haven to withstand 75 mile per hour winds and up to 30 inches of snow load.

0:25.9

But my favorite part has to be the fact that Haven can be used as a permanent structure,

0:30.0

or you could simply deflate it at the end of the season,

0:32.5

or whenever you want, and store it when you don't need it.

0:35.1

So if you're a renter or maybe planning on moving soon,

0:42.5

but you want a greenhouse, this is the ideal one because if you leave, you could simply deflate it, pack it up with you and go wherever you want. The Haven also has two doorways, four ventable

0:47.6

side panels, a high-performance app controllable fan, and it also includes shade cloth that perfectly

0:53.0

fits over it for the hottest months of the year.

0:55.7

I personally plan to set this up in my in-ground garden right over my pepper bed in early spring,

1:01.0

one to two months earlier than I would ever plant my peppers, giving me that early advantage before

1:05.6

the summer season sets in. And then once it gets too hot, I could simply deflate it and store it

1:09.9

until fall, giving me

1:11.0

one to two months of earlier growth on either end of the shoulder season. And the best part is,

1:16.0

is that the Haven Greenhouse is available today. Just go to Havenoutdoor.com. That's H-A-V-N-Outdoor.com

1:22.9

to get yours today. What is up, everyone? Welcome back to the podcast. Today I have a special guest. I am

1:31.3

bringing on the one, the only, the NC tomato man, Craig LaHulier himself. He is probably one of the

1:40.4

most experienced tomato growers on the planet, I would have to say, having grown,

1:45.1

I think, 3,500 different varieties of tomatoes in his lifetime, having named the Purple Cherokee

...

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