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Rating

★★★★★

4.6

from

11 reviews

Description

The WPTF Weekend Gardener is an award-winning radio talk show that has been on the air for over 40 years. Mike Raley has been the host since the show first aired in January of 1985, bringing expert gardening advice and fun conversation to listeners. Rufus Edmisten, former NC Secretary of State and Attorney General, has been a co-host for over 10 years, providing his unique insights and adding to the lively discussions. The Weekend Gardener is an evolution of The Tar Heel Gardener, a show that aired for 40 years and was hosted by North Carolina State University professor John H. Harris. Initially a 15-minute program where John answered listener letters, the show grew into a half-hour format before becoming the 3-hour talk show we know today. Over its four decades, the Weekend Gardener has become a staple for gardening enthusiasts across the state.

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WPTF Weekend Gardener - Snowy Stories (Part 3 of 3)

2026/01/31

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Nelsa Cox, and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest callers to talk about current winter precipitation and how it could affect the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Snowy Stories (Part 2 of 3)

2026/01/31

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Nelsa Cox, and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest callers to talk about current winter precipitation and how it could affect the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Snowy Stories (Part 1 of 3)

2026/01/31

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Nelsa Cox, and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest callers to talk about current winter precipitation and how it could affect the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Winter Weather Worries (Part 3 of 3)

2026/01/24

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Phil Campbell and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest Mark Baumgartner to talk about winter weather affecting the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Winter Weather Worries (Part 2 of 3)

2026/01/24

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Phil Campbell and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest Mark Baumgartner to talk about winter weather affecting the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Winter Weather Worries (Part 1 of 3)

2026/01/24

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley, Phil Campbell and Rufus Edmisten host the show with guest Mark Baumgartner to talk about winter weather affecting the garden.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Slugs, Wild Gingers, and Winter Curiosities (Part 3 of 3)

2026/01/17

In the final hour, Raley and Edmisten reunite with Adams and McMillan to share stories of family gardens and farming traditions. They provide tips on growing eggplant and managing pests, and reflect on the lessons learned from their upbringing surrounded by food and flowers, emphasizing the personal connections to gardening.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Slugs, Wild Gingers, and Winter Curiosities (Part 2 of 3)

2026/01/17

In this segment, Raley and Edmisten continue with Adams and McMillan, focusing on tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and culinary herbs. They discuss growing specialty herbs like culantro and Vietnamese coriander, heat-tolerant cilantro alternatives, mint varieties, and seed saving, while sharing practical gardening advice and insights from farmers' markets.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Slugs, Wild Gingers, and Winter Curiosities (Part 1 of 3)

2026/01/17

Weekend Gardener 1-10-2025: Gung-Ho on Mitogrow (Part 3 of 3)

2026/01/10

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten end the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

Weekend Gardener 1-10-2025: Gung-Ho on Mitogrow (Part 2 of 3)

2026/01/10

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten continue the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

Weekend Gardener 1-10-2025: Gung-Ho on Mitogrow (Part 1 of 3)

2026/01/10

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten open the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Stories, Science, and the January Garden (Part 3 of 3)

2026/01/03

The episode wraps up with reflections on plants, nature, and learning from the garden, as Mike, Rufus, and Johnny Coley close the show with perspective, humor, and encouragement for gardeners in winter.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Stories, Science, and the January Garden (Part 2 of 3)

2026/01/03

Mike, Rufus, and Johnny Coley dive deeper into gardening science, winter landscapes, and practical advice, mixing personal stories with insight drawn from years of experience.

WPTF Weekend Gardener - Slugs, Wild Gingers, and Winter Curiosities (Part 1 of 3)

2026/01/03

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten are joined by Dr. Patrick McMillan, a retired Clemson University professor, and Gerald Adams, former Curator of the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion grounds. They discuss slug issues, mountain gardening, winter-blooming plants, wild gingers, and hellebores, covering topics from banana slugs and beer traps to native plants and why North Carolina is a hub of plant diversity.

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4.6 out of 5

11 reviews

★☆☆☆☆

Kurt in NWCT 2021/11/08

Not for serious gardeners

This show is extremely light on garden content; only about 20 minutes devoted to gardening in a 3 hour program. Mostly contains advertisements for Ral...

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