Try planting dill, oregano & or (mint in a pot)with your zucchini. They really help with squash vine bores & squash bugs. Also stake your plant & prune the zucchini's lower stalks. I've had wonderful success with this. You still need to check plants for eggs & remove if found though.
Carter - The Baker Creek North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash is wonderful! I've grown this for the past two years with great success. The winter squash is very prolific, super sweet and makes delicious pie filling. I love watching these torpedoes grow all summer long.
A couple of tips put tin foil balls underneath the squash plants and it will keep the bugs away...we did this last year and did not have one squash bug ..we put it under our cantaloupe and cucumber also...with your peppers you can make Rotel just tomatoes and peppers. I use that as my salsa with added seasoning.
I've never heard of this. Maybe I will try it around my squash, including orange pumpkins. Let us know exactly how to use these tin foil balls. Thanks.
Just as I posted was up foil into a ball and place under the leaves of the plant. We used about 3 balls per plant. You can Google tin foil for squash bugs
Floridade is DEF a determinate- you should get 2 or 3 flushes out of them. I only grow OP and heirloom. German Johnson- plant it where it can have shade in the heat of the day. Before you plant anything. The weather should be your first checkmark on the list. To much rain/watering will water down your tomatoes, so keep that in mind. I have my own weather guy. I have learned to talk to him before I do anything, these days. I'm down here in Florida, and here is what I AM planning for. Wet, cooler ( more normal) spring rain and heat. Dry period mid June through July. Hang on to your britches, things "could" get ugly from there, with the weather. HINT to southern folks- on this down time- go ahead and check that hurricane list and if you could need something, get that out of the way. There is one tomato that I grow and LOVE it! It's called Caribe. It's a determinate, and if the weather is good, it can produce some huge tomatoes. It's an all purpose. Many moons ago, it was used by soup companies to make canned soup. Save the seeds, and carry on. It's one of those rare seeds that grows well in PA-S. Florida, as well as Rio Grande. I am growing determinate's this spring. I want them up, producing and done before the summer hits. The raised beds will be filled with blackeye's. I had to pop back in- I know this is LONG- Squash bugs if it is possible, especially if they are going to be in close proximity- Only do example 55 days at the same time, or 100 days at the same time. Squash bugs LOVE variety, and you are opening the door to DINNER! They lay their eggs at the base of the plants, and one they are there.. You know! I learned this the hard way. I'm down to 1 variety at a time! Otherwise they move from the squash to the tomatoes. Just don't invite them!
You have a plan, KP! Caribe looks like a terrific recommendation. It likes it either hot and wet or hot and dry. The only think I can be sure of every year is that we'll be hot! Seems like a winner. I have made a note for myself. Thank you!
Hi, I think your channel is the best one I ever found! Thank you for sharing exactly what lifestyle I agree with and follow! I also try to stay as low carb as possible, I guess especially people after 40 and so on can appreciate what you share, way to stay healthy! I'm almost 50 and still not on any meds thanks to keto!:) I also like to preserve food especially anything that I grow (my tomato sauce and salsa -cherry tomatoes and zucchini, are very much loved by whole family), I hope to raise my own chickens and rabbits son as well. I noticed that you use a store bought mayo often, and wanted to see maybe you would like to make your own, I have not bought a jar ever since I tried the recipe I list below, let me know what you think:) 1 egg, just under 1 cup pf avocado oi i f u do not want it too runny, 1 tbsp of mustard - I use what I have, abt 1.5 - 2 tsp vinegar, I use white (recipe calls for white wine, I think apple cider is too strong), 1/4 tsp of salt, 2 tsp lemon juice, I usually use bit less, so consistency is thicker. Place all in a jar, insert hand blender in all the way to bottom, start blending from bottom to top slowly raising the blender. and that's it:) my husband eats a lot of devilled eggs for breakfast and it goes fast!::) let me know what you think!:):)
Thanks so much, Dudus! So glad to have you here. I used to make mayo, but we are so sporadic in using it, I either didn't have it when I needed it, or we would use a couple teaspoons and the rest would die in the fridge. Hopefully one day I'll be able to plan better. It is delicious!
Hi Carter, I’m in northern middle TN. I grow spinach all winter long without any protection at all, it does really well. Those fresh greens in the middle of winter are a blessing.
HaHa! the gardeners paradigm-> seed excitement versus lack of space then harvest overload. Its par for the course, enjoy the ride I tell myself. Interesting to see what you can grow in your location versus my single crop season. I'm trying so many peppers this year and too much of everything, but the Long Keeper tomato is my hopes for fresh tomato eating well past frost. I'll check comments for squash bugs, they're awful here, as are flea beetles. Thanks for the inspiring video!
Hey, Darryl! I'll have to look up the long keeper tomato. I haven't heard of it. Peppers are my downfall! Never met one I didn't want to grow...even the ones that are way too spicy for me. Good luck with squash bugs. They are horrible. There are a few tips about aluminum foil in the comments.
I am in northern NY state with a short growing season. I am always interested in trying out short season varieties of everything! Tomatoes and peppers are my favorites. That being said, I highly recommend Dr. Wyches yellow tomato. One of my favorite orange/yellow heirloom varieties. I tried Numex Joe Parker for the first time last season and they did well! Coral Bell sweet pepper is also great! Happy gardening!
My husband is the gardener of the family. I do the preservation. Despite this, I watched, learned, and enjoyed every bit of this video. Thank you for sharing so willingly with all of us.
Thank you, Vicki! I'm so glad you enjoy the preservation side. I have a friend whose husband loved to grow veggies. She said he would walk in with 50lbs of tomatoes at a time and expect her to be happy about it. She was much less than happy about handling the preservation part!
I live in North Texas and we have bad squash bugs too. I find that I have much more success with starting my summer squash late summer and grow into the fall after the squash bugs life cycle is over. I grew cube of butter but didn't care for it because the skin was so thin and tender it was always cut up and looked awful by the time I got it in the house.
Excellent info! Thanks, Rebecca! I do think I'll start my summer squash later. Not sure I push the winter squash too late though. They take forever. Hopefully the aluminum foil balls mentioned in a comment above will help!
your micro greens are amazing! I've never done it but I have a bunch of old garden seeds of various greens so will throw them in dirt and see what comes up. I'm starting peppers (orange marmalade, orange blaze, marconi, serrano, cayenne) and onions right now. Lots to plant later.
Hi Carter I am in Florida so I started most of my seeds at the beginning of January except my cucumbers , melons, and squash but will be starting soon for tomatoes I do paste tomatoes, cherry tomatoes sweet 100 and Everglades tomatoes. For peppers I grow sweet bell peppers, jalapeño, poblano, and Cuba elle peppers. For cucumbers l grow max pack. For zucchini I grow black beauty, for squash I grow butternut, Seminole pumpkins, and Long Island cheese pumpkin. I grow contender bush beans and sugar snap peas. For broccoli I grow monte, for cabbage I grow promise cabbage, I don’t know the type of Brussels sprouts, for kale I do curly and dinosaur kale. For spinach I grow giant winter spinach and then cantaloupe and strawberries, blueberries. I do a lot of herbs and flowers marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, borage, Mullen, camomile, oregano, lemon balm, dill, basil, parsley, sage. I grow lots of short day onions. For pole beans I grow Jacob cattle beans, black beans and cow peas
Dani, I hope you're going to share more garden pictures with me this year. It's so fabulous! I remember your Seminole pumpkin harvest from last year. Are they still holding in storage, or have you worked your way through them? Do you do anything particular with the borage, or is it just for the pollinators? I bought some this year, but now I can't remember why!
I will absolutely share more photos of the garden I still have 5 Seminole pumpkins left and 3 boxes of sweet potatoes my two best storage items. The borage is great for pollinators but it also can be made into an oil for a bunch of medicinal purposes and benefits the flowers are pretty
Good Morning! I’m sowing seeds for my 2024 garden and watching your video. It’s tomato seed time. I keep microgreens in rotation all winter. I do indoor hydroponics as well. I’m inside gardening longer than outdoors here in Minnesota! Happy growing.
I had luffa vines covering the cattle panel arch from 4-6 vines. Should have just had one at each corner. The fruit comes one very late, August in my case, but I got almost 3 dozen in total.
Wow! I think this might be the right thing to plant on that one far arch. Thanks so much for the review. Something with just one or two harvests a year in that muddy area sounds much easier than something that needs to be harvested everyday!
It sounds like you are going to have a great garden. I love how you are organized with your seeds. Your right about the fact that it needs to work for you, not that it needs to look pretty.
I'll be getting ready to get my seeds started; I'm so excited! Wish I had a freeze dryer. I know I would go nuts freeze-drying everything I grow. :) Have a great day! Do you think you can do some ferment videos? I got a fermenting kit and really would love to ferment more veggies.
Micro greens are planted...moving on to the cat grasses. 7 rescue cats in the barn. You gave me an idea about the freeze dryer and herbs. My cilantro is never in the right stage of growing when I need it and freeze drying it will make it work for me. the most prevalent item usually in my garden are all varieties of peppers..they are getting so expensive in the grocery stores that they are a good money maker for us in our roadside veggie stand.
Shirley, you are on it! When you say cat grasses, are you talking about catnip? You are so right about the price of peppers these days. I just took another load from last year out of the freeze dryer.
Took me three years to afford that freeze dried. A real extravagance but a real game changer. Next I need a bigger home to store more as I found I have been blessed with a wonderful green thumb. She smiles...
I really love Early Girl for slicing. It’s what I call a classic old fashioned southern tomato. They are wonderfully acidic. Early Girl is indeterminate and grows well in Southeast TN. I also love the Butterbaby butternut squash. It’s delicious and the perfect size for 2 people.
Yes! I did Butterbaby a couple years ago. It did well, and the fruit held well in storage for several months. I also grew Early Girl a few years ago in Atlanta and had good success with it. Good producer, as I recall. Both great suggestions!
Carter, it looks like you are going to be very very busy! I just took 11 lbs of sliced onions out of the freeze dryer. Cilantro parsley marjoram and more celery going in. I love freeze dried cilantro. Smells like fresh and very easy to crumble it up over Mexican dishes. Watching it rain again, my yard feels like quick sand, but if it's like last year we may have a very dry summer so I have catchment barrels near the gutters. I wish I could grow my herbs like you do, lol. I get very low yields,but I do have 9 cherry tomatoes on my aero garden I'm watching!
Hey, Connie! Another rainy day here too. Last year I put catchment barrels on David's list for this summer. Hopefully he will have time to get it done. I'm glad you'll be ready if we struggle with drought again this year. How great to have all those sliced onions done! With my onion-tearing issue, I am really looking forward to having some ready to go on the shelf. How fun to have cherry tomatoes in the works. Is your aerogarden indoors or in the greenhouse?
@@growandpreserve it's in the kitchen along with my sprouts. The green house has my herbs and two lemon trees. I am so upset, I put a heater out there, but when the temps dropped I lost 12 tiny lemons along with most of the leaves. I am hoping it will revive. The basil, and comfrey took a hit, but looks like the comfrey will come back. I will be planting basil , cilantro, thyme, parsley next week. My celery, garlic and spring onions look great. Waiting for the asparagus to make an appearance, then will plant more! We are planting peas gr beans in early spring. That way there are less bugs! Our early wonder tomatoes usually get 3 plantings and we get tomatoes until Nov or a bad frost.
Ugh. So sorry about the lemon tree. Hopefully it will recover. It's such a bummer when a perennial you've been waiting for so long takes a hit just as you're almost there. I love that you have cherry tomatoes growing in your aerogarden. A company sent me one a while back. Perhaps it's time to get it up and running now that I'll have room for it. I'm putting more diced onions and hot peppers from the freezer in the fd today. Cilantro, parsley and some sage I harvested and froze right before the snow will go in next. Possibly some spinach as well. I did Early Wonder and Early girl in my first garden. Perhaps I need to reconsider those as well. Thanks for the info!@@constancebeck2992
This is the first year I am trying the German Johnson 😊 so now I'm more excited about it. And i have a bunch of traditional romas. Last year, i loved the sunrise sauce tomato, it's a golden paste. I have a couple isis candy started for the first time. My favorite cherry last year was the Indigo chocolate cherry. Thank you for sharing your garden plans with us 😊
You're in for a treat with the German Johnson! Someone else mentioned the sunrise sauce tomato last year, and I forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder! Let me know what you think of the isis candy this Summer.
Sounds like a great plan! Great idea for the loofah they are a beast of a plant so it's best to grow out of the way. 1 plant yields more than enough loofah for a family. I'd plant two then remove one just in case something goes wrong. I'm focusing on tomatoes, all the peppers and okra this year!!
Excellent to know about the loofah. I will do just that. It sounds like you're going to have a very busy time in the Summer garden. Good to see you, Digit!
You might want to powder some of your tomatoes, the powder is so versatile. I fire roast mine first, then put in blender and remove seeds with a food mill. Lots of work but so worth it.
Muncher cucumbers are the only thing I grow. When they're small, they are great b for pickling, and when they get bigger, they are not bitter. Followed by the beit Alpha. Migardener has them too. What zone are you in? I'm in North Georgia zone seven but I have so much rain tomatoes just rot on the vines.
Hey, Magnolia! I'll look into Munchers. Thanks for the tip. I'm in Middle Tennessee. We can be inundated with rain here too...or we can deal with drought conditions all season long. Just when I get things moving, another curveball hits. Generally speaking I find "pick early and pick often" to be one of the best ways to actually get a harvest when weather, pests, etc are so uncertain.
Love your organizational creativity, I just have a small garden, so just need simple solutions. Thanks for sharing; will use some of your great ideas.. Blessings
I’m hoping that my green beans will do better this year. The last two years have not been good producing. If I have poor results, I may have to try a different variety. We love green beans. Other than that, I planted too many tomatoes last year, as I have inflammation if I eat too many. I don’t think I will be trying anything new this year as we planted five fruit trees this past fall. I will have to try growing flats of cilantro and parsley as you did. I never thought to do that. Thanks for the video. Take care.
Sounds like you have the perfect plan, Debbie. How wonderful to have 5 fruit trees. I have 2 apple trees that are still not producing. Hoping this year will be the beginning, with things really kicking in next year.
Gracious, Carter…did I enjoy this video! I have garden fever more this year than I care to admit. You have many varieties I have never grown but I truly enjoyed learning about a few I want to research. I’m zone 7B (we were 7A but the new map has changed us). I will share that I can, freeze, and eat fresh so I grow accordingly. You mentioned growing bush beans. I grow White Half-runners (Mountaineer White Half-runners) on a trellis. The vines easily grow 8+ feet and are so prolific. Please consider growing your bush beans on a support system as it makes for a higher yield and they are much easier to pick. As far as your potatoes, have you considered growing them vertically? I grow all of my potatoes in page wire fence “towers” that we make ourselves and place them around the perimeter of our garden. That method works great for me…so just a thought. Lastly, watch those loofahs because they grow like gangbusters. And I mean up a tree and up a telephone pole 😅 Thank you for sharing with us and I off to look up some of your selections now 🥰
Hey, TrueGaPeach! Good to see you! They switched us to 7b as well, so I hope my fruit trees are enjoying the upgrade. ;-) Good thought on support for the beans. I have a couple of options to support them a bit. My beds with permanent support structures will be {hopefully} occupied with winter squash, cukes and tomatoes. Interesting idea on growing potatoes vertically. Do you plant several levels and fill between with soil or straw, or are they shorter structures with just 1-2 levels of potatoes? Wow to the loofahs! I'll have to think about that. Thanks for the head's up!
@@growandpreserve Yes, I usually grow about 4 levels of potatoes with straw and compost. I pound metal t-posts (2 or 3) to add support to the tower. I initially practiced this method to fight nematode infestation until I worked up the organic content in our garden but I’ve continued because the yield was great, it was easy to grab some potatoes when needed without disturbing the vines, and for the space saving aspect. I must say the potato towers and straw bale gardening reduced my water usage by about a third as well so it definitely is worthwhile for me to continue both. I so enjoy your account and your knowledge! I’m glad I “found” you 😉
Dilly beans are one of my favorite things! I always try to keep some on the shelf. I also like to keep some as fridge pickles. I'm excited to have them this year!
I was actually using 3 photo boxes (summer veggies, cool weather veggies, and flowers and oversize items.) Somehow it just overwhelmed me! 🙄 Savory with green beans! Making a note of that.
@@growandpreserve ohhhh wow, k. You have a lot of seeds lol!!! Yes, deff try. I also can green beans with savory and garlic, fantastic, especially if you french cut the beans ;)...Cherokee yellow are also fantastic
Ohh you're going to have an amazing year with your garden + freeze drier. My brother also lives in TN & has not gotten a freeze drier. Ohh i know i shouldn't be but im so jealous 😂
I hope so, Pam! It's nice that your brother's here. Sounds to me like he needs a freeze dryer! It's cost is not to be taken lightly. I understand! It was my 60th birthday present.
@@growandpreserve oh he had a freeze drier. It's me that needs one 😂 I turned 60 in Jan so we basically same age. Yea he has a beautiful 40+ acres in TN. I love to go visit them.
How many pepper plants do you grow? Here in western Washington, we have such inconsistent weather. A couple of years ago, it rained daily in cold temperatures until July 8.
I had 20 pepper plants last year, about half sweet and half hot. While I would personally love your extended cool temps, you are right that peppers do not! Do you have the ability to grow them out significantly under grow lights in the event you can't put them out as soon as you'd like?
Thank you, Val! I have always preserved cilantro either by dehydrating or by chopping, stuffing in ice cube trays and filling with enough water to freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and keep in a container in the freezer. For the frozen cubes, I either toss them into a soup (or something where the water won't be disruptive) or put them in a mesh strainer to thaw for use in salsa, etc. For the dried herbs, I just them in soups or dips where they will be naturally rehydrated. Hope that helps!
Would you remind me what zone you are in? I am in 6B - 7A, Eastern, Washington, lots of heat in the summer and very little rain. Everything has to be on water low humidity up this way, but I’m not sure how much humidity plays a role in plant choices? Thank you again for a very informative video!
Hey, Vicki! Our zone changed from 7a to 7b last year, but that only ready matters to my perennial plants, not the annuals that make up the bulk of the Summer veggie garden. Humidity definitely plays a role in plant selection. I find that both high humidity and extra low humidity are stressors for plants. All things considered, I'd rather have low humidity than high, as it will also help you with disease and pests. You can certainly grow anything that you are willing to meet its needs, but plants that are marked for "hot and dry" or "drought tolerant" will make for less work for you. Keep me posted on your progress!
Can you tell me where you get your micro green supplies? Wondering if you have any advice or have done research on the best place to buy the seed packets?
Absolutely! I have a very clear winner for microgreens and sprouts seeds. Much, much better price breaks at the 1lb quantities and more options than anywhere else I've found. I have been buying from them for several years. True Leaf Market: www.trueleafmarket.com/collections/micro-greens-planting-seed
Carter, have you ever dry canned asparagus? I have done other veggies but I now have some asparagus that I want to can and not have mush? Can I WB it? Thank you for your help.
Hey, Madeline. I have not canned asparagus, except pickled, which I still think gets too mushy. I thought I had seen some nice looking asparagus on Ruth Ann's shelf @Ruthannzimm, but I'm not finding it now. Wish I could be more help!
I did not like the isis candy. It was so late producing and took too long to ripen. But it was in a shadier area of the garden I will give it that it was very loaded with fruits
is it possible to dry can sweet potatoes? just wondering, thanks! Thornburgs terracotta and yellow pear are the ones I always grow, then i grow some red, and purple toms but not necessarily the same every year. and Dr Wyche's
I have heard that sweet potatoes still turn out with a less than pleasant texture, even when not canned in water. I peel, roast and freeze mine in serving size packs. I do have a pack of thornburg's terracotta. Perhaps I'll put that on next year's list. Glad you like Dr. Wyche's!
@@growandpreserve will have to try the roast & Freeze method, REALLY like Thornburgs Terracotta, few seeds, meaty and flavorful. Dr Wyche's is now my second favorite. :)
Hmmm. No idea. I expect it's my Southern accent getting in the way. ;-) I was talking briefly about fermented pico de gallo in this video. Could that have been it?
Indeterminate tomato varieties are vining plants that continue to grow longer and set fruit throughout the growing season. Determinate tomatoes reach their mature height, set all their fruit at once, and stop growing.
Determinate grow to a set size, normally a smaller plant than indeterminate. Determinate set all the fruit at once and grow quite quickly. Indeterminate tomatoes carry on growing until you top the plant or the frost get them. The fruits carry on growing throughout the season.
Sam and Vintage gave great explanations below. I would add that indeterminates really need a tall structure (trellis, fence, or pole) for support, and you'll likely want to do some regular pruning. Determinate varieties are generally less than about 4-5 ft tall and can usually be supported with just a sturdy tomato cage. If you're a new gardener, a determinate hybrid variety with good disease resistance is likely the easiest way to go. I am adding more determinates this year because the indeterminates keep me quite busy with pruning and trellising.
Invest in a frost cloth. I have raised beds. I planted beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes, kale last fall. I doubled a frost cloth and covered these seeds. I am still getting lettuce, kale, carrots. The beets and radishes are finished. I have already prepped my beds and covered the other beds by doubling the frost cloth to warm the beds up and do inground planting. I was truly surprised the veges I have been getting over the cold weather.
I agree frost covers are great. I made a conscious decision this year no to though, because it was so taxing on my husband's health to help me cover and uncover several beds throughout our first Winter in TN. Perhaps I will try one bed that I can manage by myself next Winter. Thanks for the reminder, Buckley!
Try planting dill, oregano & or (mint in a pot)with your zucchini. They really help with squash vine bores & squash bugs. Also stake your plant & prune the zucchini's lower stalks. I've had wonderful success with this. You still need to check plants for eggs & remove if found though.
Also alum foil around the stalk from the ground up a few inches
Thanks so much, Chris! I'm taking notes.
Thank you for taking the time to relay this info.
Dr Wyche’s is my favorite. I’m in the PNW.
Excellent, Elissa! Thank you for the rec!
Carter - The Baker Creek North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash is wonderful! I've grown this for the past two years with great success. The winter squash is very prolific, super sweet and makes delicious pie filling. I love watching these torpedoes grow all summer long.
Excellent! Thanks for the info, June. I'm excited to try it this year.
A couple of tips put tin foil balls underneath the squash plants and it will keep the bugs away...we did this last year and did not have one squash bug ..we put it under our cantaloupe and cucumber also...with your peppers you can make Rotel just tomatoes and peppers. I use that as my salsa with added seasoning.
Tin foil balls! I am definitely trying this. Just wad up the tin foil and place them around the base of the plant?
I've never heard of this. Maybe I will try it around my squash, including orange pumpkins. Let us know exactly how to use these tin foil balls. Thanks.
Yes that is what we did...used about 3 foil balls...hope it works well for you
Just as I posted was up foil into a ball and place under the leaves of the plant. We used about 3 balls per plant. You can Google tin foil for squash bugs
That is my kind of pest prevention! Thanks, Kay! @@kaythompson6495
Floridade is DEF a determinate- you should get 2 or 3 flushes out of them. I only grow OP and heirloom. German Johnson- plant it where it can have shade in the heat of the day.
Before you plant anything. The weather should be your first checkmark on the list. To much rain/watering will water down your tomatoes, so keep that in mind. I have my own weather guy. I have learned to talk to him before I do anything, these days. I'm down here in Florida, and here is what I AM planning for. Wet, cooler ( more normal) spring rain and heat. Dry period mid June through July. Hang on to your britches, things "could" get ugly from there, with the weather. HINT to southern folks- on this down time- go ahead and check that hurricane list and if you could need something, get that out of the way. There is one tomato that I grow and LOVE it! It's called Caribe. It's a determinate, and if the weather is good, it can produce some huge tomatoes. It's an all purpose. Many moons ago, it was used by soup companies to make canned soup. Save the seeds, and carry on. It's one of those rare seeds that grows well in PA-S. Florida, as well as Rio Grande. I am growing determinate's this spring. I want them up, producing and done before the summer hits. The raised beds will be filled with blackeye's. I had to pop back in- I know this is LONG- Squash bugs if it is possible, especially if they are going to be in close proximity- Only do example 55 days at the same time, or 100 days at the same time. Squash bugs LOVE variety, and you are opening the door to DINNER! They lay their eggs at the base of the plants, and one they are there.. You know! I learned this the hard way. I'm down to 1 variety at a time! Otherwise they move from the squash to the tomatoes. Just don't invite them!
You have a plan, KP! Caribe looks like a terrific recommendation. It likes it either hot and wet or hot and dry. The only think I can be sure of every year is that we'll be hot! Seems like a winner. I have made a note for myself. Thank you!
Hi, I think your channel is the best one I ever found! Thank you for sharing exactly what lifestyle I agree with and follow! I also try to stay as low carb as possible, I guess especially people after 40 and so on can appreciate what you share, way to stay healthy! I'm almost 50 and still not on any meds thanks to keto!:) I also like to preserve food especially anything that I grow (my tomato sauce and salsa -cherry tomatoes and zucchini, are very much loved by whole family), I hope to raise my own chickens and rabbits son as well. I noticed that you use a store bought mayo often, and wanted to see maybe you would like to make your own, I have not bought a jar ever since I tried the recipe I list below, let me know what you think:) 1 egg, just under 1 cup pf avocado oi i f u do not want it too runny, 1 tbsp of mustard - I use what I have, abt 1.5 - 2 tsp vinegar, I use white (recipe calls for white wine, I think apple cider is too strong), 1/4 tsp of salt, 2 tsp lemon juice, I usually use bit less, so consistency is thicker. Place all in a jar, insert hand blender in all the way to bottom, start blending from bottom to top slowly raising the blender. and that's it:) my husband eats a lot of devilled eggs for breakfast and it goes fast!::) let me know what you think!:):)
Thanks so much, Dudus! So glad to have you here. I used to make mayo, but we are so sporadic in using it, I either didn't have it when I needed it, or we would use a couple teaspoons and the rest would die in the fridge. Hopefully one day I'll be able to plan better. It is delicious!
Hi Carter, I’m in northern middle TN. I grow spinach all winter long without any protection at all, it does really well. Those fresh greens in the middle of winter are a blessing.
Nice! Mine did fine through Winter the first year we were here, but the last two Winters have just been too much for it.
My favourite pepper is the sweet mini peppers all colors
HaHa! the gardeners paradigm-> seed excitement versus lack of space then harvest overload. Its par for the course, enjoy the ride I tell myself. Interesting to see what you can grow in your location versus my single crop season. I'm trying so many peppers this year and too much of everything, but the Long Keeper tomato is my hopes for fresh tomato eating well past frost. I'll check comments for squash bugs, they're awful here, as are flea beetles. Thanks for the inspiring video!
Hey, Darryl! I'll have to look up the long keeper tomato. I haven't heard of it. Peppers are my downfall! Never met one I didn't want to grow...even the ones that are way too spicy for me. Good luck with squash bugs. They are horrible. There are a few tips about aluminum foil in the comments.
I am in northern NY state with a short growing season. I am always interested in trying out short season varieties of everything! Tomatoes and peppers are my favorites. That being said, I highly recommend Dr. Wyches yellow tomato. One of my favorite orange/yellow heirloom varieties. I tried Numex Joe Parker for the first time last season and they did well! Coral Bell sweet pepper is also great! Happy gardening!
Oh, I like that functional way of planting, I might actually succeed with that large envelope system. Thank you for sharing!!!
Hope it works as well for you as it does for me!
My husband is the gardener of the family. I do the preservation. Despite this, I watched, learned, and enjoyed every bit of this video. Thank you for sharing so willingly with all of us.
Thank you, Vicki! I'm so glad you enjoy the preservation side. I have a friend whose husband loved to grow veggies. She said he would walk in with 50lbs of tomatoes at a time and expect her to be happy about it. She was much less than happy about handling the preservation part!
Do you have a video on how you start your seeds for the garden...love your videos
Thanks so much, Kay! I do have a seed starting video from last year. ua-cam.com/video/pmFegOdYzbA/v-deo.html
Yay! I can't wait to see how your garden turns out! You have motivated me.😊❤😊
Thanks, Bridget! Hoping we all have a super productive garden season!
I live in North Texas and we have bad squash bugs too. I find that I have much more success with starting my summer squash late summer and grow into the fall after the squash bugs life cycle is over. I grew cube of butter but didn't care for it because the skin was so thin and tender it was always cut up and looked awful by the time I got it in the house.
Excellent info! Thanks, Rebecca! I do think I'll start my summer squash later. Not sure I push the winter squash too late though. They take forever. Hopefully the aluminum foil balls mentioned in a comment above will help!
your micro greens are amazing! I've never done it but I have a bunch of old garden seeds of various greens so will throw them in dirt and see what comes up. I'm starting peppers (orange marmalade, orange blaze, marconi, serrano, cayenne) and onions right now. Lots to plant later.
Welcome, Diana! Great idea to use old seeds of garden greens for a microgreen grow!
Bella Rosas are fantastic. They are beautiful 🍅 🍅 🍅. I have been canning with them for several years. Hope you enjoy this "mater" as much as I do!
Fantastic! Thanks so much for the info!
Same on Sun Sugar in Virginia!
Good to know!
Hi Carter I am in Florida so I started most of my seeds at the beginning of January except my cucumbers , melons, and squash but will be starting soon for tomatoes I do paste tomatoes, cherry tomatoes sweet 100 and Everglades tomatoes. For peppers I grow sweet bell peppers, jalapeño, poblano, and Cuba elle peppers. For cucumbers l grow max pack. For zucchini I grow black beauty, for squash I grow butternut, Seminole pumpkins, and Long Island cheese pumpkin. I grow contender bush beans and sugar snap peas. For broccoli I grow monte, for cabbage I grow promise cabbage, I don’t know the type of Brussels sprouts, for kale I do curly and dinosaur kale. For spinach I grow giant winter spinach and then cantaloupe and strawberries, blueberries. I do a lot of herbs and flowers marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, borage, Mullen, camomile, oregano, lemon balm, dill, basil, parsley, sage. I grow lots of short day onions. For pole beans I grow Jacob cattle beans, black beans and cow peas
Dani, I hope you're going to share more garden pictures with me this year. It's so fabulous! I remember your Seminole pumpkin harvest from last year. Are they still holding in storage, or have you worked your way through them? Do you do anything particular with the borage, or is it just for the pollinators? I bought some this year, but now I can't remember why!
I will absolutely share more photos of the garden I still have 5 Seminole pumpkins left and 3 boxes of sweet potatoes my two best storage items. The borage is great for pollinators but it also can be made into an oil for a bunch of medicinal purposes and benefits the flowers are pretty
Glad your pumpkins and squash are holding so well! I'll have to research borage medicinal uses. Thanks! @@daniellewoodward4728
i planted borage with my tomatoes in hopes it would help with calcium and it ended blossom end rot in one season 🤷♂
Good Morning! I’m sowing seeds for my 2024 garden and watching your video. It’s tomato seed time.
I keep microgreens in rotation all winter. I do indoor hydroponics as well. I’m inside gardening longer than outdoors here in Minnesota!
Happy growing.
Awesome, Sheree! I bet you are gardening longer indoors up there. Such a smart way to go!
I had luffa vines covering the cattle panel arch from 4-6 vines. Should have just had one at each corner. The fruit comes one very late, August in my case, but I got almost 3 dozen in total.
Wow! I think this might be the right thing to plant on that one far arch. Thanks so much for the review. Something with just one or two harvests a year in that muddy area sounds much easier than something that needs to be harvested everyday!
It sounds like you are going to have a great garden. I love how you are organized with your seeds. Your right about the fact that it needs to work for you, not that it needs to look pretty.
Thanks. Erica! Fingers crossed for all of us with our gardens this year.
I'll be getting ready to get my seeds started; I'm so excited! Wish I had a freeze dryer. I know I would go nuts freeze-drying everything I grow. :) Have a great day! Do you think you can do some ferment videos? I got a fermenting kit and really would love to ferment more veggies.
I will definitely do more fermenting videos, Lori. Have fun getting ready to start your garden!
Micro greens are planted...moving on to the cat grasses. 7 rescue cats in the barn. You gave me an idea about the freeze dryer and herbs. My cilantro is never in the right stage of growing when I need it and freeze drying it will make it work for me. the most prevalent item usually in my garden are all varieties of peppers..they are getting so expensive in the grocery stores that they are a good money maker for us in our roadside veggie stand.
Shirley, you are on it! When you say cat grasses, are you talking about catnip? You are so right about the price of peppers these days. I just took another load from last year out of the freeze dryer.
Took me three years to afford that freeze dried. A real extravagance but a real game changer. Next I need a bigger home to store more as I found I have been blessed with a wonderful green thumb. She smiles...
I do not enjoy gardening but I loved this video and watched the whole thing. Good luck!
Karen, you made me smile! Thanks so much for being here!
I really love Early Girl for slicing. It’s what I call a classic old fashioned southern tomato. They are wonderfully acidic. Early Girl is indeterminate and grows well in Southeast TN. I also love the Butterbaby butternut squash. It’s delicious and the perfect size for 2 people.
Yes! I did Butterbaby a couple years ago. It did well, and the fruit held well in storage for several months. I also grew Early Girl a few years ago in Atlanta and had good success with it. Good producer, as I recall. Both great suggestions!
Carter, it looks like you are going to be very very busy! I just took 11 lbs of sliced onions out of the freeze dryer. Cilantro parsley marjoram and more celery going in. I love freeze dried cilantro. Smells like fresh and very easy to crumble it up over Mexican dishes.
Watching it rain again, my yard feels like quick sand, but if it's like last year we may have a very dry summer so I have catchment barrels near the gutters. I wish I could grow my herbs like you do, lol. I get very low yields,but I do have 9 cherry tomatoes on my aero garden I'm watching!
Hey, Connie! Another rainy day here too. Last year I put catchment barrels on David's list for this summer. Hopefully he will have time to get it done. I'm glad you'll be ready if we struggle with drought again this year. How great to have all those sliced onions done! With my onion-tearing issue, I am really looking forward to having some ready to go on the shelf. How fun to have cherry tomatoes in the works. Is your aerogarden indoors or in the greenhouse?
@@growandpreserve it's in the kitchen along with my sprouts. The green house has my herbs and two lemon trees. I am so upset, I put a heater out there, but when the temps dropped I lost 12 tiny lemons along with most of the leaves. I am hoping it will revive. The basil, and comfrey took a hit, but looks like the comfrey will come back. I will be planting basil , cilantro, thyme, parsley next week. My celery, garlic and spring onions look great. Waiting for the asparagus to make an appearance, then will plant more! We are planting peas gr beans in early spring. That way there are less bugs! Our early wonder tomatoes usually get 3 plantings and we get tomatoes until
Nov or a bad frost.
Ugh. So sorry about the lemon tree. Hopefully it will recover. It's such a bummer when a perennial you've been waiting for so long takes a hit just as you're almost there. I love that you have cherry tomatoes growing in your aerogarden. A company sent me one a while back. Perhaps it's time to get it up and running now that I'll have room for it. I'm putting more diced onions and hot peppers from the freezer in the fd today. Cilantro, parsley and some sage I harvested and froze right before the snow will go in next. Possibly some spinach as well. I did Early Wonder and Early girl in my first garden. Perhaps I need to reconsider those as well. Thanks for the info!@@constancebeck2992
@@growandpreserve love freeze dried spinach. Great for dips as well
As cooking
Jet star tomatoes you should try ❤
Thanks for the recommendation, Janice!
Does well in fall in South 9b. Not readily available except by seeds
I plan on doing mostly container gardening this year. Peppers, herbs and flowers.
That sounds wonderfully manageable, Helen! Good plan.
This is the first year I am trying the German Johnson 😊 so now I'm more excited about it. And i have a bunch of traditional romas. Last year, i loved the sunrise sauce tomato, it's a golden paste. I have a couple isis candy started for the first time. My favorite cherry last year was the Indigo chocolate cherry.
Thank you for sharing your garden plans with us 😊
You're in for a treat with the German Johnson! Someone else mentioned the sunrise sauce tomato last year, and I forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder! Let me know what you think of the isis candy this Summer.
I going to try MIgardeners national pickle too this year
Good. Let's hope it does well for both of us!
Sounds like a great plan! Great idea for the loofah they are a beast of a plant so it's best to grow out of the way. 1 plant yields more than enough loofah for a family. I'd plant two then remove one just in case something goes wrong. I'm focusing on tomatoes, all the peppers and okra this year!!
Excellent to know about the loofah. I will do just that. It sounds like you're going to have a very busy time in the Summer garden. Good to see you, Digit!
You might want to powder some of your tomatoes, the powder is so versatile. I fire roast mine first, then put in blender and remove seeds with a food mill. Lots of work but so worth it.
Great idea. I've been using the skins for powder, but I bet the flesh would be even better. Thanks, Karen!
Muncher cucumbers are the only thing I grow. When they're small, they are great b for pickling, and when they get bigger, they are not bitter. Followed by the beit Alpha. Migardener has them too. What zone are you in? I'm in North Georgia zone seven but I have so much rain tomatoes just rot on the vines.
Hey, Magnolia! I'll look into Munchers. Thanks for the tip. I'm in Middle Tennessee. We can be inundated with rain here too...or we can deal with drought conditions all season long. Just when I get things moving, another curveball hits. Generally speaking I find "pick early and pick often" to be one of the best ways to actually get a harvest when weather, pests, etc are so uncertain.
Carolina Gold did well for me in Indiana zone 6b. Delicious tomato!
Excellent! Thanks so much for letting me know!
Love your organizational creativity, I just have a small garden, so just need simple solutions. Thanks for sharing; will use some of your great ideas.. Blessings
Thank you, Vintage! Good to have you here!
I’m hoping that my green beans will do better this year. The last two years have not been good producing. If I have poor results, I may have to try a different variety. We love green beans. Other than that, I planted too many tomatoes last year, as I have inflammation if I eat too many. I don’t think I will be trying anything new this year as we planted five fruit trees this past fall. I will have to try growing flats of cilantro and parsley as you did. I never thought to do that. Thanks for the video. Take care.
Sounds like you have the perfect plan, Debbie. How wonderful to have 5 fruit trees. I have 2 apple trees that are still not producing. Hoping this year will be the beginning, with things really kicking in next year.
Gracious, Carter…did I enjoy this video! I have garden fever more this year than I care to admit. You have many varieties I have never grown but I truly enjoyed learning about a few I want to research.
I’m zone 7B (we were 7A but the new map has changed us). I will share that I can, freeze, and eat fresh so I grow accordingly. You mentioned growing bush beans. I grow White Half-runners (Mountaineer White Half-runners) on a trellis. The vines easily grow 8+ feet and are so prolific. Please consider growing your bush beans on a support system as it makes for a higher yield and they are much easier to pick.
As far as your potatoes, have you considered growing them vertically? I grow all of my potatoes in page wire fence “towers” that we make ourselves and place them around the perimeter of our garden. That method works great for me…so just a thought.
Lastly, watch those loofahs because they grow like gangbusters. And I mean up a tree and up a telephone pole 😅
Thank you for sharing with us and I off to look up some of your selections now 🥰
Hey, TrueGaPeach! Good to see you! They switched us to 7b as well, so I hope my fruit trees are enjoying the upgrade. ;-) Good thought on support for the beans. I have a couple of options to support them a bit. My beds with permanent support structures will be {hopefully} occupied with winter squash, cukes and tomatoes. Interesting idea on growing potatoes vertically. Do you plant several levels and fill between with soil or straw, or are they shorter structures with just 1-2 levels of potatoes? Wow to the loofahs! I'll have to think about that. Thanks for the head's up!
@@growandpreserve Yes, I usually grow about 4 levels of potatoes with straw and compost. I pound metal t-posts (2 or 3) to add support to the tower. I initially practiced this method to fight nematode infestation until I worked up the organic content in our garden but I’ve continued because the yield was great, it was easy to grab some potatoes when needed without disturbing the vines, and for the space saving aspect. I must say the potato towers and straw bale gardening reduced my water usage by about a third as well so it definitely is worthwhile for me to continue both.
I so enjoy your account and your knowledge! I’m glad I “found” you 😉
I pop all the peppers in pots. My goal is 52 qt Speggitt sauce 52 pt enchilada sauce. Speggitt and tacos each week really are our quick meals.
Brilliant! I love it when I see others planning their gardens based on what they want to get on their shelves. Way to go!
I know nothing about microgreens. Could you do a video on what types there are, how to grow them, and how to harvest and use them?
Absolutely! I was thinking this might be a good video. Give me a few weeks so I can walk it through the whole life cycle.
@@growandpreserve Yay!
Since you are only one eating green beans try pickling some I love them they are delicious.
Dilly beans are one of my favorite things! I always try to keep some on the shelf. I also like to keep some as fridge pickles. I'm excited to have them this year!
I just started my tomatoes and peppers
How exciting, Connie! I love the start of the garden season!
If shoe boxes don't work out, get another photo box for flowers, herbs, misc.....savory is fantastic, especially in green beans!!
I was actually using 3 photo boxes (summer veggies, cool weather veggies, and flowers and oversize items.) Somehow it just overwhelmed me! 🙄 Savory with green beans! Making a note of that.
@@growandpreserve ohhhh wow, k. You have a lot of seeds lol!!! Yes, deff try. I also can green beans with savory and garlic, fantastic, especially if you french cut the beans ;)...Cherokee yellow are also fantastic
Seeds are definitely an obsession for me! I keep telling my husband it's cheaper than an obsession with jewelry or handbags!@@rschroeder6460
I moved over to photo boxes...more vermit-resistant! Put larger packs in 2-gal bucket. Seeds have to be protected just like food. 😮
There had best not be any vermin in my home office. I do have 2 cats guarding my seeds! @@nolagirlhomestead
Ohh you're going to have an amazing year with your garden + freeze drier.
My brother also lives in TN & has not gotten a freeze drier. Ohh i know i shouldn't be but im so jealous 😂
I hope so, Pam! It's nice that your brother's here. Sounds to me like he needs a freeze dryer! It's cost is not to be taken lightly. I understand! It was my 60th birthday present.
@@growandpreserve oh he had a freeze drier. It's me that needs one 😂 I turned 60 in Jan so we basically same age.
Yea he has a beautiful 40+ acres in TN. I love to go visit them.
Very close! I turned 60 in December. 40 acres in TN! What a dream! Visit often!@@redgingerbreadpam
How many pepper plants do you grow? Here in western Washington, we have such inconsistent weather. A couple of years ago, it rained daily in cold temperatures until July 8.
I had 20 pepper plants last year, about half sweet and half hot. While I would personally love your extended cool temps, you are right that peppers do not! Do you have the ability to grow them out significantly under grow lights in the event you can't put them out as soon as you'd like?
Great video is the cilantro micro greens and what can I do if I don’t have a freeze dryer
Thank you, Val! I have always preserved cilantro either by dehydrating or by chopping, stuffing in ice cube trays and filling with enough water to freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and keep in a container in the freezer. For the frozen cubes, I either toss them into a soup (or something where the water won't be disruptive) or put them in a mesh strainer to thaw for use in salsa, etc. For the dried herbs, I just them in soups or dips where they will be naturally rehydrated. Hope that helps!
Hi, what are you using to freeze your individual pepper packs?
I use these small vacuum sealing bags: amzn.to/3OMerqz. Did I answer the right question?
Would you remind me what zone you are in? I am in 6B - 7A, Eastern, Washington, lots of heat in the summer and very little rain. Everything has to be on water low humidity up this way, but I’m not sure how much humidity plays a role in plant choices? Thank you again for a very informative video!
Hey, Vicki! Our zone changed from 7a to 7b last year, but that only ready matters to my perennial plants, not the annuals that make up the bulk of the Summer veggie garden. Humidity definitely plays a role in plant selection. I find that both high humidity and extra low humidity are stressors for plants. All things considered, I'd rather have low humidity than high, as it will also help you with disease and pests. You can certainly grow anything that you are willing to meet its needs, but plants that are marked for "hot and dry" or "drought tolerant" will make for less work for you. Keep me posted on your progress!
Could those peppers the long ones be hungatian ones ?
Possibly
Can you tell me where you get your micro green supplies? Wondering if you have any advice or have done research on the best place to buy the seed packets?
Absolutely! I have a very clear winner for microgreens and sprouts seeds. Much, much better price breaks at the 1lb quantities and more options than anywhere else I've found. I have been buying from them for several years. True Leaf Market: www.trueleafmarket.com/collections/micro-greens-planting-seed
Carter, have you ever dry canned asparagus? I have done other veggies but I now have some asparagus that I want to can and not have mush? Can I WB it?
Thank you for your help.
Hey, Madeline. I have not canned asparagus, except pickled, which I still think gets too mushy. I thought I had seen some nice looking asparagus on Ruth Ann's shelf @Ruthannzimm, but I'm not finding it now. Wish I could be more help!
Thanks. I will keep searching.
I did not like the isis candy. It was so late producing and took too long to ripen. But it was in a shadier area of the garden I will give it that it was very loaded with fruits
That's pretty much how I felt about it a couple years ago, although mine was not loaded with fruit. Thanks for you thoughts on it!
is it possible to dry can sweet potatoes? just wondering, thanks! Thornburgs terracotta and yellow pear are the ones I always grow, then i grow some red, and purple toms but not necessarily the same every year. and Dr Wyche's
I have heard that sweet potatoes still turn out with a less than pleasant texture, even when not canned in water. I peel, roast and freeze mine in serving size packs. I do have a pack of thornburg's terracotta. Perhaps I'll put that on next year's list. Glad you like Dr. Wyche's!
@@growandpreserve will have to try the roast & Freeze method, REALLY like Thornburgs Terracotta, few seeds, meaty and flavorful. Dr Wyche's is now my second favorite. :)
Thanks for the recommendations!@@bhavens9149
I love Dr Wyche but did not much care for Thorburn’s Terra cotta
What is pekomidia ( spelled wrong). I cant find a recipe on that.
Hmmm. No idea. I expect it's my Southern accent getting in the way. ;-) I was talking briefly about fermented pico de gallo in this video. Could that have been it?
@@growandpreserve yes thank you.
What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes
Indeterminate tomato varieties are vining plants that continue to grow longer and set fruit throughout the growing season. Determinate tomatoes reach their mature height, set all their fruit at once, and stop growing.
Determinate grow to a set size, normally a smaller plant than indeterminate. Determinate set all the fruit at once and grow quite quickly. Indeterminate tomatoes carry on growing until you top the plant or the frost get them. The fruits carry on growing throughout the season.
Sam and Vintage gave great explanations below. I would add that indeterminates really need a tall structure (trellis, fence, or pole) for support, and you'll likely want to do some regular pruning. Determinate varieties are generally less than about 4-5 ft tall and can usually be supported with just a sturdy tomato cage. If you're a new gardener, a determinate hybrid variety with good disease resistance is likely the easiest way to go. I am adding more determinates this year because the indeterminates keep me quite busy with pruning and trellising.
Thanks so much for jumping in to help!
Good to see you, Sam! Thanks so much for jumping in here!
❤
Invest in a frost cloth. I have raised beds. I planted beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes, kale last fall. I doubled a frost cloth and covered these seeds. I am still getting lettuce, kale, carrots. The beets and radishes are finished. I have already prepped my beds and covered the other beds by doubling the frost cloth to warm the beds up and do inground planting. I was truly surprised the veges I have been getting over the cold weather.
I agree frost covers are great. I made a conscious decision this year no to though, because it was so taxing on my husband's health to help me cover and uncover several beds throughout our first Winter in TN. Perhaps I will try one bed that I can manage by myself next Winter. Thanks for the reminder, Buckley!
Non acid or very low acid
I'm with you, Louise!