17 Brilliant FREE Vegetable Gardening Hacks | More Food for Less Effort

[@HuwRichards]

NEW! I now have a second video showing another 17 Free Vegetable Gardening Hacks! Watch here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHeqoaClq7yCp7s

[@marthatompley1269]

LOVE YOUR 17 FREE VEGIES...PLUS FREE BOOK & THANKS.😄

[@garotocsc]

Can you post the link to your book again? I can't find it thanks!

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

I'm tight so I already do most of hacks you mention. I don't make seed trays out of pallet wood at I have hundreds of plasic trays I got for free. I have got lots or reclaimed pellet wood though but not none anything with it yet.

[@RubberSmuggins]

Hello Huw. Around 7 to 8 mins in you suggest a plank to reduce water loss. What about re-using the up turned gutter as it won`t absorb the water.

[@receparik]

👍

[@Gadas1]

I work at amazon. I packed one of your books yesterday and found your channel 🤣

[@nehagupta8473]

World is a small place my friend

[@247KW]

That's so awesome haha stalking behind the scene 😆🤣😄😜 hope you laugh

[@bulletprooftiger5564]

Cheerio

[@patrickwingard1927]

I worked at Amazon for a while. "The Library" was my favorite place to stow.

[@mikekristin7201]

@@patrickwingard1927 Can you give me a little picture of what the library area at Amazon looks like? I feel like I have no concept of how big it could be

[@shirleylake7738]

Thank you for the information. My dad and mom in their elder years planted seeds by using a bamboo stick. My dad pushed the end of the stick into the garden bed and mother dropped the seed into the upper end of the stick. The operation when quickly and they didn't need to bend down and dig each hole for the seeds.

[@heatherc1783]

Brilliant! I’ll definitely try that one too.

[@nunya257]

Great idea! I’m definitely doing this.

[@jeandiehl5074]

Brilliant!

[@reginaweiner3817]

A great brain set stop a bad back! I have some 3/4 inch PVC pipe I can use for this.

[@alexisd8190]

that's genius!

[@animcmillan5240]

My ancestral secret. Cut a thin slice of your favourite tomato from your local supermarket. put a centimetre of soil on it. . Water it etc and each seed will spout and make a tomato plant. You'll have about twenty plants from one slice. You don't have to dry the slice or separate the seeds out, just use a fresh tomato slice.

[@debbieporter8610]

I use Tomato seed like this

[@LJolie-jz8go]

Wow

[@sm8315]

But they are not disease resistant though :(

[@antjobert]

You are clearly not in the gmo capital of the world, the USA. I don't think the tomatoes in our stores are capable of this. 😢

[@fatkins320]

​@antjobert but if you are a gardener you most likely are growing tomatoes, I'm doing this with my own tomatoes and trying to keep them alive through the winter in my greenhouse

[@gnjblockheads3222]

Another benefit of planting the toilet-paper tubes directly into garden with the transplanted sprout, is that they act like a collar or barrier to keep cutworms from damaging the stems of the tender, young seedlings! 🌱

[@slomo1716]

I had adopted my Mothers hack of wrapping her tomato seedlings in newspaper to prevent the cutworm. I have never experienced any cutworms but I do have NASTY SLUGS!

[@heatherwolmarans8287]

Using the cardboard toilet roll method for seedlings is PERFECT for small kiddie gardeners: you can write the child's name on the roll, and when it's time to transplant, little hands can manage the roll without squishing their beloved seedlings. It's magical.

[@Digeroo123]

I have been collecting them all year to use in the spring it is sending my husband mad.

[@camelliapeng5954]

@@Digeroo123 he can stay mad ;)

[@ritaflatt6425]

I love this technique too. Thanks!

[@ritaflatt6425]

@@Digeroo123 lol...I can imagine! He will be happy youvdid when he sees the end results!

[@melodyabcdefghijklmnopqrst1663]

And you can even be creative about how the toilet roll looks.

[@tedscott1478]

Hi, here's a tip, (hack?), that's to do with the garden but not directly. When you turn on the shower / bath in the morning, collect the water you normally waste while waiting for it to heat up, it just goes down the drain normally but you can use it to water indoor plants or pour it into a water butt. Don't waste it, your garden needs it.😊 Great video thanks👍

[@enna4986]

So simple yet so profound. Ty

[@lindaliberty4545]

What is a water ‘butt’? TY

[@carolskidmore7987]

I was having such a bad day with all the... with everything, until I saw you make pots out of toilet paper rolls and I can't explain why but it really lifted my spirits. I ran out of pots for my seedlings and I can't go out to shop. What a great option. A very heartfelt thanks for giving me an option and making me feel better. You never know how your actions will change a life.

[@diannehardwick950]

Carol Skidmore - waste not , want not😀.

[@firehorsewoman414]

Hopefully you can get out a bit more now but if you take a paper newspaper you can make “pots” out of those

[@augustinekopa6560]

Agree and me too. We went into lockdown level 4 and have no gardening supplies which I was supposed to pick up day of our lockdown so I have plenty of toilet paper and the seeds to plant my spirits have not only left but I think I will make a container out of everything he he!!

[@sometimessnarky1642]

I feel worse. I just threw away a bunch of TP rolls I had been saving "just in case". I never figured out what to do with them so out they went into the compost pile. Doh!

[@teenagardner3623]

Can get allot from clean recycle cardboard, no shinny finish. I also use allot of recycled plastic food containers as he mentioned for labels and starter pots- coffee, sour cream, butter, etc.

[@primesspct2]

I have used the brambles to keep out cats and dogs in my garden, I had never thought of slugs? I have been using the "plank" method for beets and carrots for years! I have one plant hack that people never talk about, When I plant any small plant I dig my hole, pour water in the bottom of the hole then plant my seedling. This encourages downward growth, and also prevents the soil on the top from getting too packed down and hard. Your mind hacks are great too! As an older, single woman, who doesn't have raised beds, I am always looking for ways to make gardening easier. I miss having a strong man around to help me thats for sure. Last year was the first year I didnt buy one plant from a nursery center, and very few seeds either, as I had saved seed from last year. At 60 years old, I love that I can sit down and learn so many new things, from so many young people! When I was a young woman gardening , literally none of my friends were into gardening or preserving food. Very encouraging!

[@jingocat6920]

Hello Huw, I have been reading “Grow Food for Free,” and am absorbing all the information. You are an extremely clear, clean writer- an unusual talent. The book is also well designed and consistently organized. In short, it is an indispensable , concise guide to growing on the cheap. A bible. Keep going. To be so young, talented, knowledgeable, and driven is a great gift. Thank you for gifting us as well.

[@HuwRichards]

What well that was a beautiful comment to read, thank you so much!!

[@jingocat6920]

Hello Huw, I simply appreciated your talent, but it’s a bit more than that. You have the knowledge, and deliver your message very well. I’m sad to say, that the U.S. could use you, if only you had the in-road. I live in frosty N.E., but my brother and sister-in-law in Sheffield keep me abreast of the far more progressive gardening approach in England, Wales, and Scotland. We are a backward, intransigent country in comparison. We could use your help, one truck tire at a time.

[@oakwoodnymph]

The earth mother has been providing food for free for quite some time. "sustainable gardening" is putting in the work to sort out the weeds,and take care of composting.

[@instantnoodles42]

2 slug-defense tipps from my gardening teachers (in case you get ninja slugs who stretch over the barriers or copper tape you put up): either -plant cress around the crop (too spicy for the slugs) or -place a board next to the veggie patch and then the slugs will go to sleep under it. then in the morning you can just scrape them all off and avoid picking them out of your veggies one by one

[@praveenakilambi8030]

Do u mean wood board

[@jak6326]

@@praveenakilambi8030 yes x

[@erikaoaks]

@@jak6326 cress? As in watercress?

[@hummingbirdgreen4032]

I deal with slugs every year. I'm in the woods and after the rain they come out in droves it seems. I've tried diatomaceous earth, and picking them off at night( tossing in a bleach solution). I've even put baking soda around the pots( but of course the rain washes it away). I am going to try the picker bush approach....just hope I can find enough. I had squirrels digging in my plants this year....had put garlic powder and cayenne pepper around the plants....helped a little....but still some digging. They make indents and actually dug up newly planted plants. GRRRRHHHH

[@Synaptic_Response]

@@hummingbirdgreen4032 A cup of beer works good for me. Only downside is you have to change it out every few days.

[@nkelherik]

How amazing. I wish they taught these skills in schools!

[@leathelandlady]

Parents can now teach their own children since many schools are closed. But it's probably easier to park then in front of an electronic device.

[@tamsinlee6447]

When I was at school, 40 years ago it was called Rural Studies. I desperately wanted to do it as a subject. But because I was in the top band, had to do Domestic Science and Needlework. The boys did Metal and woodwork and technical drawing. Luckily I had a grandfather that taught me gardening and animal care. A mum who taught my how to cook and sew. A dad who taught me basic building skills. My kids do not always appreciate me tearing them away from the electronic devices... but they do know how to cook, sew, crochet, make cement, garden and look after livestock.

[@TheCulturalCompass]

tamsin lee Bless you : )

[@zero-lpds]

@@leathelandlady ​, well in rural areas where most families enjoy the privilege of having their own garden and with this much sunshine I wouldn't expect kids to be sitting in front of any electronics. I might be wrong, but mine are out in the gardens the better half of the day and only when it gets cold ask me if they can watch a bit of netflix of whatever. Dunno about bigger cities, there it's harder to stay home and not touch electronics in a small 2 bedroom flat without a balcony I suppose ...

[@bekahdennis4455]

Unfortunately, the left is more concerned with things like gender studies.

[@r0ckworthy]

Great tip about using yoghurt tubs cut into strips for labels, but don't use regular permanent markers. Use Sharpie Extreme brand pens, because the ink is UV resistant! If you use regular permanent marker, the ink will completely disappear after a few months in the sun or under grow lights, and then you won't know what in the hell all your plants are!

[@Kathysmith123]

Thanks for the markers tip. I am new at gardening after many years.

[@wachterwachter]

Even that doesnt hold for long. I recommend cutting same strips from coke and 7up alluminiun cans and scratching the name with an old pen- this way it won't disapear.

[@billp3598]

I use a standard sharpie on 6 inch vinyl (?) labels I bought in hundred packs on Amazon. I put all my labels facing north to minimize sun bleaching, preferably in the (future) shade of the plant they identify. They're usually legible into fall and even after winter. Then I drop them into a jar of pure bleach and they're clean in a couple days and ready for the next crop/season. I think blades from an old venetian blind would make good labels but I haven't tried them yet.

[@frrlokn3536]

I 3d print my labels as they are cheap to produce and engraved permanently

[@sparkyheberling6115]

@@frrlokn3536Can you describe what they look like? The writing is formed in the plastic, as opposed to being written on it?

[@nolanburton7985]

A lot of good information given quickly, without a lot of talk time in between. Nicely done

[@ferniek5000]

It helps me not to think of weeding as pulling out weeds (an anoying task I have to do), but as "feeding the chickens" the fresh greens daily (a fun thing I like to do). Just to see those chubby chickens come running for a snack makes it a fun and happy task. :)

[@HuwRichards]

Ahhh that's a great way to put it!! :)

[@Starlight22215]

ferniek5000 I'm a no dig and whilst I don't like digging I really missed hoeing. I've started again just hoeing the weeds.

[@S4Nify]

My chicken are thankful for every weed I bring them so it definitely changed a way I look at weeding.

[@ashleynicole7488]

Finding good in the bad! Inspirational! Its so hard to do sometimes. Especially monotonous things. And weeds are definitely monotonous! So good job ferniek5000! You should be proud of yourself!

[@ferniek5000]

@@ashleynicole7488 The rooster is proud when he finds those greens and calls the hens over like he grew them himself! :) Hope you have a nice day Ashley Nicole :)

[@SJ-yp7sy]

Excellent ideas! For tomato transplants, I remove all but the top leaves and lay them sideways in the dirt with the leaves about 1 inch above the dirt. This makes roots grow along all of the buried stem so it gets more nutrients faster. I also add about a 2 tsps or so of dried and broken-up eggshells in the hole to help prevent blossom rot.

[@tempestive1]

Yep, the sideways tomatoes do work :) Egg shells would need to be broken down to particles in the nano scale to be bio available in our lifetimes though.

[@annahegenberg4329]

That was awesome. I like how fast you just spit out the things needing to be said, fitting so much into every second. Info-info-info- done. Good effort! I learned 17 new things. Thank you. I also like that you choose 17- so random. 😆

[@ritaflatt6425]

👍👍👍

[@alisonheeley3587]

Brilliant!! Great for those of us that are very low income, and become overwhelmed with the long garden "to-do" list! Thankyou!

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

I totally agree with you, I am disabled and on a low income so any money I can keep in my pocket is a win for me. Also I have to do things as my body will allow so I use a to-do list just so I can remember what needs done and when and do my best with accomplishing the list. Also doing gardening in mid-day heat wouldnt work well for me as I live in California, USA and it often reaches 100+ degrees F (sorry not sure how to convert it to C). Also I just found this channel and subscribed.

[@creativecrizzma111]

Awesome ideas! I hadn't heard nor thought of using thorny stems for slugs. We save our egg shells, after they've cooled from an oven treatment, we crush them and sprinkle them around our plants. Works quite well too!

[@oldbear6813]

Ooo thank you for posting this! We have a bunch of slugs that get into my strawberry patch every year, this eggshell idea is perfect because I already save shells to grind into powder that I infuse into the soil. I'll leave a few shells to crumble and spread around my strawberry bed. I'll likely try both shells and thorny branches this year👍👍

[@creativecrizzma111]

@@oldbear6813 what also helps very with slugs is salt. I'll purposely lay a board close to the plants, where they can get out of sun and heat, make it damp, and then turn over the board and sprinkle them with salt. Satisfying compared to what they do to my plants!

[@oldbear6813]

@Cody Dimmick 🤣 I'm guilty of doing the same when I see them slimming our basement walls outside(thankfully outside). Slugs are disgusting and will ruin my strawberries overnight 😑 I may or may not enjoy the salt squirm 🤣

[@hummingbirdgreen4032]

I've tried crushed eggshells & even sand figuring it's rough....they just produce more slime and go right across. I've done night time picking...especially after it rained. I use baking soda around the planter pots or around edge of garden area( if I see any I dump some on them...it melts them. Gross...but works ). Only issue is reapplying if it gets washed away from rain. Yesterday I went and cut some wild raspberry stalks( not bushes & very few berries)...I layed them around my plants and even put the cut leaves around. Hoping this will deter them? I also sprinkle garlic powder & cayenne pepper around. 😁

[@joju24]

The rain gutter plantings tho! Wow that was brilliant!

[@wendyfoster5579]

Wasn’t that an amazing idea!!

[@thetessellater9163]

The top hack; a serious case of "why did I not think of that?" combined with "the best ideas are the simplest" I'd say.

[@damonmarshall01]

My favorite from these 17+ hacks!

[@Ana_crusis]

yes that one looks plausible although I don't think the plants will slide off with such ease as they do here 🌼

[@poetsrear]

@@Ana_crusis You can play with materials and shapes. Maybe add a layer of grainy rubble or sand at the bottom to produce a rolling effect. Also dividing the soil in the gutter into shorter segments by a wall component would lessen the friction while still keeping it pretty fast.

[@MrMic-kp3ww]

My favourite hack? The toilet paper roll plant pots. Great idea! One remark by the way: Wood (-chips, pape,r ...) is consuming NO3- by decomposing. When you use to much of it, your plants will have less growth. You could compensate by adding a NO3- source (eg.gras cut, ...) or use an other material with less lignin and cellulouse.

[@synergy2222]

Another good use of brambles: a few on top or next to each other will keep squirrels, rats, raccoons, and other critters from being able to reach the plants! You can line the perimeter inside or out.

[@Norene_Re]

OMG!! Thanks Synergy2222!!! I have been struggling with squirrels, pack rats and chipmunks!! Caging all my plants is sad, ugly, and those pesky critters STILL destroy my gardens!! Last year I used aluminum foil and covered the exposed soil, that did work but again, ugly! And not cheap either! Lots of wild blackberry bushes around!! I'm going cutting!!! 🥰🙏

[@Roguechan]

Brambles also make for really beautiful basket fiber. I was blown away when I saw this, ran out to find a patch of brambles, cut vines and stripped them (tip: gardening gloves AND a piece of fabric inside your gloves will prevent the thorns from stabbing you), then got to weaving. They are red and green and purple and have just such a beautiful decorative quality to them. I would advise letting them dry out first or find older, dried out branches, because these grow just a little too well. Fresh cuttings on your fertile soil might just give you extra bramble in your garden :') (but a great tip nevertheless!)

[@lizhelenrchristensen697]

I really love the use of bramblebush canes to prevent slugs eating the seedlings! I have a lot of bramles but now they will be used as slug repellant! Great!

[@joannmaddalena1084]

HI- My husband is a librainain in New Jersey and he ordered your book for the entire library system! Looks like a great book!

[@dgerdi]

JoAnn Maddalena wise husband

[@mysecretsketchbook865]

JoAnne Maddalana. Hi there. Wow so blessed to be surrounded by books= knowledge. There is a live saving book for Parents, women who live/ travel alone. College uni students, Gift Of Fear by Gavin De Becker. AND book called Awakening the warrior within- Beauty Bites Beast. And for mother's , father's and people who over think book called FEARLESS by Gavin De Becker. Life changing, saving books . Peace out from England

[@daviddavid9837]

@@brianthegeek Don't be silly. It's a really brainy librarian. And he keeps his smartest collection of books in his librainy.

[@alexandercove1194]

Why not offer a at home home school program for home schooled children..such needed and important info to give to your children

[@onyenmehieihenagarankeoma2070]

alexander cove If you put a book in a library everybody gets access to it. Why limit it just to those who want to learn at home?

[@rajannaik4963]

Your hacks are brilliant. The best one was “rain gutter “one I am so excited that I am going to implement that. Thank you so much

[@LKoenke]

Agreed!!! I want to try that this year!!!

[@laurenthardy3803]

Replanting is gonna be so quick and fun now !!

[@buckwild51385]

When transplanting your tomatoes, remove the three bottom stems and lay the whole stem down in a trench, then cover with just the a few leaves above ground. You will have a crazy root system with this technique.

[@allthingspossible4569]

? Lay them down then have leaves above ground?

[@louisegogel7973]

Most people just dig them deeper into the soil past the first three layers of removed leaves and stems... the stems grow roots out and you have a strong plant. Also use a bit of Epsom Salt in the hole to give tomatoes or any nightshade plants a real boost.

[@jum5238]

@@allthingspossible4569 Imagine an L shape as well, if your garden box is shallow. I did this last year, and that plant was growing gangbusters!

[@lindadavis4352]

I learned the same from one of our university's master gardeners clubs. I lay about a food underground and jus leave the three leaves above ground. Amazingly productive and no bugs! And, sometimes produces multiple plants.

[@lindadavis4352]

Also, plant with Basil and fish heads from the market (or actual fishing).

[@themalachitelady7447]

I love the idea of using bamboo/broom handle to create straight rows! Brilliant!

[@freedombug11]

I found the rain gutter transplanting hack amazing! I don't know where to get a rain gutter that's not attached to a house, though. I have to confess that one time I didn't clean out the gutters on my house for a really long time and eventually gigantic plants grew in it. It was epic!

[@kevinaldcroft2845]

You don't have to use old gutters you can use a length of PVC pipe from your local hardware store. Cut the Pipe length ways in half, this will do the same job Cheers.

[@kathrinw.2035]

Maybe from old houses that are being deconstructed? Gotta ask a company that does that. Though they might be copper and quite valueable. I recenctly saw a little tree growing on some wall detail that stuck out - though certainly bad for the building substances it did look really cool.

[@cyirvine6300]

Hardware store, big box have cheap plastic gutters.

[@serendipitish]

In the US at least, Habitat for Humanity runs Restore shops, that are basically thrift stores for construction and household materials. Gutters, doors, window frames; anything useful that might be taken from demolished buildings or left over from new construction. Might see if there's something like it in your area!

[@squange20]

Excellent garden hacks, thank you. As city folk, we found the large piece of land we moved to recently overwhelming, and made many mistakes. But these hacks are very helpful, so will try them out.

[@Just-Nikki]

Ohhhh, I love the gutter idea! Using your month to month planning and it has greatly reduced the anxiety and overwhelm of figuring it all out at once. It’s been invaluable for this fairly new gardener. I thank you sir!

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah it is so fun! I am so glad to hear about how useful that video has been for you :)

[@Just-Nikki]

Huw Richards - Grow Food Organically I’m in US with freeze dates of April 17 and October 15, would you mind telling me yours? I’m doing the Veg in one bed but of course it will differ a bit from yours. I may have missed it if the information is addressed so I apologize if I have.

[@lilylee8930]

Can this month to month planning be explained a little more in detail? Does it mean I need to change what I want to plant?

[@sn232]

Where did you find his month to month planner?

[@cilsdhreniuc8419]

Hi from Romania! I know you and your videos from youtube for many years! You grew up so beautiful as knoledge and as a man. Sory for my english!

[@maryellen6153]

Your voice just makes me smile. That's a gift.

[@otahu26]

How do you'all remain Clean and dirt free.. I look like a homeless person after being in or around the garden.

[@maryjflanagan1922]

Learn how to use your tools for most tasks. Don't use your hands to dig. Have a towel or paper towels to wipe your hands of face.

[@jum5238]

I have found that I don't need to swim through my soil to make trenches. I drag one of my kids through.

[@elephantsong7782]

climate makes a difference

[@gypsyheart49]

Between Ju & Mary Jane, I laughed til I cried. :D I should have done that when I had the chance! Darn.

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

1 become minimal dig or no dig. 2 wear gloves and rubber boots. 3 Fill a tub with water and wash mud and dirt off your hands often. 4 used old towl to kneel on. I don't do all the messy and time consuming digging and turning of the soil, I just skim the top to take weeds off.

[@carlyellowfever]

I started using split bamboo to make seedling and plant markers. So that is the hollow type of bamboo. Better than plastic 👍🏻😉 I use different sizes from seedlings to mature plants.

[@hummingbirdgreen4032]

Can use shish kebob skewers( can buy 100 in a pack). Cut in 1/2 and wrap a piece of light colored duct tape at the top( so you can write on it). Or cut pieces of a cardboard box( write on with permanent marker) and put the cut end through it. Save the pointed end to stick in the ground.

[@kcl060]

You're the bomb for that first tip! I was just trying to think of a good way to do my plant markers for perennial plants, since my popsicle sticks will, inevitably, rot over time.

[@pl-tq9py]

Massive congratulations on your book! Thank you for every video. I am a newbie at gardening,but you break it down so easy to understand. Thank you for your time Xx

[@ritaflatt6425]

Yes, Ditto! 🤗🥰⚓♥️🙏🙏👐

[@user-hz7kv6js6l]

Thanks for all the helpful hacks. My favorites hack was using the rain gutter for sowing carrot and lettuce seeds for an easy transplant.

[@gooseberrydell8095]

Very good garden tips. I would add one more point to your planting seedlings just before a rain storm. Yes, we will not have to water the seedlings just before the rain (as you stated), but also, the [molecular makeup of the rain water is perfect] compared to the water from the faucet or hose. This is why our plants thrive just after it rains.

[@catherineblair1221]

LOL I am PISSED that I just now thought of doing this a week after the rain. Now it's clearing up =(

[@rnshi]

He said that in the video

[@ChrisHPSNZ]

Rain often includes H2o2 or hydrogen peroxide, it gets the extra oxygen from the Ozone layer o2. Adding a couple of drops to a container of water before soaking seeds can have an amazing effect ( needs experience experimenting) like wise when watering

[@TafseerHassanshah]

You taught me many things about gardaning and yes i am improving my English by listening your talkings. Love and best wishes from Pakistan.

[@robinrobinrobinledford2104]

Tennessee USA here ... Cheers

[@Fragrantbeard]

Your English is great! Washington State, USA here. Take care.

[@beautifuldreamer3991]

Bless you

[@ritaflatt6425]

Yeah, happy for you. Happy gardening! May you grow much!

[@ritaflatt6425]

@@robinrobinrobinledford2104 🎉🎊🎉🎊

[@digsindirt4490]

I 1,000% agree with the toilet paper roll hack. It works great! You can cut them in half and get two containers for very small seeds. You can also use paper towel rolls and get 2 larger or 3 smaller containers. Just watch out for mold on the sides of the containers if they are very damp and in close quarters.

[@missyt3017]

I have recently experimented with growing potatoes in pots. I used only the peels with eyes and planted them in compost. Thankfully the potato plants seem to be growing well. So my point is that if we Ever get to a Point of hardship... We can still eat the potato and usel the peels to grow more food.

[@natureroots_homestead]

I did this as a small experiment last year with almost all the peels of potatos that had started sprouting. I put the peels with eyes into holes between grass and just let them do their thing until harvest time. We didn't harvest a lot but even with this much negligence (relatively compact soil, amidst established grass etc., without any watering through months whitout rain) there was a small potato harvest so I'm pretty sure this workes great if done seriously. As a small note in the end: I did take care to take a thicker slice of peel where the eyes were, so I wouldn't hurt them. If you have bigger sprouts on a potato, you can even just break off the sprout and plant it, that workes as well (I've tried that too).

[@missyt3017]

@Phillip Inman you are correct. I am in the experimenting stage. Thus far the plants are growing and sprouting wise we seem to have more plants growing then what we've had in the past with whole potatoes.

[@pershop4950]

Good info about the peels. Though you could also cut out pretty small pieces of potato, and still eat the rest of them, if you didn't know about the peels experiment that you did. The main thing is to have an eye of the potato, and you don't need the whole or even half of a potato to grow a new plant.

[@markst.germain2]

Here in South Louisiana, we cut the potato into pieces with a good eye on each piece. A little agricultural lime sprinkled over helps prevent rotting.

[@julieugo4407]

@@markst.germain2 thanks for the tip.

[@KendrasBrain]

Very helpful. Im a minimalist garden already so I appreciate you! My favs: seedling "chute"; didn't know to plant multi beet seeds; brambles protecting seedlings; plant for tiny seed sprouting. Thanks a lot.

[@martaborn9051]

I LOVE being a gardener. Everything is free and abundant

[@susanfanning9480]

You must be a better gardener than me. Yes indeed, it's mostly free , however I don't experience the abundant part. Love it anyway.

[@insanetxartist]

I'm stuck with container gardening due to my living situation but I think I can probably adapt some things you do. I'll probably end up binge-watching your vids at some point. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@deefee701]

I'm blown away by these ideas! I have up gardening because it got expensive but I can do all these ideas and now I can see that they're all superior ideas anyway! My vegetables will be healthier for them.

[@lindachen5179]

This was enlightening thank you for taking the time to share. The part with the gutter and when you slid them out to the ground made me laugh at how genius and easy it was. 😳🌟🌟😁💪

[@graceygrumble]

Same.

[@ritaflatt6425]

🥰🥰💖❤💖❤💖❤

[@henrymaclin6405]

Your suggestion to keep a notebook to list small couple minute chores is a great one. I do this and find that there is usually something on the list I readily decide to do. That also gives me a log of what has made the garden so productive and beautiful.

[@queentatoune]

I love those hacks ! I have been using TP rolls to grow my beetroots seedlings this year and they did so much better than last year's after transplant ! I guessed it was because the roots were not disturbed. I started another round after collecting a few more rolls and I am looking forward to a nice harvest 😊

[@kimberlykennedy4500]

Excited about using the wood to cover our carrot seeds until green shows up. Excited to use a lot of your hacks. Thank you very much 😀

[@susankikuharu2260]

For me the hack I felt hit the target was, pick one thing and stick with it until it is done. That is exactly the best piece of advice I could have received. I have been thinking about the garden I want to start when I can get my X out of my home. There are five holes where rain comes in, where the ceiling is falling in in my living room and kitchen. That is the only thing I am going to say about that. Except. He has to go. It has been a year and a half. So back to the garden. I have been drawing and making lists and watching stuff, like your youtubes and others. I love Charles Dowding, and A cottage and three acres. I have been wondering where do I start when he is finally gone. He will tear apart anything I do now. So when you said start with one thing and finish it, that was the sign I needed.Oh! I really loved all, of the ideas. I have been saving to-let paper rolls off and on since I moved here two and a half years ago. Thank you for being here.

[@melinda6024]

thanks,Huw, for sharing your wisdom with us. you were born for such a time as this!!

[@lyla.aisle.of.blooms]

I'm going to be honest, I like a really pretty garden, even for my potager, and did not expect to hear anything that I was willing to do in place of something more aesthetically pleasing but this video was FULL of incredibly good ideas. I am so impressed that I am off to buy your book right now. Well done and thank you!

[@nmarbletoe8210]

I imagine your garden is philosophically sound as well ;)

[@chetr003]

Very interesting video. I will definitely buy this book. As for the labels, I cut out aluminium pop cans into small strips and write directly with an old ball point pen. The ink will go, but the name will remain embossed

[@enna4986]

Ok I read the comments; took a loooong time. Then I watched you. Now I’ll watch the video of what this is about. (I’m teasing!) these are awesome tips!

[@acctsys]

The trick of using gutters to transplant could save a lot of time

[@dave4583]

blightmoon - tried it. Two problems... poor germination AND the results did NOT just slide out.... do you have to oil the gutter first or something?

[@bdeneris]

Why not just put the seeds directly in the bed where you were going to transplant to? I’m not seeing the value in the extra step of planting seeds in the gutter

[@acctsys]

@@bdeneris Succession planting and ease of nursery care. Another video shows the mix that works best for this, which has peat moss to hold the soil and plant mass together.

[@orla99913]

I know, I think it's brilliant, and now I'm wondering where I can score a bit of free old gutter without actually having to nick one from an abandoned house ....

[@zephirinedrouhin3735]

I thought that was pretty slick!

[@pershop4950]

I think of weeding as one of those quests from games...someone told me to go collect 20 weeds, so i pull up 20 weeds. Getting 20 usually goes pretty fast, so then I'll do another 20..and another 20...or I might also stop for now, because I did get the 20! In the end, I might pull up 200 or 300 or I might clear a particular area, but I would have done it 20 at at time, which seems to mentally let me think of it as an easier job to do.

[@revfunk8823]

See folks! Even people with extra chromosomes can garden too!!!

[@sandradowkes481]

Or just get out there and do 15 minutes - it usually goes on longer. It's the getting out there...

[@Sweet_Malou]

I like your thinking, Per Shop!

[@BrightSeaStar]

Once I start, I can't stop, because : weeds will not conquer !!

[@cecespark7251]

That would work great for me. Even lots of little steps feels like your making progress where thinking of the total is too overwhelming to get started

[@slomo1716]

I LOVE this video! I have a SLUG problem in my teeny back garden where I grow veg and flowers. I've been using beer traps for them but the canes from berry plants is a great idea. I don't have any berry canes, so guess I need to go for a drive to the country and find some growing for free at the side of the road. What an absolutely GREAT HACK for slugs!!!

[@sh-hg4eg]

Bramble canes*

[@nymalin]

You are so good at explaing things. Breaking It down Into the relevant bits, showing clearly how it's done. Thank you!

[@jt659]

As soon as I hear that accent I know he has had an adventure in a magical land through a wardrobe. Probably gardened while there.

[@havefun6445]

Narnia love his accent

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

English Accent.

[@itstommo5858]

Its welsh

[@sanchopanza2918]

@@itstommo5858 just about, with a smattering of silver spoon in the mouth.

[@shenalally2214]

I dont hear any accent

[@dmelton8174]

These are wonderful! I can't wait to try planting peas in used gutters! You're a doll! Thank you from Texas for all of the ideas!!

[@lkleyrer]

Loved the idea about the board over the carrot seeds. I forget about watering my seeds - specifically carrot seeds - every single year. This will be great!

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

Really enjoyed your video and learned some new things. I live in the State of Arizona. It's the desert and it gets hot. Gardening here has special challenge. It's actually better to plant in Fall, since Fall, Winter and Spring is our best months. Summer is just too, too hot!

[@IslandsnHighlands]

I have been looking for a better solution for my gardening labels. My boys and I paint rocks and shells and shellac them and they hold up for years and years; however they are time consuming. Your tip will be a great addition as I can have the proper labels for each plant and give us time to make our garden stone labels. We plant way more plants than we can make rocks for lol. Congratulations on your book! We just subscribed to your channel

[@wingabouts]

Bramble twigs to keep slugs away is brilliant... It also keeps kitties from using the garden as a litter box!

[@jedi6254]

I like how you just get down to it and keep saying valuable usable information. I’m buying your book! Thank you for giving and for making the most of time 🏆

[@deezidee2162]

One favorite hack I just did 2 weeks ago, is to make raised beds out of free pallets that I picked up. And they look so nice. Then when I had to fill them with soil I asked someone who has been taking out a bunch of top soil at his garden, if I could have some of that soil. # how to make someone happy with free soil. I will mix this soil with compost and mulch. But I have saved a lot of money with this. Me happy!! 🤗

[@The_heirloomgardener]

I can't wait to try the gutter trick with peas! Peas are one my garden favorites ...but here ...our springs get warm very quick and I don't always have time to get a pea harvest...the gutter trick would help extend my growing time! Thanks!

[@darrellsequeira9395]

Thank you Huw Richards. So happy for your interpretation of the topic on gardening for self-sufficiency. I intend to put your solutions into practice.

[@Sawyer0ne]

I am a gardener and I start the day with the small jobs, so I don't need to remember a lot doings, and I feel satisfied because of fast forward. Or I start with the less liked to do jobs and let the best for the end of the day.

[@scotto9591]

as soon as I saw the rain gutter hack, I knew I had to buy the book. I just ordered it. Food for thought. An old saying in Latin America is, the best thing a farmer can put on his garden... Is his shadow

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

The gutter hack is an old one though.

[@patriciacole8773]

🌿❤️🌿

[@abbasduman6963]

3:33 Symbols like DB for debarked, KD for kiln-dried and also EPAL pallets from europe should also be safe to use

[@californianorma876]

I have to go retrieve my toilet paper roll for my my recycling bag. 😳 And I am really excited to learn that tip for picking pallets with the heat treated HT symbol. GOLD, pure gold. Thank you so much. Very grateful in California. 🙏🏽

[@norahcutts6989]

My way of pruning black currants was to wait til most fruit ripe then cut the stem off with fruit on then lay in wheelbarrow carefully then take to chair in sunshine and pick off fruit from each stem putting into bucket. This saved a lot of backache. One year I picked 52 lbs of them....yummy...

[@davewoolcock8904]

I do something similar - far easier. a glass of beer helps the process

[@1incutheta]

I've always had trouble with cats digging in my beds. This year, when planting seeds in beds, I staple gunned chicken wire over the beds to keep the cats out. Has worked pretty well this far. My pea sprouts are 3 inches tall and every single one sprouted!

[@alexandercove1194]

Why not offer a small sand hill for the kitties a way off from the garden..they just can't resist

[@1incutheta]

@@alexandercove1194 It's worth a shot. Most of them are strays that my Aunt can't resist feeding.

[@lanialost1320]

@@1incutheta Hi Jessica -- your solution was humane, and your aunt is a treasure for taking care of ferals and strays. Many thanks!

[@evshrug]

I’m more of a dog person, but thanks for not shooting the cats with BBs and air rifles, shattering bones and sometimes leaving them amputees and disabled for the rest of their lives. Chicken wire and sand is cheap and it sounds much easier anyway! Congrats on your peas :)

[@BatmanPwnage]

I live in an hoa. They keep shitting in my floral garden in the front. Im pissed af. I sprayed peppermint oil. I cant do chicken wire. My neighbor said orange oil. Idk if its essential or like a diff thing. And you dont want to abuse cats cause they'll become aggressive. I just want them to be gonnneeeee

[@tanju9041]

I love it all! But the one I use the most is the idea about using plastic pots for labels. thank you.

[@glenda7921]

The bramble slug fence is brilliant!

[@petermcfadden9426]

Huw, here's a hack for you from North Wales: I keep a dustpan and brush in my greenhouse. I use the brush for tamping down compost in my seed trays, before sowing seeds. It works a treat.

[@Misterdandamanify]

9:45 oh sweet focus!! Good one, especially for me..

[@ArtByKarenEHaley]

Here's a chicken related hack, lay down a sheet of 1/2" by 1/2" hardware cloth over the top of your raised beds while seeds are germinating and sprouting. There should be a three to two inch gap to prevent them from walking on the cloth and breaking off seedling sprouts or pecking through it.

[@EvaLapinska]

Thank youuu! All my life we have had a garden, and I know a lot of these things, but you gave me several new ideas, and boosted "winter end" mood into expressive "spring in the garden" waiting mood 😄💚💚💚big thanks for the video!

[@GagaBambika]

I live in the city and dont have a garden, but I watched the whole video, it's so inspiring! And it confirmed me once again how much I would like to live in the village

[@jeanetteeasson4889]

Back to nature for me too !

[@ericbizzell7432]

Tip: Adding lawn clippings to wood chips in a sealed trashcan causes the wood to breakdown very quickly. In two to three months & stiring a few times you can turn wood chips into some really good mulch. Also, try to add a shovel or two of stone powder & a little of your own local soil to promote a good bacteria culture.

[@kristinatidwell6563]

Eric Buzzel Thank you for your response. I'm trying to build it. Where's Bob the Builder when I need him? 😂

[@ericbizzell7432]

All you really need is a trashcan or other large sealed container. No building needed. You will have to drill or poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage & you're good. Add wood chips, grass, table scraps, egg shells or leaves &/or other clipings to container stiring every couple weeks or so adding water as needed & it will breakdown rather quickly, thats it. Adding other trace nutrients like stone powder &/or worm castings will supercharge your mulsh to give the best lasting growing meduim possible. Another trick is to bury a fish 2-3 inches below your plants roots (especially for heavy feeding plants), to will ensure they will never have to be fertilize for the rest of the growing season. This will also (no joke) give the best tasting veggie's ever. Trust me when I say, that the artifical petrolium based fertilized crap they sell you in supermarkets has nothing on homegrown for taste or nutrient value.

[@113273you]

Just like the Native American people did , using fish buried near your crops.

[@louisekupers1086]

Eric Bizzell , I use a trash can to collect rain water, cover with some screening so that critters don't fall in

[@evelynkessinger4714]

Would adding chicken manure (not aged much) be helpful or harmful? Thanks!

[@blondek767]

I am expert at growing green beans. I even grow them indoors over winter. My hack is using bamboo sticks sold for marshmallow roasting! Then tying the growing plant to it using yarn. I get two harvests, then pull plant to start a new seed. Lemongrass is also my passion, I love the tea! I started a few seeds in a large pot, then put in the sun for summer, then bring inside and put into a sunny window for winter. I get year round growth and cut them and dry them every couple months. I bought a pint of strawberries, sliced them and put into my dehydrator, once dried, I mix with my dried lemongrass and put into a magic bullet. Then with the powder I create, make homemade tea bags using coffee filters. My strawberry lemongrass tea is sooooo delicious! Plus, my lemongrass ‘plant’ will last years, I’ll never need to buy seeds to grow another...It’s in a beautiful pot, define ‘house plant’, lol.

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

Thanks for the inspiration! Did you know that you can buy tea filters/bags as well? Usually you will find them next to the coffee filters.

[@blondek767]

It’s hard to find tea filters in America, but cheap coffee filters are sold at the dollar store, there a KZbin video on how to fold and staple them. Cute story, I got an iron trivet that takes a tea light candle for Christmas and a little pot that goes with it. This way, when camping or if we have a power outage, I can still make tea! Or heat up a can of soup, or make boiling water for Ramon noodles, or instant oatmeal. 😃

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

@@blondek767 How delightful, I would love to drink tea during a power outage 🤩

[@Just-Nikki]

It’s available here in the US on March 3rd for those wondering 😀

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much for mentioning that Nikki! :)

[@soopersonic488]

Same date in Canada too! Added to my wish list!

[@paulsonap6]

Yay! I've pre-ordered my copy!

[@SumCumTu]

Online, or in store. I want to get this as soon as I can.

[@michaelripperger5674]

Looks great

[@PatientFarmer]

I used the paper rolls for starting my corn early. It worked great! Saved the kernels from feeding the birds and other critters that eat the early corn

[@HuwRichards]

Oh that's amazing!

[@craigslaunwhite579]

Egg cartons work well too.

[@annettebest3877]

We’ve got lyre birds digging up our garden from time to time...any suggestions? 🇦🇺

[@evelynkessinger4714]

Great idea starting corn seeds in them!

[@PlantObsessed]

It is great to cross things off a list. In the garden and at work.

[@andymoore9977]

Thanks Huw, this one will hit a million views and really promote your exciting new book. Just an additional comment on wood chip. Put wood chip in your chicken run and when it breaks and your clear it out you will, after a while, have 'supercharged' mulch.

[@levonguerrero4617]

I love the idea of utilizing and repurposing things that are discarded. Saves money and conserves nature

[@californianorma876]

Feeds the soil! Nature back to nature 🙏🏽🌹

[@RoryChappelle-cw4rc]

Wonderful, thank you so much. I live in San Diego, Ca. The dirt here is unfriendly. Harsh dirt grows cacti, suculents, and a lot of hellish, prickly weeds. So a raised garden is the only way to go. This is my first time planting vegis. And, your video is very, positive, and helpful🙏

[@chubeye1187]

Toilet rolls slow down growth, I used to use them for sweetcorn, one year I was a bit short of bog roll tubes so used some smaller plastic sells. There was a massive difference between them.

[@davidprentice4805]

Love the gutter hack. I am following the veg in one bed plan this year. Gonna put together the British recycled plastic bed when the weather eases off, looking forward to the results. Keep up the good work Huw!

[@pershop4950]

Good info on the gutter. I had only envisioned it as a gutter grow system but a gutter and slide out the plants for easy transplant works really well too!

[@mutangpadan5311]

Thank you very much Richards. They manner you relate your experience to your audience makes the learning more appealing. I’m learning a ton of new, simple, doable and less costly hacks from you. A subscriber.

[@kitdubhran2968]

For wood chips try “chip drop”. I got a free load of wood chips from them just about a week ago. And that mind hack to focus on one thing at a time really works. I pruned just the lower branches of my old overgrown apple. I have five fruit trees in he same state and brambles I had to get through to do it. But I thought “I’m just going to cut enough brambles to get to that tree and then prune it until I get tired.” And I’ve done both of the apples, and have access to my plum now, which is flowering like crazy, so I’ll have to prune that a bit pretty soon. But I can have one last overgrowth of plums. 😂 Another thing is if you’ve got a big task, just work at it until you start getting a little sore or a little tired and then stop. You know you can stop when you’re “done” even if you’re not finished, and you won’t push yourself until you’re exhausted. I had to trim back a bunch of brambles down a side yard to get into the back, which had overgrown quite badly. It took three sessions of trimming grass, cutting back brambles and rolling out/stapling down landscaping cloth (to keep the grass from coming back until I can get the wood chips down thick enough). But now it’s done! And I can get into the back to prune my trees or plant or dig or whatever from both side gates now. Victory is mine!

[@helenhaynes2623]

Thank you so much for this video, ALL of the hacks are so useful and doable for anyone. I have gardened for years, but most of these things I had never even thought of. I will be putting into practice many of them. Brilliant video - made my day - and now I'm ready to get out into the veg patch!!

[@BibbidiBobbidiBoo2023]

Old blinds work great for plant labels too.

[@1558k]

dI have never seen as many thrifty ideas for planting as you have shown and cheap and free. Need to get your book.

[@michellehughes512]

Really loved these garden hacks and the way you presented them too. Quick and clear and easy to understand. Thank you for the inspiration and passion👍🏼

[@wellplus4551]

I am green to gardening. Thanks a lot for the useful and environmental skill.

[@devonseamoor]

Thank you very much Huw Richards, these are very practical and clear explanations, about effective work in the vegetable garden. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and while you talked, I watched those chickens behind the fence, rummaging between the trees 😄 I've placed your 3 books on my booklist. I believe these are useful for the times when self-reliance is a must more than ever before. I'm nog anxious, just happy to be prepared and informed. Cheerio.

[@Max-pb8vf]

Thanks Hue ordered your book - I am new to outside gardening as most of the grows i was doing was indoors under LED lights so now growing outside after ridding myself of agoraphobia.

[@npknscrb]

Congrats on being up to growing outside! I find it truly wonderful to be out in the garden. Pace yourself and know your limits (increase/decrease as needed), general advice for gardening and life.

[@deborahhanna6640]

That sounds amazing for getting seedlings started!

[@cmcgirl757]

Did you ever have any lot with growing spinach from seedlings indoors with grow out lights?

[@Max-pb8vf]

@@cmcgirl757 I found perpetual spinach grew fine but spinach did not grow as well but i felt it had more to do with the temperature as i had no heating.

[@andreabrunkow9314]

🥰👍👍