17 Things I Learned in 2022

Before the new growing season starts I find it useful to look back at the previous year, to identify some of the many things that I learned in and around the vegetable gardens. And 2022 has offered a lot of opportunities to explore and learn, often through errors and mistakes.
0:00 Intro
0:47 1. Seed Savers Can Make Mistakes
1:30 2. Don’t rely on the experience of others
2:14 3. Compost can kill
3:07 4. Firm compost is better
3:43 5. Compost takes a lot of time too integrate
4:29 6. Poor compost needs extra nitrogen
5:14 7. Soil under the compost pile is very fertile
6:05 8. Wire frames work
6:42 9. Climbing is better
7:25 10. Beans seem to self-limit
8:16 11. Plants keep growing if you keep harvesting
9:05 12. A double stem is better
9:58 13. It might be possible to grow melons
10:31 14. Weeds will keep going
11:14 15. Pest pressure changes
11:57 16. How ideas spread, or not
13:01 17. Practice makes things easier
Help me develop these gardens and make more videos through regular contributions / redgardens
Or use www.paypal.me/redgardens as a simple, once-off way to support this project and the time and energy that goes into making videos. Thanks so much!
Part of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Tipperary, Ireland www.thevillage.ie

[@GrownByHand]

I just recently completed your entire collection of videos. I have since been going back and listening to them again, as they are such a wealth of ideas and knowledge. Your research and testing and the depth of recording of data you do, is more than admirable. Thank you for doing what you do. It is a truly amazing channel.

[@fuckgoogleandyou8779]

He might have some seeds for sale

[@REDGardens]

Wow, the whole collection! That is a lot of videos. Thanks for watching, and glad that you have found such value in my explorations and videos!

[@GrownByHand]

I wish you continued success, and will always be looking forward to your new content! Hope this upcoming year is your best one yet.

[@EddieGalois]

It's refreshing to be reminded that despite political, cultural and geographic differences we can come together under a healthy skepticism to share experiences and discover real truth.

[@REDGardens]

I think that is important, and one of the key reasons I don't talk about some issues, as I feel they would only lead to division. It is also why I always try to stick with my own experiences, and to be critical of them, as it seems to prevent some of the frustration that I see with so much content.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

It’s great to see that your partner is able to work along with you in the gardens. I wish her a good recovery. My son was in the same position two years ago and is doing well now. Serious illness definitely resets your priorities and outlook. Please don’t beat yourself up chasing a schedule. Your videos are always so uplifting and educational. I watch each of them at least twice and apply what learning I can in my allotment. Thank you.

[@REDGardens]

Ah, I realise now that a disconnect between the script and the video clips I used has led to a miscommunication there. The person helping me in the gardens is Kris, who is a friend/neighbour who has been working with me for a few years. My wife doesn't help in the RED Gardens, but is doing much better now that her treatment has finished, but still a long journey back to proper health. Thanks for your kind comment.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

@@REDGardens You are very welcome. I wish you and your family well.

[@lambsquartersfarm]

"How ideas spread, or not" discussion was very interesting! I've felt the popularity of a very small group of popular market gardeners has really pushed the no-dig and polytunnels over the past few years. I think it backfired in the sense that some folks were saying there just wasn't enough compost to supply all the converted, and that in some cases the quality started to get really bad. Polytunnels are so popular now, that some have even discarded growing outdoors all together. Plastic has it's place, but it should be limited for the wastage, microplastics issue, and possible phthalate leeching.

[@kirstypollock6811]

Good thoughts. I've got one "greenhouse tent" and can't decide whether to get on the polytunnel bandwagon or not. I'd prefer a big glass greenhouse (like at least 2 of my neighbours newly have) but I'm really really not in their budget space! I'm also iffy on no dig. I've grass and fruit trees and hedges aplenty, so I could perhaps supply enough compost (and get old straw or manure from my horse and cow keeping neighbours), but honestly, my best friend the past 2 years is my rototiller. It's ex agricultural land and quite compacted. I've added nettle brew, the liquid from eggshells soaked in vinegar and good old "Vitamin P" (as I call it. Always handy and in good supply thanks to my heavy tea drinking habits!). Combined with mulching with my hedge and tree trimmings (ramiel I guess, as it's been in spring) that's been quite good where I've done it and I plan to expand that. I've also got more than enough leaves available to overwinter mulch. (Though I've been pretty lazy with that so far). I'm leaving a lot "wild" for another year for the pioneer plants to bring up nutrients and loosen the soil. It's interesting to see that I get a lot of bugloss (a kind of borage), dandelions and nettles, as well as poppies, leftover rape and barley and then vetch, chamomile and mustard that seems to be the local cover crop. I'm gonna chop n drop that and see how it goes! I am gonna try a mini "Hügel" since I'm in the very land of Hügelkultur and summer drought is a bit issue.

[@samvimes1482]

@@kirstypollock6811 I agree that the no dig gardening method is viable but not the best option in every situation. My sister jumped on the no dig method and, to be honest, was quite critical of my use of soil. Unfortunately for her, the no-dig method didn't yield anything last year. I also would like a greenhouse but the high winds are unkind to the plastic ones I had, so I would prefer glass, even if it is not as large as the poly tunnel would be. The use of vitamin P :) yeah, it's readily available and I use it also to speed up the composting process. After adding woodash and ground up eggshells, the compost is good enough to grow almost anything in.

[@xianvox22]

@@kirstypollock6811 I'm in Southern California where drought is a perennial, if not all year, reality. So I've adapted hugelkulture by incorporating African techniques, where instead of building up, I dig down. I first start with a 2-3 foot deep trench beds, and then pile in logs, and then from there, branches and greens, kitchen scraps, fresh compost, cardboard, paper, manure, vitamin "p" (heh) and whatever else I can, layering dirt back in between. From there I layer up just an inch below the walkways. The purpose of staying lower is so that water from watering and what little rain we do get will collect into the beds and stay there, instead of flowing out and elsewhere. Food for thought! Our perhaps, a thought for more food. 😊

[@flatsville9343]

@@xianvox22 I agree that some of the best beds I've had were/are modified hugel beds. Those beds also moderate too much water during downpours, by drawing it away & preventing root rot & then re-release the stored water later if the roots go deep looking for moisture.

[@lambsquartersfarm]

@@kirstypollock6811 That's some good weeds! Ya, I've put my tiller to good use over the past couple of years, the couch/crabgrass is unrelenting and no match for no-dig. I too would only do a greenhouse if I can have glass, saving up to glass in the porch on the house and that way it is "free" heat too. Won't be growing any tomatoes, but perfect for starts.

[@ivyclark70]

Don’t feel pressured into creating content because you have a schedule. I’m enjoying the thought and analysis you’ve put into your videos and would rather you enjoy the process of creating quality content instead of being pressured into uploading more but losing the love of the process and compromising quality as a result. Love your work. And absolutely appreciate the time, commitment and effort you put into sharing them.

[@gretazabulyte872]

It's evident that you put a lot of work into these videos and to be honest I wouldn't worry about uploading videos as often. As long as you don't burn out and enjoy it, the people will keep watching no matter the frequency of your uploads! I love the logical approach to gardening and I have shared your videos loads with my allotment society members.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks for the feedback. Good to know what people are thinking. One of the main drivers for me is to do videos frequently enough to get most of the ideas, observations and explorations out there in the world, instead of being stuck in my own head!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

@@REDGardens Yes, one of your early and most inspiring vids was on not setting your bar too high to start with or setting too many constraints to your goals. The main aim is to just keep going and enjoying it.

[@REDGardens]

@@FireflyOnTheMoon 🙂

[@pansepot1490]

@@REDGardens I don’t know if you have thought about it, but videos don’t need to be carefully scripted and edited for people to enjoy them. Imo you can sustain a tighter schedule by using more Vlog style videos. I mean you can film yourself using your phone held on a stick and do a short 5 minutes update walking around the gardens and showing “live” whatever thing you are focusing on. Anyway keep up the good work!

[@richm5889]

A college level intern from the curriculum would probably love to be your videographer both for the experience to put on the resume, to have you as a client reference, albeit unpaid, and perhaps could earn college credit. You'd want someone to commit to an entire year, of course, but imagine how much more could the accomplished that would meet both your needs and theirs. And how much they'd be able to share about the technology and techniques, and you would about your experience.

[@REDGardens]

Not sure I'd be up to working with someone else on the videos. I get that it can help with the work, but my head gets a bit fried working with other people, and I probably have enough with Kris working in the gardens. But something to keep in mind.

[@nikolstirland6599]

Really appreciate your thoughtful analysis.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@bobaloo2012]

There's more good content in one of your videos that in 4-5 videos by most other creators, so while I'm enjoying all the content don't beat yourself up over quantity. Lots of your lessons hit home, and over the years I've found obtaining first class seed to be a real issue. Many of the "big names" source seeds from whoever is cheapest, and buying from them has cost me many $1,000's over the years in failed crops due to bad seeds. These days I focus on seed dealers that also sell to commercial growers, folks who buy by the kilo or the million seeds, they can't afford to make mistakes and generally the prices are much, much cheaper than the garden suppliers, especially if you buy a quantity sufficient for several years at a time. Finally, don't obsess too much over the Covid thing. My folks, in their mid 90's, and my partner and i, in our 70's, all got it in the last few months. We spent a day or so in bed with chills, a couple of days with cold symptoms and were over it. Only the loss of the sense of smell got us to test, otherwise we would have just figured it was a cold. Make sure your Vitamin D levels are up, stay healthy and enjoy life.

[@REDGardens]

I have also shifted to buying seeds from companies to that sell to growers and farmers, partially because I can get larger quantities for cheaper, but also that farmers are less tolerant of poor seed quality, which I think/hope keeps the seed companies in line. And I like buying for several seasons and storing seeds in the freezer. Glad to hear you had a reasonable experience with Covid, most people do. But I also know some people who died and some real horror stories about struggling with long covid for years. But mainly my wife is recover gin from a long cancer treatment, so she has been high risk and her immune system is still knocked back, and that has defined how I behave, and I will continue to be cautious for a while longer. I'd suggest you keep an eye out for current developments, as it seems the evolution of new variants is starting to cause serious problems again, but most people aren't aware.

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

The compost issue with the tomatoes is interesting. There are days in the rainy Florida summers that I bring home a trailer load of manure from the horse farm and the ammonia coming off it is so strong it burns my eyes. This only happens when it is hot and humid and the manure is wet. Perhaps this was the problem with your tomatoes.

[@REDGardens]

I think you might be right, I do suspect ammonia was the problem.

[@NilsNone]

Its a pleasure to see the videos, I don~t mind a slower schedule but am happy for everything we get to see! i wish you a successful growing season 2023!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks you! And hope you have a great 2023 as well.

[@gregmartz5235]

Great content Bruce. Please continue at whatever pace is comfortable. I would like to learn more about thoughts on the "spread of ideas"..

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. I will have a think about how that idea can be explored more on this channel, and there are traces of it in quite a few videos. But I think if I was to really explore it, I would need to use examples that would likely alienate people, and I suspect it might be better as a deeper dive in a book.

[@from_plot_to_plate_no_dig]

I love this cgannel I been gardening for 25 years and always learn something from this Chanel one of the best on KZbin period

[@REDGardens]

Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@f3n1xplat3ad0]

I value the content you provide at KZbin. I've been liking and commenting as much as possible. You are a very underrated channel. Thank you for your time and efforts.

[@gardenwitheden]

Agreed, has so much info in his videos! BTW I also have a small garden channel! 🌱🌱

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@Qgal5kap123]

I always get so fired up watching your videos. Then realizing how much of the Norwegian winter remains. 😅

[@REDGardens]

Excellent! Those winters can be really long, and spring so far away!

[@djohnson1987]

These 'lessons learned' videos are my favorite! I'd be really interested to see if sifting the municipal compost to remove the chunky unfinished material would improve its quality and produce higher yields.

[@REDGardens]

Sifting the compost would be an interesting thing to try.

[@KPKENNEDY]

It took me two and a half years to clear a badly infested allotment of bindweed. I dug it out first and then mulched in a thick layer of horse manure. Then went no dig there after. The first year was the worst for bindweed, but calmed down towards the end of the season. First job of the day was to scan the plot for bindweed and remove what I could without damaging the vegetables. My strategy was to deprive the plant of light and remove as much of the plant as possible daily. That way the plant was using up more resources with minimal replacement of the resources from photosynthesis. I found that potatoes were not a good idea in the first year, only because when the plants got large and I could not access the rows, I could not remove the bindweed until harvest time. Interestingly my shed was built above a pallet base. Bindweed was prolific under the shed. I pulled as much of the bindweed out as possible as soon as it grew out from under the shed. Probably about 3 feet or more at a time. The plant gave up within 3 months!

[@REDGardens]

It is a really tough weed to get rid of, especially if it is really established. I have tried that approach of trying to remove any shoots as often as possible, but usually end up waiting too long, and the shoots do get hidden in the foliage of so many plants.

[@MrPetervenner]

I really appreciate your no bs content and all your efforts to understand your occupation and share some of the results. thank you.

[@REDGardens]

🙂 Thanks!

[@TheHappybaby2008]

I wish KZbin based its algorithm on quality and not quantity. What makes you one of the best gardeners on this platform is that your videos have plenty of principled information. That’s why I watch you. My climate is 180 degrees different but your skills and educational format has allowed me to implement them in my own environment. Keep up the good work.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Thanks Bruce! Happy New year! 0.9 video speed seems more like your normal talking speed (settings/speed/custom/0.9).Your championing of strong evidence-based, scientific approaches is vital in growing but also in living. Gossip, misinformation, nonsense spreading is damaging for everyone, with Covid and everything else. Nothing spreads faster and is harder to get rid of than a bad idea.

[@REDGardens]

Happy New Year! I know I talk fast (part of the anxiety I have about filming) but good to know 0.9 video speed is better, thanks!

[@bobaloo2012]

"Nothing spreads faster and is harder to get rid of than a bad idea", especially when it has the weight of the government and media behind it, and all dissent is stifled.

[@REDGardens]

@@bobaloo2012 I dissent all the time, in full view of all. I just learn how to avoid the obvious no-go areas, and work to create another world, using global tools created by massive corporations. And learn how to exchange ideas and share experiences about growing etc. with people who I would probably disagree with about many other issues.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

@@bobaloo2012 I suspect you would see vaccines as a "bad idea"

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

@@REDGardens Scientific reasoning is usually the first casuality of conspiracy theories

[@sarahovenall9246]

Your videos are some of the best on the internet, regarding gardening! Unbiased experiments with data. Showing how to garden without holding on to the myths or truths or “rules” people tell us!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! Glad you appreciate my videos!

[@kvikende]

I really enjoy the rigorousness of your trials and analysis and honesty about the results. Too many of the videos on here are full of woowoo, or, at least, the analyses are pretty "out there" which bothers me and is refreshing to see someone more grounded in reality.

[@timprice1742]

Each of these things are interesting. But, thank you most of all for the deep humanity of #16.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@FlinFarmer]

Always enjoy your content and immediately watch when you put one out. Keep it up

[@REDGardens]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@georgehart1122]

Bruce! Jesus man you are a font of knowledge always. Please remember in the midst of all this work to take a break to enjoy life and not just to focus on different kinds of work. A vacation every now and then I hear is good for you!

[@REDGardens]

I have heard that a vacation is good ... for some people. Not sure what a vacation is anymore. 🙂

[@cactusgardener2060]

excellent commentary as always. thank you for even more interesting and important thoughts

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@stubbi]

As an early watcher and patreon, the extra content is a godsend. I havent been able to keep up with my own gardening last year, but watching the extra bit of videos is sublime. All the best in the new year, Bruce.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks for watching all of this time, and for being a Patron! And hope you have a good year.

[@rickthelian2215]

I enjoyed seeing those lovely onions and potatoes I hope 2023 is a productive year❤

[@REDGardens]

thanks!

[@latinoenturquia8486]

Please... keep loading up videos, because it helps a lot of people like me who has very few experiences growing in an organic way. Thanks.

[@yonowaaru]

This is hands down my favourite gardening channel, very educational

[@REDGardens]

Ah, thanks!

[@MadAsBagOfMonkeys]

Roll on Spring, looking forward to more experiments, please 😁

[@matthewstone7367]

Another great video! I really look forward to seeing all your interesting garden experiments

[@REDGardens]

Thank you.

[@martinengelbrecht5384]

I watch Mark from Self Sufficient Me and this channel. Your content is packed with wisdom! Thank you. As many of the viewers say one can watch each clip a few times. You are much appreciated!

[@DeeJayCoolio]

Loving the extra content!

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@PuraVidaPhotography]

Thank you for sharing your lessons so we can all learn together. Your videos are always jam packed with useful information and data. Keep up the amazing work!

[@jamesvanantwerp1516]

You are the only online project I support financially, and it's explicitly because you are a gardener first and a content creator second. You have knowledge you want to share rather than videos you want to make. I am looking forward to a more frequent upload schedule, but I'd much prefer a reduction in video frequency to a reduction in video quality. Keep up the good work!

[@jim.m75]

Don't stress about the quantity of videos... your quality of content is well worth waiting for!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@philipwilson4025]

Keep your videos going because you have a lot of information to share about growing vegetables I have found that you go into the process of getting information about the good and bad things that happen to vegetables.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! That good and the bad are bot really useful places to learn!

[@GreenSideUp]

I think with Beans, there is an unknown "secret" ammount of beans a plant will support, but constant picking will always produce more and more. Potatoes in bags a lot of people here in the UK grow in 30 litre pots with handles, but we put in 3 or 4 inches of compost then the seed potatoes, then fill the bags, your seed looks to be going in half to two thirds of the way up the bag. I have also enlarged the holes at the bottom of my pots to allow roots to grow out and into the soil for extra nutrients and water which is a combination that works very well, great video!!...Steve...🙂

[@REDGardens]

I think you are right about that 'secret' amount of beans, and that planting the potatoes deeper would help. I saw how a few of the plants that had been able to access the soil below through the holes in the bags wee a lot bigger, and it makes sense to enable this. But for these trials I am doing, trying to compare the different material in the bag itself, I decided to try to isolate the plants from the ground below, for better comparison. But I realise that it isn't the best method for growing in containers.

[@gillsmoke]

As always love you content and how you science the art of growing food. I'd love to hear more about the myths you are debunking about vegetable growing

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. I have plans for a few explorations about 'myths' in the growing world, and will think about including more.

[@Itried20takennames]

I learned that pumpkins don’t grow well in smaller pots, and that the Kentucky Wonder Bean lived up to its name…..it put out more food per plant than anything else I have grown, with little fuss or pest damage.

[@cody4349]

I struggle growing things in the weird climate of California's desert so even though I can't really relate to your climate I still love all the analytics and graphs from all the data you collect, from all your videos I've watched over the years, and it has made me want to study my soil more closely now and learn how to grow plants better!

[@ErikLeed]

I've been a huge fan for a number of years now. Just wanted to say hi and say thanks for the continued great content!!

[@REDGardens]

Hello there! Thanks!

[@ErikLeed]

😁You're very welcome!@@REDGardens

[@mrJMD]

The end-of-year "Things I learned" videos are always great, so much distilled and practical knowledge. Learning by doing is so valuable, as no matter how much you learn from others their conditions are never quite the same as yours. Looking forward to another year of the Red Gardens Project!

[@REDGardens]

Glad you like these annual videos. I find them quite useful to make.

[@EdbbieRosado]

Not all heroes wear capes.

[@KnowledgeNerd123]

the zucchini revelations were perhaps the most interesting thing I've learned from your videos

[@REDGardens]

Excellent! It was a big learn gin experience for me as well, one of those times when it all seemed so simple and obvious when I realised what was going on, but for whatever reasons hadn't been able to appreciate before.

[@Sam-lj9vj]

In order to perhaps include the YT community even more, have you considered adding/dedicating a certain section to the garden inspired solely by your channel subscribers i.e. types of plants, growing tactics etc etc? I am sure there are a ton of ideas here going through the comment section. I can't tell you how you should go about this for certain, but I think it would be a fun idea to include the community and learn something new.

[@GGeloRob]

This should be called 2022's greatest hits

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@joannthompson765]

thanks for the extra videos

Awesome updates and learnings. Thanks for doing it.

[@Qopzeep]

I noticed the videos were coming in faster than usual and I definitely appreciated it. And the quality has been good too! As long as you feel you can keep it up :) but don't let the pressure take away from the pleasure of this project.

[@chantallachance4905]

Happy new year 2023 Great videos

[@MAMDAVEM]

some really helpful information here Thanks!

[@the_earthway]

Thank you!

[@hillbillylivestock4162]

Well presented. Thank you.

[@dollyperry3020]

I enjoy most of what you post :)

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@kirstypollock6811]

Great summary of the year. I love your experimental approach. I'm also heartened by the melon experience which I missed. I had the same issue but even worse, none of the early flowers developed fruit and the late ones were too small by the time the same wave of dying off hit my plants - then spreading to the cucumbers. I blamed myself for being away for 5 days and not clearing damaged leaves in that time, but now I think maybe it might have happened anyway!

[@REDGardens]

Sorry to hear that you also had serious problems with the melon crop. I wonder what it is?

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

I really like your self reflection and how you are working toward your own self improvement. Jason and I are impressed that you were able to maintain the quality of your videos even with an increase in your schedule. As long as the garden projects are enjoyable for you (even if that enjoyment comes from learning from a mistake), that comes through in the presentation. Great lessons! Cheers Colleen and Jason

[@mycatalanhomestead]

Thank you for your videos. Happy new year. 😊

[@REDGardens]

Happy New Year to you!

[@that9blife465]

Another amazing video my man.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@pickleslicesforall]

I appreciate the hard work you put into your gardens and content. Thank you.

[@Pixieworksstudio]

I have thoroughly enjoyed your video content whenever they come. What you and your partner are doing is just so interesting, and the amount of food you produce, and the work you do is quite staggering. I'm sure your 2023 content will be just as amazing, if not better, and continue to give me so much more to think about when it comes to growing food. Onward and upward - happy planting and harvesting. All the best for the coming year.

[@AlmostOrganicDorset]

Thank you for the fantastic content Bruce, I have enjoyed every one you have made, heres to a great 2023 season when the rain eventually stops. 😂

[@YellowReapear]

Thanks, I really appreciate your work And I learned a lot from you and your experiments, As a scientific guy I really like the metrics you present, and I hope someday I do the same with my crops here in Costa Rica

[@REDGardens]

Thank you, and glad you like the way I approach things.

[@blipboyy]

Thank you for your garden lessons!

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@opperhoofdgeilebizon]

Really like what you're doing and the content you get out. Regardless of the frequency I will continue to watch and like, keep it up!

[@andersonomo597]

I always value your logical, thoughtful approach - so THANK-YOU!! All the best wishes for a great 2023 with bumper harvests and fewer bumps along the way! Cheers from Sydney!

[@REDGardens]

Thank you, and hope you have a great 2023, though your grown season in the Southern Hemisphere is already well under way.

[@billherrick3569]

I Always enjoy your content.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@EvanMorgan7]

Thank you Bruce! Keep up the good work

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@angieburrell5373]

Great channel - really looking forward to seeing further content - please don't over-reach yourself !

[@kubaistube]

Thank you for your magnificent content!

[@REDGardens]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@1998hms]

Your content is best out there for growers of Veg! Thank you for doing this and I appreciate your scientific / “cause and effect” approach.

[@tomwolverson2500]

When you mentioned drying out of compost mulch - this certainly matches my experience with municipal green waste compost,, it was extremely hydrophobic as well as being very hot when delivered and was unusable that year for my no-dig approach with almost all the seedlings I planted in it immediately dying, until the winter rain had damped it down. I also tried compressing it and found that it had a tendency to set hard. It also unfortunately came with a lot of bits of plastic and other detritus. A strange material.

[@theecobandits6768]

Thank you for all your hard work Love the channel

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@PatrickButterly]

Carrot Fly tip: Hey, Your scale might be too large for this to work but we have had success avoiding carrot fly recently using beds. A couple years ago we got some great raised beds on sale at woodies i think they are about 2ft high (and like 2ftx4ft) anyway we have them just over half filled so theres a good barrier around the plants. Obviously our scale is small just for a few people but supposedly it works because the carrot fly fly low over the ground and the barrier stops them. Some similar experiment might work for you! but if you are id recommend keeping them a decent distance from the ground level carrots so the fly isn't attracted to the area to near them. Goodluck

[@REDGardens]

Thanks for the tip. It is not so easy at this scale, but I was thinking of doing a few explorations with raised areas.

[@carolinebrett2634]

I use nematodes

[@dennismarks6133]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! Keep the good work up.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@ravishing4533]

Thank you great content 💕

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@rogerahern]

Your videos are fantastic, and I've incorporated a lot of your observations into my own growing. Speaking for myself only, I have no problem with less frequent content in favour of better content. And this is very true to your work. It is a very high standard. I also love how you highlight failures, instead of only showing the successes, because that is the reality of market gardening. Thanks very much for all your work.

[@tobruz]

Happy 2023 Bruce from Ontario, Canada!

[@REDGardens]

Happy New Year to you too!

[@ashbash9103]

Such amazingly insightful videos. So glad I found your channel!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks, glad you like my videos!

[@lm5050]

love you work, its been a few years since being personally invested in gardening myself but it's always satisfying to see your strategies develop

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent video lot to learns

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@deidralewandowski2659]

i had not had your videos pop up prior today, and I really appreciate your content. I very much appreciate this type of information as it pertains to my interest in high tunnel gardening. thank you.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. Glad you found my channel, and like the videos I make.

[@VagabondAnne]

#16 is well put!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. I felt it was an important thing to include, but didn't want to alienate anyone, so had to keep it quite abstract.

[@OrtoInScatola]

I know it might be off topic to the essence of the channel, but would you be open to share your video making process? I’m not talking about the filming process, but more about the way you prepare your videos, scripts, charts, diagrams, animations. It would be interesting to learn what techniques you have learned to optimize that process just as it is interesting to see your incredible work in the gardens. Wish you the best for this new growing season, and look forward to hearing about your experiences. How I wish you were in a climate that was more similar to mine. I say this because a lot of your results do not apply to the kind of weather I experience where I live, but still I am learning to learn from my own experience, if that makes any sense.

[@REDGardens]

I think that would make an interesting video. I'll think about it. I am still surprised that so many people in every different climates still manage to get a lot out of the videos I make, which is really cool. I wonder what percentage of the people who watch actually grow in a similar climate?

[@OrtoInScatola]

@@REDGardens obviously you are going to think about statistics 🤣

[@stoyanstefanov5602]

Hi and greetings from Bulgaria! I have been following your channel for two years and really enjoy your videos and your methods of researching and understanding the way to grow food. I pick up a few ideas from you for my own garden or changed others to correspond for the climate here. Keep up the enjoyable and educated manner of your videos! Thank you and good luck in 2023! (just my 2 cents - my melons had something similiar to yours and the problem was too much air humidity).

[@BlackJesus8463]

If you could figure out the cantaloupe you'd be set. 😂😂✌

[@REDGardens]

Yep, all set! 👍

[@sachinsalunke2597]

your voice and pauses are fantastic to hear, love your content...

[@REDGardens]

Wow, thanks for that comment. Good to know that some people like to listen to my videos.

[@renerebe]

I love your work, ambition, insight, and logs. Happy new year 2023 !

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. Happy new year to you too!

[@agnesahlam5158]

Thank you so much for your work. It's always a great source of useful information and inspiration and pushes me to work harder. Best wishes from France, have a great year!

[@REDGardens]

Thank you. And I hope you also have a great 2023.

[@danbrower7755]

I truly appreciate your videos. The content is great. The presentation even better. Thank you 😊

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! 🙂

[@ginninadances]

Thank you for this. I get lots of flower drop or failure to fully develop fruits and beans when our temperature gets over 90

[@REDGardens]

That is interesting. I need to keep a closer eye on the temperature when this kind of thing happens.

[@lyleplanckjr2101]

I very much enjoy your videos I love your honest approach to the different techniques and have absolutely loved watching your videos keep up the good work

[@REDGardens]

Thank you so much!

[@JamCamel]

Loving the increased posting schedule, and appreciate the work and effort that you've put into making that happen. If maintaining that pace is necessary for the algorithm, it might be worth making some extra, non-time-sensitive videos during the quieter months to hold in reserve. When the growing season starts, or when you just need a break in routine, you can do so while still keeping the gods of the youtube algorithm happy.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks, glad you like my videos! The extra work is more necessary to get the explorations and observations that we have made out there in to the world, but feeding the algorithm will help to keep the channel funded, so that I can keep doing the work.

[@didevrythngrghtndthyindictedme]

Great video as usual. Even though I live in North Colorado, I think I can apply some of the lessons to my own garden. In particular, I have always wondered about the difference between having one leader or multiple on indeterminate tomatoes. I will likely try going with two leaders this year as the faster maturity is desirable over a longer season/higher yield in my context. Thank you for sharing such valuable information, Bruce.

[@natecavender897]

You have an excellent and very informative channel, love watching your videos👍

[@REDGardens]

Thank you very much!

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

That fence is come out of the box thinking! Wow! I did the same this year I try to save seeds every year 😅

[@REDGardens]

😀 I was really pleased how well it worked.

[@midsouthhomestead7527]

Thanks

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@anapaulacrawford5837]

Such great information. Thank you for what you do. God bless.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@heron6462]

Thank you for your continuing stream of helpful information. I find your scientific and objective approach, combined with close observations, very valuable for optimizing my vegetable gardening processes here in Wales. I’ve been growing melons (usually Sweet Granite) and cucumbers (Natsusuzumi, a Japanese variety from Takii Seeds) in the floor of my greenhouse for years, but yields have dropped and the plants increasingly slow down and dry up a few weeks after planting, like at 10:14 in your video. I am sure that it is cucumber mosaic virus or a soil fungus, so I will grow something else for a few years.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks for sharing your experiences about the plants dying back. Something to keep an eye out for here.