Don't Miss Out: Sow These Seeds in April

This month, it's not such a question of 'what can I sow now?' but 'what can't I sow now?' With so much choice, where do we start?! In this week's episode Ben chooses some of his favorite crops to get started now. There's something for everyone, whether you like to gobble your greens, rave for roots or prefer perennials.
For more crop ideas to explore this moth, check out this video next:
• You Must Sow These See...
For more on how to grow carrots and their companions, such as spring onions, see this video:
• Carrot Growing Masterc...
And if a deep dive into germination is your thing, this seed starting masterclass will be useful:
• Seed Starting Mastercl...
To receive more gardening videos subscribe to our channel here: / growveg
If you've noticed any pests or beneficial insects in your garden lately please report them to us at BigBugHunt.com

[@cristicion3333]

I want your show to be played in schools. You make gardening beautiful and sweet. Kids will love you and cultivate a love of gardening.

[@twpsy634]

I totally agree!

[@user-ns8gv7nf8l]

Totally agree too

[@Agrillot6]

What a beautiful compliment, in my opinion. And very true.

[@jessicaworks6940]

I wish I'd learned these things in school. I would have been so interested in gardening, agriculture and soil science.

[@sebastianvagabond4692]

100%. Great comment and the sentiment is shared.

[@dengueberries]

You have the same charm and production quality of a leading gardening channel on BBC. I wish this were more widely known. Much love & happy growing ❤

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you! :-)

[@richardashworth400]

He's WAY WAY better production wise, than ANYTHING the BBC produces. Long may this channel produce great content

[@jagibaba]

I want to take this opportunity thank you for all you do. I am only a beginner gardener and I find your shows incredibly entertaining, but what I find even more amazing is how clear and straight to the point they are. So many experienced gardeners either assume you somehow already know all the basic details, or they find it absurd to talk about basic stuff like that, but to me it makes SUCH a huge difference in how motivated and confident feel with everything. I especially appreciate you showing so much things as well, not only talking about ir. Thank you so much.

[@GrowVeg]

This is so lovely to read, and I'm delighted you enjoy the videos. Happy gardening! :-)

[@samanthasmorong7519]

“Until all risk of frost is gone” aka end of May for me lol love watching these videos to give me hope in a few months!

[@looneygardener]

I am shocked at how quickly my Calabrese seeds germinated. Three days, and their little heads were peeking through the soil. Always exciting! Apparently doesn't take much to make my heart beat faster. 😊

[@tinki44]

I've had absolutely 0 luck with my calabrese!! Not one germinated in 2 weeks

[@GrowVeg]

Sorry to hear this!

[@GrowVeg]

That's super fast!

[@looneygardener]

@@GrowVeg I was shocked. Haha

[@kristinanoall]

1:29 Yes!! This is my first time sowing indoors under grow lights, and some of the seedlings came up within just a couple of days! It made me absolutely giddy! 😂

[@GrowVeg]

They do rather speed things along!

[@vanessataylor4125]

Thank you Ben, Sunday morning wouldn’t be Sunday morning without your cheerful encouragement and advice (along with a cup of coffee).

[@hallucinogen22]

the patience and will power is quite admirable in gardeners

[@chilfern827]

Hi Ben, it is the pointy end of the seed that you stick into the soil (standing up) and it is the pointy end as well where you should make that little clip. Enjoy watching all your gardening shows. Blessings from Aus.😊

[@carolinemorgan1712]

I absolutely love broccoli leaves, which are very similar to kale, but I find slightly sweeter.

[@oceansoul3694]

What a lovely "Welcome in Spring" video! I'm so happy to see you planting asparagus the correct way, I planted it 26 years ago and it's still going strong, wonderful exquisite taste and over the years I've only lost 4 plants out of 30. You've inspired me to get out into my garden this morning and hoe-up the weeds and fertilize that bed before our snow storm rolls in. You are such a great teacher Ben! Thank You!

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased you got inspired to do some weeding - great job! :-)

[@Firevine]

Man, I LOVE broccoli stems. I first tried them sauteed up in just olive oil, with a bit of salt and black pepper. Super simple, and just the slightest bit of color on them. Delicious. I'll blanch them in stock, then blend that with some parm reg or pecorinno romano and a bit of cream to make a pasta sauce. Works great with italian sausage and a nice chunky pasta. I'd been wasting them all these years. My mom always just tossed them out, so I didn't know they were edible until the past few years.

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds totally delicious! :-)

[@LittleKikuyu]

This year many of my seedlings germinated really quickly!! I have no idea why but I‘m not complaining 😂🥰

[@Stu-Vino]

I'm holding back a little this year after planting everything way too early in previous years and running out of room indoors. Chilli seeds are starting to germinate (finally), and will reduce the number of courgette plants in our bed, after they took over the whole plot last year. Those asparagus roots look sinister - rather like those spiderbots in Minority Report!

[@GrowVeg]

Haha - yes they do don't they - know what you mean! :-)

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Gooo!!! Masterfully done Ben

[@justwhistlinpixie]

James! I love your channel.

[@GrowVeg]

James - my good man! What a treat to see you on here. Let's go!! Happy gardening. :-)

[@mermarseo]

Last week I had pickling cucumbers germinate in 48 hours! It's a good thing I was impatient and took a peak so early!

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, that's what I thought when I took a peak - glad I caught them!

[@infinitelyblessed359]

I planted my zucchini a month early and now they've blossomed!! Yeah, I'm in trouble cuz I cant put them in the ground til may

[@sarahannajuhasz8727]

I did the same, and now I have one in a bucket in my tiny "greenhouse" (covered in plastic, so no t a real greenhouse) and whenever they predict too cold temperatures for the night, I bring it in. Seems to grow quite all right. I am in zone 7b

[@GrowVeg]

Just be sure to cover them on chilly nights and you should get away with it. :-)

[@Victoriacariad]

Brasicca botherers 😂 I only started getting into growing last year...and my parents garden isn't very sunny or well drained. But I've got a space for a cheap plastic greenhouse for my tomatos, sunflowers have sprouted and I'm getting a raised bed to try and grow carrots 🥕🥕

[@helnyson4694]

Have you heard of urban garden swales & berms.. or anything about french drains? Or even just the no dig/Hugelkutur/lasagne layering method(s) ~ we use all these methods in every section of raised beds/growing areas. We are on it right now...

[@Victoriacariad]

@@helnyson4694 From what my Mum has said, the street was built on an old industrial estate, and there's concrete underneath! So the rain doesn't drain very well.

[@helnyson4694]

@@Victoriacariad where we reside is all chalk, about 2 inches of soil on top. We ensconced garden in 4ft raised beds; only digging ever done was to ensure swales around said beds filled with cardboard & woodchip in them for water retention. Works splendid around the clock & the water goes where we designed it to go underneath the outside of all the beds.. as well as Hugelkutur method where the wood helps retain water inside the beds.. when the droughts come we're most grateful that we seen the right method for us decades ago lol.

[@rockymountaindiva]

"A bit of a faff"! Love your expressions along with your heart-warming enthusiasm and excellent advice, Ben!

[@artistlovepeace]

GrowVeg, I'm still learning from your lectures and demonstrations. I adjust for zone five in the USA. Thank you for your gardening advocacy channel and all the proof and facts of growing food.

[@samanthamilke8172]

How do you do your adjustments? I’m also in zone 5 for the USA.. do you just do research or have you found a conversion sheet from his growing zone?! I’ve been stressing about this. I’m so bad at researching

[@looneygardener]

@@samanthamilke8172 I am in zone 5a in Canada. Just search your last frost date. Then plant according to seed packet instructions. Right now I'm indoor sowing seeds. I started two weeks ago with celeriac which has a long growing season, for example.

[@CarrieJamrogowicz]

@@samanthamilke8172USDA zones don’t really work for the UK due to their maritime climate and mild winters, but most of it is roughly equivalent to our zone 8. I have gotten the impression that I’m about two months behind him (also zone 5 here). Just look up your average last frost and work from there.

[@macylouwho1187]

@@samanthamilke8172you can always check the online version of the farmer’s almanac for the information you are looking for. Do a search on it, maybe that will help.

[@jacquelinetouchie9218]

Spring gardening is soooooo exciting!💖💖 Thank you for your videos. I use them to keep track of what I should be doing in the garden this month😂. It really helps

[@CoenCoenNL]

I sewed my squash in the poorest soil section of my garden, in near-yellow sand, just for the hell of it, and they produced the most. It was insane.

[@veggiepatchideas]

Totally agree, really busy time of the year 🤩

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you Ben!

[@charlottescott7150]

Love your monthly updates. Buying more seed today

[@km-ky8zb]

Thank you so much for your inspiration. As a new gardener, I’ve learned so much from you, and I’ve already had so much success in my garden.

[@janw491]

Sigh, we just had a snow storm. No outdoor work in the veggie beds for another few weeks. Lots of seeds starting indoors though‼️🇨🇦

[@user-ev7ft4me2h]

Sounds like you need some hinged bed covers and some cattle panel green houses

[@prairieprepper]

​@Ni-dk7ni here our ground is frozen, solid as a rock, from about November until mid-April. No getting seeds into that! Some seeds overwinter if sown before then, but when it gets to -40 it's not reliable for most veggies.

[@lornapenn-chester6867]

Thank you for making me feel better again, Ben ❤

[@JohnSmith-ty1vn]

Sunflowers blow mind with their growth rate and resilience

[@twitchy_bird]

Hey youtube stranger, any tips on sunflowers? I can grow most things, but flowers don't seem to like me and I'm trying sunflowers this year lol.

[@loftygaskell8239]

Sow in the ground not in pots for big sunflowers 😊​@@twitchy_bird

[@FireNTheSky]

If you till the leftover stems into soil, it net improves your soil

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

I planted mammoth sunflowers 3 years ago in my yard, let them go to seed and let the birds get after the. Theres mammoth sunflowers jn all of my neighbors yards now :)

[@twitchy_bird]

Thanks y'all! Like I said, flowers don't seem to like me as much as other plants do, and I am hoping to feed my cockatoo with some homegrown sunflower seeds 🙃 I appreciate the tips, I might come back in a few months and let you know how it goes lol.

[@AudreySmallcombe]

Love this guy and channel, its therapy! X

[@willsolarski8550]

Such a great time of year with so much potential! Thank you for all your videos-love your channel!❤🌱😃

[@cricketbug7390]

Great job on the video! Thanks so much for this. Your plants look so happy and well cared for! I love it. 😊

[@yaneejitkaeo]

Thank you for sharing lovely video 🥰

[@ImmaTwoPops]

You’re a “ godsend “ for us noobs !👍👍

[@SofeRodger]

So happy to find this channel as a new allotment owner! Your videos have made the growing process feel a whole lot less intimidating. Thanks for the guidance and inspiration! 🌱🌱

[@ejackson575]

He needs a show.

[@CWorgen5732]

You're giving me hope! My seedlings in their plug trays are sitting on the deck, taking in as much light as they can from our flat gray skies, hopefully developing roots so I can more easily pot them up. I think I need more cabbages and broccoli, now that I look at them.

[@annemariemoormann996]

Thank you for incorporating centimeters too!

[@prairieprepper]

Lol the surprise potatoes are always fun to find! Great video! I can't wait until our weather catches up with yours so I can get planting outdoors, too. We're a foot deep in snow right now, though, so it's going to be a while yet!

[@ambersgrace1]

We’ve had an unusually warm February and March here in the Eastern Sierra high desert of CA. All the seedlings I’ve put in my south facing window inside have germinated in just a few days!

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Thanks a lot! These is very helpful.

[@jacquelinepurcell9773]

I had cupcake type zinnias come up in one day this year! They were in a galvanized seed tray on a heat mat.

[@Crovea]

Alternative asparagus plan: I planted asparagus seeds in a pot last spring. It took MONTHS of warm indoor spot before they sprouted. By winter i moved them inside where i have some cheap grow lights and the original stems died off but new ones quickly came up and its now starting to flower. Plan to move the pot outside soon. I suspect i skipped an entire year worth of waiting this way

[@ecoendeavour]

I planted 2 year old asparagus crowns this year and also have some saved seeds from a neighbour and I've been wondering if I should start them indoors or just plant them outside and be patient.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great move. :-)

[@NekaO-cg5qy]

Very enjoyable watching you grow things and motivated me to learn and try more gardening. Thank you …

[@thistlepurple5246]

The most amazing gardening video! Informative and viewer friendly; some jokes and recipes about cooking vegetables, explanations and hands-on gardening, thank you! More videos like this will definitely attract more people to gardening.

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Ben, always a great video with plenty of useful information. I multi sow beetroot, they are delicious. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@JohnHenrySheridan]

Thank for the great and inspiring garden vid!

[@katebeale369]

I always have better results sowing on the edge not flat . Loving your videos. All the best.

[@hanzketchup859]

Another Great Show, Cheers!

[@Debbieanne51]

I do love your channel.

[@RawLondonGardener]

Exciting times!

[@alanaj5]

My pumpkins have all grown roots out of the small end so far... I had planted them with large end down. I decided to dig all the seeds up and plant them on their sides to be safe.

[@annipetratos9401]

Me too...love brocolli stumps...and lettuce stump

[@ThriveGarden]

very informative thanks

[@thefumblingcuisiniere]

Hot dang! Definitely a germination record for sure! 😂👍

[@alestout5632]

2 1/2 days to germinate well done must be good conditions and new seeds all washed down with another great video 👍

[@fionnaheller1873]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. As a tip for those it may help, I contain my pots or seed tray etc in those plastic underbed style boxes so that I can put the lid on overnight and protect the young seedlings from cold, mice and slugs etc. It also frees up the never-enough staging shelves for the less vulnerable plants as these can stand on the bed. For my more vulnerable plants - tomatoes aubergines corn and so on I add a layer of bubble wrap under the lid. It may be only useful for those in cooler climates and more rural settings [mice!] - I do envy you your weather.

[@Sine-gl9ly]

I use the transparent underbed boxes _with transparent lids_ extensively for all my seedlings. Some of them I use upside down with the plants on the lid (on top of a layer of landscape fabric ) and the base being lifted off and on morning, evening and inclement weather. Some I use the normal way round; removing the lid still offers some protection. Some I use to carry several trays of seedlings outside when I'm just starting to harden them off, and I have a couple of slightly deeper ones that tender plants can stay in for longer. I also have a large transparent storage box which I use on its side so my sweet peas can be outside but still protected from fhe worst of the weather. I don't have a greenhouse, and I live in a tiny one-bedroom flat but grow a lot of my own veggies in a couple of raised beds and supply flowering and foliage plants for hanging baskets around the complex where I live. I am in cloudy, wet and windy NW England on heavy clay soil with a last frost date of early May and we are the Central Slug Dating Agency and Birthing Centre for the entire region (or so it seems ...) Thank goodness for plastic boxes with lids!

[@fionnaheller1873]

@@Sine-gl9ly I share your slug production centre and find that liberal shakes of chili powder or the like does help to keep them, and mice, away. Brilliant way to use the boxes, as you described, and it all protects seedlings from husbands, kids and cats too when stacked indoors. I'm in the frozen North of Scotland where the wind never stops blowing but do have a polytunnel and am blessed with a large garden. I couldn't manage, given the shorter growing season, without the boxes, even with the luxury of the polytunnel. Well done you for growing your own food despite the challenges of space. It goes to show what we can do with what we do have - if we use those boxes. Bubblewrap or fleece under the lids at night really makes a difference btw. I just tuck the lids etc under the box in the morning. I'm going to try your method for the sweet peas - thanks. Its a good idea.

[@Sine-gl9ly]

@@fionnaheller1873 I use stewed garlic blended then strained which works well as protection from slugs when sprayed onto plants. The problem is (apart from the smell, which rather detracts from natural floral perfumes), though, that it washes off instantly in even light rain, and it's rained almost every day for months. I don't have any problem with mice, fortunately, but do have issues with grey squirrels, and find that chili powder made into a thick paste and smeared onto things I want them to avoid, works well. I do like your idea of using bubblewrap in the plastic boxes - I use bubble wrap over my heated propagator at night, as it's on the windowledge - but hadn't thought of it as extra insulation for the boxes at night.

[@fionnaheller1873]

@@Sine-gl9ly The bubblewrap works well - I found a huge roll of it in the shed when I found my present cottage which is why I ended up trying it though wouldn;t have thought of that otherwise. I've tried garlic sprays too - and at one point, many years ago, was to be seen scrounging around for cigarette ends to make a similar concoction for aphids that attacked my lupins. Not sure if it worked. I could swear they whipped out straws as soon as I appeared with the spray bottle but then again, I did save some plants! Isn't it lovely that whether its a large clifftop blasted garden iin the far North or a balcony we all share the same thoughts and challenges? The grass is rarely greener - I don't have squirrels but mice can be problematic. And I do have hens - they are dedicated to exterminating anything I plant, given even a sliver of a chance.

[@Sine-gl9ly]

@@fionnaheller1873 I used to have chooks, and they were the very best cultivation and pest-control system invented as well as being utterly hilarious to watch, better than any of the current TV comedy shows. But back then, I had a garden large enough that they could have entire sections to work on for a few weeks after I'd harvested my crops. Where I now live, in what I refer to as an old lady flat but which is more usually (and rather twee-ly, I think!) referred to as 'retirement housing' and 'independent living', we have large grounds, but the decision as to what to do with them is not, of course, mine alone. The raised beds at one side of the grounds are great, and a couple of us are drip-feeding the idea of a greenhouse or polytunnel and of hens.. Sadly, there is a bloke here who rather spoilt things, as he treated all the raised beds as being his personal kingdom until last year. It looked like a junk heap: he had a greenhouse which he used purely for storing flowerpots, and which fell down of its own accord, and he 'took over' plants which other people had bought for themselves, to put outside their own flats, and which they then never saw again. All this came to an end last year when I and another couple of people keen on gardening moved in. Unfortunately though, damage and trust has been lost both by other residents of the flats and the Housing Association which owns us, and will need to be regained before we make requests about extending the garden facilities to get a greenhouse etc.

[@PlantObsessed]

Wow those asparagus are huge. Nice.👍🏼😃🪱

[@jmiller8678]

Asparagus is so interesting! I didn’t know any of that. Perhaps I will add it to my garden,since I do enjoy it. It will be difficult to wait years to finally harvest a good crop though.

[@lafuria2723]

Pointy side down (for any seed where I can successfully identify the pointy end), root comes out of that end, but pretty much whatever direction you sow, the plant will eventually work itself around if needed.

[@jackieo8693]

I need to use up the zucchini in the freezer! Thank you for another awesome video. You are my favorite you tube gardener!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. Enjoy the rest of your zucchini! :-)

[@mazzy8216]

In regards to quick germinate, I've had Romanesque from seed sprout in 2 weeks in mid april :)

[@MyGardenRetreat]

Interesting to see how people are growing food in other parts of the world. We're getting our vegetable garden going here in Missouri, USA, and making videos to share it all. Looking to connect with other gardeners to learn tips and share how it all turns out! :)

[@wynniechan3366]

Gosh, I love your voice! That and your warm but energetic demeanor make all of your videos a joy to watch.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much! :-)

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good morning to you Ben, this was a lovely video, teaching much and showing. Thank you for sharing, you are such an inspiration. Hope you get many more viewers, gardening is a great stress reliever and that rewards are amazing. Once we start sowing/planting we become more and more enthusiastic. Many blessings, enjoy your lovely weather now. Kind regards.

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes - growing and gardening does make us so much happier! :-)

[@DungeonsLover]

I'm starting my first year gardening with you and the garden planner. Last week I sowed my first batch of peas meteor. After an overnight soaking they germinated in two days!

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - well done! :-)

[@canadada640]

Amazing ~ asperagus!! Love it.

[@MelyndaVang2023]

You are so gentle and cheerful. I really enjoy your video. And I learned a lot too. I look forward to watching all of your content soon. Not to mention I NEEDED this video and I am so glad that it found me. I watched my mother garden for years for she passed away last year. This is my first year and I am doing it on my own. I am determined to succeed.

[@GrowVeg]

I am sure you will succeed with a positive attitude like that. Happy gardening! :-)

[@emmahughes2618]

Have to trans plant my cucs and zucs this wk…. In middle ga usa…. However I’m Going to try and grow the zucs up.. using tomato cages hopefully keeping the vine bore beetle off the stem… we shall see😊

[@LAKKISS1]

Just got our first family allotment and came across your gold mine page thanks for the super content thats far from boring!

[@GrowVeg]

Enjoy your allotment! :-)

[@catfunksfabulousfinds97045]

I love beets & beet greens. I like the beet greens better than spinach and are great cooked or in a salad.

[@nedkelly5866]

Still bitterly cold in Bristol. Spring hasn't arrived here yet... Struggling to get anything going outdoors.

[@gregoryseager9191]

I recognized those roots straight away. Planted my asparagus last year after I soaked the roots in water for half an hour, I agree they look like two year old roots. All are coming up so tempted, but looking forward to next year to start picking mine.

[@GrowVeg]

Great job Gregory. I'm hoping I may enjoy one or two spears perhaps year after next.

[@amyleader5147]

Yep, Nik down❤❤❤ for drainage❤❤

[@toniedalton5448]

I am jealous of your early grow season ! Here in the mens we are still cold. But I'm growing indoors u see my grow light. My garden is ready and waiting though. I grew Brussels sprouts last year for the first time and plan to grow them again this year. .I wondered my asparagus in the house in pots I had just started them , so now I have them to set out now. Thanks again for your teaching and sharing

[@toniedalton5448]

I need to apologize for the stupid spell check that changes my words. I need to start proof reading before I post

[@myslicechannel]

I also won't have my last frost date for some time yet but I discovered a little trick I used this year to speed germination without a heat mat - hot water bottles and those hand warmers you can re-use! I just put them under my seed trays and the results have been much better than last yea. Cheap, easy and very effective!

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea! :-)

[@59kuphoff]

Brocolli stems make great slaw too!

[@amsamone123]

Everything I planted germinated in record time this year. It’s mysterious!!

[@GrowVeg]

The mystery seems to be universal this spring! :-)

[@lostpony4885]

Our garden is in year 5 and im nostalgic for squashes, early success overgrowing all the failures and feeding meals and meals of easy homegrown food when the garden is a clay moonscape.

[@IllustriousShadowPlans]

This year we've had a gherkin germinate in 2 days (on a heat mat). I was amazed! Something in the air this year! x

[@GrowVeg]

That's super fast! :-)

[@IllustriousShadowPlans]

@@GrowVeg I was so shocked! I know that kind of plant likes to get up and going but I didn’t expect that when I came down for breakfast 😂

[@Alepoudiitsa]

i put them down wards with the round bit on top befor the other side is were the root comes out from, but yes i have butter squash for this year and the pop up in 3 days, the are allways fast, i was goin to put cucambers but the ones from last year were nice and small but the had thorns like a millions on them on each one, it was a pain to cut, i am looking for small ones with out thorns this year but the place the sell seeds run out this year, it is the fist time this hapen, i take it ppl plant a lot more now.

[@janicealderson4329]

Yes, I have a neighbour and he has just started sowing - much lazier than me! It was warm and I have loads to go out (tomatoes, aubergine, peppers, fennel, caugettes, melon, cucumers; - but it is now reallty cold again here in S France, only 12 centigrade in the tunnel! I have just bought a yellow caugette too for the 1st time. My cabbages and broccoli (comes on later, as too hot) are out and I will have to cover them - I have never seen your type of netting here just very fine white spaced stuff - sort of OK. The beets are out and doing ok and they are sharing a bed with hopefully good red onions growing on from seed and re-potting. I am also trying Moringa trees but they haven't come up yet.

[@GrowVeg]

I'm sure you'll be enjoying milder weather again soon. Chilly once more here - but I guess that's spring - it keeps us on our toes! :-)

[@emmagudge6052]

Thank you for your lovely videos. They always so calming and informative. May I ask the make/model of your hand sprayer?

[@GrowVeg]

The pump-action hand sprayer is from Matabi. But other makes are widely available

[@ninil1562]

I know far too many gardeners that will grow brassicaes and root veggies and only harvest the main part of the plant and throw away so much to the compost heap. When it comes to things like Kale and Collards, that understandable because the leafy greens are the point. But, I will never understand growers who grow things like Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower, and only use the heads. All parts of them are edible. While I will not use the roots systems of greens/cabbages/brassicaes for edible crops; because I like to leave them in to nourish my soil; you better believe that all stems and leaves get used in my house. Tougher or damaged leaves get passed on to my chickens, but good looking, healthy leaves and stems are either blanched and frozen for soups, dehydrated to make green powder to add into practically anything, and even pureed for a good hit of vitamins in things like smoothies (and sometimes CAKES/Quick breads). Things like turnip/carrot/radish/beet tops dont go to waste either. They are either dehydrated and added to my greens powder, added to soups/stews, or sauteed for a nice side dish.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to use as much of the plant as you can, definitely. :-)

[@ninil1562]

@Ni-dk7ni I honestly come to my garden with a scarcity mindset. I grew up pretty poor and food insecure, and that has stayed with me. While I do have garden/flower beds "just for fun" most of garden space is handled to be as efficient as possible.

[@anthonyparkinson1056]

I’m planning on using some things I grow this year for Xmas dinner thinking way to far ahead Broccoli cauliflower sprouts what month should I sow this so they are ready to harvest

[@UserAvailableName]

For the stem of the brocolli, my girlfriend love it cut in thin strips in our stir fry or a salad. Once in thin strips it's really hard to guess what it is, and yeah it's kinda sweet

[@MARIA-uq1mt]

Abonata cu mare drag, mulțumesc 🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍👍

[@jaynekennedy8469]

I’m with you on the broccoli stems, they’re great in soups and stews. My husband isn’t keen on broccoli but never notices when I add the stems to meals. 😂

[@GrowVeg]

Great to sneak it in - it's all good! :-)

[@JChucker]

I always have wondered what zone you are in?! Seems much warmer where you are given your planting schedule, than my zone 4-5 in Minnesota USA. So, I always feel that I'm too late to get started! Please describe your temp ranges for each stage of planting and harvesting (with reminders in each video, as it applies). Love your videos!!!!!!!

[@GrowVeg]

I'm in zone 8. :-)

[@MrWho007]

Good morning Ben on a lovely sunny morning. I was wondering, have you ever grown Delicata squash? They are so tasty, and you can eat the skin too!

[@GrowVeg]

Not yet - by they are on my 'to grow' list eventually!

[@Kitchenlabofficial]

Hello friend aapke Tamma vegetables bahut healthy original organiser hai

[@isabelrobson8221]

Planted some melon seeds left on Aga, up the following day!

[@GrowVeg]

Wow! :-)

[@rrw00]

I'm personally looking forward to stacks of zucchini flowers again this year!

[@carolinethomson1297]

Talking about establishing new crowns (asparagus). If the new spears come up do you pick them in those first two years or just leave them on the crown to wither away? Thank you as always 🙏

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, just leave them entirely alone for the first two years.

[@user-yg1zj5dz9f]

i found butterfly netting in B&Q. 7mm i think.it was odd tubular netting like used for xmas trees but i didnt find small mesh size anywhere else.someone suggested scaffolding dust screen material

[@twpsy634]

If you google " fine mesh netting" there are several companies that sell it on line. I saw it on another channel a great help as I don't have a car.

[@GrowVeg]

That may be enough to keep the butterflies out, and certainly the pigeons of course!

[@GardeningwithKarolina]

My zucchini are already ready for the garden 😂 I think it's still too early so I'll keep them in the greenhouse for a while longer 👍🏻

[@jaynekennedy8469]

I recently sowed cauliflower seeds indoors and amazingly 39 came up! I’ve potted them on and they’ve all survived so far. I’ve got an allotment and my allotment neighbour has offered to take any spares off of me. 😊

[@danyoutube7491]

Lucky neighbour, I love cauliflower :) I tried growing it last year by direct sowing, but as soon as the first shoots came up the slugs devoured them.

[@jaynekennedy8469]

I’m hoping if I can get them big enough before I plant them out that some will survive!

[@myrustygarden]

😂 I always think how do you stop seeds from sticking to your muddy hands 🙌. Lots on the go Ben it’s pouring rain here but that’s ok we need it. Have a super weekend, Ali 🌦️🇨🇦

[@GrowVeg]

Pouring with rain here too. Looking forward to a few dry days eventually!

[@sharonscott8358]

I just wish it would stop raining. I've loads in my greenhouse to plant out to make room for new seeds that I have sown. I'm hoping for tomorrow as, although still cold, looks like the wind direction is changing from a biting northerly direction to a more westerly or south westerly. Have you ever tried growing melon's Ben and if so what sorts of results have you had?

[@GrowVeg]

I've never tried growing melons - they are on my wish list though, Hope you manage to get everything planted out smoothly. :-)

[@ofrecentvintage]

Brassica Botherers made me LOL. 😂 Sounds like a band of mythical beasties! 10:20 Is that a row of potted asparagus plants in the back?? I hope so, as I'm hoping to successfully grow asparagus in pots.

[@ofrecentvintage]

Whoops. Just watched the rest of the video so I think those plants at 10:20 must be something else.

[@GrowVeg]

I rather like the term 'brassica botherers' too! :-)