Full Garden Tour | Early July 2023

Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
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- Our Website: rootsandrefuge.com
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- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
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PRODUCTS WE LOVE - You've probably heard me talk about these things a million times, so here's where you can order them (and get a discount with my code!):
- Greenstalk Vertical Gardens (Use code "ROOTS10" for $10 off your order): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-greenstalk
- Squizito Tasting Room (Use code "ROOTS" for 10% off your order): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-squizito
- ButcherBox: rootsandrefuge.com/butcherbox
- Growers Solution: rootsandrefuge.com/growers-so...
- Neptune's Harvest Fertilizer: rootsandrefuge.com/neptunes-h...
#rootsandrefuge

[@SaltyToSociety]

anyone else get random tears of joy watching these vlogs and the sweet aurora that encompasses jess. keep shining bright :]

[@ColRubyDimplesManacha]

I was just about to comment how I can't help but smile thru the entirety of these vlogs. With little tears of joy squeaking into the corners of my eyes 💗

[@Boba_tea143]

🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@tonis7791]

Absolutely positivity yes!❤

[@fields-n-feathers]

"This row of Zinnias is what dreams are made of. Wouldn't you agree?"🧡Yes, Jess, I agree.

[@kimberly-557]

I answered out loud, Yes! 🙋🌸😍

[@DisneyRunner]

Jess is definitely a blessing to us...she encourages us..she is so unpretentious it's refreshing. I always look forward to her videos.

[@growingrealart]

16:52 That row of zinnias IS what dreams are made of ❤! So beautiful 🤩

[@justpatty7328]

Yes, agreed!

[@mamajobx]

Showing the plants that are not thriving is so good. It gives me confidence when someone who really knows what they’re doing has the same setbacks and challenges that I do. It funny how you live in my head Jess. When I walk in my garden with my cup of Coffee in the morning and I see something new on my plants you have already addressed the issue and I know how to proceed. Thanks! I owe my successes to your teaching.

[@wendieo5146]

I save every eggshell, rinse and throw in a box to dry until the box is full. Then I grind to a powder in a dedicated coffee grinder I got at a yard sale, and save all year in used mayonnaise jars until planting my tomato starts. I put at least a half of a cup in each hole under the roots . It has helped so much in combatting blossom end rot.I later put a circle around the stem on the ground as it gets larger.I’ve had huge success.

[@dottiegyles1119]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@carriemarlinnhggbehhimtore4234]

I have never commented on any KZbin video before. I am doing a full sized garden for the first time this year, and you were my first inspiration to start this journey. I have fought the fight with pill bugs as well… they are thick this year. I was able to successfully grow cucumbers by placing a red party cup with the bottom cut out around the seedlings as soon as they popped up. I pressed the cups into the soil about a half inch or so and kept them there until the plants reached the trellis. By that time they were big enough to hold their own against the pill bugs, so I just cut the cups down the side and removed them. 😊

[@brittanybates7498]

So many things in this video hit home for me! One thing I would love to share is that my daughter and I were inspired to make basil tea after your video last summer. We made it with the Dark Purple Opal Basil and it was gorgeous (deep greenish-blue) when we added the citrus it immediately turned pink and we have called it unicorn tea every since then! :) Thank you for the inspiration and all the beautiful content. We love you Jess!

[@virginiaseedsskogen2038]

@brittanybates7498, thank you for this post now I need to plant some Dark Purple Opal Basil, lol!

[@melaniedennis9540]

You can never have too much food saved up ❤

[@EvermoreAcres]

Agreed!

[@savannahmolina3725]

This July garden tour is helping me feel like I’m not failing! The weeds are overwhelming and there’s so much to get done. It’s reassuring that the “perfect garden” in my head doesn’t have to be perfect all the time! I can still be a new gardener and still have weeds and be behind on things.

[@5GreenAcres]

She has hired help.

[@kledaneb420]

Started late but it's like it didn't matter because my garden has boomed! Everything is super healthy and to my surprise all my squash plants have been super healthy and super productive. Glad I planted tons of nasturtiumus around them. My first time doing this and always will from now on 💚💚💚

[@amandar7719]

Just love being invited into your beautiful garden. Tours are my absolute favourite. Don’t mind if it’s vegetables or flowers. Diseased or thriving. Failures or successes. Lovely to see you again and hear your thoughts and encouragement. Thank you for sharing. Was thinking if I ever were to wander around your gardens in real life, I’d definitely miss the accompanying atmospheric melodies of Daniel on his guitar.

[@JulietCaldwell-hb2mv]

Yes, this is the same reason I am loving watching your videos, dreaming of summer while in the winter down here in the Southern Hemisphere! ❤

[@carlagustka325]

Thank you for this! You probably know this idea already but with my tomatoes, zucchini & squash I make a dish that's all of them cut evenly, sautéed peppers an onions diced on the bottom, then layer the zucchini, tomato, squash and whatever herbs salt and pepper, olive oil, repeat until casserole dish is full, top with toasted panko and parmesan, bake 375 30 min covered, 15 min uncovered. With a huge salad from the garden. It's my meatless day summer garden meal.

[@muhleekuh]

Omg I was just watching an old Garden tour from 2019. Love this for all of us!

[@nancyshipes3096]

Hi Jess - you asked for opinions about that garden space, so here's my two cents: Your gardens are so extensive, I think you should incorporate a space where you could also sit in the shade. How about growing grapes on a pergola with attached benches? Fresh grapes, grape juice, jelly, jam... I bet your boys would love hanging out there, too, eating their fill! You are such an inspiration; thank you for doing all the video work to share your knowledge and beautiful gardens.

[@tomborstmayer1082]

My sister introduced me to your channel 2 - 3 years ago and I’m so grateful she did. I have learned so much, and continue to learn, thank you, thank you. I am starting to set up raised beds, I have three 3 1/2 x 8’ and am so thrilled at how things are coming along. I am slowly winning my husband over to the idea of turning my 35’ x 100’ in ground to multiple raised beds, making a pretty space that’s not just a work space but a beautiful space. Cuz that’s what Jess advised. 😄 You are definitely one of God’s gifts, a blessing to all who tune in.

[@virginiaseedsskogen2038]

Planning on doing the same, with a smaller space. We put in two 12'x2'×2' beds in early June, they are set parallel to each other about 4 feet apart. We added a trellis tunnel on the middle sides using two 16'×6' pieces of 12.5 gauge fencing. My hubby didn't want to put cattle fencing in the truck, so we compromised and I bought a roll of 12.5 gauge fencing. Another trellis maybe added to our garden next year :) It was our first attempt at making raised beds and a trellis.

[@jennyi8383]

Lettuce leaf basil has earned a forever spot in my garden. Mine tasted just as sweet as the sweet basil. Black spot is a problem with basil in my area and the lettuce leaf lasts longer than the sweets before I have to pull them out. Also the giant leaves go far when making pesto(what I generally use basil for). I highly recommend the variety.

[@kristydickens1283]

I saw your post on Instagram about editing this video while driving home from a quick family vacation over the weekend and was so excited to come home to watch it. (to clarify, My husband was driving. I was riding. Don't Instagram and drive) As I sit here at home after dinner sipping a glass of wine and relaxing after checking on my small garden, I'm so thankful for what you do and the inspiration you've given me. I appreciate you and enjoyed the peek into what you've got growing.

[@curlymckee4125]

Thank you for the discussion around disease and what it actually is, how we should handle it. It can bring up shame feeling like I am doing all of the right things and still getting leaves with spotting and plants that are struggling. Yet that is how it is supposed to be! So grateful for you and all of your wisdom.

[@brendawheeler4486]

Yes, that vision. Thanks for giving me direction and saying it's okay to just have the vision but just do what you can. I've made great baby steps this summer but still have so much to accomplish. Enjoy watching these in the winter too here in WV.

[@juliedalgardno3361]

As always, you encourage me to keep going and so so much helpful information! Thank you ❤️ ! My Dad was an avid gardener. After passing away 2 years ago my garden time is helping me see what he enjoyed in it and it's a real comfort. God bless you for all your filming and sharing!

[@cindymccarty4454]

Jess, you are amazing! You bring so much faith, joy and happiness in your videos. As we we know you have up and downs like we all do. You are a treat to watch!❤❤❤

[@fbjewels]

I had to go back and listen again when you said "my friend Miss Nina" - my great grandmother was Nina pronounced "Nine-ah" and I've NEVER heard that before or since! How cool. ❤

[@rettamaree1085]

Just got done with a full day of painting the family farm barn, and this is just want I need to unwind and relax!!!

[@Betterwayfarmga]

I had the same problem with pill bugs eating my starts. Instead of direct sowing my squashes and cucumbers, I plant them in my soil blocks and up pot them to the biggest 4” blocks and then transplant them once they get big enough. The roots are not disturbed, so there were not stunted. Your garden looks awesome btw :).

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I think many people think of the perfectly looking and uniform things for sale at stores and think that's what happens in the garden. When you start working with real life, you quickly find out that the store inventory is only a selection of the best. Real food comes variable and, sometimes, ugly!

[@cherylschaefer9965]

Thank you!!!! I love your garden and you made me realize that I’m putting too much pressure on myself to have a perfect garden. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[@kellyrad339]

Thank you so much for the great content because it's freezing over here in South eastern Australia overnights. You are getting me through winter with excitement for spring summer 😘. Your Gardens looking amazing Jess. ❤

[@rootsanddirt]

Love the beautiful wildness of the contour rows ❤️

[@kimg5784]

Sometimes we forget that original homesteaders and family farms dealth with weeds and looked just like your in ground watermelon patch. Like you said too- they were trying to get the seedling big enough to out compete the grasses and weeds. Age old probelm and ithe dea of weeless rows of crops comes from commercialization of food where weeds are sprayed. We need a t shirt that reads Real Food Comes from Weedy Gardens!!

[@chezelleconroy2951]

Just putting this on again during our Aussie winter. Planting peas, onions and broccoli atm- that’s about all! But goodness these videos are a lifeline. 🇦🇺

[@AmandainGeorgia]

We have a lot of wild amaranth that we forage for greens before it begins to set seeds. It’s pretty similar to spinach, and freezes really well to use just like frozen spinach in most recipes. I should gather some of the seeded ones for the chickens. Great idea. Also, I eat chard all summer, but when it gets a little more potent I add some mint to the sautée and it really mellow it out. Try sautéing some sweet onion, adding chard and cooking until nearly the way you want it, then add mint and either sweet basil or cilantro (usually in summer the cilantro is shot, but I prefer it when I have it), and then add some balsamic or Chinese black vinegar when you take it off the heat. So good! Also good with red pepper flake if you like heat.

[@composthog4332]

Thank you SO much for sharing your recipe! I can grow okra and chard when nothing else is making it for me, but I think the chard gets a little too funky in our hot Texas summer. I have high hopes and some mint so will try it soon. 😋

[@LoquaciousByNature]

I have an acre of property to work with, and this year I tried to get an early start, but with late Spring frost, to losing seed starts to cats for lack of a greenhouse, to drought...plants went in a month late. Some of my beds were amended more than others, but the corn and beans are in clay with manure, and are doing well. The deer have started to visit though, so I'll have to put up fencing.We lost all the peas to white powdery mildew. So I'm trying to get another crop in another bed.The tomatoes are struggling, but I'm hopeful of the heirlooms, cuz they made an amazing comeback after the drought. God has been watering the garden for me, and I'm grateful the rain has been more regular, although I did buy a rain barrel, just in case. I built a brick herb spiral that is doing beautifully. I'm planning another brick planter somewhere, possibly for strawberries...although I might just fasten a couple lengths of gutter to the back of my garage for the strawberries. I'm planning on tearing down a deck to make room for raised beds, re-purposing the wood for a greenhouse as well. If I'd had the greenhouse, I might have had my earlier start. The setbacks haven't deterred me, because I have found that it's a live and learn process. Everything from plant to pest is vying for its place in my garden. I'm going to be grateful for whatever I can harvest this year, and any year hereafter.

[@growjoyfullyhomestead]

Thank you for being calm and 'normal'. The noise out there is terrifying. You are a calm oasis. Thank you, dear.❤🙏

[@giverny28]

My dairy girls love when they see me walk to the barn with a big basket of summer chard. The earthier the better for them, and I'm glad to share it with them. 😆 That thyme is wild thyme from Baker Creek.😅

[@Lynnhopeacres]

I have always loved these garden tours! HAPPY GROWING!

[@ericarigler8892]

My first year with ground cherries! My csa farm was going to compost them but I've given them life and they're producing 😊

[@kath-phlox]

If you like Lemon Balm, try Lemon Verbena too, it will blow you away with the intense lemon flavour. You may be able to over winter it where you are, but I would protect at least one plant to be sure. Same goes for Tarragon, I jump through hoops here in the UK to keep them alive, they are my favourite herbs.

[@prairielavender]

Yes! Lemon verbena is delightful!

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

Ya know - you are one of the few gardening content creators that talks openly about pill bugs and the havoc they can wreak. Oh-my-lanta - such an issue for me this year and ALL the locals dispute and poo-poo the possibility. Just want to say I feel you/see you on this one. I don't always have the space or capacity to multi-sow or succession plant - so I have pronounced war on those lil buggers. Not looking to eradicate, just manage so I can shepherd a few plants to harvest. Great tour - thank you.

[@mlee7037]

My neighborhood kids love the cucamelons. They have been asking me about them since March. They will be producing soon!❤

[@Tree-thingz]

So glad to know about seed mix ups. I planted chocolate peppers (Pennington), and it grew as purple basil. Burr gherkin seeds grew as regular cucumbers. Would be nice to get a memo. Either way, it's a win 🏆

[@godsconstruction]

Jess I love how you say it’s okay to not go as you planned #blessings ☮️❤️💡

[@wandakelly2173]

We are in a neighborhood in Lexington and I have to keep deer netting up in the spring and summer. It still makes me happy that they live here ❤

[@joannekreutzer752]

I grew Holy Basil this year for tea after seeing a previous video of yours talking about it. I love it. Your videos are so inspiring and your garden is beautiful. I hope one day my garden will spread out like yours. It literally is my way of expressing my creativity. I am in Southwestern NC in 7b and love trying new things every year also. This year it’s Rampicante Squash.

[@gabriellemalina5567]

I start all my cucurbits in pots as seedlings and let them get decent size before planting out. It really helps with pest pressure.

[@pedepy]

I recently found what was in my opinion the best explanation for BER (from a reputable source), and it basically says that since calcium is transported inside the plant via perspiration, ie water evaporation from the leaves is what drives the circulation of water and water soluble nutrients, and that fruits are then last to receive calcium since most evaporation occurs in leafy tissue. So it goes roots, stem, leaves and then fruit. At least that’s what I understood 😅; but it made se sense, and said that insufficient or inconsistent watering meant that fruits received less calcium than they needed. You do need to have it in the soil to begin with obviously. Also said that fruit was most vulnerable in the early stages of growth, and that a deficiency early on could only show up some time later when the fruit is reaching its mature size. There I hope it helps I can post the reference but it’s in french 🤷‍♂️

[@joannekreutzer752]

Oh my! Watching more of the video and have to comment on the fact that you have Creeping Jenny and Sedum spreading as a ground cover. I started doing this a few years ago to produce a living mulch. It’s great to see someone else that has the same vision as I do. Creative minds ❤️

[@raymondboronczyk5768]

So thankful to hear you had pill big issues this year too. I had to reseed beans, melons and cucumbers this year because of it.

[@kahalamorse8910]

Mahalo Jess! You've tout me soooo much, their's veggies that I've never thought, I've tryed to grow! Love cherry tomatoes and yummy, Shishito peppers.

[@christinabeil5511]

Spoon tomato’s make the sweetest tomato cucumber salad…..what a conversation piece at a bbq!

[@thenortonfamilyhomestead]

We are constantly looking at what we want to do long-term! When we've been planning our garden out, we've made sure to think about the perennials, and even made them their own little area!

[@bethsands7665]

I love the "over-all garden version" and learn season by season, pest by pest, successes and failures which make next year's garden journey stronger and better as we learn and reap what we sow. Another nice and informative video, thank-you. Have a great day with celebrating on the lake, be safe and vigilant !

[@kellymueller9818]

I used to watch a lot of your videos when I started gardening. I checked in to see how the new property was going and I’m curious if you’ve looked into regen farming yet? We’ve switched over and the science behind the actual digestion by plants solves most bug and disease issues as well as weed pressure. Like typically our soil’s have calcium but oxidation of it happens naturally and with tilling making it unavailable to the plants. A lot of times it’s a boron missing that acts as a carrier for calcium so if you add a small amount of borax it jump starts the calcium and plants go nuts. We have started transforming our property like crazy using what the regen people like John Kempf and Dan kittenger are doing. Pest pressure drops quickly when the plants are actually healthy. We have avoided almost all tomato issues including blight by following the new plant biome science coming out

[@susanmolnar7323]

I used to keep chickens and always kept their egg shells to crush and then added them and manure to my small garden in the winter. I never had a fall garden so the calcium was able to leech into the soil and the manure wasn't too hot for my plants. While I didn't know about a first flush for blossom end rot, I never had that issue after I started doing that. Enjoy your garden tours so much!

[@brokendolly6967]

OMGOODNESS, you look SO much better sweetheart! You were so thin and now you're beautiful! Carolina living obviously agrees with you.😊

[@debsenritchedrefuge603]

Jess.. @roots_and_refuge Another absolutely gorgeous informative garden tour with so much color & goodness.. I love your old rustic metal chair in your first high tunnel.. Enjoy your sweet Malia, while she is with you.. Excited she will get to enjoy the Brad's Atomic Grape Tomatoes, also one my faves. I'm finally sun🌞 brewing some herb & Dandelion teas, from your inspiration, and totally enjoying them, Warm & chilled. My garden is very sparse again this year for many reasons, but grateful for the volunteers & my raspberries, although they are coming to an end . Just sitting out at my picnic table with my Dementia ailing mom , enjoying garden fresh salad, watching my 3 elderly horses in my yard and 4 pairs of Angus cows /calves in my pasture. Makes me want to grab my nice Camera. It's nice to just breathe this fresh evening air and know God is Good, Always... No matter what season of life we are in... Thanks for making my Sunday a lot brighter with your Smile & Cheer! Love you with many Blessings my friend ❤️ 🙌 💐 Deb

[@ria9881]

My mom and sister share a garden space. Them, my Aunt and I have all had a sad garden season. Our cukes and squash plants of all sorts got bugs that just eradicated them. The majority of our tomato plants all got blight. The rain was relentless and unforgiving this year. I did manage to get literally 2 sugar pumpkins and 3 butternut squash. My zucchini and summer squash were nice early on but the July rain and squash bugs just destroyed them. It isn't just you that is having trouble. At least you are blessed with that long growing season. CT doesn't have that option. Blessed be!

[@suezqcamacho]

Im speechless! Just beautiful. I can only dream of a garden like this. Ty for sharing😊

[@tamidavis3730]

I bought a packet of Tam jalapeno seeds. Plants are super productive but every one is a banana pepper plant. So it wasn't just seedlings from the store- seed packets are wonky too.

[@allenfarm]

Spoon tomatoes are a favorite to feed to our guinea pigs 😂 They fit perfectly in a little mouth and we get a kick out of them eating it.

[@tst1200]

I toss my egg shells in my tomato beds and have never had blossom end rot ever.

[@erikacronje8985]

Your garden is looking awesome, I love your lesser-faire approach to gardening, let them grow as they do and make notes for the next year. It is so low stress

[@SG-vu4qy]

Jess I am going to call you my "on the border 7/8 sister" all the way over in northern AZ, high arid desert. boy oh boy has it been interesting this year. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and your beautiful home and project. I have implemented you tips on seedlings. As I have been praying over my first time peppermint seedlings, hallelujah! the second leaves have emerged! I have to look with a manifiying glass, but they are growing!

[@cassiemontoya1010]

My favorite way to use spoon tomatoes is leaving them whole in soups to give a little extra texture. For some reason, I love fresh tomatoes, but am not as big a fan of them cooked, so I've never loved when soups have chunks of chopped larger tomatoes... but the spoon tomatoes are great!

[@diannamc367]

My mom loved fresh tomatoes and tomatoes sauce but if there were chunks of cooked tomatoes in anything she wouldn't eat it, lol.

[@lionheartfarmandgardening]

So excited to watch your new July garden tour!!❤❤

[@palmtreeleebythesea]

Thanks so much for your sharing about your gardens. You are a best to me. Joy

[@soymilkmuse]

Absolutely lovely!💕 I really like the asparagus beds by the cottage garden. I have a big asparagus bed myself, and it reminds me of a fairy woodland. My favorite is during the golden hour, when the light is shining through water droplets in the foliage. Pure magic. 💕

[@paulinerichter6639]

Your garden is just AMAZING!! Love your tours - I always learn so much - thank you!!

[@susanhensley9444]

I am thriving off of the successful gardening that I'm watching.....I live in Tucson, AZ and it has been an awful overheated year.....when cactus suffers , it so painful to watch....

[@WithdealingsNhealings]

LOVE YOU JESS AND LOVE YOUR KNOWLEGE AND COMPASSION IN YOUR PASSIONS ALL THE WAY FROM NJ MUCH LOVE AND APPRIECATION SINCE ABOUT 2018

[@plippilp2888]

Try taking two saucers(or other small plates or similar items) and gently sandwich the tomatoes between them in large groups. Then use a long non-serrated knife to slice them all at once to slice in half. This is how restaurants do it.

[@myurbangarden7695]

So happy you uploaded today

[@lysan4878]

I live in Louisiana here and grew purple Cherokee and my leaves just stayed curled and looked pitiful the entire time but it grew tons on tomatoes. 1 of the tomatoes was largest I’ve ever seen and was just under 2 lbs. I still have tomatoes growing and flowers in 100 degree weather with no shade cloth. So don’t freak out if your leaves want to be limp and curly in hot humid weather.

[@MissouriCrookedBarnHomestead]

Raises hand to the mixed up pepper discussion mentioned. I bought Jalapeno's, labeled as Jalapeno's, and none of them are. I've gotten Banana peppers or Hungarian Wax, I'm not entirely sure yet. All of my own seed I started are exactly what they're supposed to be. The group I'm in on Facebook has a bunch of people acting like jerks and calling people crazy that are mentioning that their plants are not what they're supposed to be. I've been growing plants for 40+ years and while I do not know everything, when you go buy a pepper plant, you don't know what that pepper plant is going to be until it puts a fruit on. I'm so glad you said something about it!

[@mamabear968]

Beautiful garden as always Jess! It’s not perfect and it doesn’t need to be. It’s actually encouraging for me that you show us the things that are struggling and the things that are thriving. It reminds me that even with imperfections, the garden can still produce food and medicine and joy. I was striving for perfection before because I was looking at other people’s highlight reel and thinking that was “normal” for a garden. Thank you for living in a glass house. I promise, I won’t throw stones. I’m curious if a medicinal garden is in your 5 year plan. I’m learning a lot about herbal medicine and it’s so interesting. I really love your teaching style and I have learned so much from you about growing food, community, healthy mindset, being mindful of capacity, etc. I would love it if I could learn about herbal medicine from you as well. I actually have a lot of medicinal seeds I would be happy to share if you’re interested. Just a thought. Let me know ❤

[@jenniferbrooks-rieck8797]

I would love to see how to grow medicinal herbs garden. Great idea!

[@IsRealBeing]

I would love to see that too!

[@debbiedempsky8160]

I know tons of folks who got different peppers than what they thought. I had only planted different bell peppers this year, and one of them turned out to be a sweet banana pepper. I'm not complaining, because it's delicious. Just picked a few more today.

[@kekiplus1andonly]

First,I love you,❤and you make me love your garden alot❤❤❤congratulations 🎊 👏 💐 job welldone

[@tiffanymarie2097]

Your gardens are so impressive! I love the garden tours, sick plants and all!!! We are in Washington state and a bit behind than you are, but things are finally taking off. I love walking the gardens every evening. I am planning on really preserving for winter this year, more than ever! Thanks for the tour Jess!!

[@erin9554]

I used to live in the northeast, but now living in Florida. Before, I grew beautiful big tomatoes, but now I struggle with them until I discovered everglade tomatoes. My plants are loaded and can take the heat and humidity. I don't think they have the best flavor, but it's a lot better than no tomatoes.

[@bcakste2000]

You have taught me, not to be so scared of diseased leaves. I have found all my plants..if I tend to it...and it's still living...it will continue to produce. I rarely spray anything on my plants. If I do it's neem oil...

[@akLeanne]

You encourage me to keep going with my garden. I do get really discouraged with the horrible weather we've been having up here in alaska. We've had maybe a week of sun this summer and rain every day. Ya, if stuff grows, it grows. There is nothing we can do about Mother Nature's personality

[@HomeHarvestCo]

Your videos have made me appreciate the little miracles that happen in the garden every day.

[@StephaniePman]

I had a mix up in starts I purchased not being what they were labeled. My cucamelon seeds didn’t germinate this year and was thrilled to see starts at a big chain. I grabbed some while I waited for new seeds. Now that they are fruiting, it’s definitely not cucamelon and I can only assume it’s a smaller pickling cucumber variety. Now I’m going to have a ton of pickling cucumbers, but thankfully we love pickles in our home so they won’t go to waste :)

[@leahayes4644]

The curved gardens look great!

[@SonniesGardenPA]

I enjoyed walking through your garden, some good and some bad. Over all still a very productive garden. Happy Gardening!

[@eggshoneyhomestead2126]

Growing ground cherries for the first time and I am LOVING them! However, I have an issue getting to the fruit on the ground bc the plants have branched out so much. So I pick when they are yellow.

[@storeywilliams6162]

We bought a random seed packet of "hot peppers" because I wasn't sure I'd planted enough jalapeno peppers. Turns out they are banana peppers. The packet looked nothing like banana peppers. Luckily my husband loves banana peppers so it still worked out alright!

[@tommielourogers4327]

I would really like to hear Ben, explain how he made his chain weed/ brush eater. I live next door to a Karen who calls the city codes enforcement if my grass gets too long. I actually like my weeds, because the chickens eat them. Free chicken feed is always a good thing. I even harvest some of the weeds for making salves and salads. But I also have some small weed shrubs and saplings and six foot tall Johnson grass, so I really need something stronger than a string weed eater, but I am older and weak so I don’t think that I have the strength to handle a bush hog. I think that Ben’s weed & brush eater that he made, would be perfect for my yard. And it will save me city fines. If welding is involved, my neighbor’s son is taking a welding course in tech school, so he said he can do small projects for me.

[@brandondayton8353]

finally a garden tour!!! These are my favorite

[@CraftyTreasuresByGigi]

OMG! I’ve been beating my head against the wall trying to figure out what was wrong with my jalapeños! 🤣🤣🤣 I even kept saying they look like a banana pepper! Mystery solved!

[@debinbc]

Plant closer together to kill out the grass... Your tunnel which is correcting the soil, plant potatoes then beans then your flowers, so you amend then feed the soil and close your side walls....

[@ljgerken]

I am growing Mammoth Basil. The leaves get to be the size of my hand, and it has a tinge of licorice flavor to it. I have taken the leaf and added shredded carrots or whole baby carrots and chive cream cheese to secure the leaf to the carrot and it makes a really nice Summer snack. I have the plant in partial shade facing east and it's been growing there since February! I'm in zone 9b/10a. On blossom end rot, I dry my egg shells and put them in the food processor and then add it to my soil when I plant tomatoes, peppers, etc. I can also top dress as I have the egg shells. Very easy. The other method I used was a liquid fertilizer called CalMag (calcium and magnesium, for uptake) sprayed directly on the foliage. Often times, just too much rain, leaches the soil of nutrients and after the rains, you have to add more top dressings, plus more mulch to protect the roots and hold that rain in longer between rains. I keep a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol that I use a clean rag and spray my pruners/clippers with before I use them, and then again after I use them. Hang them up to dry. You could have a pegboard mounted inside your greenhouse for your hand tools. Though I think you said you have a nearby wooden shed that you keep your gardening tools in?

[@rachelscrazyfarm3969]

This year is the 1st year that I have tried to plant pineapple ground cherries. I tried starting them in the house... nothing... I tried starting them in cells outside...nothing. Finally I was like well I'll toss some in 1 of my raised beds. Still NOTHING, so I planted peppers. Fast fwd and I notice like 4 or 5 little plants. I couldn't believe it, they finally took! I got to have my 1st ever pineapple ground cherry yesterday.....so worth the frustration and wait!!!! I put more seeds out when I saw they were growing lol ofcourse no new plants 🥺🤦🏼‍♀️ I am just thankful for what did grow!!

[@elissagreene9929]

QUESTION: How do you water all the gardens? Side note, I think your hair looks so healthy this video.

[@5GreenAcres]

She has hired help.

[@elissagreene9929]

@@5GreenAcres Thank you! Do you know if it's hand watering, irrigation drip, or just sprinklers?

[@5GreenAcres]

@@elissagreene9929 I don't know. By the looks...none of the above. Lol. Truthfully, I watch The Hollar Homestead and stopped watching this channel after they got affected with the greedy more syndrome and they were no longer doing it on their own. I truly enjoyed their channel when they were like the rest of us on a small scale homestead.

[@futurefolk9919]

Even if you grow from seed there no guarantee you'll get what you put in the ground. 98% you will but.... I grew bell peppers one year and they turned out to be habaneros.😲. This year I grew pepperonici peppers - nope - cayennes. From the same seed packet of Roma tomatoes, one Roma 2 mystery tomatoes. I just feel blessed to have the tomatoes since last year I was in the struggle bus and didn't get a single tomato😱. Decided in going to make my own hot sauce with the cayennes. No waste around here. Be blessed everyone 💞

[@kaydeed2615]

Spoon tomatoes - I grew some last year and missed starting any this year. the plants last year were so productive that lots of fruit dropped into the garden. I do have several volunteers Yeah! what i did with them last year is I made some fridge pickled tomatoes. I did jars with the spoon tomatoes and others with spoon tomatoes and cucamelons. so good and they were wonderful on the different antipasto or charcuterie boards

[@disgruntledk9]

Hi Jess🫶🏽💖 I live in 8b and our winter was unusually cold also! My husband has lived here longer than I have but he said it’s never been so cold here before! It really set my gardening plans back but thanks to your guidance I’ve got a flourishing garden and will be attempting citrus next year💖

[@lynnshepard7485]

Awesome garden tour! 💗

[@Growbacktoyourroots9]

Thank you, Jess! Love listening to you while I’m out doing my morning chores in the garden.