Grow Your Own Pantry | Top 5 Money-Saving Crops!

[@smas3256]

Who else is getting hungry? Rachel. Thank you. Prices incredible. Home grown is better than the organic bought in the store.

[@amandaforeman2626]

Oh yes ! Oh my gosh , I have apple trees and one is a red delicious ! I have never had a better apple than the ones off my trees ! It’s mind blowing !

[@citygirlhomestead]

this is what I told my husband we need to plant things that we use lots of and save us money we are getting our plans together thank you for this

[@marym.2287]

I'm so lucky to live in Michigan, too - west side of the lower peninsula is a treasure trove of u-pick. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries - peaches, apples, cherries...asparagus, etc.

[@jvin248]

When coring peppers, set the core aside to dry. Shell the seeds off the dried cores and replant them. Works for any homegrown heirloom types as well as store-bought peppers if US grown (imported produce is often radiated to kill spiders/etc which also kills seed viability).

[@DonnaMM6361]

Do the peppers have to ripen fully in order for the seeds to be viable?

[@marilynweber7957]

I bought organic peppers and saved seeds thinking I could plant them - dead - not one ever grew anything - so I try to find heirloom seeds only now.

[@bobwilliams5506]

Good to see you back and talking about gardening.

[@amandar7719]

Second your choices, Rachel! I’d add asparagus, too. What amazes me is the price of zucchini (courgettes) in UK stores. Even when in season. It’s a seed that returns multiple lbs of abundance and, apart from rhubarb, is the most freely given away vegetable by gardeners. Take care. 🇬🇧

[@heatherfisk9670]

I'm expanding my berry production because they're crazy expensive. I made raspberry jam, simple syrup for lemonade, vinegar, and ate lots of fresh raspberries from the garden last year from a very small patch.

[@MadamKsTarot]

If you push the ends of the bushes into the ground they will start new shoots.

[@mrslsix]

I've learned to grow what my family eats. I would expand your list to include onions and garlic. Not always money savers, but like potatoes, homegrown store so well and the flavor is so much better than store bought. I look forward to the rest of this series.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I always seem to plant too many beans. We love them and eat tons of them fresh, but I don't like them canned...too mushy. They are pretty good frozen and even better fermented or pickled, but I have limited freezer and fridge space. Sigh. I'll probably overdo it again this year. 🙄 I can always give them away. At least I have nailed the tomato harvest: 25 plants gets us through the year for sauces, salsas, chutneys, etc. And here in zone 10a I can grow potatoes all year round. 💚

[@Sabbathissaturday]

Lucky you. I can NEVER grow beans!

[@sandicalder6959]

Same here SW ON . I pickle mine or eat fresh , haven't found canning them appealing at all .

[@nicolew8321]

Do dilly beans 🤤 so crunchy and a great snack.

[@kendallmcguire]

Beans are protein source!

[@JenHomesteadingRN]

Just bought my little homestead...will be setting up the raised beds soon. Earlier today I ordered strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry plants to add to the property!! Also ordered potatoes to plant. I can't wait to start some seeds next week!!!

[@Sabbathissaturday]

Where are you? Congratulations! I bought my place in November 2020 and the first thing I did was start a garden. I still don’t have furniture!

[@JenHomesteadingRN]

I'm in New England. I do have furniture thankfully. Putting in the raised beds in a couple weeks. Hoping to get chickens soon too. Congrats on your homestead too!!

[@LynnerdSkinnerd97]

Rachel~ Nasturtium seeds as a pepper substitute?! Mind. Blown. Thank you for that! Last year I had my first good year for nasturtiums but I didn't harvest all of the seeds. Hoping to do it again this year and now...preserve and grind the seeds!

[@badwolf_gtv7725]

mind blown for me as well. we dont use pepper in our house because hubby is allergic to the oil on the black pepper seed. curious if we will be able to use this as a substitute instead

[@kramitdreams]

Plant a magnolia tree ..the buds (grind) in the spring are a great ginger substitute 😊 Our top 5 our 🌿herbs, tomatoes, kale (that stuff can be buried under snow you can't kill it and if you let it seed itself you only plant it once plus it packed full of nutrients) potatoes(sweet and white)and an orchard 😊

[@lyndasecrest2853]

I'm so happy that you are back in your garden 🎉

[@CodyM841]

Shrimp sauce…jalapeño ketchup..pasta sauce..salsa..pizza sauce..taco sauce..stewed tomatoes..bbq sauce..spicy tomato juice..

[@lesmohr6289]

You should try sun dried tomatoes

[@sandeerahBee]

I could listen to you talk like this all day! I have a tiny yard, but I'm getting interested in growing my own herbs, tomatoes and maybe some kind of fruit tree! My winters are very mild in SW Washington, so I have sooooo many options!

[@jujube2407]

I'm on a military base...with ALOT OF RULES... look into square foot method! You can do alot in. Little space if you look in the right places!!! ❤️

[@sandeerahBee]

@@jujube2407 I will! Thanks for the tip!

[@coverscornersurburbanhomes6235]

I'm SO excited for this garden season! And that you will be back in the garden also! I always get so much inspiration from you! I love this series too. Thanks for sharing! ~ Stephanie

[@paulinecloutier2449]

There just so many things you get out of the garden and you can put up

[@annmc3878]

I got into gardening for fresh eating. I’ve slowly transferred into preserving. First, frozen, second dehydrating, then finally canning. Tomatoes, green beans, winter squash, pepper products and sweet potatoes. I just used the last jar of green beans. I would say potatoes, but I can’t grow enough potatoes as we eat them too fast. We are growing more berries.

[@amyk6028]

I’m gonna add beans to your already awesome list ❤

[@amyk6028]

Thank you for such a helpful video! I had no idea just 25 tomato plants could produce so many different things. I have 15 raised garden beds, all 4’x8’ and I use 4 of them for growing paste tomatoes, 10 tomato plants in each bed. One bed is for my large indeterminate tomatoes for fresh eating and 2 of my 6 cattle panel trellises for my cherry tomatoes. Obviously I must be doing something wrong because I can’t get that much tomato sauces from that 😂 You have a green thumb for sure!

[@TShirtAndReeboks]

Are you in a really hot area? I know tomatoes stop growing during July and August where I'm at, even though they will produce again in the fall until freeze. Same with peppers.

[@amyk6028]

@@TShirtAndReeboks Yes. Fairly hot in August. I live in SC. Usually disease takes them before the heat does. I live in a very humid climate

[@jessicawoodruff3078]

We just had some of my home canned sloppy Joe's last night and I thought ok, this was a perfect reminder of why I just started a whole tray of pepers. It was the quickest easiest meal. It will be on my must can list for this fall!

[@sheliaheverin8822]

Tomatoes, peppers, onions, herbs and garlic. They are a must plant every year.

[@darleneprice6467]

My planting this year (in garden boxes and buckets because I live on leased property with small yard) will be tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, string beans, green peppers and a few herbs. I’ll buy some other things from a local farm. Thanks for your help video, and have a super week!

[@garden4life622]

I would add growing Garlic! So much better than store bought and a money saver easy crop to grow :)

[@tanyamosher9056]

What a great idea for a series! I'm here for it. !

[@MadamKsTarot]

Hello Rachel. Good to have ya back

[@tonyarueff3230]

I am using my berry game this year with some raspberry plants. Things are ridiculously expensive at the store, not to mention homegrown taste better.

[@agb6330]

Didn’t grow potatoes last year…. Missed them!

[@mrogers2345]

My top 5 favorites are; Potatoes, Squash, Beans, Peas & Radishes. Theirs nothing like potato salad from the garden!!!

[@sitsngigglesful]

I've ordered 4 Blueberry transplants from a local organic Blueberry Farm here in SE Michigan. I'm building out large beds for strawberries this year. I'm getting better at planning my veggie garden, but I need to do more for my fruit production. I MAY try to find some fruit trees to at least get them started, but I'm on a budget, lol. This was a great video! Thanks for it

[@1870s]

where is this farm in SE Mich?

[@sandeVBL]

Nice! Especially telling all the pantry items you do from one crop.

[@daisypagan7237]

Thank you Rachel. Loved this video

[@justpatty7328]

I'd make my list the same, for the top 5.

[@cdavid2486]

Very helpful and encouraging. Love this series. TY.

[@JenB.188]

We’ve learned to grow our own potatoes. We have even learned to take those and turn some into seed potatoes for the next year. I’d grow more if I had the space. I also have developed a sweet potato planting area because they store so well.

[@sharorganic5841]

I use the berries in the mornings for replacement for my vitamin c. Vitamins are sooo expensive

[@zinnialoveci6634]

My go to plants are tomatoes, peppers, pole beans and this year I started parsley, oregano and basil. The herbs will have to go in pots and I will also pot up a few ground cherries too. Unfortunately, the only fruit we have room for is my old Concord grape.

[@kalinowskipower-cfmotoatvu3243]

AWESOME IDEAS! I never thought of juices for berries! I only think of jams. And only apples for juice. Thanks for the tip!!!

[@almostoily7541]

We make blackberry cobbler with juice only. Some in the family can't eat the seeds so they appreciate the seedless cobblers.

[@michaelsasylum]

Roasted red peppers store well in a brine or oil if you have an economical source of olive oil. Roasted red peppers go great on sandwiches, make a nice jam, and also as a sauce booster when pureed. Great list, just wondering what your opinion of pumpkin is, it used to be a staple food source and stores for a really long time.

[@patriciawoodward2566]

A lot of this I do--- but I have so much room for improvement. Thank you for sharing this.

[@krystal6394]

Love the idea of little mini series!! I learn so much from you every time I watch a video!! Thank you!!

[@TheTinkerersWife]

Good list. One I added a few years ago is grow sweet bay plant, (Laurus nobile). It can get very large here and well worth growing as Ill use more than the store size jar of dried leaves in a year. Its used in hispanic foods, stews, sauces and the leaves help deter pantry moths too.

[@jenifercowden193]

Will you please show us how to make some of your tomato products and potato? And anything else from your garden! Thank you for teaching us so many wonderful things! I’m in the process of planning what to grow this year, you inspire me!

[@1870s]

We have published over 1000 videos. They're out there. Here's some All Things Tomato: kzbin.info/aero/PLoi3On3ZiLmHyZT8mVO4_tvTjBmMbDnf9

[@preppernut]

My garden plan has changed over the 45 years that I have been doing it, to suit the space and my declining energy level. I like to think that it is practical and efficient now. Like you, we grow tomatoes, berries, herbs and potatoes. Not too many sweet peppers because I just don't get the yield that I prefer for the space they take up. So a couple for fun, and if we see reduced price peppers in the store because they really need to go, we buy those and cut out the bad parts and freeze the rest. I don't waste garden space on brassicas either, because where we have lived for almost 15 years, we have never had a year where we have managed to get a good harvest. It is either the slugs or cabbage moths, no matter what we try, So I will bite the bullet and buy cabbages for $1.29 a pound. Luckily, we made lots of sauerkraut over the years, so we don't have to do more for a long time. A few months ago, I bought a couple of heads of red cabbage and canned lots of pints of pickled red cabbage...we tried it for the first time today, and it was really good. I will try kale again, the upright dinosaur kale doesn't take up much room. Onions, carrots and beets, cucumbers, beans and delicata squash are on my "must have" list as well.

[@lizardsjc5317]

I'm surprised you didn't have zucchini in your top five. I see you add it to so many recipes. We all know one plant will feed the neighborhood.

[@marilynweber7957]

I struggle with squash bugs and bugs that get on kale and brassicas - the only holy terror in any gardening we do is Johnson grass - we are contemplating putting asparagus into a raised bed with heavy duty weed barrier underneath. I thought asparagus was a miner, so I have struggled with doing this - in KY and IN the Johnson grass tries to defeat everything I ever plant . . . Good lists!!!!

[@annettemcateer1599]

I love this video Also i bought your garden planner and i am hoping i can be more successful this year with gardening. The past 3 years I have struggled with blight and other infestations Keep the videos coming i am getting inspired to try again❤

[@randiginder7691]

Love love love your videos! All of therm. I live in northern Indiana so climate is close or same. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@AnitaEtheridge]

I grow what we like to eat and i preserve all i can. sugar free is not so tasty so i make a lot of condiments. I do grow herbs and you will enjoy that so much.I have started peppers tomatoes and some herbs

[@soniab.estacio3008]

Wow ❤ I miss you , thank you !

[@MargieBenson-dv9ek]

Thank you Rachel ❤

[@andrewhammill6148]

Good list. I think I would have personally substituted the berry option with garlic or onions though.

[@dianamallory8535]

For Beginning gardeners Don't make the same mistake I did when planting herbs, know what perennial plants are evasive . I had Oregano take over a 4X8 garden box. And be careful where you plant Mints! Thanks for sharing!

[@rvmush3883]

Mints in containers only but not your green stalks. Made that mistake last year. I had mint in all levels. Had to dispose the soil. 😢

[@simplelifegarden6154]

Great video! Thanks for sharing❤

[@mostuniquemary]

The Dirty Dozen is basically my guide on what to grow. Your green stalk is looking great! Mine is full of weeds. lol. I really need to clean it up and plant most of my herbs in there. I did not think about using Nasturtium seeds for pepper! Is the taste fairly the same?

[@candacebradley7335]

Mine are Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, green beans, bell peppers, hot peppers assorted herbs. We just planted asparagus, strawberries blueberries last year. We buy local sweet corn, apples & peaches to supplement our pantry with for long term storage.

[@UrbanHomesteadMomma]

Tomatoes 110%! Potatoes if I had more space… but they take up too much room and we are limited. Berries… yes Herbs… yes Summer squash… I add it to all the things Carrots… the garden carrots beat the store bought hands down! No comparing the flavour! Peas… because my kiddo thinks I don’t know he steals them and eats them 😂

[@Greenbeasts338]

I need at least 100 lbs of tomatoes each year. I tried your Mrs wages recipe for ketchup so yummy but only good in fridge for 7 days according to packages instructions

[@jennbama]

I found some volunteer diacon radishes in my yard this morning. I guess the birds found the seeds in the fall and moved them 😅

[@cinbob00]

Im going to try my own sweet potatoes this year. Love your channel do you have a cook book? Would love to make some of your tomato canning recipes...😊

[@VagabondAnne]

Great list! I love all of these, but I would hate to not grow lettuce, crookneck squash, Oregon sweet meat winter squash, green beans, and I never have enough room for all the dry pole beans I want to grow. Yes, organic dry beans are not hard to find, but some of the best tasting ones are expensive or hard to find. Last year I grew Borlotti pole beans and big white runner beans, so good! Also garlic is easy, shallots are wonderful but expensive in the store. I’m still trying with onions! I don’t have enough room for corn, but I’m still adding berry plants and asparagus.

[@shannonbrice8012]

In our zone, berries are hard to over winter and potatoes take up almost half of our garden ( not worth the garden space) when I can buy 50 pounds of garden potatoes for 20 dollars from other people. I found home grown celery has a much stronger flavour than store bought so I need half the amount in a recipe. The amount of leeks I grew last year would have cost me over 600 dollars at the store ( I bought the starts for 20 dollars) but peppers don't grow well (I suspect we don't have a long enough growing season).

[@debbiemusgrove676]

I never thought to grind my jalapeños and dehydrate them for red pepper flakes. We put red pepper flakes on everything. Definitely going to save me a lot of money in the future. should’ve been a no-brainer. 😂 Thank you Rachel for the idea.

[@junewrogg6137]

Great picks!

[@XOjmmXO]

I went to my mother's garden last early fall and thought, "Hmm, there isn't very much dill this year," so I took the seeds and sprinkled it like fairy dust EVERYWHERE! Come to find out, she pulled the dill out on purpose! Happy dill harvest this fall!

[@bethmcmahon7469]

Great info! ❤

[@c.chines9418]

Loved this!

[@kerriskitchen4747]

My picks are close to the same.

[@danielleosentoski520]

Oh gosh have had little luck growing potatoes and half of what you buy smell moldy.. I love your content today!! Love talking usefulness of the veggie garden

[@rootsandbones7904]

Great video with a mild Bubba Gump shrimp list vibe

[@mendyarp9158]

Thank you so much!! Love this!!!

[@dielemon]

Thank you i loved the video :) enjoy!

[@TraciParks]

Enjoyed the conversation. Thank you for your perspective.

[@hersheyqueenlisa]

Other tomato products, tomato veggie juice, pizza sauce, bbq sauce, sweet and sour sauce, etc…

[@dorriwaldera3081]

We only have a few raised beds as of now (besides our berries), so potatoes do not make sense. However I am going to try onions this year, I am thinking succession gardening, and can do a fall crop after harvesting them.

[@muskokaoma7470]

Bears eat my berries so i dont bother planting stuff like that. When i moved into my current home there was a ton of raspberry plants here but i never have got more than a few berries each year. So i buy frozen berries mostly

[@kayemoore]

This was sooo helpful! THANK YOU!

[@LyndaMcMahan]

Surprised zuchinni was not a top for you. Love your top 5 though and all but berries are in my top 5.

[@alysseh513]

Great video and I’m looking forward to the next few! Thank you

[@myberryownhomestead764]

Squash. Butternut squash is $1.25 a pound…. Crazy high!!!

[@dawngrimmius4971]

Great information! Thank you

[@jackienoel2864]

Thank you so much!! I enjoyed this and it helped me

[@pandywilson9076]

Excellent list. Thank you@

[@jenniferstafford1514]

Loved this!!!!

[@sitsngigglesful]

Ok, as you progress thru this video i reqlize i HAVE to watch for real and not background as I work, lol. Soooooo into the liked and save for later folders it goes!

[@hollyk4368]

Thanks again… I always learn and enjoy!!

[@michelehidgman3864]

Rachel do you have Lovage on your homestead? Its a wonderful perennial and a great celery substitute. If you dont would you like some? I'd be willing to send you a plant or 2 and some seeds

[@susanoswalt1169]

Thanks,I saved a lot of money doing those very vegetables.

[@CS-bn4un]

GREAT job, Rachel! Between y'all and Hollar Homestead channel, I feel like I've "visited" gardening/homesteading friends in your natural and no hype manners! This actually is not just "Rachel's list" of the top 5 things to grow, but really should get any listener in to the mode of thinking "what things do we use the most and are the most practical things to try growing" as well as "what do I least want to buy from the store and/or is too pricey" like berries. We are still working on establishing our own top 5, but definitely have added garlic and hope to try onions this year. (Fighting a well-established and VERY challenging invasive weed here in SE USA- Florida Betony - hence difficult to kill organically....and it loves to compete with root crops...any and all suggestions welcome and yes, I have pickled the roots but we have too much to eat and not many takers). YES about the herbs...we have had one two year old (so must replant this year) lush curly parsley that was brilliant green our entire mild winter. Have two varieties of thyme established, cilantro growing well (took me a while to figure out best time to grow it here) and basil seeds just germinated. Very humid here, so best to dehydrate for us since I don't have a freeze dryer. Sorry I rambled, but thanks..well done!

[@denisemarie485]

Great video! I love your series videos. Very helpful and informative ❤

[@teresacarter8577]

We have just tried seed starting. Cucumber great. Tomatoes 0%. Will try round two. Will also plant what we need from plants and watch more videos on seed starting in general. Great video as always 💕

[@southloupriverhomestead4696]

Kind of reminded me of Forest Gump talking about shrimp. LOL

[@1870s]

Lol

[@cargold7597]

Have you done videos on meals from potatoes. You mentioned so many uses but have never canned potatoes so would love to know how to use canned potatoes.

[@rvmush3883]

Soup, casserole, potato salad, potato patties… Just rinse them well.

[@inthegarden1917]

Hey Rachel, do you have a recipe video making all all of the sauces you mentioned in this video. I know you have two mentioned. I will try to look through and see as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@1870s]

The should all be in our preserving the harvest playlist. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5isaZtsbaqci5o

[@jackiecasas2697]

Have you ever done Rotel tomatoes? Would love a recipe

[@1870s]

No not something we use regularly

[@aprilbrooks6860]

Suttons Daze has a no-tell Rotel recipe she did not long ago.

[@almostoily7541]

I made some with seeded and chopped Serrano peppers and tomatoes. I had gallons of Serrano peppers given to me so that's what I used. Also made green chilies canned from them...and I used a jalapeno jelly recipe but substitute Serrano. I think the usual pepper is Anaheim for Rotel and green chilies so I'm growing those this year.

[@loisbowen2397]

You said you make your BBQ sauce - have you seen Ball's recipe for BBQ sauce made using Rhubarb (no tomatoes in this).

[@latigress1959]

I am trying to find plants to put in with my plants that need pollinators. I see some flowers with your tomatoes, peppers and other around your garden. What kinds are they?

[@1870s]

Borrage is a big one for us. Self seeds. Cone flower too, we have a lot of.

[@hillsidehomestead6422]

Do you start your seeds in the red Dixie cups?

[@KatrinaM1234]

Going over herbs, is there a substitute for bay leaves or is it possible to grow at home? Never hear anyone growing one.

[@virginiarussell3767]

You can grow Bay Laurel trees at home but they are slow-growing. They are quite common in the Mediterranean. Burpee Seeds sells them.

[@almostoily7541]

If you have wax myrtle, also called flea tree, old timers used them as a substitute. They also aren't as big as bay trees. They are more of a large bush. Our bay tree died several years ago. I noticed the ones in the woods also were dying at that time. Since I have the wax myrtles, I haven't bothered to replace the bay.