Early Summer Planting Tips:☀️ The BIG Plant Out! 🍅

Get your trowel at the ready. It's TIME to PLANT!
What started out as a few hopeful seeds have now turned into a forest of triffids, raring to get out their pots and into the ground. Help!
Never fear! Ben our backyard gardener is here to guide us through his tips, tricks and tasty tid-bits for how to plant all sorts of veggie delights from tomatoes to squashes and beans. Ready, set, GROW!
For our video on growing in straw bales see:
• Kickstart a Weed-Free ...
For more on tomatoes:
• Simple Steps to Growin...
If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
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If you've noticed any pests or beneficial insects in your garden lately please report them to us at BigBugHunt.com

[@callmedc]

Love your enthusiasm, wishing you a productive garden this season ^^

[@GrowVeg]

And you! :-)

[@ronanogrady7298]

Ben is a class act,accurate and precise and well paced. Very well produced and a nice son of a gun 😃

[@elizabethwatt8131]

Definitely! He knows what he’s teaching, has it all planned, and speaks clearly, smartly, good-naturedly, and keeps ‘right on target.’ He hasn’t the ‘drone’, we find in a few other gardener podcasters, which I frankly detest! Well done! Love them, Ben!

[@GrowVeg]

Guys, please - stop! You'll make me blush! :-)

[@ronanogrady7298]

@@GrowVeg that's the stuff Ben😃😃

[@NotQuiteSoThinLizzie641]

@@ronanogrady7298 You see, Ben doesn’t watch “certain other” gardening podcasts. If he did, he’d projectile vomit at his iPad, the way we would like to.

[@gingerkissed]

How does the old saying go? ‘Plant one for the weather, one for the birds, and one for you.’

[@gingerkissed]

@Noble Neither did the weather. I just had tornadoes and hail. Lol

[@GrowVeg]

Wise words!

[@ofrecentvintage]

I've never heard that one before but, boy, does it make sense!

[@ranlu611]

2 for the bug!

[@organaut]

One for the pigeon…one for the crow…one to rot and one to grow.

[@CriticalThinker1967]

Don’t take Ben too literally. The guy at the nursery looked at me funny when I said I needed a “mere suggestion” of seed planting mix

[@teqnicalities7713]

I’ve got so much growing in my garden the best part of 10 different vegetables, and countless flowers for our pollinator friends! I think anyone who says they don’t have time for gardening doesn’t realise that actually you make time for it because it becomes less of a chore and more of a pleasure? Thanks Ben, your videos along with other KZbinrs are defiantly getting more people of all ages into the game! I’m 23 and while the majority of my friends are in pubs and clubs I’m in the garden doing the jobs that need to be done to keep my crops happy! Only then will I go and see them! Never been much for partying anyway 👍🏼🤣

[@momothevine]

That makes you a much more interesting individual. 😉 Happy gardening! 🌿🌸

[@GrowVeg]

Good on you mate! Sounds like you've got your priorities right there - so much joy to be had from gardening! :-)

[@tiarianamanna973]

Way to go 😁👍🌻

[@janicealderson4329]

My hubby said i was 'obsessed' yes, a chore but also a gifted way of life! This second year has been really good for me - I also have lots of stuff this year!

[@debzeb6899]

And gardening is just ten minutes here and 15 minutes there. It all adds up. And every time you sepnd ten minutes you get so much reward.

[@MissBeth19]

I've just had my first sugar snap peas come out this week! So exciting! This year I have sugar snap peas, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, tomatoes and potatoes 😁

[@nickthegardener.1120]

I just had some snow peas! Delicious!👍

[@kellimoretter-bue3204]

Do you have any tips on growing healthy strawberries? I feel like mine have been unhealthy the last two years. The crop has been subpar.

[@MissBeth19]

@@kellimoretter-bue3204 this is my first year of strawberries so I don't have any tips yet but i did read that feeding liquid tomato feed helps the berries become nice and juicy. Fingers crossed for you this year 🤞

[@nickthegardener.1120]

@@kellimoretter-bue3204 if your strawberries are older than 3 years, replace them as they deteriorate over time. Replace with their runners.👍

[@GrowVeg]

Well done on all those crops @Beth G. For healthy strawberries @Kelli Moretter-Bue I'd recommend being sure to feed them. Also, the plants become less vigorous after three/four years, so they may just be old and need of replacing. You might find this video on strawberries helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpm1aHxmntWVia8

[@daisygurl3601]

Your enthusiasm is absolutely infectious! Your advice is straight forward and easy to implement. Your garden is filling in brilliantly. Looking forward to the next video. Blessings... daisy

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Daisy, that's very much appreciated. Watch out for the full garden tour later in June! :-)

[@glow1815]

Something about how you do your gardening is FUN to watch! I don't get bored.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@shanewest7731]

Another great video Ben, thanks. Will be signing up in the near future. Can't wait to get started with the garden planner. Wishing you a great season and a bountiful harvest.

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers Shane - and you too. :-)

[@daniellerother2296]

Ben, you’re my gardening hero! Thanks for all the tips and especially your positivity, you’re helping this new gardener have faith that I can do it!

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff Danielle! So pleased you're enjoying the videos. Happy gardening! :-)

[@alexandraathay]

"Tickle them in" - best seed sewing gardening term ever Ben! 😂

[@elizabethwatt8131]

Such a pleasant, super informative, demonstrative podcast! I leave with a smile on my face and a feeling that “I have no fear. I can do anything in the garden!” Thank you so much, Ben❤️. God Bless!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Elizabeth. :-)

[@dawnlalek]

Thank you for a brilliant video as always Ben. I just bought dill seeds this weekend for my herb area but will now sow it in with my beans. X

[@karlburke276]

I'm in Ireland and I have tiny green tomatoes already forming, cucumber flowering, peppers flowering, watermelon flowering. First year with my newly built green house.

[@karentuzynski7525]

YOU are AWESOME and thank you for making me a better gardener!!🥰

[@GrowVeg]

Ah, thanks Karen. Happy gardening to you! :-)

[@urabundant]

11:12 that is what I did with my green bell pepper plants! It worked quite well! Thank you for another great video full of useful tips! ONE LOVE! 🙏

[@spencerhoadley5723]

Spring has been running late for me, hopefully that means summer will be too. I have some lettuce, onions, peas and such in the ground, but impatiently waiting to get tomatoes and peppers, corn, and squash in. Hopefully it warms up soon

[@urabundant]

I started all of my plants from seed in an indoor greenhouse and was so excited to watch them grow. Proudly walked them out to the garden and plugged them in with a promise to wake up to my new fence. Awoke the next morning to my garden being eaten!!!! Yup! Baby bunnies

[@GrowVeg]

Oh dear - that must have been heartbreaking! Hope the bunnies stay away next time.

[@AcrosstheHedge]

Thank you for the video. I've been wondering if I could plant more than one variety of cucumber together on the same trellis. I just watched you do it! So I am going to go out and plant my cucumbers!

[@adelineparinduri]

I smiled all the way seeing you so excited for the big planting! I have to wait another week or so for that. Today's supposed to be our last frost date so yay! Giving it a buffer time for planting out the warm weather crops but will not wait til our night temp gets to 10°C regularly. That might not happen for another month or more! Haha push things a bit but they always survive and thrive! Great video Ben! Thanks for lifting up our spirits!

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one! Planting is so satisfying. Has to be the best bit about gardening I reckon. :-)

[@rachelstark2391]

HEINOUSLY hot today, 95°F...we go from 0° to 100°...NO SPRING...that nonexistant global warming! Now, 1/2 naked, standing in front of the freezer with a cocktail 🍸

[@GrowVeg]

Glad you've got the cocktail sorted - I'm sure that will have helped! :-)

[@bobbilynnmiller742]

This was such a great and timely video ! Thank you, Ben . Your videos are always so cheery and practical! I have a cold frame , however I’m not sure how to harden off my plants in it . It gets full morning sun . Last year I scorched my little seedlings and have been to scared to try again this year ! Any tips ? Our night time temps still are in the high 30’s F . Low 40’s. Each night . Daytime in the mid 60’s F . - 70’s .

[@GrowVeg]

I would perhaps keep everything outside during the day and then pop them into the cold frame later afternoon once everything's cooled off a bit. You can shut the lid if it gets very cold. But it sounds like you'll be planting outside any day now.

[@oceansoul3694]

Hi Ben, thank you for a great video today! We've had a major winter storm here, 18 inches of snow and 26F degrees. I covered all the garden and haven't even been able to get out to the chickens yet, so this beautiful garden of yours, and the planting out expertise is most welcome today especially!

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - that's quite some storm! Hope spring arrives soon for you.

[@kathleenwilliamson174]

Perfect timing as I have just put out my tomatoes, cabbages, parsley, basil and marigolds. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and garden with us! I did watch your sprucing up your garden, where you added the trellises and obelisks. Where did you find your obelisks? They are absolutely lovely.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Kathleen. The obelisks are from Agrs: www.agrs.co.uk/collections/obelisks

[@lindabuss7153]

Our spring in Spain this year has missed us!! Autumn, winter and virtually straight into summer heat. Hottest may for 77 years apparently. Planted my Amazonka squash in a large pot before I left for a week long visit to the UK and it's grown so well. My tomatoes are also in pots ready to train up our window grills. A few flowers appearing already. It was nice to come back and hear your cheery voice:)

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much Linda. I've heard it's been rather warm in Spain. Seems a lot of the US has also missed spring this year. Happy gardening! :-)

[@leannhooper6567]

I'm from Eastern Washington state, Spokane, zone 5, and our temps have been unseasonably cold. I am recently retired from teaching and am looking forward to becoming a successful vegetable gardener. I've been growing flowers my entire adult life but have only tried veggies twice with some success. Really enjoy your videos!

[@asullivan1147]

Hey, another Spokanite! So far this year I've had the best success with radishes and peas and have a few zucchini started and fairly well established. Good luck!

[@ammiller3911]

It's been unseasonably cold here in ohio too! High of 58f today :(

[@NotQuiteSoThinLizzie641]

Can you even believe that they’re roasting in North-Western U.S. States? Up in Canada, we’re still waiting for some decent Spring weather! We had Frost almost EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, including right up-to night before last, May 22! Hey our Safe-Planting day is May 24! What a horrible, super-COLD, windy, frosty, “all daytime wear-a-jacket-or-freeze-your-butt-while-getting-your-garden-planted” gross Spring this is!!They can send some heat, all of our ‘ways’, just even a little bit…Just their extra, just what they have to spare! This Spring is so miserable, that the really, true “CHILL” in the air, feels like Fall, when you know SNOW is coming, to STAY! That is NO joke!

[@GrowVeg]

Hi all. Hope your weather settles down soon. @Leann Hooper - so pleased you're inspired to try growing veggies! :-)

[@jessiesheldon-huffey1824]

I'm about 2 hours north of you guys in Sandpoint. Idaho. I'm going to take a bit of a risk this may and plant out half my tomatoes and warm season veggies out this weekend. I will need to pay close attention to the Temps in case I need to cover my crops with plastic for a night or 2.

[@MrTankimus]

This is only my second year of gardening and I made the mistake of planting some enorma runner beans, way too early. They got killed by a frost in late March, but have now bounced back and are about 3ft up their poles. I’ve noticed that the plants are a much darker green than the ones planted later, and one plant is completely pink and very delicate. What’s going on, here?

[@GrowVeg]

Not sure what's going on. Sometimes leaves discolour due to a mineral deficiency, but if the other leaves are dark green, then I doubt that is the issue.

[@amanarunganaikaloo1470]

God Bless All of Us Especially You 🌹🥰🙂💙🏡🌦️Thank You From Lawrence Gladys and Son Simon East London England Handsome and Beautiful. Very Good Garden.

[@dianeallred9288]

My last frost date was in theory the 17th, but it got down to freezing last night. Good thing I have been running behind and didn't get my babies in the ground yet.

[@GrowVeg]

Lucky escape Diane!

[@markw5779]

Great video Ben, Everything is starting to take off in my allotment,so much on the go,great time of year👍 looking forward to the slug video.

[@midgeporter7495]

I started my first veggies in a pop-up greenhouse. New to growing so your videos are really useful. A bit late starting for this year and only just made my first raised beds with horse manure, grass cuttings and leaf mulch from the woods. Just need to top with compost and then try out my first plants. A good trial run ready to start earlier next year. Spring has been a bit slow here in SW Scotland but hopefully there will be enough growing time for some crops. Can I plant any tomato outside? Thanks.

[@GrowVeg]

I'm sure things will grow away beautifully once the warmer weather arrives. You can plant tomatoes in SW Scotland, but make sure it's an outdoor variety - or one that says suitable for outdoor growing. If you can, maybe grow them in containers or grow bags against a south or west-facing wall that radiates out some of the trapped warmth from the day.

[@stacyhall3061]

Thank you for your content. I love your approach and have been so inspired. I just built my first ever raised beds and planted tomatoes, peppers, squash, melon, and lots of herbs. I’m in Houston Texas 9b and it’s already reached 100F. We’re in for a hot summer! Cheers!

[@GrowVeg]

Well done on getting start Stacy. Wishing you an abundant harvest!

[@mayaweirauch1739]

Dear Ben, great video! I also had phytophtera in the tomato’s each year (I planted tomato’s two years in a different spot but with the phytophera I stopped with tomato’s), especially last year my tomato’s had phytophtera from the start. I keep strictly to rotation of crops. Could you explain in a video how to do croprotation with tomato’s and potato’s, and also with phytophtera in a video? Should there be six years between a potato and a tomatocrop? And how long should I wait with potato’s in a patch that had phytophtera in tomato’s? Thank you very much!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the video suggestion Maya. So long as you leave at least a year between potato/tomato crops - i.e. grow something in their place for at least one growing season - then you should be fine as you will have broken the link. Most of the disease seems to come on the wind anyhow, but by growing them in a different place for at least a year it should definitely help.

[@theladysgardenandhome]

Spring is later than usual here in Southern Connecticut, USA. Although today it was quite hot so I'm hoping all of my spring veggies don't bolt.

[@maryglover5759]

I live in the mountains in Colorado in the US. We just had 2 feet of snow this weekend. I don't think I'll plant out just yet around here. I love all of the information you provide. It's helped me become a better gardener over the last couple of years since I found you. Thank you for your hard work.

[@GrowVeg]

And thanks for watching Mary. Hope you get to plant out soon.

[@mamazeeto623]

Another enthusiastic episode loved every moment and learn so much. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@ohno248]

Great video! ...love them all. I am growing from seed for the first time and planting a serious vegetable garden for the first time. I am in USDA Zone 5b and hope to plant everything outside today. My summer and winter squash do have some yellowing leaves just like you mentioned! I didn't know why, but thanks to your video, now I do. I will get them in my straw and hay bales which are already fertilized. I love your obelisk and flat trellises, by the way.

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff - I hope you managed to get everything planted. Summer's pretty much here now. :-)

[@rachelc1492]

Thanks Ben, I absolutely love your videos, and I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one who had to put their beans out early! I had them in toilet roll containers and their roots were popping out all over so they are now in a raised bed, my first ever, and doing well. My next project is the pallet compost bin. Looking forward to the slug video, think I live in slug central. They don't give my seedlings a chance, caught them destroying my Virginia creeper too, which I had rooted from cuttings last year. Would appreciate some help. Thank you! 😃

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff Rachel. The pallet compost bin will look the business I'm sure. Good luck bringing those slugs under control. :-)

[@valoriegriego5212]

Loads of fun in the garden with you today, Ben! ( : Lovely plants! And I look for multiples in the pots when I grow to buy starts. Here we pay almost $5 per potted starter plant. When I find multiples I feel like I'm getting my money's worth. ( : We are planting for summer - hot summer weather. I pulled my onions last week and planted cowpeas in those containers. They are already popping up! ( : The cowpeas can take the upper 90s to 114 temps we get during the summer month. I also have popcorn, okra luffa, and other things planted that don't mind the heat that will be here soon. This morning I found I've got a vine borer in my trap plant for the squash bugs - a Blue Hubbard. I wrapped the stem near the ground, but the moth will still lay eggs farther up. I'm going to do a little surgery this evening - try digging the caterpillar(s) out. If I get them all and pack dirt around the wound, the plant should grow on. ( : I'm already looking forward to next week's video! ( : Continued happy gardening! ( :

[@GrowVeg]

I hope you've managed to excavate those vine borers. Sounds like you know what you're up to there. Happy gardening to you. :-)

[@bwittem]

Thanks Ben for another wonderful and informative video. So interesting to see you working away and hearing you share your garden knowledge. Cheers!

[@carolehenderson9185]

That was so enjoyable and I love your tips for companion planting. 👏👍🙏

[@jamieboyd6941]

Great video Ben, as usual! I've never thought about utilizing my greenhouse for hothouse tomatoes....I may just have to try it with some of my extra plants this year, along with a movable shade cloth since we can get pretty toasty. Other than my sweet corn and pole shell beans, I've got everything in place. Potatoes, peas, lettuce, spinach alyssum, leeks, onions, kale, and shallots were done earlier, garlic last fall, added sweet peppers, chiles, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, eggplant, green beans, cucumbers, dill, basil, parsley, tarragon, marigolds, calendula, borage, and zinnias this week. Whew. Now....I eagerly await the slug video!!! Grrrr... SLUGS! 🤣 Happy gardening!!

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - loads planted already! Happy gardening! :-)

[@ammiller3911]

I put my seedlings out too early. Now I'll be making a trip to my local garden shop for tomatoes lol

[@ValerieHarristhefoodiemedic]

Helloooo Ben! Yes, spring has been very wet, cold and dreary. Today is the day for me to plant out some starts for me as well. Unfortunately, if slug ranching were a thing, I would have a bumper crop this year. Finally, we are getting some sun so as to drive them back a bit. The little #@$^%~# got a bunch of my tomato starts and mowed them down. Fortunately, I had quite a lot, so all is not lost. Happy sunny Sunday!

[@GrowVeg]

They are little #@$^%~#! Hopefully this weekend's video on slugs will give a few ideas Valerie. Happy gardening! :-)

[@jackiek4159]

Absolutely loved this! Love learning from you! 🙌

[@kinetictapestry5021]

Such a great video. Love the tip about planting in straw nails. I had not seen that before

[@jacquelinehoward5183]

Hi Ben! In Ontario, Canada 6b, there was rain in the forecast last week, and the overnight low was 5°C, so I planted a week early! I'm trying radishes beside my tomatoes this year (never grown those before) and they germinated so quickly! There's so much joy for a gardener at this time of year. Ma your harvest be bountiful!

[@GrowVeg]

Isn't there - it's a time of fantastic promise Jacqueline. Happy harvesting to you too.

[@bacisplace2862]

So happy I found your channel! I’m a Southern California gardener (Zone 9B) and fairly new to planting. I’ve learned so much from you so far. I didn’t know that about dill. I will have to direct sow some next to my cucumbers!

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one! :-)

[@KeiteiVentures]

Top video and tips! Hope my garden does as well as yours, great stuff! Cheers :)

[@Deedee1987dee]

I have great success with tomatoes. My advice is to sow the early 1st of march and keep them on windowsill, keep trimming off bottom leaves. Plant them deep and make sure you waited at least a few days for the wounds from the cut branches to heal before planting. Never pour water on their leaves like he did in the video and always trim any leaves that don't look perfect. Use mulch.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, avoid wetting the leaves if you can!

[@lindachambers9752]

Great video again thanks for all the tips. Your pumpkin plants look so healthy.

[@annaaberg9803]

Thank you Ben! 🙏🏻 Here in the middle parts of Sweden i have just planted my squashes and beans 🤗 Happy Gardening!

[@catiepower3550]

I thought I planted to capacity but underestimated my space. I’ll be adjusting my plan going forward so I can fill to capacity for fall and then next spring.

[@andreimihai9522]

I'm pretty sure that marigolds will have no effect on "Tuta absoluta" species which destroy my tomatoes in the July-august period, but this year I plant a few of them. Will we see

[@rossrennie182]

I failed with my Frence Beans planted to early I think North Shropshire

[@GrowVeg]

There may be time to re-sow.

[@ssy333kk5]

Thank you Ben. This is the video I really need right now.

[@barbaradavidson1950]

Late spring here with too many cold dipping days. Summer came early so everything is late and confused this year 😕. It will all catch up eventually ☺️

[@lesliekendall5668]

You gave me an idea mentioning the cold frame. I have a few large square plastic bins and the old windows that were taken out of my 1910 upstairs windows when they were up-graded. Now I just have to measure to see if they'd match in size. If not, I have plenty of scrap wood to make frames out of. 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Smart move Leslie.

[@susanolds8097]

thanks for the cucumber tip im growing them for the first time and wondered why the leaves went crispy i did water them more and they seem better now thankfully

[@GrowVeg]

That's great to hear Susan.

[@susanroutley6986]

Cool spring here in British Columbia. Putting tomatoes and cucumbers in June 1. Not taking a chance this year.

[@kevinstonebanks8552]

Hi Ben Another great video and some great tips as normal, I had my first tomato showing today,I'm well please,

[@GrowVeg]

You should be well pleased Kevin - what a result!

[@linebrunelle1004]

another week before anything goes outside. below freezing still and snow yesterday, ... 🇨🇦

[@self-sufficiencyinthecity]

Just been looking for some ideas for early summer planting...came across your video great tips thanks

[@toniedalton5448]

I got my plants out this week. Just in time for a heat wave. But they are doing good. Next week it cools down, as we have about the same climate as you. I use egg shells and Epsom salts on my tomatoes. Being in the country it always makes me smile when you use the chicken manure pellets. I need to gather mine this week, lol. We use a fertilizer of cow manure and water for the squash and cukes. I guess we’ve been organic farmers all my life ! Have a blessed Sunday. Almost time for cutting hay here. Summer is moving on.

[@GrowVeg]

Wow summer is moving on for you Tonie. I hope the hay cut goes well. :-)

[@carolavant3778]

We've had a late, dry Spring this year, and now it's getting hot - We'll be getting daily thunderstorms here for the next few days and the rain is very welcome.

[@padanfain7466]

Great video Ben! Just been doing the same today, planting out Tomatoes, cucumber, squash and the like. Question regards beef tomatoes, Marmande specifically. Do you grow them Cordon style? The first flowers have set, and every plant has this big dandelion style flower on the end of the set. What's the deal with that? I've grown Moneymaker and Tigerella previous few years but fancied a change.

[@GrowVeg]

That's a cracking variety of tomato you've chosen. Marmande is generally grown as a cordon type tomato - so leave a central stem and pinch out all of the side shoots. It should give some superb fruits.

[@padanfain7466]

@@GrowVeg thanks Ben. Any ideas on the big dandelion flowers at the end of the sets? Remove them and I guess wait till fruit set and keep 4-5 fruit per set?

[@TheSamba37]

Wish it was time to plant out for me. We're over here setting record lows. Before this year, the latest I've ever planted things out would've been two weeks ago. Combine this with the record highs and record time over 90°F last year and it's quickly becoming very difficult to garden.

[@Tan_Z]

I'm in the same situation.

[@GrowVeg]

I feel for you - that must be awful having such unpredictable weather. I hope you get to plant soon.

[@tombraun7235]

Your videos are really a pleasure to watch. They are very informative and helpful, espacially you showing us how to actually do stuff (like planting and sowing) is so helpful for beginners as well as more experienced gardeners. Also you must be one of the last KZbinrs that are able to fluently speak complete sentences without using jump cuts all the time ;-) Your obvious success is well deserved.

[@GrowVeg]

Bless you, that's incredibly kind of you to say. Really appreciate that! :-)

[@maxibake9323]

Great video, with lots of tips too.👍 TFS GV, & take care too everyone. ❤🙂🐶

[@yaneejitkaeo]

Hi Ben , I have been planted everything since last week and it’s all doing well, thank you for your sharing 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one Yanee! :-)

[@harrybrown3657]

I liked this, only thing missing was your dog 🐶

[@GrowVeg]

It was quite a warm day so she was hiding inside. Next time I hope she'll make an appearance I hope. :-)

[@stephenhope7319]

Great video Ben. Here in growing zone 9b, Sacramento, we are coming to the end of our dill and broccoli because the heat is coming. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, zucchini, beetroot, radish, spinach all in and doing great. All my planters are on timed drip irrigation and heavily mulched. Once again we are in a drought in Northern California, actually all the Western States, so drip does the work for me and the mulch keeps the sun off the soil.Next week my family is spending 3 weeks in England visiting relatives etc, so my sons girlfriend is tending my garden. Temps here just went to 100F and high 50'sF overnight so I put my overwintered 2 year old habanero and bell pepper plants out today.:)

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things to combat the heat. I hope your son's girlfriend keeps everything ticking along for you while you're away - I'm sure she'll do a great job. Enjoy your trip to England!

[@freezo244]

I was thinking I was too late…but I’m not! Thanks for the encouragement.

[@CMDRSloma]

I am in Belfast and decided to put my tomatoes in containers around 12 April. This was a risk, but 'Maskotka' is flowering like mad, super vigorous and already set some fruits. I have four other varieties Latah, Zlatava, Stupice and Sprakle. Peppers are growing nicely too, Lipstick pepper is about to flower too. Everything outside, while my place gets the last frost around mid-April summers are cool. For that reason, all varieties are carefully selected for such a climate. So far I am very pleased with Maskotka and Stupice tomatoes.

[@Deedee1987dee]

Nice ;) Maskotka is one of the easiest tomatoes to grow ;)

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - well done on getting such an early start. :-)

[@CMDRSloma]

@@GrowVeg It's all thanks to your advice. I did check my average last frost date which normally is the last week of March in my area but I know in the last few years we had frosty mornings in mid April. Knowing this I was also relying on a long-term weather forecast. Yeah, it's was gamble lol but it was indicating higher than average temps so I decided to take a risk. Young tomatoes were left outside, in front of the South facing wall overnight. Soil thermometer was showing average min temps between 4-7 Celsius, not great but not bad. In the end all plants got a head start which paid off.

[@rewbew9345]

I am in NE Oregon, USA. I think it’s FINALLY safe to plant out the tomatoes. Inside, I just started some some beans 🫘 zucchini and a couple of squash plants for fall. Just put in potatoes today. I don’t have the knack yet for lettuce 🥬 and other greens but I’ll get there. Thank you for all your supportive videos. We are 100s of miles apart but seem to have similar growing seasons.

[@GrowVeg]

I spent a year in Portland and remember the weather being very similar indeed!

[@robinholbrook8296]

I am in Kentucky and picked lettuce leaves today for a salad. Planted my garden today.

[@denisebrady6858]

Sorry great video though & I just loved it, learnt a couple of new things as well.

[@denisegarcia6441]

Felt like summer here in Denver until this weekend when we got some snow! ❄️ Will be planting this week.

[@paulp4452]

Planted my runners and french beans a couple of weeks ago at the allotment. Found the pidgeons had eaten the leaves today! Back to the windowsill!

[@GrowVeg]

They are a huge nuisance Paul, I feel your pain!

[@anniecorbin7998]

Ah nasturtium! Beautiful pest control and add a peppery taste to salads. Marigolds around the base of my pepper plants saved them from breaking off during summer storm winds.

[@66REDD66]

Last year my nasturtiums attracted tons of insects, including butterflies. They laid eggs all over my brassicas… hatched into an army of caterpillars and massacred all my crops. 😩😩

[@anniecorbin7998]

@@66REDD66 I watched a butterfly lay eggs on my cabbage one year. I pulled the leaf and took it a good 20 yards from the cabbages. There were more butterflies and more eggs; even caterpillars, but I persisted. I have a good stand of milkweed now and they prefer it to my veggies.

[@66REDD66]

@@anniecorbin7998 Oh wow that’s good news. I love watching the insects but I love my home grown veggies too, but they just don’t want me having any.😁😁.

[@lorrainefraser7793]

Just discovered this channel. Thanks, so helpful. 😀

[@crapoleon]

I planted some climbing french beans outside just yesterday! Got some Beetroot and Spring Onions under the lights too

[@prunechat8401]

Really enjoyed watching this! It is reassuring to see that your tomato plants are a similar size to our’s. Here in North Yorkshire we’ve been hardening tomatoes off over the past week and hope to get them into their growing on sites this afternoon. Still frustrated that there were no Ferline seeds to be had this year, it will be interesting to see how we get on with new to us varieties. Was it here that I heard a recommendation to plant basil as a companion to tomatoes? I have little pots of basil seedlings that I will plant at the base of tomatoes. I also have marigold seedlings so will add some of those in now that I’ve seen this video. Many thanks for all the work you put in to keeping less experienced gardeners growing in the right direction.

[@GrowVeg]

Hopefully the new-to-you varieties will do you proud. Yes, both basil and marigolds make excellent companions to tomatoes - they help to confuse/repel pests.

[@prunechat8401]

@@GrowVeg Tomatoes are all in their growing places now, in just a couple of days they seem to have really taken off and flowers are opening on most. Weather has been warm and damp so perhaps ideal as the outdoor plants acclimatise. Really appreciate your videos, so much valuable advice!

[@dn744]

Planted 50 marigolds at base of tomatoes, 100 in pots and tubs. 60 mesembryanthemum around melon and cucumber, 60 in pots, 80 in trays to give away. Put the last 6 tomatoes in tunnel, plus 7 hanging basket types. A good day 😌

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - that's a super-productive day. Good work!

[@1stAmbientGrl]

I live in Louisville, Kentucky and I am a bit frustrated with trying to harden off my plant starts because of the erratic weather. Last Spring our weather was mostly cold and wet. We even had a very unseasonable 2 inches of snow on April 27th, well after the average last frost date. I couldn't get my plants into the ground until the first week of June. This Spring has been unseasonably hot and windy with lots of thunderstorms. I wish I had a greenhouse to make seed starting and climatizing a bit easier. Right now, my tomato starts are long and lanky and most of my squash and melon plants recently and suddenly died, all indoors. I think I'm at the point now where I may as well direct sow; I think I'll have stronger, healthier plants that way even if it means adding another 2 weeks before harvest. What do you think?

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely worth trying sowing direct - particularly with squash and melon plants.

[@barbararoyal6139]

Very helpful. Thank you!🌱

[@Sam-lj9vj]

I live in zone the Netherlands, zone 8B. I started my tomato seeds inside, at around 1/30. I planted them out at around 4/15 when they were around 2,5ft already. I planted them around 1,5-2ft deep and right now they area probably around 4-5ft in total already. Highly recommended.

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - that's a great start!

[@helenedgington3135]

Forward to 2024 and it’s too wet and too cold for any gardening☹️

[@jenngraham1812]

I’m stoked with the beefsteaks I grew last year! Hope I have the same luck this season.

[@fifeohfarmingnstuff4416]

Ck out my latest video n se some of my results for planting taters in leaves.....

[@cherylhowker1792]

Yep great job again explaining all we need to know. I've been set back,was on holiday for a week and came back to find a couple of the fruit trees that were previously here are really badly infested with aphids.we have tired everything we can think of.im annoyed as they have spread to my carrots, parsnips, runner beans, potatoes,2 tomato plants, and the rhubarb. Basically everything that's outside except the onions and shallots. All that's in the green houses are ok,but as you say they are ready to get outside and grow.but I'm scared to plant them out and have them eaten alive untill I know the aphids are dead and gone. And that could take weeks. Any ideas on what I can do.

[@GrowVeg]

You could plant under covers to keep them off. I often find that the aphid problem reduces dramatically once their predators catch up and start eating them. You might find this video helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boaskHWjZcaHopI

[@cherylhowker1792]

@@GrowVeg thanks so much. Yes we got some marigolds and have spreayed everything possible with an oil and soap mixture I found on Google works same as your some does. Tbh the tree that was bad last year but didn't know what it was was bad this year and we can't get it under control so have had to cut that one down But me and my carers decided that 1 tree compared to everything I have grown and planted,including a new cherry tree bush,in a 100L pot.... Better not to loose that 8 raspberry plants 2 blueberry plants, 2 blackberries plants, lots of onions and shallots and 3 new rhubarb plant,carrots, parsnips,runner beans,peppers, omg I can't remember everything lol....have gone full on this year

[@hollyashton7009]

Watching from zone 3 🇨🇦💚

[@clarkl4177]

I'm in a hot climate, so I'm at the "ugh--what-did-I-do-wrong?" Phase 😥So much planted 🌱 SO LITTLE thriving or even growing much! Trying to not panic, but to keep learning and adjusting, watering and waiting...sigh

[@clarkl4177]

@Noble I appreciate those tips, 👍 And, since I am also dealing with new property AND climate, I'm trying to be forgiving of myself🐛

[@designindeb]

We're in for 102°F tomorrow, in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California! 🤯😵‍💫 I guess you could say summer is here To top that off I'm behind in getting ALL I want to grow in the ground. ☹️😫

[@GrowVeg]

Sorry to hear you have such warm temperatures already. Keep everything watered!

[@shoshanahcrookes4406]

Great video again Ben! Love the poached egg plant. I have a real mat of it. I smile every time I see it 😀and I'm soooo looking forward to my dill flowering and see what pollinators visit 👍

[@GrowVeg]

I bet the poached egg plants look sublime!

[@trishgreydanus7004]

Niagara zone 6. Having extreme jumps in temps. It has been 27c for 2 days and now going back to 15 tomorrow! A few tomatoes are outside but holding back peppers, eggplant, squash, cukes. And I have backup tomatoes inside! I've got till the end of September so lots of time.

[@GrowVeg]

Happy planting Trish.

[@billyandrew]

Having been badly let down by T&M, at the start of this month and a day short of delivery of supplementary plants, they notified me last week they could not deliver my tomato cages either. As one door closes another one opens, this one nudging me in a completely different direction. Instead, I've bought stainless steel reinforcing ladders/tracks. Designed to be placed between courses to reinforce brickwork or patch up bad cracks, they stand 2700mm tall, are 60 mm wide and 3mm thick, so are fairly flexible and can be shaped (with a cane) as a half arch, I'm thinking, or tied together for a full arch. I saw them in passing, several months ago, whilst trying to source an alternative to trellising against a fence I built at the start of the year. My intention is to train climbing fruit and veg up and along the frame and rungs, allowing light and air to do their thing, while keeping the produce up out of harm's way. Your timing, as usual, is impeccable, as I'm sure most, if not all of your subscribers are chomping at the bit to fill their gardens and get the major growing underway. Thanks for uploading.

[@GrowVeg]

You're welcome Billy. Well done on coming up with a solution like that - you sound like you're very inventive. :-)

[@sarahgee8365]

Help, Ben! I have planted up my Tumbling-type tomatoes in hanging baskets in the greenhouse. Yet again, I’ve forgotten that watering the hanging baskets (and more importantly, feeding the plants) results in drips or cascades of liquid through the bottom of the basket. What can I do to overcome this problem, please?

[@GrowVeg]

You could try putting a plastic saucer in the bottom of the basket. This will catch some of the excess moisture and hold it, helping it to better seep up into the potting mix. But some drip down is to be expected unfortunately.

[@denisebrady6858]

Ben I wish I could honestly say Happy Gardening but here in Brisbane Australia this is our best time to plant/ grow & sometimes Harvest. NO WAY in 2022 we have had so much rain & the weirdest temperatures in my 7yrs of growing. It looks like we are going to have the wettest Winter ever & gardens are just waterlogged as it is. But I will keep trying !!! Cheers Denise- Australia

[@GrowVeg]

Keep trying Denise. It sounds like you've been having very challenging weather over there, to say the least!

[@greenfingers9437]

Hi Ben, I would like to grow Purple sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprouts in containers, and wondered if 30L pots would be ok? They are 40cm in diameter. And how many plants can I put in them?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, that would be absolutely fine. I reckon you could get maybe two plants per pot. I would say, though, that it's not the most space efficient crop for containers. You'd be better off growing kale as a tasty brassica in those pots - three per container.

[@dustyflats3832]

I make a soil berm around everything with our sand as it really helps keep the water from running away. So you have the dreaded vine borer also-sigh. This year I will try vet wrap around the base compliments of 1870 homestead video. I know the VB can lay their eggs further down the stem also, but the base is important to protect and harder to see the eggs and damage there. I think the vet wrap will be easier to handle then tin foil, we'll see. We are having a cold start to week after severe heat. I covered most things except brassicas and onions Sunday night, but did not expect low 30s last night. I am hopeful we will not have anymore near frost temps, but I see thurs or Friday may still have a North wind; however, we are to have rain and hopeful not snow. Zone 5a Wisconsin, US can be tricky in low lying areas. And no, we will never learn to stop starting too many plants, I don't think it can be fixed🤣 I started 2 variety packs of peppers this year and now feel compelled to plant them all so I am assured the varieties. Hopefully I will know which I really like and stick with them next year. I took off the frost coverings on tomatoes and peppers and all still look happy and hope they stay that way through Friday. I wanted them to get the full amount of rain coming along with whatever heat a 60°F day brings. Thankfully the heat returns Saturday. I had so many plants and 2 weeks ago we had over 90°F days. Plus a new 49 day tomatoe I was eager to plant. Always enjoy your videos as they are informative without being overly definitive. And of course we enjoy your accent😁 Happy Gardening, stay warm...please.😉

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for sharing all your experiences. That is quite some swing in temperature you've been having! Hoping the snow stays away now!