How to Start a Garden in 2023

[@HuwRichards]

A massive thanks to Fiverr for supporting these projects! Head to Fvrr.co/garden2023 to check out the services available to you and use code GARDEN2023 for 10% off! Best of luck with all of your garden creation🌿

[@tngy9481]

Dear Huw. I've been trying to reach out to you about the book called Nature of food that you guys have released. Would it be possible to give me an email address to write to? My posting address have changed and I'm not sure if those books have been posted. I have also ordered one of those

[@HuwRichards]

@@tngy9481 absolutely, [e-mail]

[@GreenSideUp]

If you "open your mouth" to ask, then "open your ears" to listen, you will learn so much, and so much quicker too. Have a wander around your local allotment sites and chat over the fence to tenants, that knowledge is waiting there for you to ask for...Steve...🙂

[@8oclocktomatotalk]

We’ll said! Community is important.

[@aprilaila915]

I love the flowers among your vegetables , adding the joy feeling to see them.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

When it comes to vertical growing to maximize ones growing space, I'm starting to think building vertical growing spaces in the garden is a good idea regardless of how much room one has available. The reason being, packing the garden in a smaller space reduces the need for water and reduces the area that needs to be weeded. Thus reducing the work needed for the same production.

[@fishndchick2228]

In my experience, vertical garden options require more extra water as they dry out faster. For me, the most time -efficient way is to hugelculture/permaculture and water with collected rainwater. The hugelculture has very good water regulation on its own.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

@@fishndchick2228 I don't know if we are thinking about the same thing. By "Vertical growing" I mean growing vines, that are planted in the ground, up a trellis. Rather than have them spraw along the ground. A "Vertical Garden" I think of as plants stacked in several layers in a tall planter or several planters on a wall. In the latter, you are right, they dry out super fast.

[@fishndchick2228]

@@ecocentrichomestead6783 we were indeed not thinking about the same thing hahah. I just count climbing and vining plants in with the usual gardening. With vertical gardening I thought of vertical alternative spaces for things we usually grow horizontally. Like grow towers, hanging pots (you can grow tomatoes from hanging baskets) or green walls. For us (we have a language barrier possibly), vertical gardening and growing are interchangable for what I was thinking of. For what you meant, we usually chose to describe it as specific "trellis" gardening etc. But in the end, I do agree with you. There's a lot of plants we can have grow vertical while maintaining their base and roots on the same solid ground, instead of having them spraw. It does save up water. It can cause more shade/block sunlight over the area. That could both be a pro or a con, depending on the plant so plants have to be chosen carefully. I made that "mistake" this year, by putting a trellis in the middle of my raised bed-area. The sweet peas and morning glory grew really tall (and really pretty) but caused a lot of shade. Which became very usefull due to the unusually intense hot summer. I think it saved my strawberry bed.

[@wolfsbane1991]

@@ecocentrichomestead6783 I don't think anyone would ever have vines growing across the ground? What you call vertical growing is just the plant's natural growth, which is upwards on a trellis or against another surface. It's not really a technique.

[@Melissa-gn3dv]

@@wolfsbane1991 Cucumbers are vines that grow along the ground.

[@MrSteen12]

This is also a good video aboat, what to considder, when you want to make your own garden. I've just wacht an earlier video of the same. In Denmark carboard is hard to get for free, but there are so many other stof, you can use for your compost bin. Best Regarards Steen

[@dollyperry3020]

Hew...you had so much good information in this video. But I would say that it is designed for a young person. As you grow older you need wider aisles and higher raised beds. Seating is important too. I've been dealing with health issues and this has become very real for me.

[@HuwRichards]

Hi Dolly, yes because I designed this garden for me.

[@dollyperry3020]

@@HuwRichards :) My point is that I too designed a garden where the aisles were too narrow as a young woman. And maybe it should be pointed out if you don't want to have to totally redesign the garden later on.

[@juneshannon8074]

I’ve just assembled, filled and planted six Birdies 2ft 6inch high raised garden beds. Reason? It nearly killed me picking my forty strawberry plants last year. I agree with you. I can’t see the sense in the small height garden beds for anyone. All the best.

[@dollyperry3020]

@@runningwarrior5468 She's wonderful and I do follow her :)

[@gardentours]

Winter is the time to make plans for the next year. Have a vision and go for it.

[@chrom-nu7hq]

Thanks for all from Poland from Bielsko- Biała. I am watching yours videos from many years. (Sorry for my Eanglish}.

[@lenkasurianska]

Perfect beautiful video 🙏🙏 so good person, Huw, so so good guide for novices Also perfect for gardeners. 👌👌👌🤝

[@thepeopleplaceandnaturepod8344]

This is inspirational to live sustainably without the need a help from big companies ❤

[@kahzinger]

Thank you Huw, for projecting hope for all of us current and about-to-be gardeners in 2023. Your books are my favourite go-to’s on the shelf. You’ve inspired confidence in me since I binge-watched all of your videos during the pandemic.

[@HuwRichards]

Awh Ruby thank you so much for that comment - so lovely to read!!

[@Gardeningchristine]

I’ve gotten multiple wooden raised garden beds from a local supply company. They get big heat treated wooden crates and if they get damaged they put them out.

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

I follow ( I am organic gardening) on youtube. His channel had a story of a farmer in Iowa that chose to not add fertilizer or pesticides to his corn crop. The farmer was told he needed to add this and that by a government guy that had tested his soil. At the end of the season, he had more bushel per acre than anyone around the county. He also had the county do some tests on how healthy the corn was. I don't remember if it was a sugar test or what but it was better than other crops in the area. That farmer went around the country sharing his information with other farmers about his results. Look up (I am organic gardening) on youtube. He has been doing it this way for many years. God Bless you and yours.

[@TofferJ-UK]

I’m ending full year one and expanding as we enter into 2023. I’m so excited 👍 thanks for your enthusiasm and inspiration it’s helped me in the process.

[@HuwRichards]

Expanding is always so exciting!! You are most welcome, I hope you have a great winter of planning :D

[@la1163]

I'm already prepping for 2023, so excited ! Got my seeds and I'm starting to collect my seed trays. Just planted my garlic ( transylvanian, early red italian and ukrainian red) last month. My husband brought me loads of cardboard from his job and some from friends that know we love to garden. Happy soil day and happy holidays Huw.

[@davidcereceres580]

Uguuuuuhi

[@Iamhome365]

Exciting!! I had a bit of a garden this year but mostly a flop. Although we have black soil we did some raised beds using soil that was dug/scraped away from when we built our home but I think the soil was from too far down. Majority of things (carrots, parsnips, turnip) just had extremely bad germination ☹️

[@la1163]

@@Iamhome365 Our summer was extremely hot this year. We were hitting triple digits and pest infestation was extensive also. I think the only thing that saved our tomatoes and green beans was drip irrigation my husband did at the last moment. We also have raised beds and those we did with hugelkultur method. We have ten raised beds ...so far lol and planning to add more. Happy holidays and happy new year gardening.

[@mojorising1]

I moved south so I can grow year round now and have tropical fruits in my front backyard in Florida I'm really enjoying fresh papaya and mango now 😋

[@brandolifts7928]

Are they surviving the current winter storm??

[@lesleystrong8865]

Seaweed is a great resource for the garden, but please don't take too much from the beach. It's an important part of the marine ecosystem and provides lots of invertebrates for shore birds to feed on, especially in this cold weather. 🥶🐦

[@barbaraaven9032]

I was thinking of starting my own garden and these kinds of videos really help me out! I want to watch more of them

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

Preparation is key, have fun with it and patience ❤

[@nextchancenow7153]

Do it! ❤

[@thegardenerschronicle]

Nothing like gardening

[@rik80280]

That 3D mockup was awesome! Wow, what an amazing garden that would/will be!

[@jennyharding-r7b]

I’ve been watching you for years huw and look forward to watching every video. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new years

[@davidprice1908]

Awesome video! WATER! One thing I do, is to be sure I got room for as big a tarp as possible to set up. Tie it off, with about cm size hole in the middle. Fix a loose band around that central hole, and a catchment container under the central hole. As the tarp collects water, it will become heavy, dip above the central catchment container, and as the weight increases, will burst the tie, and fill the container. It works. You just gotta make sure what its tied to is upto the weight. Basically, a 4 x 4m tarp will get about 100 litres. .plus you can take it down when it's dry. Try it..may require tweaking, but, you'll suss it! Big love

[@modupeolas]

Omg it is you! I was looking for a thorough & thoughtful garden resource and I found that and a familiar face☺️ I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you from Llandovery! You were so sweet and helpful to me ❤️‍🔥glad to see you remained kind!

[@marinobautistabautista3560]

I live in the Caribbean, I have a warm cool climate, and the soil is pretty fair. But I need a little help with certain things, thank you 😊, love all your videos, you are amazing when it comes to agriculture, God bless you

[@joannefildew9092]

This was great Huw! Thanks for creating and sharing. Much appreciated. 😊

[@UnorthoVlogs]

I’ve been watching you for years huw and look forward to watching every video. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new years ❤

[@timwells3056]

Love your videos I think the most important thing is these videos are all feel good no politics no hate just lovely contents. Gardening videos every day you won’t need antidepressants. Keep up the good work. On a practical side Organic vegetables of at least two times the cost of normal vegetables, so you even saving money while being happy

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

i am so excited for this growing season. i think im most excited about my cold crops which is very unusual for me!

[@marking-time-gardens]

Happy Soil Day! Thank you Huw for another great video. Blessings on your day Kiddo!🥰🌻🐛

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you Carolyn :)

[@RungnapaRGN]

I like watching your videos every morning. Then I went to improve my vegetable garden.😊 I m Thailand but I have family in Italy.

[@HomeHarvestCo]

Your garden is so inspiring! I can't wait to try some of your planting ideas in my own backyard.

[@michelleh4588]

Love your videos, Huw! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!!

[@classicalnotes539]

Greatly appreciate your information! Started with herbs in pots and looking forward to someday having a place to create a garden.

[@dstcfsg9043]

I’m with you. Started growing herbs in my front yard (perennial/annual) garden and now we’re on 20 acres and starting to plan a raised bed garden and orchard. 😊 No infrastructure yet, but looking forward to the process.

[@jennifergehring-treloar8366]

Thanks Huw, for all your wonderful advice! I don't have people nearby to ask for expert and successful tips since I live in rural Australia - and not every country-bumpkin is a gardner. Your channel is so valuable to me. Cheers. 🍻

[@Gardeningchristine]

My town has a free compost yard. You drive up load it yourself and drive away. It’s mostly leaves from the street so you have to pick out trash but it’s free compost.

[@Bigbilly-ms9bn]

We just had a farmer drop off a truckload of horse manure compost for free today! We have compost for a good while now.

[@andreadybvik]

Thank you! This was sooo helpful! ♥️

[@AAAP-w4b]

Super beautiful gardens. I live at high altitude (near Aspen, Colorado) which makes it hard to grow a lot of things but I love your garden.

[@TheOrangeHomestead]

I can’t wait to start my garden, thanks for the helpful tips Huw! 🍄

[@HuwRichards]

You're very welcome! Good Luck :)

[@thatgirlthatgrows]

Super helpful video just for a refresh! Got my allotment in March but was so keen to just get things in the ground that I didn’t think too much into it but this really helps with the planning for next year!

[@Melvinlilly]

Thank you, great tips. Just rented some land for next to nothing on an old, no longer maintained orchard to set up a big veggie garden of 300 qm. It's a space where really old fruit trees were removed years ago and that has perfect, loose soil. I can therefore easily use no dig but will still then have to remove tons of nettles, brambles etc. AND of course their damn roots in and around the beds, which will be a huge task but so looking forward to actually creating a garden there :)

[@SamStone1964]

Nettles are the most valuable resource in your garden. Don't dig them out, just cut them at soil level. Eat them, drink them, mulch with them, make weed tea, compost.

[@Melvinlilly]

@@SamStone1964, nettles spread because of their roots growing below the surface. If I do not remove them in and around the beds, and dig out as many roots as possible, they will continue to grow into my veggie beds. I also need to walk around the beds. Since I rent 1/10 of the whole property, there is still more than enough space for nettles.

[@zanazizek9220]

Thank you for all the helpful tips! Amazing video.

[@HuwRichards]

You're so welcome!

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you and your family, I have your book winging it’s way to me for Christmas 👍

[@HuwRichards]

Fantastic! Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too! :)

[@thedayfliesby9427]

Our sun is just too much. South Texas summer is a nightmare.

[@lydiabond5393]

I dont kow if this will help you but it helps me. I have old umbrellas i place throughout the garden. Change out when necessary.

[@rizzopat9892]

You could try adding hoops or trellises to your garden and then putting shade cloth over them to reduce the sun’s intensity on your garden beds.

[@gooditel1023]

Im from morocco i just love your videos i personally learned a lot from you so many thanks.

[@gardensenglishanddance]

At present I am "the head gardener" of the garden which has been my father's for several decades and perhaps it still is, in a sense. My parents and I still share the house too. As a result, for many years, I have had to garden around my father's plants, with his opinions at the back of my head and with him breathing down my neck ;-) I must say, it is a real challenge, not only because my father is an elderly man with his set ways. Despite this rather problematic arrangement I have managed to create a lovely ornamental city garden :-) I do not grow any vegetables.

[@ebradley2306]

Your patience is laudable. 🥀

[@gardensenglishanddance]

@@ebradley2306 Thank you! Take a look at the result on my YT channel (I don't know whether I'm allowed to write such a thing here).

[@ebradley2306]

@@gardensenglishanddance I will check it out.

[@bosslady2002]

Enjoy him breathing down your neck because nothing nor no one last forever.so for now let him enjoy being with you and you with him working in his garden.best of luck in doing so.(LoL).we sure can get set in our ways I'm 75+yrs of age.have patients with us oldies but Goodies (LoL) again.

[@gardensenglishanddance]

@@bosslady2002 Yes, I know, but I wish we could work together instead of "against" each other. He never asks what my plans are and simply puts something in the middle of the flower border because he fancies it. Right now I have a new plum tree (of the standard size) there and it is growing very fast. I will have to get rid of it, perhaps at night ... ;-) My father's old fruit trees have already cost me a lot of money and back-breaking work; I have to pay for the pruning, collect the fruit and dispose of it, nobody wants those apples any more. The trees look magnificent in spring, though.

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

Don’t be afraid to ask your local shop for cardboard for your garden, they’ll probably be more than happy to help

[@HuwRichards]

Great Tip!

[@marxist_magpie]

I have asked a shop (rhymes with fresco 😉) for cardboard and they had mountains of the stuff! They were more than happy to let me have as much as I wanted. For those in the USA, liquor stores are always happy to give away their boxes as well (in my experience they're a great size for moving boxes too!)

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

@@marxist_magpie 😄, it’s good for composting too mate 😄👍

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

@@marxist_magpie plain cardboard breaks down and feeds the soil 😄👍

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

Always a joy to help a fellow gardener 😄👍

[@JeremiasRolonDueck]

Im going to do a herb garden in a hardiness zone 10 (dry)! Inspired by you.

[@HuwRichards]

That sounds amazing!! Hope your herb garden is full of flavour, aroma, and pollinators!

[@ohio_gardener]

I prefer local sourcing all of the garden amendments, compost, etc., because it is already acclimated to my environment and the microbial life is active in the local soil and plants.

[@ahmedrafid5684]

Thank you Huw....its very amazing..

[@quietrelaxingsound]

Thank you for that video and inspiration.

[@HuwRichards]

You're very welcome! :)

[@sudangarden5031]

Thank you for this imformation that you give to us

[@christianerardt3705]

Thanks for your great inspiration 👍🏻💚🌱 I catch your idea for the leaf compost, that looks nice, much better than the wire cage. 😉 We started to redesign my mom's garden this year, just 4 small beds for vegs and some berries and tomato potts. She didn't want too much work on it. After great success with so tasty vegs and berries she now wants more for next year. So i got her permission to create more beds and a little greenhouse for more tomatoes and planting a wild fruit hedge ... I almost got her for some chickens - maybe in 2024 ... (Of course i already got the right space in my mind...)

[@emeraldtigerhd5176]

I do not like tomatoes, but I enjoy the tending to the suckers and harvesting them for others.

[@gracerootsgardening]

Wonderful advice! Thank you for sharing.

[@HuwRichards]

My pleasure!:D

[@susanmoore3013]

Thank you for this!

[@Pixieworksstudio]

Thank you Huw, as interesting as ever, and made me feel quite emotional on this lovely chilly day. I don't think my brain has ever been so busy.😊

[@MegaFckup]

Do you use ashes of wood or other plants in your compost?

[@sharonhendricks9706]

I would LOVE to have a garden like this one! But the things I grow in my garden eventually turn into home processed food for my survival pantry. Bush beans for example....I can jars and jars of beans and those take space. Tomatoes are a huge ingredient in many of my home canned foods....corn and potatoes. All my other veggies and fruits live in a traditional garden space and so many of those things have to be rotated on a 3 year basis. How does one grow large quantities in a non-traditional space? I really would like some suggestions, please

[@WendyInCollingwood]

Merry Christmas 🎄 Happy New Year 🎉 Thank You For Sharing Your Passions And Expertise 🌟 Your videos are brilliant resources 👏 All The Very Best To You And Yours In 2023 🎉 Thank You, once again, for the generosity of sharing your brilliant knowledge and expertise 💫

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you Wendy. Merry Christmas to you too! :)

[@Greenplantguide]

Thanks a lot for your complete information. 💚💚💚✌✌✌👌👌👌

[@rojcharinsamranboon8081]

You start and do everything yourself? It's great.

[@edcarlosribeiro2316]

BRazil São Paulo 🇧🇷👏👏👏👏

[@juliebrandonjewellery868]

please can you tell me where to get the white caged water containters. Im starting my garden now so want to get water collecting asap. Thanks Julie

[@carlossabino7627]

Sou brasileiro e seus vedeos são incríveis, perfeitos vc é um gênio!!!!

[@meadows.simplicities]

Happy World Soil Day 🌱🌲🌻🦋

[@Dimitrivsky]

Thank you for the insights and inspiration! I will be offered to maintain a small allotment and hopefully I can put some SWAGA on it :)

[@mieyanie7879]

amazing garden sir....love it

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! :)

[@sheilajoseph9953]

Thankyou, very useful ideas.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Sheila

[@Taking_Back_Thyme]

The space I would like to build my garden is on the south side of our house. It gets great sun in the summer and quite a bit less in the winter. I have a second area where I am hoping to create a small permaculture fruit forest that seems to be getting more sun in the winter with south west exposure. I’m not certain about my summer location. Any suggestions?

[@tammyelward7629]

Anyone know where to get field beans? Love a good broadbean so field beans sound fun :)

[@acelticmiscellany]

Huw, everyone keeps banging on about compost but I live in Seville, with just a terrace and it´s so hot, there are always flies, and I hate flies

[@roseannamcbain]

You can compost still by amending your soil by digging scraps into it and it will break down underground (so carrot peels, lettuce ends, cabbage leaves, etc). 😊 no flies this way.

[@PurringMyrrh]

Im in California US...someone explain the allotment thing to me! Is this something y'all purchase or does the government give them out? Are they close to your homes or are a bunch of them together in one area you have to travel to? Sounds neat, and Im curious!

[@samirose1778]

An allotment is a piece of land you can rent especially for the purpose of growing food. I have applied for one about 15mins walk away from my home but the wait list is 2 years in my area because they are so popular and they don't have many.

[@PurringMyrrh]

@@samirose1778 What a grand thing! It makes so much sense to do. I wish you the best of luck getting in swiftly, and a happy and plentiful harvest! 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@ditchboy3698]

Hey Huw, great video! Quick question: what is that plant with red berries shown at 8:32?

[@HuwRichards]

Redcurrants!:)

[@megank7235]

Huw do you have any reccomendations for gifts for gardeners?

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah! These huwsgarden.com/en-gb/collections/propogation-trays 😉🌱

[@megank7235]

@@HuwRichards cheers!

[@tonydyer2919]

How does one cope with a garden on slopes?

[@franlooving4203]

I am allergic to tomatoes. Do you think someone would rent out their Drone skills for me to get a bird view of my garden?? I have a boggy garden in a tiny urban area, but I have seen lovely, relaxing, tiny gardens so I know it is possible. New neighbor uses poisons so I've had to rethink and change things for my bees. Poor things have had only organic for 7 years until this year with them. I've read Thrift can help with lead in the soil?? I planted a lot next to my garage that has chipping very old paint. I don't grow food around there! Thank you for pretty videos and now I know about Fiverr.

[@civil8bachelor264]

This is all awesome sir

[@cbjones2212]

I knew it - Huw got SWAGA 😁

[@balazssonnevend4544]

excellent video and I love the SWAGA method :) what path width do you recommend between raised beds? is 60 cm enough or better to have 80 or 100? so you can easily pass even with two buckets, or a wheelbarrow or some baskets...

[@papamurrth1]

Love your accent

[@richarddeverall1774]

Hi Huw I am new to your site which is great I have a small walled garden west facing I am looking for a small ploy tunnel like yours where can I get one simulator please Regards Richard

[@Huw_]

Hi Huw, my name is also Huw, middle name Richard... weird 😅 Looking to turn my new build garden we moved into 3 months ago into a vegetable garden this spring, we have a 12x10M garden and i plan to use about half of that, do you reckon that's enough to make a bountiful and aesthetic garden?

[@ebradley2306]

It's the simulation. 🙂

[@janinebean4276]

Aha I don’t really like tomatoes except in very specific contexts, mostly in a sauce or mixed with carbs and cheese 😂❤

[@alamkita3360]

Useful video Thanks dude

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!

[@alamkita3360]

@@HuwRichards you're welcome dude

[@ellesbells902]

Good morning 💝 & afternoon

[@HuwRichards]

Good morning and afternoon to you too!:)

[@sudangarden5031]

Why your do not have fruit garden in the empty spacese

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

If you don't like using the word "Climate", you could use the term "Average weather". People don't want to mention climate because they don't want to think of "climate change" But Climate change is irrelevant for the personal garden because each garden will have it's own microclimate. Any downloadable data will not be the best to plan your own garden. Take daily weather records at your plot and use that to decide what, when, and where to plant.

[@catemc2323]

🌈💚🍀

[@cecilegibbs3539]

Sitting in shade. ??

[@elzbietabiernacik7682]

🌞

[@rodney73991]

like what do.

[@Deedee1987dee]

After this years summer I'm growing a watermelon next year. Wish me luck lol

[@craig6542]

Good luck 👍

[@tiffcat1100]

❄️🎄🌟🎄❄️

[@ConnectingwithNature]

💫 Cool moments ! //// 🇨🇦 //////🟪//👍

[@libbyholt3863]

I would love to take a meditative walk thru your lovely garden and sleep over in the hobbit-like, cob constructed air bnb you'll build just for me in one corner! Lol. Next year, I'll be moving f/an urban setting of limited space to an acre near some woods, from an arid climate to 6X the rainfall. Exciting, but overwhelming, too. This post was just what I needed. I'll start with building some compost while I take time to literally asses the lay of the land and pick the brains of the local growers. BTW, for those in USA who don't know, your local county extension is a great resource!! You can even get certified as a master gardener. SWAGAR on, y'all!! Thx, Huw!

[@miramirez3574]

❤️‍🔥

[@johnlamarca9439]

👍♥️

[@eolandesandino1776]

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘮

[@joejamata5583]

Woodglut plans are amazing!

[@francoiselemeur7325]

They charge for palates now...in 2023

[@zeotex2851]

Holy fuck the dog whistles...