17 MORE Brilliant FREE Vegetable Gardening Hacks | Productive and Easy Garden Hacks

[@HuwRichards]

Thanks for watching! Wednesday's video is all about the complete organic guide to dealing with slugs using zero-cost methods, so stay tuned! Have a great weekend🙂🌿

[@shawtop]

You to 😁

[@JackyHeijmans]

Hello, I just wanted to mention, stinging nettle and dandelion are not just weeds. Both have a lot to offer, you can eat them, make a substitude coffee from the dandelion roots, rope from the stinging nettle, and both have medicinal use. Not saying you should leave them in your garden, though it is sad that so many people think it is useless weeds. Most you find has a great use for something. Much love, and thank you for the tips! Some will come in very useful!

[@wholeNwon]

Of course, people should be discouraged from touching slugs because they can carry rat lungworm, a dangerous parasite.

[@joylondon4179]

After watching this video I’ve just purchased both of your books from Amazon! Super excited they will arrive tomorrow, Thanks for your tricks and inspiration! 😊 and I’m going to see what other videos you’ve done. 😊

[@horticultureherbalist7442]

Why dont you use the dandelion and nettle? They are so nutritious!!!

[@compiticny1445]

Dad would have me collect the plastic milk jugs that had screw-on caps. In the summer we/I would poke a number of small holes in the bottom of the jug, fill them with water, recap them, and put them around the tomatoes. When the sun warmed the water it would push it out watering the tomatoes.

[@conniecasale3593]

That’s a great Italian way. We did that growing up. I would help my MOM. SHE WAS A GREAT 👍 GARDENER 🙏🙏🙏🙏🥰

[@fallmax]

Hi I’m new to gardening So I’m not familiar with a lot of things for instance I don’t really understand if you poke holes in those milk cartons will all the water drain out at once…

[@4thdimensionalexplorer]

Small holes wont let it all come out at once, especially with the lid on. You can see this yourself if you take a ziplock bag with water in it and poke it with a pin or something small. When you open the top the water will come out much faster. Water also sticks to itself so since it sitting in the soil it slowly comes out unless the soil is bone dry of course

[@alexanderpirpiris3810]

@@fallmax think of it like picking up water with a straw by dunking it in and putting your finger on the other end, the airlock holds the water up, and when you let the air in (unscrew the cap in the case of the milk bottles) the water will run out.

[@mistsister]

I hope your book made you a lot of money. From all of us who couldn't afford it, but whose lives have been changed by these first two videos. You're a hero.

[@Brad-99]

I let a brussel sprout plant go and grew flowers, i ate a stem and i was shocked how great it tated . It was like sweet peas, lol delicious 😊

[@cdoane1110]

I've used the bottle water next to the plant to maintain heat many times. Rather than painting the bottle black, I've just thrown some cheap black tea in it. Very effective.

[@paulamendes5907]

Great idea! I guess adding some used coffee grounds will work too

[@dlicht45]

I've been soaking weeds for years now, works great and zero cost. Use it all summer then come fall I put the liquid that's left into 5 gal. water jugs and put the solids left over into my compost pile. Win, Win

[@kategalbraith327]

Bought both your books after viewing your videos during Lockdown Melbourne last year. One year on, still in lockdown!! Have managed to build a vegetable garden, seed raising & propagations for plantings. Even built a grow house not to mention the compost bins. Your inspiration has been so inspiring and appreciated especially in this very different world.

[@HuwRichards]

Wow Kate that's so amazing thank you so much for that and sou is like you've got a lovely garden setup now so at least something positive has come from lockdown😊 Best of luck with the rest of your gardening!

[@jackstone4291]

Nice one Kate !

[@brentjohnston107]

Coffee is good for keeping away 4 leg critters away as they don’t like the smell of it...tea bags are ecxerlent for all traces back into the ground.Use banana ,skin to sun dry for 2 days and grind makes Nokia,the flesh good for putting little cuttings into makes the roots its cheaper than buying root starters paste than any where on the market.....Wishing every one good luck all you gardeners all the best

[@jingocat6920]

By the way, I was a designer for my career. You have a very good publisher. They are particularly good at the organization of information. Their pages are always clean and readable, easily accessible. Congratulations. You landed well.

[@jingocat6920]

Hi Huw, I’m a New England gardener. Nine months of winter, for the most part. You think spring is here, then bam, snowstorm April 1. Oct. is also dodgy for snow. My brother in Sheffield turned me onto “Gardeners’ World,” which led me on a search. I found your channel. You’re very good, and I like that you recognize your references fairly. Everything you convey is practical and do-able. Thank you.

[@christianehawkshaw6061]

Great Hacks. Thank you. I put all my nettles, comfrey and dandelion tops into a net bag (usually used to keep smalls together in a washing machine, and available cheap at the Poundshop). Then I suspend these bags in my water butts, and it gives me automatic fertilized water. After the season, it's just slimy stuff that is safe to put into the compost without worry it might spring into flowers again.

[@mg8642]

That pallet tool storage works really well. I put two inside my garage, one bolted to the wall and the second bolted to the first, so it's double depth storage. Very practical.

[@stephanieangelea928]

Watching this now. We've learned more in roughly 30 minutes, between this video and the first 17 garden hacks, than we have in two years. Awesome info. You're a bucket full of information.

[@dustbustr91]

oh please. most of this is useless garbage

[@MrCalagon]

Nettle and dandelion are also edible. I've used both as cooked greens. They also make delicious teas.

[@juliahamilton2]

Huw, thanks for talking about ‘dirty compost’. I often debated about what to do with yard waste and weeds instead of throwing them out or hauling them to the local landfill (I live in the US), so now I’m experimenting with putting it in a bin that can sit for a couple years before using it in planting holes.

[@Section_230]

Just get a compost bin or make one that can bring the compost Above thr necessary heat index to sanitize the compost while killing unwanted seeds and bugs.

[@kcl060]

The cardboard and pre-water tips for seed sowing were great enough on their own for me to hit the like button. Thanks for those tips!

[@mundoohuigin981]

Right? Huge tips!

[@maa3917]

@@mundoohuigin981 Huw-ge tips haha

[@mikeharrington5593]

Thanks Huw, very useful. Kale flower heads (picked before flowers open) are very tasty (like broccoli) & are a great pick and come again bonus which extends the plant's productivity. I also found to my pleasant surprise the following from a curly kale plant which was virtually naked & I was allowing to go to seed. - After carelessly allowing its stalk to be pushed down horizontally (on a raised bed) for several weeks - it then entered a new lease of life by throwing up lots more vertical tender sprouting shoots for harvesting/eating !

[@christineferrario1700]

Aha! Similar to what we do with tomatoes? Laying essentially horizontally into the bed?

[@rabidavid614]

Huw, glad to see you have suggested one tip for recycling milk cartons. Last month I noticed that my garden had shards of the plastic labels around the garden following strong winds. I've noticed before that the plastic if milk cartons remain flexible for far longer, so have started to replace the labels on my much love plants, with strips of the milk cartons - it's so easy to create these labels, by using a shop bought label as a guide, I can cut the bottle into a strips, cutting 2 v shaped notches and an key hole the width of the plastic between the 2 V's. I use a permanent marker to write onto the label. Now no broken shards of plastic to collect from the garden!!

[@przybyla420]

I’ve found the UV erases the permanent marker, been meaning to buy a UV resistant one but in the meantime I put the writing facing north so the sun never shines on it. It’s still not good enough to go a whole year.

[@loraholifield8782]

Popsicle sticks work great you get a hundred for a dollar. Just turn them shade side and it lasts forever

[@rebamenosky6039]

@@loraholifield8782 I’ve done pop cycle sticks. By the end of the season they where 1/2 way to being compost themselves. Maybe if you take them out when the plants get a little bigger they would last.

[@markhedger6378]

Also 5ltr bleach container plastic bottles , this white plastic is flexible but thicker and cut into strips makes great labels uv resistant and can be used with uv resistant sharpie pen

[@bevsurbangarden]

This is great. One can never have too many free hacks for gardening. Happy gardening!

[@helicart]

Wow. I have to say these are really worthy tips, that only a truly experienced and thoughtful gardener could know. Thank you so much. I started a community garden a year ago, and had minimal experience prior. The garden is now 200 square meters with option to expand to 500 sq m as I get more helpers. Several of the tips here will help me get my seed starter schedule dialed in, delay bolting, and improve compost production.

[@lazygardener6278]

Hi Huw, I am putting big round ridge tiles (used for the top of a roof) just behind my planted egg plants, chilis or squashes. They work as sun pitfall, heater and very effective wind blocker! Greetings from Germany, Andreas

[@khzvaleriesmith6428]

like a mini stone wall used in many countries to warm the soil to plant in spring and to extend growing season through fall

[@lilolmecj]

That is an excellent idea! I am trying to find a way to grow Okra in my area where we always have chilly nights.

[@jimanast3593]

@@khzvaleriesmith6428 YES! Using walls! I've seen a documentary series about life in the Victorian Era, and it was said that in gardening, when they wanted to plant a heat demanding plant, they were planting it to the garden's north wall (who's side was facing the South), for extra sun and heat, and plants that don't demand much sun and heat, to the south wall (because it's side was facing North).

[@SHARONKEEF_FkR_justice4john]

@@lilolmecj I would say plant in hotest months seeds direct sow dig u a trench right in front of the orak Seeds also sow closer together u may have short plants but they will grow they love heat anyway in trench put all veggies scraps cover with dirt or stew if u got any chickens add this ass well from the coop it’s hot compost the heat will help the okra

[@yvonnevansickle53]

I like all your videos, but especially liked this one. Thanks so much for sharing. For that milk carton scoop, if you rethink it you can make a basket to collect berries if you cut an opening in front of the handle, keeping the handle intact to thread belt, twine, ect through to tie around your waist. Larger cartons work best.

[@HuwRichards]

You've reminded me of a video I've done before about this actually! Completely forgot about it 😂

[@judyreid9456]

Another very informative video!! No beating around the bush.... pardon the pun...lol..Live how you get right to the point!!

[@jillkeen3095]

Recently bought that book and the Veg in One Bed. Great books. Well written, informaive in an interesting way and nicely illustrated. Loving the beard Huw .

[@HuwRichards]

Awh thank you so much! I'm so glad you like them! And my beard too😉

[@ferrous719]

Interestingly, I use your plastic bottle funnel as.my watering system- cut off the bottom, bury upside.down, a wide opening for the hose to fill in and a small one for water to soak out 6-8 inches down

[@angie14124]

Hi! This video was in my suggested videos. I’m so glad it was. I am trying to grow flowers and vegetables in containers for now, ( don’t want to rush 😂 ) for the first time ever. I have a good sized back garden to trying planting in, if I can master the containers first. Your video’s are such a massive help, especially the “ tips “ videos, I’m so thankful! With gratitude, Angela from Lancashire England. Stay safe. Subscribed and liked . 😁

[@VikingInspired]

Ref the slug traps, water the wood first to make it nice and moist for them :)

[@ejvollkrassalter]

also, nettle is actually pretty tasty. my nonna used to make me nettle frittata pretty often.

[@queenSummerKeli]

I love the soaking weeds tip!!!

[@JanesGrowingGarden]

These were great Huw - especially the seedlings/cardboard hack - like a mini version of the parsnip plank. And well done for including Liz's pallet idea - love that one!

[@HuwRichards]

Yep that's exactly it Jane! It is a wonderful way to make the most of pallets :)

[@jillsmith6052]

Good, practical advice. Just planted out 20 very young lettuce plants - wish I’d seen your video first but hey ho, there’s always next year to get it right.

[@vcie515]

Great ideas, thanks a lot! Especially for the "dirty compost" and the watering ideas. Supersimple but efficient... Greetings from France! 🌿🌾🌱 ...and happy gardening to you all!

[@hollanderson]

"So this squash feels nice, happy, and at home, even though it's growing.... in Wales..." Love it. xd

[@ShesUnreal]

Another great video, Huw. I'm so glad I found your channel early on in my gardening journey. Grow Food For Free is the most phenomenal book on gardening I have read so far! Thank you for sharing your gift!

[@HuwRichards]

Wow! I really appreciate that - thank you so much ☺️

[@Original50]

5:44 Pretty-much 'cime di rapa', a delicacy known to Italians. They pickle it and use it on pizza and use it raw or cooked in all sorts of dishes.

[@lsb9073]

I grow stinging nettles in a corner by my compost bin and harvest regularly to act as a compost accelerator and of course to make nettle tea fertilizer.

[@dianebrodeen3863]

I drink nettle leaf tea! It stops an allergy attack instantly when I've been weeding the garden.

[@leladoksa]

I am completely ignorant and very new in gardening. I find your videos helpful and motivating

[@yourboyykyriezzyy]

This is a great video. I just started my garden in February and every month I add to it. I have 1 tomato plant that's over 6 feet tall!

[@dubbified]

we captured the liquid from our composter, using it as fertilizer tea. :) Looks great!

[@trevor33jan1]

I just bought your book mate, I look forward to reading and learning from it as i have just taken on an allotment. Thanks for the videos, Keep up the hard work and stay safe.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Trevor, good luck with your allotment and I really hope the book helps!

[@hoggle5933]

You seem like such a gentle soul ❤️ thank you for all ur work n info.

[@wingabouts]

The best idea (for me) that you shared here was the simple slug trap... Thanks! Headed out to do that now. 👍

[@HuwRichards]

Good luck trapping slugs!

[@khzvaleriesmith6428]

we have big slug problem in northern ca. and traps those too

[@LyThiHangDailyLife]

The harvest must be very satisfying

[@renatesiebke5723]

So I learned a lot to make gardening 2021 even easier, Thanks a bunch! 💐

[@LizZorab]

Another great set of hacks, Huw!

[@paulabeattie8565]

I watched your videos years ago and I am so glad that I have found you again! You are all grown up! :)

[@mariabentley6481]

You are SUCH a BLESSING with your tips/hacks....You are making things so much easier, especially for us who are just starting out

[@helenromanelli2544]

thank you so much for a good number of great tips for growing and supporting new plants. You pack a good deal into your videos!

[@rosemarydanson4158]

Hi Huw, great videos. I grow beans, peas, onions and next year I will try the guttering method for my beans and peas. I also want to try putting some lettuces in-between my onions. Thanks for these great tips. I only wish I'd have seen your videos before setting my beans and peas, which I did in toilet roll holders this year. I really love my garden, it's so peaceful and so satisfying harvesting crops which I have grown myself. Just waiting for the tomatoes to get a bit bigger before putting them in grow bags. Happy gardening x

[@Tom-yc8jv]

You keep saying the Stinging Nettle is a weed, but it is one of the most nutrishus wild plants and tates great if cooked correctly! It's a cross between spinach and mustard with a hint of garlic. SUper easy to prepair too!!

[@khzvaleriesmith6428]

agree/ growing herbs 40 years +nourishing tasty nettles are drunk by me and several herbalists ive knoen ,every day.

[@Fivebarkerboys]

What are nettles? Perennial nettles (Urtica dioica) and the annual nettle (Urtica urens) are usually CONSIDERED TO BE WEEDS , although if you have the space to leave some, THEY CAN BE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF FOOD and habitat for butterflies such as the red admiral, peacock and small tortoiseshell. Think before you comment everyone. This is direct from the Royal Horticultural Society, and i am a student on such a professional course. Huw knows what he's talking about. Vaughn Barker

[@Fivebarkerboys]

Huw isn't saying they are just weeds.

[@mildredthill2868]

It also makes a very good tea, if picked and dried after its gone to seed.

[@gilmourishgilmourish6205]

fivebarkerboys : considered is different than actually being a weed. Just as dandelion... you are missing on an amazing plant filled with good nutrients!!

[@blondek767]

My favorite organic hacks... 1. Put a birdhouse next to the garden, the birds with pick it clean of bugs, bird poop is high in nitrates. 2. Put a pot of marigolds in garden. Bees will pollinate every flower, ensuring production. 3. A water spritzer with a crushed aspirin sprayed on leaves of squash prevents mold. 4. Plant peppers and onions around the perimeter of garden prevents small animals. 5. Tying ‘caution tape’ flags or shredded plastic grocery bags on sticks, both high up and at lower level, will prevent larger animals from entering garden.

[@jeanneamato8278]

Great ideas. One idea I use to repel but not kill slugs is to use copper tape 1”wide around pots or raised beds. Slugs received an electrical zap from it and don’t come back. It costs in the beginning but lasts a very long time. You get it at your local hardware or garden store.

[@jennierenzi8739]

Slugs just put a line of table salt right up next to your raised bed, all the way around. Slugs melt, it will also kill the grass about 2inches anywhere it gets salt. Meaning you will have a perfect 2" dead space around your bed. The perfect size for a lawn mower tire. No weed walking needed

[@cheribrandon2433]

Yay!! I loved this . Thank you!

[@maryhornbostel6959]

I like to put the seeded weeds into a bucket of water. The seeds sprout and then rot in the water more reliably then the rotted material can be placed in paths under wood chips.

[@Angelaleeahava]

I adore all of your videos!!!! Im currently living in an apartment but I am taking so many notes for when I get my home. I will be getting your book soon. Thank you for sharing your gardening knowledge. Happy gardening from Florida USA

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

Those heat sinks really do work, thanks for a very interesting video Huw.

[@HuwRichards]

It's my pleasure! I hope you're keeping well☺️

[@alizcool1]

How do u know they work?

[@Themurphyshow7]

@@alizcool1 I'm assuming they've used them before

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

@@alizcool1 because i use them myself

[@alizcool1]

@@PetalsonthePavingSlabs okay thanks

[@gayedawn1]

Thank you for the knowledge on eating the vegie flowers. I just bought some sprouting broccoli and as a pensioner appreciate the tips on using previously wasted food.

[@rosenurse7687]

I am enjoying your videos! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us. You are an amazing teacher!!!!!

[@barneyrubble4827]

Grass clippings are the best for mulching young onions. Sprinkle from a couple feet high every mowing. Very effective on weed growth

[@patriciavincent5076]

Good ideas. I'd forgotten about some of these. Especially the comfrey. Thanks!

[@pena808]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing all this valuable information! 👍🏽

[@todaysworldjw]

😀 Another 17 hacks, another comment - this guy is brilliant 👍

[@Debbie4729]

This is such a beautiful garden-the type you wish you could have!

[@mommaai2282]

Your tips are very useful! Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Philippines! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@MrsBullfinch]

Thank You so much. These tops are brilliant. I have just started growing vegetables this year. These videos will help me so much.

[@kettleisalwayson]

Just got told I will be probably getting my first ever allotment by Xmas so as an early Xmas present my husband as bought me your book Grow Food For Free. Have already asked family to get me vouchers for garden centres etc for presents this year.

[@stephanies6270]

Thank you for sharing your passion. i wish i lived in W. 15 years of gardening and there's always new discover.

[@darlatidwell6255]

Great garden hacks anyone can use. TY Huw. Your gardens always look great! 🙂🌱🌄

[@ann-sofienilsson9400]

I use to have a lot of problems with slugs in the garden but since I started to set out plates with cat food and water every evening I got help. Now I have practically no problem the hedgehogs does a great job I get about 30 of them in the garden every evening they eat and go hunting for slugs every evening/night the last hedghogs leave in the early morning. I got about 20 slugs last year in total before I usally got atleast 40 everyday more if it was raining.

[@bonbons0220]

I just got your book after seeing another of your videos. Very nice job, thank you. A beautiful and informative coffee table book that looks best on a coffee table made of scrap marble on an artistic base of pallet wood, to be read while drinking herbal tea from your own garden.

[@gb9877]

I like that comment with the image,b😊👌

[@AlyxGlide]

I cook the nettles, they're tasty & stay green! I also dilute worm waste 12-1 because it's strong. Thanks for the weed long-compost tip! Less waste, more compost!

[@neesargon3497]

Excellent tips - especially the one about putting holes in one side of a juice carton. Thank you.

[@maryellen6153]

What gorgeous, deep, dark garden soil!

[@isabelrodriguezmitchell6057]

Brilliant, in the Canary Islands eco gardeners aware of water shortage use “ollas” made with clay, they are fired but not enough to vitrify them. They are big round bellied with a long neck, and are burrowed up to their necks, the humidity and water seep out bit by bit.

[@malakingdude]

O once read in time life gardenong books from the 70s which i still have! Weed seeds can last 100 years.

[@bjsmagic100]

Can I just say what an amazing book you have released, worth every penny.

[@HuwRichards]

Wow thank you so much!!

[@konijntje1536]

Inherited some brussels sprouts plants. such an abundance. found out that you can roast them in the oven before freezing. Most lovely!

[@simplifygardening]

Love the camera work in this Huw. What lens are you using? Looks stunning. great tips by the way

[@car9140]

Love it. You should mention trellising from fallen tree limbs or waste material and twine if you do another in the future. And using coffee grounds on the soil surface as a pest deterrent.

[@yogabeckykent8534]

Do coffee grounds work against rodents?

[@hulabiker21]

Slugs?

[@I_Stack_Metal]

You can take the pallet and screw it inside your garage or shed. To one of the walls. It's what I did and it holds all my long handle tools and plant stakes.

[@jayneteal-jeffery6283]

Looking forward to Wednesday’s vid. And Huw as my Granma always liked to say “You can please some of the people some of the time”.😁💕

[@T_B1]

I sometimes leave my salads to bolt at the end of the season to collect their seeds. Rocket is particularly good to leave to set seed

[@thefourseasonsinsweden]

Thank you for sahring for so many ideas you have❤

[@kattfranklin6933]

Thank you so much for sensible inexpensive hacks. God bless you,

[@paolomaggi8188]

Every your video is a concentrate of excellents advices. Thank you very much !

[@Ka-ly8oi]

I like your recycling ideas like the scoop and the oatmilk container for watering.

[@d.w.stratton4078]

Tip #1 all by itself was worth the watch. The rest is icing on the cake, Huw!

[@HuwRichards]

I thought I'd start with the best 😉

[@sihe8396]

I'm not native speaker, could you tell me what that expression means? I think what it could mean but I'm not sure. Thanks

[@healthygreenbrave]

Just got my copy!! Can't wait to grow more food than EVER this season! Thank you, Huw

[@Eon0007]

Great vid Huw, concise, interesting & informative! Keep up the good work! 😎👍

[@cltinturkey]

I've been enjoying your channel for several years. I just ordered your book and can't wait to read it. Thank you for your always helpful and practical tips and techniques!

[@GoofieGardener1025]

Awesome hack with the jam jar and black pot. I am definitely going to try this. Thanks for sharing.

[@hopeup2792]

Loved the idea of making fertilizer from weeds, just had wondered others ways to fertilize other than using compost as my compost is not ready yet.

[@1megalin]

Dirty compost! Great idea! Thanks Huw for all the fantastic tips as ever!

[@davebuterbaugh4054]

Interesting and informative! Thanks for sharing.

[@HuwRichards]

My pleasure Dave :)

[@juliegilmore3833]

thank you so much for sharing. so many of your idea's help this pensioner take care of her garden cheaply.

[@HuwRichards]

That's great to hear :)

[@redfaux74]

It is SO dry where I live. The buried water jugs were a great idea! Liked....

[@elenabeza4432]

Wonderful gardening

[@lilolmecj]

Thank you for several ideas for warmth enhancement in the garden. And the bamboo storage, I had mine in a cage tied to a tree, but I stole the cage to keep my chickens out of a bed. I need to fix that. And get some new bamboo.

[@Fivebarkerboys]

Great videos mate, you really inspire many to continue growing, and how to get the most out of it! Cheers for the book Grow Food for Free, it's got loads of great ideas and the style is very inviting. You obviously know exactly what you're doing and i appreciate we have your knowledge shared in these tutorials. Thanks a million Huw! Vaughn Barker

[@HuwRichards]

You're very welcome Vaughn, and thank you so much for your kind words and comment☺️