Starting work on the NEW allotment + vegetable growing in back garden

This spring so many of my plants have been eaten by slugs :( so I've been trying to lower the population. Luckily in May and June, the plants started growing quicker than the slugs could eat them and I've managed to grow peas, tomatoes, chillies, strawberries, blackberries and some ornamental plants too. The back garden is a bit of a mess to be honest but I'm slowly getting a better idea of what grows best in our shady garden and what doesn't get affected by slugs as much. If I stay in this rented house for another year I'll definitely try something different for next year. I'm thinking cottage garden style planting by the house and a shady fern garden further towards the back where its always damp and shady. Let me know in the comments if you have any ideas. I've also started work on the new allotment patch where I'm going to focus on growing vegetables and some berries (raspberries and strawberries). Hope you enjoy!
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[@bitonatorbitty2180]

As the saying goes “you don’t have a slug problem, you have a duck deficiency” 🤪

[@slayer2450]

Using animals as pest control is the best

[@sunorasu3118]

And you get free fertilizer and eggs on top! Get some ducks alex!

[@carsonhawley8838]

"slug surplus" 😉

[@hussanalrubayie3020]

@@sunorasu3118could chickens work as well?

[@sashalevage2550]

By about minute 17, I felt so touched. My dad was an architect with an amazing garden, and he passed away last year. I'm struggling with designing my own garden and so much wished I could sit down and talk through ideas with him. Seeing you and your dad do this was really touching. Did NOT expect to cry to this video, and just wanted to say thank you for sharing. This really meant a lot to watch.

[@ivolol]

It would be very cool if you would be able to do just a video with "interviews" of different garden-patch neighbours, what they are doing, their overall plans, how it is working out, thoughts on the whole idea, etc. I'm sure the multitude of ideas and approaches and be very informative and lovely to see

[@thisismyname3328]

Seconded!

[@Jimmy-Bobbin]

Your dad seems like a real top bloke, gives you some good constructive ideas to build upon, can certainly see why you're such a resourceful chap yourself Alex.

[@SociAlV96]

Hi Alex! I’m Alex but from Poland :) Your videos gave me the courage to try and start my own small balcony garden after years of killing every plant I touched. Currently, it’s thriving and somehow the plants keep multiplying on me! :) I’m moving soon and have big plans for my balcony there! Thank you! Have an awesome day!

[@foundermodel]

Me too

[@KoksuV3]

Siema Polska

[@user-of3gg9ph9u]

:):):)

[@Rotkehlchenx3]

Be warned Alex. The Greenhouse Plastic thingy with the rectangular shapes are often super bad when it comes to UV resistance and after a year or more they will literally fall out and be brittle and cover your whole garden in microplastic or bigger plastic pieces. Happened to me before with a huge Greenhouse foil because I wanted to take a cheap one. I do hope it doesn't happen to you but just so you know I wanted to mention it once.

[@alanpeter5527]

When Alex uploads I want to start living again

[@keythjauregui3207]

Same brother

[@hevchip741]

Agreed

[@kendexter]

Gardening made my life ok again

[@murphychris9811]

how sad is your life if a video makes u want to start living ??? u wanna hug

[@alanpeter5527]

@@murphychris9811 silence before i silence u

[@SophiaSwing]

Anyone else love Alex’s garden vids

[@bobicar496]

Yea they are so chill

[@Forcor100]

To get rid of slugs easily, bury a glass in the ground so that only the rim sticks out slightly, fill the glass with beer and wait two to three nights. Trust me, 100% effective.

[@IntoTheWhite04]

I second this. You'll have an entire glass full of slugs. Best to go out at night and check as well just for peace of mind.

[@Tom-en9tc]

I third this. Works like a charm. Unfortunately it can also catch mice and rats (or fortunate if you want to get rid of those in your garden)

[@kendexter]

Might get som local pub walkers as well .. lol :) i use plank boards and small plastic carpets around in the garden, slugs hide under them during the sunlight and in the morning..just collect

[@robgood719]

This is a great way but you still get some slugs iv stopped it by using raised beds ✌🏻

[@rocknroth764]

I used a sunken plant saucer with beer to capture mine. You’d have to experiment with a Wheat, Stout or Pilsner …maybe they like it hoppy 😆

[@Mimms2222]

If you dead head the petunias daily they will bloom and fill out more, also if you water them a little every day enough that they are moist not wet! They double in size. For the last 17 years I have planted hanging baskets on my balcony and the lady that lived above me taught me everything I know. Miss Enid Waite, God rest her soul 🥰✌️ but she told me to only ever use petunias.

[@Mimms2222]

Use sunflowers to create a privacy fence, best results grown in a green house then plant in ground when foot tall. It looks amazing 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[@Favilein]

The slugs are horrible this year! Great idea with the tongs. I’ll get some too! Would recommend to kill the slugs with hot water. It’s faster and can’t ruin your garden by composting the slugs again. I also lay out some wood as a trap for the slugs next to my plants, which I can remove quickly and collect the slugs easily. Removed about 300-400 slugs this year. It’s crazy!

[@lesleyyoung5730]

I know it's mid-growing season, but I have a solution to your slug problem... Heard about this years ago, tried it, and have never looked back, problem solved! bury jar lids (or small sallow plates) beside the plant, make them even with the soil and pour in some beer. It's a win win, no slugs for you, and the slugs goes out happy. I'm very happy you decided not to use slug poisons, it affects so many other creatures, so thank you!

[@sparrows7986]

Definitely the most effective and relaible solution👍🏻💯

[@italiana626sc]

Came here to say that, too!

[@hacatta]

i have been using beer for 11 years,works great.

[@InkDropFalls]

That sit down planning with your dad was Fantastic segment ...best part .....

[@SantaSmiles]

I am from Latvia and we have a similar thing here were you can rent a piece of land in like a gardening area in town, so people that are for example in apartments can have their own little growing space. For us it is a little bit bigger tho so you can actually put down a shed and stuff, some people even put down summer houses. Nowadays it is hard to get a plot tho, cus a lot of people want to grow stuff and you basically have to look out for somebody just selling their renting rights to it. I think it is such a great idea.

[@seedered]

Gardening is so much fun! You can feed your family from it. Yesterday we pickled slugs and today we're going to roast a mole for dinner.

[@andywalsh4577]

Maté you’re doing fab. Every new thing we do is a learning curve, part of the fun of it. I’m 47 and I’m enjoying watching your journey as I think we started at the same time. Good luck with the allotment. 👍🏼💪🏼

[@JiLoa13]

As mentioned with the strawberry video, I reduced my slug infestation by planting geranium between my strawberries and peas, planting the geranium from cuttings. It's worth a thought, nothing to lose as you have geraniums. Could be a neat experiment. I liked the garden allotment design, I will use that concept myself too. Thanks to dad from me! Good luck with the garden.

[@das_moendchen3250]

I just thought that the allotment gardens are heaven for bees and bumblebees and insects! It's huge and when everything blooms they'll have so much nectar!

[@fhdiasfb3611]

I loved the talk with your dad planning the garden. I wish I could have that.

[@Marginallyflailing]

If you can, I would suggest mulching the rest of your growing space asap! You don't want all of that lovely, dark soil to roast under the sun. The more you can protect the bacteria and micro organisms in your soil, the better!

[@yanapetiet4581]

I would agree, but atm there is to many slugs for this. You're giving them a lot more space to hide in. He could just use compost on top, that also works but doesn't help the slugs multiply

[@jstash9364]

I’ve saw something where you make a mini electric fence nailed into the timbers around your beds, not sure how effective it would be but worth a shot and probably fairly cheap to make, battery and some wire and nails

[@dannymischler2982]

Yes, another tour! I love your garden so much

[@esthergerlitz2359]

I really like the bit of you and your dad brainstorming. It was cool to see the thought process.

[@Bob12247g]

This is my favorite youtuber

[@duhdiggitydan]

would love to hear more of your dad's thoughts on how he designs landscapes. seems like a wealth of knowledge

[@DirtPike]

I love watching your videos, Alex!

[@aditya95775]

Love from India😍 will watch the video in evening with a sip of Tea

[@sorinastefan5631]

Helo alex me and my boyfriend love watching your videos, we're so happy you are continuing planting despite having less space. thank you so much for your updates they are our favorite to watch!! 🐑🐑🐹🐷

[@coffeeafters3x]

YES! Another Just Alex video! I can finally be happy for about 31 minutes and 16 seconds.

[@TerrariumDesigns]

Great video as always Alex!

[@AnyKeyLady]

Thanks for the update Alex! I agree Alex with pests. I believe the must be balance in the garden/ growing space. Only so many slugs and snails that can healthily co habit in the composter. I have an old bird seed tub my Dad was going to throw in the bin and not recycle. Our resident toad went AWOL in the heatwave of '22. RIP Terry. Our neighbours Dog isn't friendly and can hear him outside at night scaring off the foxes and rats for the caged small animals that haven't escaped yet, like the others. I have lovely neighbours... Apart from the weather and your parents place, how are you finding growing at the house, compared to the previous place you lived in? I didn't realise that this was going to be a new shared allotment space. Love that brain storming with your Dad. Would totally recommend to talk to an experienced grower, in your family or friend circle first. 9/10 they are local or on hand to offer advice and tips, plus are more willing to come and have a look at your growing space and help out. Local social pages are another option. 24:35 I call that the yellow bee council bush! lol The other great "council" bee bush is weigalia. Small pink/lilac flutes, great pollinator and both easy to care for and cut back. Don't forget to bend at the knees Alex, will save your back later! Take Care!

[@marikaheitmann5206]

Hey Alex, just at the beginning of watching, but i've got an idea for your slugs so you get rid of them, but don't have to kill them (hurts my feelings a bit 😪): keep collecting them in the bucket, but without the salt water and the next time you go on a walk or drive somewhere, you put them out again (where there's no garden nearby :D). That way, they can munch on grass or forest plants and live on, but do not interefere with your garden. :) Maybe think about it. ♥ Edits: I also really enjoyed the planning and discussing ideas with your dad! ☺Thanks for keeping that in! Do other gardeners in your area also cut off the tops of their tomate plants by the end of June already? Seems a bit early to me. 🤔 Maybe they could have produced some more flowers & tomatoes. You can also harvest them when it's getting too cold and let them ripen fully inside (as long as they have started to turn red/yellow a little bit). :) And I'm very excited about the allotment! Cannot wait for update shots! 😍

[@rugbqun]

Slug remedy. Clean and dry egg shells and place them at the base of your plants. Put them all around your garden. They help to add nitrogen to your plants as well as they break down. Good luck. Nice bee video. Very informative 😊

[@SushiKong]

theres nothing better than coming home from a long day of work and seeing that alex has uploaded :D

[@T-E-R-Productions]

I love growing tomatoes, this is my first year growing them but I have dwarfed a cherry tomato plant, a large cherry tomato plant and a beefsteak tomato that i'm waiting to have flower before I get it into a large plot

[@Shugo5775]

Alex! I've been loving your adventure and have lost track of how long I've been following it. I live in South Korea and can't have gardens like yours or your parents, but I'm going to look into the idea of an allotment here and see if there are any I could participate in. I grew up in Canada and miss having plantlife around me. Thanks for always being so inspiring!

[@PaulBillecocq]

Hey Alex, thanks for the cool videos ! On the slugs matter,. they are detrivore in the first place, they resolve to eat living organic matter if they cannot find dead organic matter first. So if you have some dead tree leaves lying around, try covering the soil around your plants with a layer of these. Added bonus : it will keep your ground damp, and will reduce the need of watering ! Have a good one !

[@mgharvey3657]

Pleasant surprise. It's been a minute.

[@thaliav89]

Slugs went crazy this year for sure. I had a huge problem, they were eating almost everything I had planted. I used beer traps and they worked pretty good. Not gonna lie, I went berserk sometimes and killed slugs which also helped. Can't wait to see the progress of your allotment, Alex!

[@siandefreyssinet4683]

Get yourself some runner ducks. They don’t dig up your garden like chickens will and they’ll generally leave your greens alone if they’ve got plenty of slugs to nosh on. Turn slugs into eggs!

[@lemagreengreen]

New allotment is a dream, really wish my council would pull their fingers out... waiting list for an allotment where I am is decades.

[@laurencurtis8021]

Something we had good results when battling the slugs and snails was saving a Christmas tree and leaving it to dry out. Stores also sell the cut trees over in clearance close to Christmas. We then cut up the branches and formed a barricade around the plants ensure the pine needles were facing both directions. They seem to dislike the feel of the needles and left the plants alone (the plants we did this too had no damage as long as the was no route they could avoid the branches ) without needing to feel bad about killing any slugs and snails or spending loads of time relocating or reapplying salt or beer traps after rain. This worked well around the greenhouse as well and we applied the copper tape to the bottom of the greenhouse.

[@LukeRev372412]

🎄🌲This works well and you can get them free after Christmas from neighbours

[@TobiasWeberRSA]

So excited to see how your allotment evolves over time.

[@luigirazzo2225]

I love your food growing and gardening videos . I started my own vegetable garden this season because of your videos . I realy enjoy it and now im harvesting salads tomatoes chilis and so on (:

[@kayaroots5386]

Yaay some wholesome content arrived! Love your videos. Your dad gave you some very good ideas, I like his vision.

[@Shaden0040]

when dealing with tomato plants after you cut off the top and you thin them out you also want to look for any shoes that are coming out at the leaf bases Or between the leaf and the main stem if you see any sprouts coming up there you need to cut them out they're called suckers and all they do is take nutrients from the main plant they don't add anything to the plant they don't bear fruit so just clip them out carefully so you don't damage the main stem and your plants will put all their energy into the making of the fruit and making of the flowers.

[@eastcoast4233]

There appear to be large gaps up side and back of the planters re the copper tape… I’d suggest putting large plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off over seedlings as this keeps them warm and better protected from slugs and snails during their initial growing phase. 😊👍

[@ValShepley-qc4zr]

Watched your video over lunch today Alex, and really enjoyed it. Reminded me of when I had a lovely garden - only have a few pots now.

[@Topazzzzzz]

We've been having slug issues too but going out at night and manually picking them hasnt come to mind before 😁 we usually just stick small containers with beer near our plants and that gets a lot of them

[@LEVENINZWEDEN]

Here in Sweden it is exactly the same weather. Everything is slow. My sister in the Netherlands tells me the same story. We are behind with every plant that's out in the garden. Even in my greenhouses everything is late.

[@marcelacabrera1678]

You are a smart boy......hi from southamerica!!!

[@meredithwyman3337]

I just checked a few minutes ago to see if you uploaded and there was nothing. I refreashed youtube and you posted! It is such a good day! Also you have inspired me to get into gardening and I am hoping to get into beekeeping aswell!!!

[@BeginningGardening]

Have to say Alex. I've been watching gardening videos for a long time, but it's so refreshing to watch you trial and error as a down to earth person looking to get into gardening. Me and my partner are on a similar journey in our first house. 👍

[@BulletproofWellness]

Your videos are such a vibe 🥰 I always love the music! So relaxing!

[@ManuelaFuths]

Yeah, you are back😃 Love from germany 🇩🇪🙏♥️

[@morrigans_cottage]

It’s going to be so wonderful, I’ve just started mine and it’s so nice to be growing in my own backyard!

[@GamingFlare76]

You were the person that convinced me to start gardening thank you for that

[@algotskog3577]

I just got my own allotment and am so happy to have a new helpful video from Alex! Dads tips will surely come in handy over winter as I'm planning my own lot.

[@mariannebassham5624]

I’ve been waiting for your gardening update for weeks! Great video as always! I’ve recently started gardening myself and I’m loving it! Lovely to see your still at it! The slugs have been a pest for me aswell! I might have to invest in a pair of tongs 😂 Looking forward to the next gardening video! 👍🏻

[@petelumley1578]

Hello Alex, nice to see you back. I’m excited to see your allotment grow.

[@LavendaPanda]

Had a giggle when I saw the 'vote Mr Bean' sign. You've done an amazing job in your garden and new allotment. Really liked the allotment plan that you made with your dad it is a splendid idea.

[@annetjievz]

Nearly time for your Big 500K sub celebration baked good!!! (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink 😛) I feel like squishing your cheeks like a proud aunty seeng your channel grow from less than 10K to this.😊 Well done, Alex. Well deserved!!

[@HamptonSmall]

Slugs make excellent bait for chub!

[@jillwallus1924]

Love your videos Alex. So well made!

[@treehuggingbuddhist]

I was so excited to see that you connected with Northwest Wild Harvest for their 2024 morel season. They are awesome foragers and I’m sure you learned a lot from Phil and Randy. ❤️🍄‍🟫🍄🌲🐿️

[@lukeskinner6877]

Your dad seems like such a nice guy!

[@northshoreproductions3787]

500k subscribers!! 🎉🎉 Well done Alex. Carl!!! He's coming for you! 😂

[@just_alex]

ta!

[@alynicrespilho7934]

Just amazing. Very excited for the next chapter

[@susanmarkleyschmitt1314]

Glad to have you back on Alex. Hopefully you will be back as soon as you finish your other commitments.

[@Kelet-ph3qp]

I love ur videos you’re the reason I have bees and a green house you inspired me a hole bunch 😊❤

[@son_60han]

Glad to be back watching your videos. I see u are into beekeeping🐝 and gardening now. Nice

[@ClaireRousseau]

Slugs might prefer other plants but they'll eat potato foliage with gusto if it's there, or at least they enjoyed some of mine this spring. Still a good crop of lovely new potatoes so I can't complain too much!! Good luck with the new allotment plot, looking forward to seeing it develop in more videos!

[@skiphowe8768]

When I have put down a weed block sheet like the one in your allotment when I go to plant, I cut small holes in the cloth for the plants. The water passes through to the plants but the weeds can’t push up through the cloth. Saves loads of time weeding which is job I detest. Your plants look great. Happy harvesting!!

[@FTFAllotment]

Great work Alex! We found that the best way to deal with slugs was to plant vast amounts of plants. We started our plot in November with a polytunnel, which we paid off by May, by planting all the seeds in our packets and selling the extra plants at car boot sales. We found that calendula attracted the slugs away from the seedlings, and that if you plant *everything* then most of it will survive :) Looking forward to following your journey!

[@yt_creepergaming4071]

Tip for slugs, planting a couple of marigolds near by will make the slugs eat them first before your plants and then you don’t have to kill them.

[@harrypottah8889]

imagine being this blessed and young

[@stevenpoels4639]

Wauw those alotments where looking sooo great ❤️🌸🌈🌈☺️🔥🧅🍐🫛🍒🍌🍓🍅🥝🌹🫑🍉🥑🌱🥦🌻

[@quirkychamp9152]

I can't wait when I can get a garden started

[@swageningen5151]

tips for slugs and snails , for slugs place a plastic container in the ground to just under the rim and fill it with beer the slugs love the smell of yeast and go in and drown for snails i place left over leafy greens ( cabbage and lettuce work best ) between my plants and at night they wil be covert with snails and slugs.

[@supadupa1905]

Can't wait for the next one, mate. Awesome.

[@fluff4115]

Great video Alex - Very enjoyable to watch - Thank you

[@dirface]

To hinder slugs from getting to your goodies, spread out crushed eggshells on top of the soil.

[@ProBlox2]

YAY HES UPLOADED AGAIN!

[@kellyrosloniec300]

Hi Alex! I'm so happy to see you again. I love your garden. I have a garden box that as it turned out doesn't get much sun. So I decided to turn it into a compost type box. Last fall I dumped all of my containers into it at the end of the season along with some leaves and stuff. It is currently growing some amazing volunteer potatoes plants! It seems potatoes don't need tons of sun.

[@gravity00x]

Your dad's awesome, Alex!

[@user-hy3wx3sg9x]

I used carrot and potato peels , I kept vegetable scraps in a small plastic tray . I put tray next to my growing vegetables and one evening I picked the tray veeery heavy full of massive snails and slugs 🐌 no need to go around , they all just come into the tray themselves 😃

[@watermeloncat391]

Heres some ideas or suggestions grow some -wheat or barley -aspargus -oranges -julian grapes -rose merry -olive -parsley -lemon

[@celticlass8573]

That compost delivery was pretty epic!!

[@tobibourquin571]

Tks a lot ❤, that was my life the last 3 month as well. Record 140 one trip

[@jaspa.j]

you did the greenhouse cover like I do a duvet, from the inside hahaha

[@amberlaurench]

hi Alex! your videos make me happy:) keep doing what you are doing!

[@pengumc2278]

im always heppy to see a new release from you.

[@millyseaber-shinn6109]

Tonight’s viewing sorted! Excited for this 😄x

[@frknaydn]

At this rate, i am expecting to see you in Clarkson's Farm :)

[@josephquinn7244]

Hi Alex, love the video! Going great! There’s a trick if you fill a bowl or a glass in the mud with beer or cider and leave it a few nights the slugs will become attracted to it and they won’t come back!!

[@wordsbymaribeja1470]

Alex, for the greehouse if you use cable ties to secure the shelves it makes a huge difference because they will buck at some point without the support.

[@flaviasousa1167]

Amo assistir seus vídeos 😍. Eu estudo biologia e estou encantada com seu conteúdo ❤

[@SouthAussieGarden]

Thank you for your videos ❤ from South Australia

[@ravendersunder]

Always love the vids man. keep it up!