Maintaining a Continuous Garden

In this video we are discussing how to go from one crop to another and maintain something growing at all times.
We cover: How to go from one crop to another, how to flip beds without tillage, no till bed flips, preparing beds without tillage, and more.
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[@borqnaplashkov4385]

" 'Sup, chicken?" 😁

[@johnrosier1686]

Thanks for mentioning the folks in Kentucky who are still recovering from storm damage. Memories are short and it’s easy to forget those in need.

[@justintime6346]

We've been programmed to forget within a week. It's so sad how indoctrinated we've become. Great comment!

[@theburnhams2925]

Jesse, Love your tongue-in-cheek plays on words (to wit: thesaurus/dinosaurs) not to mention the good gardening tips. Keep up the good work.

[@JohnThompson-hc8bd]

I love your commonsense approach to gardening and soil management.

[@walbiramurray5762]

Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have a small vegetable garden and do no dig lasagna style. A layer of cardboard wet very well, a layer of broken down lawn clippings and then compost. Keeps weeds smothered and feeds my soil at the same time.

[@sixfigurebookkeeper7588]

You are a wealth of knowledge. I really appreciate all that you share.

[@amyk6028]

Wish we lived closer to y’all! You are so fun. We could hang out 🤣 Oh yeah, AND your videos are very informative and helpful 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@greenthumbpatriot3295]

This year I grew my snow peas and green arrow peas from March-June I also planted my tomato plants same bed behind them. Once the peas died from heat stress I cut them down and let the tomatoes take over. It worked great my tomato plants are now over six feet tall 2-3 ft wide. Intercropping is now becoming my go to. I’m also grow corn, watermelon, peanuts, squash, and sunflowers in the same bed. I’ve noticed plants love to be with other plants not just a mono crop bed. I’ve read they trade nutrients between each other through root fungus.

[@oliveraurand1115]

Best no till video I've seen and I've probably watched about 3 hours worth at least lol

[@bobbysmac1009]

thank you for making the point that photosynthesis is the best fertility enhancement that soil can undergo. Without exception. Well said.

[@billmoody9736]

Just commenting for your metrics - why you don't have over a million subscribers I just can't figure out

[@notillgrowers]

Not everyone likes dinosaur jokes, I guess 🤷

[@mgguygardening]

Great idea about leaving roots in the ground. Speaking of having the odd plant come back - I have a container bed that I had lettuce in 2 years ago but I now use it for herbs. Both last year and this year I had 3-4 lettuce plants volunteer somehow - I can only think that one of my lettuces went to seed before I pulled it. No big deal, I just pulled them and replanted elsewhere. Free lettuce lol.

[@pizzaguy3645]

Thank You Farmer Jessie! I never miss a Vid.

[@minkademko2335]

Love your channel. It's my kind of gardening.

[@hollyjolly1018]

Ugh this just makes me so excited to one day have my own farm

[@melanieallen3655]

Relay cropping is a great idea!!

[@erikakeshelya4873]

My new favorite channel. Love your straightforward info. Thanks so much from the UK

[@sethl3702]

I mow and cover with landscape fabric. I've found that most of the weeds die and decompose during that process and the ones that don't are easier to spot and pull after being covered.

[@mrmacgregorshomestead233]

Sup chicken ? I LOVE your vids!

[@jettbumgarner7437]

really appreciated the bit on not sacrificing urself for idealism

[@stevenjacobs2750]

These go up early! Looking forward to this one.

[@browntownorganics2172]

Same here with not adding much compost this season. Dealing with more weeds. Enjoyed the video!

[@ardenthebibliophile]

I experimented with interplanting this year (zone 6b) and had wonderful success with summer squash/zucchini and salad greens. The squash would shade the greens just enough to prevent bolting but not enough to stop it from growing. I did NOT succeed in interplanting with a new winter squash variety... It took over everything. Killed the cucumbers next to it! Oh well, the winter squash should be super tasty anyway. Thanks for your hard work and good advice! I'm just a gardener but it's interesting to see market perspectives and try and improve efficiency even at my scale.

[@theburnhams2925]

It's just as well....your squash would'of tasted like cucumbers otherwise....and winter squash is the far more valuable crop.

[@russ8380]

@@theburnhams2925 I could be wrong but cucumbers and winter squash don't pollinate as they are in a different genus and species.

[@russ8380]

I find it very challenging to interplant winter squash and other vining crops. I'm growing on 4 ft beds with 2ft paths. I have good success under planting vining crops in young berry orchards i.e. apple, raspberry and honey berries, etc

[@pamelacooley6457]

Enjoyed this one. Thank you for all you do to help educate ❤️

[@jonathanleo3778]

The compost problem we need to start baling up cover crop and selling it for organic Gardners to have safe access

[@jeannet9592]

A minute in and I’ve already laughed twice. Thank you.

[@potagermalo]

Top vidéo bravo 😉 😉 😉 A bientôt 👍

[@djhazeman]

Thank you so much for all your videos. Could you do one showing your crop sequence on the same bed !?

[@karenr7931]

Sorry to hear about your fellow farmers. You said it... "Farming is hard." I have become a fan of your site and just subscribed. So appreciative of your approach to gardening and your dedication to the craft. We need this kind of information now more than ever. I thank you.

[@LandElevated]

You have a nice garden! All the plants are looking good. We love your content, it’s very informative. We’ll surely share your channel with our clients to get some valuable ideas. Thanks! 😊

[@theburnhams2925]

The "onliest" way to know what's in your compost is to make it yourself. The commonly-available "mushroom-compost" is actually very nasty stuff! Grow covers and incorporate them the easiest method, in my experience. You don't have to bury 'em very deep for them to break down. Some relatively "succulent" covers (like iron and clay peas) just need some dirt "kicked" over 'em after mowing.

[@christophersmith8014]

The live roots of previous crops also still function after the top is removed. New crops can even graft themselves into the matrix in compatible cases. But at the very least they are still pumping the goods up to the surface for a while.

[@gekkobear1650]

What are some compatible cases?

[@christophersmith8014]

@@gekkobear1650 Any that are normally compatible for regular grafting. Peppers can be grafted into tomatoes, tomatoes to potatoes, potatoes to eggplant, and vice versa in any combination. Melons to other melons, melons to squash, squash to other squash or to gourds etc. There are lots of families of crops that can be grafted into each other.

[@SimplisticFarms]

Dealing with the same weed problem here this year...fun stuff!🤙

[@trishapomeroy9251]

Lots of great tips! Thank you very much!

[@beerooted8550]

love your work

[@merrycontrary3520]

Thank you, thank you!

[@manolopapas]

Great video

[@bonniehannigan]

Love the Merlin app!

[@coopsblooms5824]

I tried leaving roots for fall brassicas. I even added compost, tarped all winter and they’re coming back 😞 As my farming mentor once told me, “Plants don’t want to die!” I guess next time I’ll try cutting them even lower.

[@LifeIsMessyImLearningAsIGrow]

Hello new friend here! Thank you for sharing your garden with me. I just love how it’s all coming 🫑🍅🪴👍together and growing so nicely! I love to garden and I also make garden videos. I wrapping up my 3rd year gardening. I’m sad it’s coming to an end. I have so much to still learn. My plans for my off season is to learn as much as I can about gardening and making videos. I’d love it if we could learn more from each other!

[@janetzveare7459]

Thank you for this! I grow in central Florida and quite a few of my beds have been…ahem…unattended to this summer. The weeds grow faster than I can pull them in this heat. I plan on putting some cardboard down soon and let that kill the grass. Then some aged horse manure.

[@SurfnCrypto]

Can we get season specific bed flip videos? OR could you do compilation from viewers ie one from zone 8, another 3, another 4 or something broad. So folks can see how others no till flip, what crops used, and tweaks for their climate?

[@barbcandus]

thanks for sharing

[@stonemountaincreations3459]

Thank you

[@that9blife465]

Great video. However, i would have liked to have you explain more details about crop rotation. It is my understanding to avoid some pest damage you should rotate out of the crop family. From brassica to lettuce to beats etc...

[@jasonharris4562]

Farmer Jesse, wanted to say thank you for all your great content. I'm a long time gardener and fellow kentuckian. I was wondering if you offer any internships or weekend workshops?

[@estanciaperseverancia5840]

Love KZbin Chanel. I hope I can some day work and learn from you at your incredible garden!!! Lola from Argentina

[@victorandrews9790]

Can you discuss how I need to address the cardboard i laid down under my mulch pathways for flipping my garden to fall crops?

[@miladymeadows8366]

Fellow Kentuckian here! Where are you all located? Do you ever do farm tours?

[@christinalynn8143]

The movement may create a new niche, of landscapers who have the know how to tend gardens and are willing, to do so.

[@susanrowland8915]

Jesse Love your videos AND your books. One quick question … How do you handle transitions like in this year in Virginia where we are facing long spells of no rain … Trying but very frustrated … Thanks for your advise! BTW just about 2 years into this method of farming.

[@rufia75]

Jesse do you have a resource you refer to/recommend for all the different spacings for 30 inch beds, for different crops?

[@articmars1]

Speaking as a survivor of hurricanes Alicia Andrew Katrina Gustave Rita Ike lillian Isodore and Ida. If you want to help those in Kentucky and please do. But it would be better to find local churches or local people to distribute the help. The charity organizations and the federal government will keep most of the donations to use elsewhere. Especially the red cross. So help as much as you can just locals who will actually get it yo the people.

[@bradmurray6289]

Unfortunately it seems Australia is the same..

[@karenr7931]

A fellow Louisianan I assume. Community is key.

[@articmars1]

@@karenr7931 lol. Yep.

[@notillgrowers]

I agree with the focus on local. CFA is a good local organization and has done a lot of great work for farmers in the area.

[@ladyryan902]

I've been through the hurricanes.state wide fires n yes this is correct..most folks don't get the donations!!..the organization n the SA have been know to charge for the services later there are thousands of blue tarps still on homes in FLORIDA how many years later....local churches n charities really are the best way to directly impact the people!!

[@1christylynn]

I was the 1K thumbs up!

[@MizAmandaN]

What's up chicken 🐔

[@bobbyhaney8322]

Your book Living Soil handbook, do you offer a downloadable version? I only seen the hard copy on your website.

[@paulsoutbackgardenaustrali7674]

Few weeks till spring here...

[@nickreagin9585]

So if corn was in the bed would you just plant to the side? And if you grow potatoes would you choose specific crops before and after or use a specific area/method for potatoes?

[@KimAnVlogs]

Tuyệt vời.

[@graceferrier6462]

What is the knife with yellow handle called that you were removing the weeds and lettuce heads?

[@Jacques.Bodaire]

It's crazy to me that about 100 mi. away we haven't had a real downpour for 2-3 months while this is happening. Very unfortunate for those affected.

[@lybrty7272]

Newby here. We grew giant sunflowers in the veggie garden this year. So, should I leave in the bed the last couple inches of dead stalks with roots attached? Thanks - I thought I had to try and get em out!

[@robyoung7923]

What kind of blade is on the mower you use to resurface the rows ???

[@freddysart4005]

Like your videos brother but me and my tiller get rid of the weeds the easy way.

[@zakaullahkhan7789]

We from Pakistan prefer to watch than listening because of language problem. We are interested in the parts of machinery you use and also agricultural operations you do. Little in detail.

[@rosea830]

Great info! I have planted into semi-finished compost and had amazing results. I took my cue from the volunteers growing in the compost bin that it was safe. I just grow for my family, though, so not sure what your restrictions are as a market gardener. What is your take on tomato plants? Do you pull the roots out to avoid disease in the soil? Think I'm going to use this year's corn stalks as pea trellises. I love the pollinator garden in the middle of the production beds!

[@notillgrowers]

Nope, we leave tomatoes in too and just rotate away from disease. And that pollinator garden is our "hedge wedge" - we have six of them now!

[@rosea830]

@@notillgrowers Awesome! Thank you!

[@alwaysaravero5215]

What do you know about lespodeza for chop and drop?

[@MalkiZee]

Do you ever use biochar on the farm?

[@SistersBreakingBad]

Can you plant inside the patch of grass cover crop you mowed in this video?

[@notillgrowers]

I wouldn't. It would be pretty compacted.

[@mattmelancon1796]

If using Radish as a cover crop and to break up clay soil is it ok or preferable to leave that root crop ?

[@gekkobear1650]

So when is it necessary to tarp the bed?

[@julielamberts9213]

I want to try carrots planted a few weeks prior to Brussel sprouts but have been having troubles with slugs eating all my seedlings. I have been successful with mizuna and pak choy between longer season brassicas like cabbages, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. Also, have had success with seeding Fava beans between corn transplants that are an inch o two tall (i have to transplant most plants in order for them to be ahead if the slugs). Any suggestions for slugs control? This is a result of lasagna bed type gardening, but the soil it creates is so amazing.

[@dennistaylor3796]

Iron phosphate

[@matthewmcclendon5308]

So if I just till the first two layers of my soil, can I call it no till?

[@borqnaplashkov4385]

💚

[@dwardodwardo643]

Do you think a broadfork with deeper tines would be beneficial?

[@notillgrowers]

possibly! Especially if you have deep compaction.

[@joydavis4087]

I saw that broad fork. I was just wondering, can you use it to dig potatoes? Or does it not dig far enough?

[@notillgrowers]

Definitely!

[@sharonpreston2826]

Wow, leave the roots!? Ok...I will start doing that.

[@cacosta6294]

I have an acre of date palm 🌴, currently I mulched witch coconut husk and grass clippings , any tips on what garden techniques to try , should I broadfork ?

[@notillgrowers]

You're looking to start a garden between the palms? If it's compacted, you could broad fork. If not, it may not be necessary.

[@fiendeng]

I think the nerds were over looked 😆

[@heatherreis7839]

How would i be able to cut and leave roots in the ground if I deal heavily with root knot nematodes? I like the idea of leaving the roots behind for the benefits of them breaking down adding nutrients but I pull everything out and dispose of it else where cause I feel like if I left them in the ground that would make them able to multiple more.

[@notillgrowers]

interesting question. I am reluctant to advise here because I have no experience with them + I know how devastating they can be, but you could run a small trial where you leave roots in some beds and see if the issue subsides. Also if the issue isn't going away after you dispose of the roots, that tells me a different strategy may be worth exploring?

[@christophersmith8014]

Mustards help reduce the number of nematodes in the soil. Just keep mustards as interplantings or part of your crop rotation. There are also fungi that hunt and trap nematodes with their hyphae. As the soil gets healthier and more diverse it will balance itself.

[@health.bites.5615]

Do you leave the roots of brassica crops in a bed when flipping to a new crop?

[@notillgrowers]

Yes, just cut them VERY low (below surface) so they won't return. We almost always get *some* regrowth, but it's hardly ever an issue.

[@kanenjames8503]

How long are these rows?

[@veganpowergirl]

🤗

[@chantallachance4905]

Korean natural Farming use sugars or molasses diluted in water and NO MORE WEED here for 4 years now it WORKS 4ml sugar in 1L water

[@user-eo1ub9ct3j]

Поясните как 🇷🇺🍃:)

[@johnwhitton9977]

Just wondering do you ship books to Australia?

[@notillgrowers]

We do! It's expensive but there should be an international option at notillgrowers.com. If it's too much, I believe you can order it through a book store there?

[@stephenbeck6410]

What is the machine at 3:45? It looks like a lawnmower but it also looks like it’s cutting clear to the soil

[@johndyer9232]

I think it is a lawnmower with the mulch plug in and set at it’s lowest wheel setting.

[@notillgrowers]

Yup, electric mower set low as a mulcher (60v Greenworks)

[@user-br8fj4ys4b]

👍🇺🇦

[@kathleencallicoatte6151]

Hi all. I do have a question with bed flipping. I’m in central west Texas and depend on mulching with straw to keep any sort of moisture in my soil. After just flipping beds, I find it impossible to completely remove all the straw before adding a layer of compost and planting. Is it ok to have some straw mixed into the soil? Will it deplete nitrogen? Thanks!

[@theburnhams2925]

The straw will deplete a bit of the nitrogen at first, but will "pay you back" later on. The important thing is to keep the beds well mulched. I wouldn't worry about the random straw bits.

[@notillgrowers]

I second this 👆

[@alexpachecodemarinoslucas9476]

Olá

[@theworkingmansgarden7638]

You said it's a cinnamon for what now, Jesse? 🤔🧐🤣

[@minkademko2335]

Urgh! Those darned ubiquitous dewberries are in my garden. They have beaten me back to just nipping them down when I see them. My next ploy will be mulch and tarp or cardboard, but I'm pretty sure this won't kill them. The roots travel a long way to find a place for the stem to pop out. I've had some minor success pulling the roots, but that doesn't last long. Urgh.

[@notillgrowers]

We had a vining briar like that on another farm and it was no fun to get your foot caught on. Pulling the whole thing was the best approach we found.

[@minkademko2335]

@@notillgrowers yeah, I know, I know ☹️. Maybe at end of season I can do some digging when the weather cools a bit.

[@debpearce3786]

Simply move the landscape fabric!!! 🧐🤯

[@alexpachecodemarinoslucas9476]

👏🌾🐝🌲🌳🌿

[@user-eq3jl3hb6k]

I might be a simpleton but what's a power hero? I Googled it and found cartoons 😅

[@jimh1996]

I feel bad for that poor little lawn mower.

[@NaturallyMissMeka]

What planting zone are you in?

[@notillgrowers]

6b kentucky

[@ricsgarden7394]

No til seems to be the in thing. Seems it would be quite easy to just til in the fertilizer. Why is not tilling even a thing?

[@notillgrowers]

Good question. Main two reasons are that tilling promotes more weed pressure and ruins soil structure and microbial & nutritional balances thus leading to less vigorous plants.

[@garrettscott4094]

You say "dive deep" as often as you talk to someone off camera, who may or may not be there.

[@OakSummitNursery]

One of these videos he'll pan out and reveal the broomstick or maybe a lovely assistant he talks to on the sidebar. ;)

[@garrettscott4094]

@@OakSummitNursery or a cat

[@Aeriel_farm_view]

yno intead of dive deep he should say dig deep but that ruins his say of no-dig

[@Galluchh]

Number of seconds before Jessie talked to the imaginary audience off camera: 26 (new record???)

[@notillgrowers]

May be a record. I'll ask my producer