My Garden Planning Advice (And Why I Don’t Like Giving It)

[@BotanicalInterests]

Haha, we do know of you, Jess! We've watched several of your videos. You do a great job with your content and the gardening information that you provide. 😊 Thank you so much for sharing the sowing guide! We have been asked for something like that many times by our customers, so we put that together and it's been very popular so far! www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Sowing-Guides

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

Haha, this tickles me so much! I love what yall are doing! Thanks for proving great information and fantastic seeds!!

[@Sheywh12]

Botanical Interests Thx for the catalog looking forward to seeing what you have for 2020 and the sowing guide too!! Sheila

[@PatchEmMommy]

Thank you!!

[@BotanicalInterests]

@@Sheywh12 Absolutely, Sheila! Enjoy the catalog! 💚

[@jenniferwatrous1896]

I just bought a few heirloom seeds from you guys! I'd never heard about Botanical Interests before watching this video and following Jess' link. You have a new customer :)

[@gloriamaurer1518]

April/May 2019 I came across your vlog. I hadn't grown anything for several years because I was always disappointed with what I harvested for one reason or another. Poor quality, poor yields, ect. Your videos sparked some excitement to try agin- specifically with tomatoes. I went to my local small nursery down the road and got excited to see seed starts from Baker Creek recognizing some of the unique varieties. I grabbed 8 different plants. I had limited raised bed space, but watched everything about planting, pruning, aspirin, and peroxide (which I never needed to do 😉) . I applied what I learned and saw fantastic results. I spent most of August and September talking everyone's ears off about my tomatoes.😂 I was just so darn excited with what was happening! Bottom line...just plant stuff. Try some new growing techniques. See what works and what didn't. This year I want to add flowers to attract pollinators, develop better trellises and improve my soil. Thank Jess for sharing, educating and sparking excitement.

[@ramblinrosecottage5983]

Exactly. Just plant stuff. Don't make it a do or die thing. That takes the joy out of it. And gardening is just as much for joy as it is for getting food out of it....if not more.

[@ameliakat9982]

I like to make a rough draft and then laugh when it goes out the window 😂💗

[@rachelcarter2443]

You.may not be teaching how to plan exactly but you are teaching courage in the garden and that goes much farther.

[@ginafoster990]

Jess you are straight up and honest. There are no failures in gardening just lessons learned.

[@skye32154]

Beautiful lesson Jess

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

In 2019, I had 75 tomato plants in the garden. We ate fresh (salads and sandwiches), shared some, and canned the rest -- 38 quarts. Changing our eating habits to less packaged food and more home-grown food means I really need to "up my game" for 2020. Fifteen squash plants was the right amount for how we eat, but it turns out that the number of tomato plants is nowhere near enough! As life circumstances change, experience is still the best teacher! Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA.

[@karenr7931]

Love your philosophy of "harvesting a lesson" and "growing yourself". There is always something new to learn when you garden.

[@Bentleys1Mommy]

You're my favorite, Jess! The. Most inspiring and real gardener I follow.

[@Harrowfarms]

Thank you for this Jess. I am planning my first big garden this year and I've felt pretty lost, honestly. But watching this, you've reminded me that experience is the best teacher. So, come what may, I'm just going to do my best and see what happens. 💛

[@_LUNARVAEZ]

I actually grew 6 tomato plants and whenever I felt like I had too much I took them to the retirement building my uncle lives in and gave them away. They loved the pink brandywine tomatoes. Made me feel good to be able to give. I also grew stuff like kale and lettuce and juiced it. It was my first year so I look forward to this spring.

[@reneedegrazio7543]

Very great idea to give to those whom aren't neccesarily able to grow their own fresh fruits 💛 I'm certain they enjoyed the love & energy that you put in to the yummy pink brandywine tomatoes 👍🤗

[@gloriamaurer1518]

Sharing my harvest is one of my top 3 reasons why I love growing.

[@caragrandlegardens766]

Kookii lovely

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

Your local food pantry can also always absolutely use extras too!

[@joanthomas9842]

Yes!!!

[@bridgescwr6136]

Jess there is 40 years between you and my brother-in-law the walk behind the mule farmer and believe it or not...something will never change. You speak wisdom and thanks for sharing. We've decided to feed hubby and me and figure out the rest after. I have several 8 to 10 inch wooden boxes that we will re purpose and start with spices inside. Slow and small. Nothing beats a failure but TRY! Continue to try...if at first you don't succeed try, try again.

[@shonitagarcia3222]

Go with the Motto: "Grow ALL the things!!!" Because you will start off as a terrible gardener in the beginning. Everything will die. And you can't let it discourage you. So you just keep planting, keep growing, keep practicing. But take note of what you did that didn't work and learn from it. If you really can't get that one thing to grow in your garden, just don't grow that one thing until you feel more "leveled up" from your experiences to try growing it again. But whatever happens, don't stop trying. Don't give up. In the beginning, it feels so heartbreaking to lose any and all plants. But you just need to keep growing them. It doesn't even matter if you aren't sure if the season is right for growing them. Just do it. You're still practicing mastering the skills to grow food. I one time accidentally grew a watermelon and harvested it in December! In the middle of winter! I cut that little melon, the size of a personal melon about 5 lbs. It was tye-dye colored red and yellow inside! I thought it was surely not ripe yet! I must have done something wrong! But then I tasted it. And it was so sweet and juicy for a cold little thing. It was perfect! I later found out that this was a rare genetics find. Where the ancient watermelon DNA came thru and showed itself in that little watermelon. Apparently, they used to all look like that until they were bred and selected to only be of one color throughout. This was the winter melon coloration! From a sugar baby watermelon! Incredible! My very first and only successful watermelon. That was a decade ago. I'm still trying to grow all the things, but now in a container garden. I have been trying to grow broccoli for the past 4 years and they just won't make broccoli! IDKY!? But it's not stopping me from trying year after year. If at first, you don't succeed... keep trying. You will only fail when you give up. So don't give up on growing and learning and becoming more than you were the day before. Grow ALL the things... including yourself.

[@sunnydayssandytoes4337]

Thankyou.💖💖💖 It's not failure. It's learning what doesn't work. That means a lot to me. I'm one of those people that hesitate because of the fear of failure. I've been stretching myself. This goes way beyond the garden. Thank you. 💖💖💖

[@nessidoe8080]

"Grow yourself" best gardening advice ever!

[@WMHhomestead]

I love how you acknowledge that there’s no black and white way to garden. Just like parenting, there’s so many factors that affect how your babies (or plant babies) grow and what works for one person may not work for you.

[@suesmith8225]

Just watched the video and had to laugh. My husband and I , who are just starting the homesteading thing, we were just talking of which resource to follow in seed starting, indoor and out. How much to grow, etc.....your video, basically answered our questions. I knew, and now understand better, it really is a trial and error thing. I would much rather have too much than not enough. I have been watching you for 6 months or so and I can't thank you enough for your enthusiasm and encouraging thoughts and guidance. You have made me realize my purpose in life.

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

In addition to planting according to frost dates, every plant has a soil temperature that they are happy with; getting a thermometer to check your soil temp can save some plants from getting put out too early (- or late! some parts of the garden get warmer or loose heat quicker than others, and all gardens are different). Watch your established perennials .. they have ideal conditions for when they will go through their cycles of growth that can help tell you when to sow and transplant annuals. Plant more than you think you will need; if it's too much, use your abundance to bless someone else.

[@angelabrough6840]

Perfect, thankyou! People all over the world are watching your videos, my garden is in its fullness now, and thanks to your inspiration it is better than it has ever been! I watch your summer videos and it inspires me while it is winter here! (In Tasmania, Australia) I am so blessed with the new abundance and learning all the time (turned my waiting room into a classroom!) looking forward to your garden flourishing! Bless you all!

[@mymewow]

My plans change each year! Alot of the time its garden as you go.

[@jilanam7199]

"figure out why to think things instead of searching for what to think"

[@sweetearthfarm]

Took me a second to figure out why a sewing guide would be in a seed catalog. Lol. Can you tell my family had more seamstresses than gardeners?

[@tonyawiley9575]

😆❤

[@ginafoster990]

@@tonyawiley9575 that was a great comment..still laughing

[@reneedegrazio7543]

🤣😂😘 now that is funny...happy gardening & harvesting 🙏 seamstresses are also great gardeners...although, I prefer gardening.... have fun & enjoy.. thanks for the laugh💛

[@carolyn6752]

Sunny, exactly what i was thinking.

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

Hi, Sunny. Too cute! -- definitely got a chuckle out of that one. Kate

[@ramblinrosecottage5983]

My garden planning every year is very fluid. I know what I want to grow, I know approximately how many of each plant I want to grow, and I have a general idea as to where I want to plant them. I do what feels right, and see how it goes. I am good with that. Oh, and I love hearing the crackle, snap, pop of your fire in your fireplace.

[@gloriamaurer1518]

This is pretty much where I am. I know what I want to bring back from last year. I know what else I want to try. I know what I should plant together and where it will work in my planting areas scattered through the yard. The rest I'll figure out when it comes time to put them in the ground!

[@phyllisscott2343]

"even if a plant fails you're harvesting experience" = Best Advise EVER!! thank you

[@tonyawiley9575]

Every year definitely has its perks and disappointments. Even for the senior gardener. I have also found experience to be the best teacher, using research and advice as a general guide. My first year gardening I planted an entire 30 ft row in straight neck summer squash! I'm in zone 8A and apparently we do not have a huge squash bug population in the area. Needless to say, we had a bumper crop of squash! We still refer to that summer as The Great Squash Surplus of 2012!!! 🤣

[@kellyfrench163]

No matter what you try, you'll always harvest wisdom!!!! Thanks so much, Jess! I've learned so much from you in the last year or so. I love your attitude about life and your encouragement for everyone!!!!

[@amandariepel7344]

These were exactly the words I needed to hear. I have had a few bad gardening years, mostly due to too many commitments through school and work, and I was about to throw in the towel this year. Thank you so much for this message. You spoke to literally every single negative thing I have been saying to myself. “You have a black thumb, you don’t know how to plan, you are going to fail.” Thank you so much for the empowerment, Jess! 🌱❤️

[@sniffinggluewontkeepfamili3387]

This is the least stress inducing garden planning resource I've found. Thank you for addressing all of my insecurities as a gardener hahaha

[@arkansasdirtbaby8641]

Hahaha I liked as soon as you said you didnt like giving advice because you dont know what you are doing. Hahahaha. Ppl ask me things and I feel the same.

[@gelwood99]

Clyde's garden planner has those dates along with an estimated yield amount. I will be using his planner this year since I got it at the HOA. The thing to do is make a vlog about what you do, not necessarily this is the only way to do it. So go for it and vlog the way you do it, how you space it and what you plant with it! Instead of trying to make a one size fits all, make a this is how and why I do it. It is because people don't understand critical thinking. Every experiment has failures. Good info Jess.

[@valeriatye7979]

Thank you so much for your honesty and inspiration! So happy I found your channel 🥰

[@bestcrossroad]

you're a wise woman! I totally agree with you, there's no other way to know how your garden will grow than to actually plant plants, do your best, pray that you have good harvest and then learn from that year. My 1st year yielded me a red sweet tomato amongst the other leafy vegetables and I was hooked! I too can't put plans on paper, I can't seem to follow it. Somehow, you seem to know where the plants can go when it's time to plant it. I have so many trees around me, so I usually follow & observe where the sun cast its beautiful life giving rays. Thanks Jess for your honest opinions. And thanks for sharing the seed catalog link.

[@airinbone]

I grow on 2 different properties for years. These properties are 1/2 mile from eachother, but a 200 foot elevation difference. What works at one location doesn't always work the other location. Soil can be vastly different as well within a 100ft area or less .

[@GoodStewardHomestead]

Hey Jessica!!! I loved your statement of "we get taught what to think and not how to think." That one statement totally hit me! It is so very true. I am currently going through a season of change and though I am a little anxious about it, I know that God will carry me through it. I think part of the reason I get anxious is because I'm letting others do my thinking for me. Thank you for those words of wisdom! God bless!

[@homesteadingatkookergehoft8131]

Your garden beds look like an artist's fresh canvas, ready for the next masterpiece. Blessings and heartfelt garden wishes!

[@454tyger]

Gardening is definitely a personal experience. It took me years but last year I had so many tomatoes!!! I was in heaven. Take one thing at a time and just keep plugging until you find your own personal sweet spot!!!

[@mandidittloff4500]

The BEST, realistic, how to garden video I have seen on you tube yet! Thank you so much for not making me feel bad for failures and move on and keep going. Love it!

[@revonda5204]

Jessica, should be very helpful to every new gardener. Don't take it personally if anyone has a bad comment. Gardening is only for those people who are lifetime learners. There will be failures for everyone. It comes with the territory. Just learn and move on. Thank you for sharing. You have a kind and caring heart and it shows!💕

[@miqf914]

"Gardening is only for lifetime learners." I love that. I love learning, but for some reason, I get so downcast when thinking of my gardening "failures." I am continually rewriting my mental script to think of them as learning experiences.

[@karenm5681]

The way I think of it, even the failures can turn into compost for the next season, so that's not really a complete failure. And I harvested wisdom from the learning experience and know what not to do when I try again!😊

[@sheriherring1239]

I have gotten some very good general advice on gardening from you. Your opinion has been very helpful, gardener to gardener. I'm hoping to build some raised beds, as right now I grow in buckets and tubs. I'm just happy to be digging in the dirt. I also have a tilled area covered with a tarp and plan to grow pinto beans in it.

[@masuganut2082]

Back in 2015 we had 67 tomato plants and it gave us to much we had enough for two years. Last year I took the reins in the family and started things from seed and I researched everything, I was like a mad scientist and crazy person with notebook upon notebook........ it was one of the worst gardening years ever!! Many days I ugly cried in the garden. I told my family I quit! The weather and pests were horrendous. After I calmed down, though I’m still scared of failing again.....my family is encouraging and we are going to try again! It hurts my heart and I’m sure others, when I fail. I guess I have to remind myself. It’s not a mistake if I learn from it. It’s a lesson. ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you Jess. God Bless you!

[@vigopepperpopper5353]

It doesn't matter how much gardening I do. I always feel like I'm experimenting.

[@leaanncarter9589]

You can now do a fireside chat! You should sit by the fire and do a vlog.

[@inglis7086]

As a farmers daughter only every 5 years do the weather gods give us the perfect weather for nearly all crops - certain soils like certain plants others need to be feed certain products depending on what that plant needs and some are hungry they need feeding all summer long - if I had differing options I would do both write on the calendar what dates everything needs doing and see what worked for me my climate and my soil type - if certain things didn't like my soil I would grow them in big pot like Leon the gardener in his 80ies on youtube does with the self wicking system which I am itching to try - new home in 3 weeks so that will have to wait

[@YolklahomaRocks]

Great video Jess! There's one piece of garden planning that I feel is universal for everyone. Plan to only plant things you or your family likes to eat. Gardening is so addictive that once you're bitten by it you can overwhelm yourself. Don't be an overachiever here start small. Small successes or failures are more cost effective. Hope this is helpful. I love one of the first videos of yours that I watched. You were sitting in the garden planning what to fall plant. Such an inspirational video. 😁❤🙏

[@helenfox1409]

Have expanded my KZbin family with your recommended subscriptions. Love them all but your family and Daniel’s sweet melodies still bring me so much peace. Thank you so much!

[@magz0626]

This video is exactly why you're my favorite KZbin gardener. You are honest and real and very wise in your advice. I succeeded at gardening my first year. Failed the second and didn't bother the third year because I felt like a failure. Fast forward now I'm in my fifth year and I realize, as you wisely explain, all lessons in the garden are helpful. It does not reflect on me as a person. I was of the same mindset as you were, do all the research to minimize any failure. Now I embrace the lessons learned in the garden which also help me as a person. The garden teaches me to be patient and kind to myself but also to be confident. I have the tools I need. God designed me for it. So now I approach gardening with some skills, tried and true methods and alot of watching and learning how the garden speaks. Changes everything.

[@jessicagama718]

Most important part for me “are you prepared to deal with the harvest?” Something that I wish I knew when I had started.

[@robertlafollette8931]

When you say seed catalog your eyes always light up and smile. God Bless you Jess.

[@elizabethparrish8174]

Baby is down and hot tea brewing...yes! Thank you, I needed this

[@shwacp0809]

I think Jess is the purest, most genuine person on the Internet.

[@gardenextra7415]

My garden grows one decision at a time. No way I could do the whole thing in one sitting. I and I think we love you Just the Way You Are.

[@cafedunier]

I'm the exact same way. If I'm researching something in the garden and I get contradicting advice it makes my brain explode too. I also need clear instructions on how to do something. I usually end up just picking a method that makes some sort of sense and go with that

[@monkeysprite]

Oh my, this video spoke to my new gardener soul! I get so overwhelmed trying to find the "right" way of doing things, and I feel so encouraged to just take a crack at it rather than sit back with that paralysis. Thank you for this video.

[@tinacoppenbarger3412]

Jess, I can remember when I was younger that my dad always planted 12 tomatoe plants. He always use say. Two plants per each person and two extra just in case. We were a family of five and we would eat fresh and can all summer. Are garden always seem to produce what daddy wanted and would later us till the next harvest. Each and every person needs to just feel it on your own. And you are so right. Just do it till you learn what you can grow and what you cant.

[@jenp2160]

I loved the line about harvesting wisdom first. So, so true. Don't laminate that guide until you've fixed it! You will be scratching things out and writing it over with the best sowing/ planting dates for yourself. I've been keeping a garden journal for years and it is amazing how much it diverges from the general guidelines for so many plants.

[@avonleanne]

I think what I love about gardening is that everyones idea of a garden is different. Just like everyones house is different and how they decorate is different...I know I cannot grow certain things where I am right now...so mine will look different with the things I grow than someone with lots of sunlight. etc....to me, I just do it and give it to god, he is very helpful to me in the garden...and its pure BLISS! =)

[@marandaranda]

How is this only two years ago? What an amazing journey you’ve had. Always look forward to your new videos but these old ones help affirm my faith that anything is possible with God and gardens

[@ShaneJMcNair]

Wow! Your wisdom is amazing. You're very blessed to be wise beyond your years. And to be able to share more than gardening, but a message that gives young & old alike hope & inspiration... Godspeed

[@deeschaaf3488]

You definitely nailed this video! Never stop what you are doing. We are listening and gaining confidence. You are so inspiring.

[@cherienicholas5649]

Kitten George just gets more handsome! Isn't planning fun and... overwhelming? Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I am in Fort Smith so I always feel I am pretty much at the same stages climate wise as you. Thanks for this channel!

[@willow8165]

I love that you give yourself the freedom to say "I don't know" and that be enough. As in, I don't know but I'm still a good gardener and so can you you be, you just need to try. Xx

[@christiezemmin9197]

❤️❤️❤️ Totally agree - experience speaks volumes!!! I am nerdy and spent YEARS studying ALL of the opinions and would fear messing up......until last Spring when I finally found your vlog and gave me peace to just try it....I did....and it was bountiful! There were mistakes, sure, but there were Successes!!!! So, new gardeners, JUST DO IT!!! You guys are Great! God Bless ❤️❤️❤️

[@meshao3806]

Incredibly wonderful advice! Love it! Keep on my dear! God bless you!

[@kerrykaminski6494]

Botanical Interests has a digital catalog with that page available! :)

[@PatricesProjects]

I think this garden planning video was spot on. I learn and fail all of the time. I do my research when I start with a type of plant I haven't tried before, then I go with what I think will work best in my situation and climate. If that didn't fare as well as I hoped, I may try something different, or tweak that method. The thing is, if you find that you like the food the plant produces, but you didn't do well with it, keep trying methods and seasons of planting until you figure out how to grow that plant.

[@allenfarm]

KG 😭😭 I decided to go back and see how you planned last year and the first clip is of my favorite garden kitten. Such a good life he lived!

[@tamarasiegrist2776]

Hi Jess. This video is the best Garden planning video I have ever seen. I know you think it is not a garden planning video, but for me it was exactly it. Try and find out what works for you, allow yourself to fail and learn from it. That is the bottom line. So, thank you Jess. Tamara

[@mccormickshiddenhomestead1147]

I love how normal you make my crazy feel!! I do the same thing. Wish folks could see my "planning"

[@marniepetty8852]

Jess, I just love your honesty and your willingness to share. Such a great lesson, knowing that will be some failures/flops are going to happen and to learn from them and keeping going, trying something new. Thanks for reminding me that it is ok and to fail as long as I don't let it defeat me and I keep trying. God bless!

[@susangarland6869]

You. Are. Awesome. Truly. This non-advice video is one of the best advice videos I've ever watched. Your statement about learning how to think as opposed to what to think is absolutely key to everything in life. Everything. I'm not a beginner gardener, but I'm definitely no expert, and having someone whom I admire such as yourself reiterate that the process is what matters, and that failure shouldn't be feared, is so encouraging. Thank you. Looking so forward to this gardening year with you.

[@LittleGardenBigDreams]

Honest advice and I love how you steer people towards making their own choices. Gardening is a form of bravery, taking risks each year because you never know what you’ll end up with thanks to the weather, pests, water etc 🌱🌸 I love the challenge that each new growing season brings - and we NEVER stop learning when we have a garden 💕 xx Cathi xx 😘

[@rhema387]

Oh dear. Your GreenStalk Vertical Gardens are just so pretty in the background with your greenhouse's blue door!! Dreamy...I can't wait to see what you plan to do this year, Jess! -Ashley, Inventor's Daughter, GreenStalk Garden

[@fumasterchu]

If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again! It's not a failure, it's a lesson. Those have been my mantra's for a few years now, learning to grow in Oklahoma. Every time I feel like I've got it, NOPE not always... But I learn and change and try again.

[@mitche499]

Jess, it was extremely charming and relaxing for me to listen to the fire crackling and before I knew it, found myself admiring the charm of your downstairs room as the backdrop to your talk......I loved it. My failures in gardening are my wisdom, I for a quick moment think "dang why did I do that", then I realize thank goodness for those failures, can't wait to try another way next year, lol!!! God bless you and your family. :-)

[@johnwilson3557]

Jessica you make me laugh I understand completely what you are saying. I understand migardener when he says density gardening. Basically that's what I do. Like you say you never know if it will work out. Lol. Yes over fertilize that's what I do. So far good yields of pak choi spinach lettuce arugula and kale But honestly you never know. Each time a gamble. I understand cause to many variables. Honestly I enjoy all your videos. I am so proud of you. You are like a truly american women thru and thru. You have a handle on your family house farm kids kitchen and canning. I enjoy your videos more than all other homesteaders. Don't get me wrong I have seen alot of others. You like understand life in the garden and perpetual growth and eventual harvest or as you call it fruition. Yes I know it is like a spirit of the infinite or energy or just plain God. That's the way I feel too. John from Hemet, Ca.

[@lorindachristine3291]

You are spot on Jess! Every family is different, every area is different, even the soil in different sections of my garden can be different, and the weather changes every year. Flexibility and learning as you go is key. And trying to relax and enjoy the process. Luckily, for most of us these days, our ability to eat and our livelihoods are not dependant on our gardens. 🌼

[@kosmosjk]

Thankyou Jess, the fear of failure holds so many of us back, anything we can do to get over it is surely a good thing. I am working on it and your advice has given me confidence to keep going with my current plans :-)

[@judithjohnson2111]

You are so helpful in every way. To just be practical & learn from our mistakes but to still do research. Great video & I love all the comments. 😳👍

[@oppsyikesreally]

Failure is good. If you're not failing your not trying new things. Living in your comfort zone is stifling your growth. Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing, love your message.

[@wyldhomestead246]

I have been looking so forward to this video, forever! The more I research the more I am overwhelmed but I am picking up some beautiful nuggets in this video. Thank you

[@triciarosamilia8632]

Well said Jess! I learn new things every year in my garden, it’s a never ending learning experience. I will always have failures and successes in my garden, that’s what keeps me coming back. I love a good challenge and gardening is so therapeutic.

[@Citystead]

My plans can change at any moment depending on my work schedule, so I have to have some flexibility with my plans. Always enjoy your perspective!

[@CottageGardensonForest]

Last year was my first year gardening and I had trouble figuring out how many plants to grow so mid season I bought Clyde’s gardening planting guide and it helped a bit but it doesn’t take into consideration pest pressures for each crop in your area or disease pressures based on the heat and humidity so it’s really a learning process. I also put a guide out of one of my seed catalogs in a sheet protector to try and use as a guide as well. Thanks for all your continued advice and encouragement.

[@dmdedoes]

I just love how much your cat adores you !!!!

[@Looseey1973]

I would still love to see how you plan your garden. I feel like it would still help and inspire a lot of people.

[@teddyjesseduke8053]

Hey Jess you did great explaining your thinking with this video 🙂 awesome job 👍🏻

[@amberfrommichigan4444]

That is the best gardening advice ever! You are right diffrent things work for diffrent places and people !

[@kelleymccoy7456]

You are absolutely right about find your own way. There is so many variables in gardening. Experiment and fun with your success and failures. Three important things good soil health plants and mulch.

[@mrsamywhite]

I love your honesty and approach in gardening. I’m having baby #4 this summer so the spring garden is going to be mostly flowers for bouquet making. I’ll probably sneak in some tomatoes, okra and eggplant too. But I suspect I’ll be pretty busy tending to little people to give the garden as much time as I have in the past. I love your videos and have learned so much from you! Keep postin’ girlfriend!

[@marthaestrada8125]

Your thoughts in this video reminded me that in order to have successes, we must have failures because we learn from our failures in order to succeed. Gardening is a great teacher. Thank you very much for your own wisdom and kind words.

[@ruthcalsada1440]

I appreciate your sound approach to gardening. After 35 years of growing a garden of my own that I’m having to rethink what I’m doing and how. I’m growing in a second spot in my life but it’s the spot my parents grew in. I’m not canned for an army now, it’s just my husband and myself, with the thought of my adult kids stopping by for something. Plus cooking food for the several extended family gatherings each year. I’m learning daily methods that could work better for me in my new situation. Im doing most of this on my own because my hubby works full time and the kids don’t live close. Also, strangely enough, my cousin who lives half a mile away are the only people that grows a garden within at least a mile in all directions. Here I am with a large garden plot of 47’ on the back side by 42’ on the bottom end x 32’ on the top and 60’ on the closest side to the house. Strange shape I realize. It drives my husband in sane. Me, I love it! It’s unique. Anyways. I had a lot of stress last year trying to grow, gather, cann and weed all through canning season. WEED! Prolific weeds. Relentless. I can stay ahead of them with a tiller and hula hoe until it’s time to start canning. So I decided to research options. I’ve learned there’s a big move on to grow in a system called no dig no till. Well that sounds like it’s a great option. But is it, for a 56 year old woman who is try to do almost everything on her own.? Hoops with cattle panels sound like it could help. Since I don’t do raised beds where I am, I’ve tried it but it’s just to much work for me, to get started and I have such a wonderful space, I need to utilize what I have. Hoops is one new thing I’m gonna try. Companion planting will help. I’ve been planting Brazil, lemon grass and Marigolds in the rows and around the garden and I’ve decided it helps to deter the deer because they can’t smell the growing food and have been staying out of the garden as long as these things are growing. But I need more like planting low growing, shade loving plants under other plants like tomatoes where the lower branches often need trimmed back. What I haven’t figured that out yet. I plan to grow shade loving plants in the middle, under of my panel hoops. Like spinach and some lettuce that don’t mind the heat in the shade. Also I’m planning to use the ‘three sisters’ method my brother told me about for planting my corn and winter squash and when the corn is up a couple feet planting some sort of green beans, I have like 4 varieties I’m gonna be saving seeds from, by the corn. I just don’t know for sure what to do. I’m trying to plan what I’m going to do with the food that will come from this garden. My sister wants a few tomatoes and green beans and my brother wants winter squash and hot pepper plants for which he gave me seeds for. Idk if I’ll grow any for my garden or not. 6 different types of tomatoes, 4 types of green beans, 2 types of cucumbers, one kind of corn, one type of winter squash, 3-4 types of peppers, some hot and some sweet. Summer squash to eat off of, herbs and flowers and more. I’m trying to figure out how to plant this many varieties and save seed from all of them. I’ve began preparing a spot by the horse barn for gourds and loofah sponges, maybe one of the types of beans in between the two so they won’t cross. I’ve done the loofahs before and they were so much fun. But for who? My kids are grown and my husband thinks I’m crazy. Lol If you have any advice or suggestions, please feel free to send me a reply. Idk if it will tell me you replied or if an email will be needed. [e-mail] if so.

[@khylahpeters905]

I love how honest and real you are. You inspire me to keep trying new things in the garden. 💗

[@texasbaby2053]

You may have already thought of this but something that dawned on me about “garden planning” is you kept going back and forth about “if you’re just going to eat fresh” or “if you plan to can/preserve in any means” “if you’re a family of (#) members”... what if you came up with two separate charts... one for eating fresh and one for canning, while keeping the # of family members in mind. Now hear me out, you could break each chart down by let’s say 2, 4, and 6 family members. For canning you could base your numbers off of let’s say 5, 10, and 15 cans of xyz vegetable/fruit. So for instance tomatoes (since I know they’re you’re favorite): Fresh Only Suggested Growing Guide: Family of 2: 1 plant Family of 4: 2 plants Family of 6: 3 plants Fresh and Preservation Growing Guide: Family of 2: 3 plants Family of 4: 6 plants Family of 6: 9 plants * Also since there’s several different kinds of tomatoes you could go as far as to divide by slicers, minis, etc. *Obviously these numbers are fluid and subject to change based on the frequency, amount each family member will consume xyz fruit/vegetable, and success of each individual plant; but assuming each member will consume the same amount of xyz fruit/vegetable and on a basis of ( 1-2x weekly? ) this would be the general recommendation for # of plants. I know it would be a huge undertaking and likely take a few growing seasons to nail it down but once the wheel started turning in my head I was like OOOOOOHHH THIS IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA💡🤣

[@michelewhite1150]

Failing is a lesson in the classroom to teach me for next year ❤️

[@avonleanne]

I have discovered that gardening makes me very humble...I think I know a little then I am totally blown away each time! Mostly, the fact that I can grow anything in my shady yard is amazing to me! I got a little carried away with purchasing .99 packs....spent 130 ! eek! but so exciting! =)

[@chasingmoonlightfarm]

Perfect. 😁 I am feeling allllllll of this today, so thanks for being honest and real. Part of me wants to just go throw it all in the beds(need to build those first 🤦‍♀️) because of information overload! I am a planner, but get easily overwhelmed as well. Here's to a successful learning experience for my first ever big garden! 🙃

[@vincentlerie2911]

Being a gardener for many years I agree with your theory. One of the main things is to be observant and to track your results. I keep a spreadsheet from year to year to help with planning. The one thing I would suggest is to be aware of shading from taller plants next to shorter plants. On a side note the fireplace sounded nice in your newly finished basement!

[@marcialittle7893]

I have two sons 19 and 23 who live with me. We eat a lot of tomatoes in a year. I make salsas to can, I can lots of sauce and a lot of canned diced tomatoes. We love spaghetti, lasagna, oh lord the list is endless. I make and freeze tomato soup! Oh my, it is so good and we eat a lot of that within a year. I love to dehydrate small tomatoes and store them in oil, like you do, so good. We honestly eat very few tomatoes fresh, okay I eat a lot fresh, and then BLT's! Because BACON! But then there are the green beans and ......I am both of my grandmothers combined and they both worked their little tail feathers off every year to provide for their chidlers, lol, and I do too. It's just better food and cheaper than the grocery store can provide. So plant as many as you can deal with , but I have done this for years!, so am used to the harvest time. Little Kansas Homestead is about to be a thing again this year!

[@wingingitsemiretiredlife2981]

Great advice Jess. I have a funny story about sunflowers the first year I planted them I had great success and fell in love with them. I had a whole bunch of them flanking my porch windows so it really looked magical sitting inside the porch. Now here is what you were saying comes into play. The following year I decided to grow them again, well some little critters decided they loved them as well once every plant was about 3" high it got eaten clear to the ground...perseverance that year I planted them 2 and 3x with some success. Now last year I had figured a fool proof way to critter proof my sunflowers. I got gator aid bottles and cut the bottoms and plopped them on top of the seeds as a mini greenhouse for protection. This worked beautifully I had almost 100% germination and once the flowers were a few inches I removed the bottles. Well LOL you'll never guess the sunflowers were mislabeled and they were all minis. So ya just never know! I would not consider that a failure either. I'll keep trying for that bumper crop of sunflowers I had by shear luck that first year.

[@nancydrew6010]

I had a decent garden when I lived up north with rich soil and then I moved to Virginia and have clay dirt now I am learning all over again. I got a whole bunch of free mulch and put it about 8 inches down in my garden, garden was okay last year but disappointing but this year I am expecting better as the mulch decomposes. I am learning and really enjoy watching your videos, you give me hope God Bless you!

[@nikolefucci9747]

Good thing to do is search Facebook for your local garden groups. To have access to experienced gardeners in your specific zone.

[@Angie-jg4nz]

Best advice😊 and any well seasoned gardener, can not control the weather so.... there are no fallers, only experiencers!!