My Vegetable Garden Plan for the New Growing Season

In this video, I give you my vegetable garden plan for the new growing season by taking you on a tour around our veggie patch. Plus, I show you some new and exciting vegetable seed varieties that I am trying for the first time!
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Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland Australia about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). I started Self Sufficient Me in 2011 as a blog website project where I document and write about backyard food growing, self-sufficiency, and urban farming in general. I love sharing my foodie and DIY adventures online so come along with me and let's get into it! Cheers, Mark :)
#garden #gardening #patch

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Everyone, fair dinkum I had never heard of strawberry spinach but I'm super keen to try growing and eating it because if spinach gives Popeye big muscles well then what would strawberry spinach do?! Cheers :)

[@jillhumphrys8073]

Big muscles and Rosie cheeks!

[@Alexis_9339]

@ loekie- a hybrid? Strawberry spinach is an heirloom variety, it’s been around since AT LEAST the 1600s. Also not all hybrids are bad. A lot of now heirlooms were once hybrids. Open pollination and stability of the genes through a few breedings matter much more.

[@xunsallis4181]

Have you try the banana passion fruits?

[@lisamermod3018]

I’m trying the strawberry spinach this year as well it’s a new Variety for me as well looks kind of fun I like the thought of the berries and the leaves ...... I was curious to see what the berries might taste like so I’ll be growing right with you

[@kdavis4910]

If you bake spaghetti squash it comes out like spaghetti too. It's one of my favorites. All you really have to do is cook it some way. Baking it in halves is my personal favorite though.

[@partlycloudyoptimist809]

No matter the awful day I’ve had or how bad I’m hurting.. Mark just cheers me up. Bless you dear. Keep up the good work.

[@tabethapacion7137]

yes,yes, I watch him all the time. he makes me really happy , an almost euphoric feeling. he's a grate person to watch for advise too.

[@bronte177]

He's the Bob Ross of gardening!

[@Lizzy_333]

@@bronte177 😂💕

[@freetruths8810]

True dat 😄

[@lagerwallgaming8735]

You will be okay! I support you

[@janetvogeler7842]

Mark, your videos have reignited my love for gardening, and have given me purpose. For the first time since losing my husband; I’m now excited about something and have six beds and raring to go . Thank you sir ❣️

[@shirleyk623]

Congratulations Janet. Gardening can certainly give you joy. And also have some good for you food. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope everything will go well for you in the future. Have a great weekend Plant a milkweed plant and raise some monarch butterflies. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@godgoldgunsngolf6733]

Garden with love! Digging in dirt lifts the soul

[@shirleyk623]

@@godgoldgunsngolf6733 Amen!!!!

[@janetvogeler7842]

Shirley K , thank you dear ❣️

[@shirleyk623]

@@janetvogeler7842 Thanks Janet😄I suffer with osteoporosis and bone damage from a medicine that was supposed to help my bones. It did the opposite(almost all of the side effects I experienced). Anyway my life physical and mental depends on my gardening activities. Garden on🌺🍓🍉🍅🍆🌽🐞🐝

[@awesomecows02]

Mark, after my 5 year old randomly found your gardening videos, he was inspired to start gardening. Thank you for all these videos you've made. My son and I look forward to many years of gardening and growing our own food.

[@jillhumphrys8073]

Your dog is trying so hard to get you to play. He sees you out there walking around and talking. Naturally you must be talking to him! Lol

[@galedutton184]

I like watching for the dog in every single video. 👍

[@siamstation]

Had a chuckle about your little dog. What is his or her name? My dog loves gardening time.

[@btaleonard02]

@@siamstation That's Scooter :)

[@dougrowell7817]

Yup. Agree. On the walk around the garden tour video. H would walk then stop and wait for Mark to 'catch up'. A very loveable character - a bit like me :).

[@sarahpacetti4818]

😁Roman-es-co is how I usually hear it.

[@Berkeloid0]

Me too. And also Cell-air-ee-ack

[@catslife5501]

Another thorn is tur-mer-ic, not tumor-ic

[@He4vyD]

Roma nesco, with the emphasis on 'nes'

[@frikandelspeciaal1431]

True Roman-es-co say we over here in the Netherlands too😁

[@eleanorseip2391]

Yes, Roman, as per normal, then emphasis on the ES.....co

[@HopeEternal777]

Steve Irwin of Gardening.. Another aussie legend !!!

[@abyssal_phoenix]

Im happy right now. My covid symptoms are dead, my beans and sunflowers have germinated, mint is coming back alive, some flowers are popping up again. Also my now 9 months old apricot trees are coming back alive, dragon fruit seeds have germinated, kiwi plant has recovered from dehydration (only 1 of the 3 sadly) and some christmas cacti are recovering from a fungal disease! This year is growing great already! (Pun was a typo but sounded good haha)

[@abyssal_phoenix]

I just have to search my tomato and pepper seeds, I kinda... can’t find them

[@strong_voice_of_truth]

I know how you feel... spring is a great time and I'm excited to get ready to garden! I'm in Ohio, USA, so it is still pretty cold here, but my son and I did plant some peas a couple days ago. We're getting ready to start an enormous garden by seeds in trays with grow lights. We have berries and grapes waiting to go into a new planting. We have big things planned for this year.

[@abyssal_phoenix]

@@strong_voice_of_truth Amazing! And great to hear your little one is helping🙃 I happily dont have kids though, im way too Young haha (almost 17)

[@garyz2043]

It's great init,makes you fell good to be alive. : )

[@strong_voice_of_truth]

@@abyssal_phoenix Glad to hear that another youngster is gardening! My son is 16, and as big as me now, so not so little. I believe in teaching them to be self sufficient, and they help their old man out quite a bit. Good kids.

[@lgonzo5411]

I love spaghetti squash! It is great roasted in the oven. Cut it in half, scoop out the guts, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper then poke holes in the skin with a fork. Roast in a 350-degree oven cut side down for about 40 mins. Fluff the "spaghetti" with a fork and enjoy! It is also good stuffed. cook it the same way except cut side up. Try it and let me know how you like it!

[@somerando280]

When all my favorite utubers start making videos with fistfuls of seed packs 🤗🥰 ITS TIME!!!

[@juneritchie2498]

Mark - Spaghetti Squash can be "nuked." Here's how I do it: Cut in half, scoop out seeds, place face down on a plate in the microwave for 4-6 minutes (depending on size of the fruit). Allow it to rest 2-3 minutes, then scoop out the strands and enjoy with your favorite seasons. I use butter and pepper. And ... the romanesco pronunciation in my neighborhood is --- roh mah NES' ko --- Enjoy!!!

[@affordableliving2756]

You'll have to keep us informed on the strawberry spinach, if they taste like strawberries but the leaf can be used in salad that would be a very multipurpose plant. :)

[@learningridge9002]

I’m right there with you! I have a strawberry/spinach salad that is so tasty too!!

[@csn583]

Haha, not quite, might have to adjust your recipes, but the fruits are edible.

[@bradleedenney]

It tastes horrible, berries are disgusting, should be considered an invasive species, a total horrible plant.

[@Wings91]

Yes please let us know in a later video when they're ready.

[@SlippyDude]

I'm a little late here, but I grew it here in US zone 6 and it didn't do too well. My leaves were on the smaller side. but the leaves taste amazing. They have the perfect bitterness and sweetness ratio for salads. The berries on the other hand are interesting and very beautiful, but not what you would expect. They're a bit dry and tasteless. Still good and have a bit of sweet flavor though. I like them either way. The seeds took a long time to germinate but now they're growing like weeds because the seeds fall off the fruit so easily. I would grow it again but not in my main garden beds.

[@jacobburns2975]

Last time I was this early you were still making Gladiator 😂

[@quanahhurtt1833]

That's funny.,😂 Even Mark realizes he look Like Russell Crowe.

[@sarahthecatter]

🤣🤣🤣🌾🌾🌾🌾✋️

[@dragonchild36]

😂😂😂

[@megantousignant18]

I can't wait to see how your strawberry spinach turns out! 😍

[@Thehubb1]

@@swsunsetseeker7285 it's a total mystery plant!

[@megantousignant18]

@@swsunsetseeker7285 excuse me, but the package of seeds that he is holding up says strawberry spinach not amaranth. I know what amaranth looks like because I grow it as a microgreen.

[@swsunsetseeker7285]

@@megantousignant18 You are correct! The one thing I googled last night said it was Amaranth. today I've read multiple things that distinguish between the two. I'll remove my original post. Apologies.

[@carens7344]

I bake the spaghetti squash witholiveoilandsaltand pepper. Never hear of boiling it. But I use it with both a tomato sauce and a garlic butter sauce. My kids love it. I have a few in my basement right now.

[@CichlidStyleForums]

Watching this, talking about the capsicums doing poorly... oh bugger, I need to give mine some extra drink. Pause. Waters the whole bed. The second bed. The new apple tree. The banana trees... okay play.

[@henderlh]

Hey Mark, that green vegetable is "ROMAN-ESCO" it's in the Brassica family so you could treat it like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Have fun growing...

[@nunyabusiness2276]

Don’t plant near other brassicas! Or at least cauliflower. Cauliflower doesn’t play nice with others... it’s a big Whiney baby!

[@1000jamesk]

@@nunyabusiness2276 Technically romanesco IS a type of cauliflower, it just looks different.

[@FM-qm5xs]

My addiction is finding and trying new plants to grow. It's a very serious condition. Especially when you keep running out of room to grow them all.

[@joshuasanders3924]

Lol my family is so worried that I won't leave room for the ones they found that they loved last year 😅

[@jessicaharrison4719]

My husband is never excited about the work involved with putting in new beds, but he is excited about less lawn to mow! And after all, you can't eat the grass.

[@joshuasanders3924]

@@jessicaharrison4719 lol so true

[@TeAsEnToRmEnT]

@@jessicaharrison4719 depends.. if it's like my grass and full of clover you can.. clover is part of the pea family and a foragers food and tastes like pea shoots 🤣🤣🤣

[@jeanrichardvarre6062]

😂😂

[@tottering-by-gently]

I’ve grown strawberry spinach several times. The berries taste like spinach. It’s not bad but it’s surprising if you’re expecting a berry flavor, like if you were expecting a sip of beer and got milk instead. Romanesco is my favorite brassica, its delicious and beautiful!

[@annal3708]

Thanks for info, I’m glad to know before I eat it.

[@CausticTitan]

If the berries taste like spinach, you picked them too early. They take a really long time to ripen, and they will taste a bit more like watermelon. It's a very mild flavor.

[@garyvee6023]

I am "always" looking for odd plants..., especially veggies to grow to show my kids that there is more to the veggie world than what they see at the local farmers market.

[@blackbones15]

So glad to see the storms have not affected you and your area

[@Annie-49]

This is my favourite channel by far. All vids get a thumbs up even before I watch them. :)

[@joeveneklase711]

Mark’s passion for what he’s doing comes across so authentically it’s infectious in such a positive way. I’ve transformed my tiny backyard into a haven for pollinators, but am still determined to find room to do some raised bed gardening. I’m recovering from surgery and thoroughly enjoying my time learning from you. Thank you Mark. Salute from Louisville Kentucky.

[@tm71100]

I am 51 and used to watch things that turned me on and now your channel is much more satisfying than all that bull so thanks. Have been gardening for 10 years with pressure treated lumber only to fail . I have learned more in a month watching you than ever so thanks big dog for that. LOVE your channel. Good stuff. My failures in gardening made me stop for a while but now I know I can make it with your help so thank you Sir.

[@tracywilliamsliterature]

This guy is totally awesome! Big smile from Wales, UK.

[@jackiegammon6854]

Spaghetti squash YUM! Just a tip though -- it's better roasted than boiled. :) Can't wait to see your "new" varieties grow!!

[@kristabaumann1638]

I second the roasting. They are great not only as noodle replacement but as replacement for rice with chicken or veg curry. Yum!

[@jjudy5869]

And I am not a fan of spaghetti squash I would rather use thinly-sliced steamed cabbage.

[@jackiegammon6854]

@@jjudy5869 oooh that sounds good too!

[@lsun5322]

Love the Aussie gardening content!!! It’s so hard when most of KZbin gardening is in very cold climates and talks about “first and last frost dates”, which is just not relevant to so many of us in Australia.

[@maryrancourt2467]

Maybe Calikim

[@shannonrobinson262]

I’m in California. We can get as few as 3 days of light frost in January. Most ever was 5 weeks and a heavy forest. Soil never freezes. We ignore most commercial gardening books, as totally irrelevant to us, too

[@aussielady7754]

Yup it’s hard to find good gardening content that helps me here in Qld.

[@kevinbrennan2004]

Ah, the journey continues my friend.

[@altheacraig2904]

I've been going through your videos and saw the cat run. Wow, I wish I could have one for my 2 kitties but I live on the 3rd floor of a 6-floor old lady apartment building actually it is senior and disabled housing in Auburn, Washington, USA and there is no way they would let me do it. I have learned so much from you. We have a small thigh high small garden that they built for us that wanted one. I have lots of pansy plants, strawberries, daffodils, some herbs, and some daisies I got out of the lawn, plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. I love your informative garden ideas! Thank you so much. I am 84 years old and didn't garden myself, but my husband who passed in 1983 did. I was the one that Jared the vegies. Again thank you! with much love Althea

[@suecampbell4811]

Hi Mark - the garden plans are EXCITING! We are in zone 10 in south Florida and want to grow asparagus too - what type are you growing? Regarding spaghetti squash, please consider roasting the squash instead of boiling them. Just cut the ripe squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds from the center and put the squash halves face-up in an oven or NuWave, which we use. In the oven you'll want to drizzle a little bit of oil on top of the squash halves. In the NuWave, we save the calories by roasting them without oil. When your fork easily slides into the squash, remove the squash from the oven, cool them a bit and use your fork to rake across the squash. The squash will yield strings of flesh - looking like spaghetti. Treat the veggie as you would spaghetti - with sauce, with cheese and spices, etc. We grow strawberries from seed (using a hydroponic garden) and then transplant them into Vegepods. We grow Mignonette Strawberries and of course, Alpine!

[@NotMuchHere]

I love my new wave, easy bake oven for adults

[@kaylo9600]

Your excitement has me sooo excited about your strawberry spinach too :)

[@thedapperfredoboi6451]

This guys smile is so contagious it’s crazy.

[@shanepennington4264]

This man is a treasure. I once again tip my cap to Australia for being full of wonderful people. Also your videos make me excited for spring so I can start gardening.

[@Fizzgig]

I too am very much looking forward to seeing your strawberry spinach. How neat!

[@dylankocsis]

Hey Mark would be nice if you could do a quick spreadsheet of what veg fruit to grow in what season in SEQ. It would help us newbies greatly

[@raleighsistrunk7123]

I love spaghetti squash! We call it winter squash because when harvested in late summer, it will store through the winter. We cut it in half long ways and bake it cut side down at 350° for about 45 minutes. Yummy.

[@benjaminbroudy2982]

Spaghetti Squash is DELICIOUS! I love it when it is cooked and stringed up, then mixed with garlic and salt and olive oil. Also, Romanesco is pronounced roe-ma-nesco

[@moosestache1769]

Good, wholesome KZbin content. Well done!

[@denisenj7648]

I guess you didn't notice his daisy dukes. Lol. Nice gams.

[@dragonchild36]

Hi Mark. Sophie here. Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for all of your hard work. I love watching your videos. You're not only informative and fun but you also have such passion about plants. I'm in central Texas and the recent ice storm killed almost all of my veggies (only herbs survived). Your video just gave me ideas on how I should layout my veggies garden this weekend. Can't wait. Thank you! 🤗

[@paulmayeux3571]

Happy to see you are not in the area being overrun by the plague of spiders, snakes and mice. Can't wait to see the results

[@RobertSmith-ii2xb]

How goods this legend!! First 10 seconds already loving it!!

[@matheuscabral2202]

Your videos are great!! Besides helping me with gardening, they are part of a few videos that I actually like watching start to finish!!

[@TheRJayMirosovsky]

With the Spaghetti Squash, If you cut it in half,drizzle some olive oil and roast it in the oven it turns out fantastic!

[@abyssal_phoenix]

I would love a selfsuffcient discord actually. I think it would be fun🙃

[@gabslife7525]

Definitely agree!

[@bowrifleandpcpshooting3839]

Nooooo Discord suck

[@gabslife7525]

@@bowrifleandpcpshooting3839 I actually see alot of potential/opportunity in a self sufficient me discord.

[@antdeegaming]

I started Cherry Tomatoes, San Marzano Tomatoes, cucumber, yellow onion, snap beans, jalapeños, and watermelon about 2 weeks ago. I’m so excited

[@Sackmatters]

I started little gem lettuce, jalapeños, micro green spicy mustard, snow peas, Anaheim chili’s, Yellow onion, dill, multiple basil species and that’s about it. I’ve got 2-1/2 weeks in and I’m in Alaska. All indoor as of right now. Hopefully within 2 months everything can go outside and I can grow some massive lettuce and jalapeños. I’m jealous about the San marzano tomatoes. Talk about the ol best pizzas sauce and spaghetti sauce.

[@antdeegaming]

@@Sackmatters exactly that’s why I’m growing them! But I’m in Florida so the saplings are out in the sun already. It was 90 here today. I’m dreading summer.

[@Sackmatters]

@@antdeegaming 90 already?! That’s far to hot for me. I can’t take much more than 70. I wish I could have a nice outdoor garden this early in spring.

[@rachelclark6393]

@@Sackmatters Maryland is in between you two, really. We swung from 80 one day last week down to 50 and rainy. But we're trying to grow San marzanos too! We had no luck with getting seedlings from catalogs last year, so we're starting them from seeds. By the time they grow up it should be time to put them outside. I hope your gardens do very well this year!

[@Yeetical]

I’ve never clicked a gardening video like this sver

[@gordgardener8629]

Of this interests you, be sure to check out Charles Dowding as well as the above suggested Epic Gardening. All the best.

[@gardengatesopen]

I know, he's pretty great, right! So refreshing!!

[@gardengatesopen]

He's also got a couple other channels you might like to check out!

[@ziziroberts8041]

There's a first time for everything, so they say.

[@jennyl.5358]

Totally agree with other comments, he's great so is Epic Gardner out of California, also like Gardner Scott out of Colorado, closer to my climate zone. All educate well.

[@TheCookiesHQ]

Omg Birdies in NZ now! Thank you! Since your recommendation years ago, I’ve been trying to get them, even contacted them directly to find out if they distribute to New Zealand, and finally they do! ❤️❤️❤️

[@celenah7552]

Have you ever grown okra? It’s very popular in the southern United States. Cut it up, bread it, fry it in oil. So good👍 And it’s easy to grow.

[@leeoregan9766]

I'm in a similar growing zone to Mark ( bit further north...Agnes Water) and Okra grows really well here, After the rains we've had the past week, i expect a cooler winter, so probably best to raise the seeds against the house on the northside, late winter and plant out early spring, so the soil is warmer... they thrive in our climate, and produce well!

[@ThesmartestTem]

Instead of boiling the spaghetti squash, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Then brush the insides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the halves open side down on a baking sheet and bake in your oven at 200 C for about 40 minutes. Let them cool until you can handle them and then scrape the flesh out. A little longer, but way better flavor.

[@Aangel452]

Being a Queenslander and trying my hand at a veggie patch, I must say I love your channel and all the terrific advise you share with us, so thank you.

[@jamal-1986]

I really love chrysanthumums. They are so beautiful.

[@kb3cxe]

You are the most enjoyable person to listen to, and always have great information to share. Where we live we have crows, but their nothing compared to the ruckus your Kookaburras make. I crack up every time I here you try to talk over them.

[@CloudslnMyCoffee]

I planted my first garden this season and my seeds are sprouting! Thanks for being an inspiration

[@skiddy1516]

I would try that strawberry spinach in a pot for first go. Lots of seeds. Anyway keep up the good work. Cheers

[@KAREN_FALLS]

Use Tulle material draped over your sweet peppers and that keeps seedlings safe from birds, also it keeps rabbits, and flys, and squirrels out there scared of it cause claws get stuck they think it’s a trap any material store or bridal shop or eBay has it cheap. I use it on everything.

[@091potato5]

I have a suggestion for a video can u make a video where u show us how to grow raspberry’s cuz where I use to live I used to pick raspberry’s with my friends but I can’t cuz I don’t live there anymore

[@burritosamigos4548]

I love how you inspire a lot of people for gardening love your vids

[@venderstrat]

We all do.

[@lux3226]

I grew strawberry spinach last year (hydroponic, indoors). It gave off some tasty leaves, but I was never able to successfully get it to grow berries. I'm looking forward to seeing how you do with it, and finding out how the berries themselves actually taste. Hope to see updates on this one!

[@Leelongostyle]

Where else can you go to get such a motivated gardener willing to share his experience and privacy for FREE! You made my Saturday.... I enjoyed my wine and I’ll be sharing my new raised bed set up soon. All because you have encouraged me to do it. Thank you.

[@patriciarichey6805]

Hi, Mark- I enjoy all your videos. I live in assisted living so I don’t get to do any gardening except for some plants in my room. I miss it so I love watching you walk all around, showing off every thing you have growing. You are very companionable talker and funny at times, good natured and pleasant. I agree with your plant and animal practices. I miss my cats too, so I love it that you made a cat run for you little Russian Blue. They are beautiful cats. Keep up the good work! Patricia

[@tcressman]

That spaghetti squash is fantastic! We grow it often here in Canada. If you don't want to boil them, you can cut them in half and bake, then scrape with a fork and they come out in "noodles." We use them as a substitute for pasta and it works perfectly. One of my favourites!

[@whatbringsmepeace]

Mark, I love your enthusiasm! Thank you so much for sharing your love of gardening. It really inspires me.

[@staciewalker5341]

On the Spaghetti Squash, slice it in half long ways , put olive oil and butter on the cut surface and put then face down on a baking sheet and roast in the oven till they are tender. (Can be easily pierced with a fork). You then take them out and rake the flesh out with a fork. That creates the spaghetti like strands. Season to taste.

[@nicolaj3294]

I'm glad I'm not the only person in Brisbane who had crappy capsicums

[@bettytroyer6665]

I raise Pineapple tomatoes almost every year. Love 'em. Last year I had one just over 2 lbs.

[@robyncaddell5269]

What do they taste like?

[@bettytroyer6665]

@@robyncaddell5269 Pineapple tomatoes are a mild sweet tomato. Some people say they can tolerate this yellow tomato better than regular red because it doesn't have as much acid. And once you have a start you can save seeds because it is a heirloom variety. Just be sure to plant a plant away from other tomatoes so they don't cross pollinate if you want to save seed....

[@_cmoore]

Mark-Huge fan of your videos! Keep them coming!

[@nicoledeloncrais5940]

seriously Mark you really brilliant, and I appreciate your wisdom, knowledge and listening to a fellow Aussie who is just fairdinkum and REAL!!! A thousand thank you's and congrats on your well earned success. Bonza job!!

[@leapingkitties]

I think this is why I like your videos, your unbounded sense of adventure in the garden. Cheers from Canada.

[@Magiccc]

Chop suey greens grow well here where I live in the states, so Australian sub tropic winter shouldn't be too hard of a challenge. We get humid summers here, so that helps them out (I think!). Strawberry spinach, while I've never personally grown, looks beautiful when it sets going and I'm sure you'll be fine getting it to grow! A recommendation for preparation of the berries is to make them into kompot! Boil them down in a big pot of water, stirring gently the whole time. After about 10 minutes turn the heat down, add a ton of sugar, some lime juice and some honey, ( all to taste!), then bring it back to a boil for another 20 minutes while stirring. And you're done! It will preserve well in sealed glass jars for at least a month, if not 6 depending on the storage conditions, and its tasty hot or cold! The strawberries you have are a winner too! My mother planted some last year, they've self seeded and they're already growing back! And they produce big, juicy strawberries, too! Great video as always, Mark! Thanks for sparking my interest in gardening and always giving me new ideas! So much to plant, so little time.

[@ElderandOakFarm]

I love seeing what people's full on garden plans are, & what they had in their beds previously. Thank you! I am experimenting with a lot of new varieties this year, so exciting!

[@matttrussell1733]

Even though I live and grow in the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. I get a lot of inspiration and enjoyment from your videos and watch them all through my spring and summer

[@laurabartoli5909]

Loved the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner reference! Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere and all good to eat! 😊

[@ifthat91]

Good'ay! New England, here all just melted down. Chills at night, but warm days, She's waking up and I'm seeing so many stems coming up to say Hi!

[@Fudgeey]

I'm enjoying this channel so much! Mark's energy is infectious and positive, very uplifting.

[@crism4932]

Hi Mark, so glad to see that you didn't get the severe flooding. Praying for your fellow Aussies. I had bumper crop of habanaro peppers last year and canned up pineapple habanero sauce which is soooo good on chicken, pork, fish or veggie dip. Now my favorite. Thanks again for a fantastic garden video. Cris from Colorado.

[@Hoe_Rogan]

Hello from a Gardener in California! Love this channel! I am so happy I stumbled upon this while I couldn't sleep thinking about my potatoes 🤣❤️

[@HomemakerSuzy]

I am also trying strawberry spinach, so hopefully is goes well for you! Tip for the squash, I roast mine, not boil, then cut width wise, not length, to get longer strands for my pasta :)

[@tamarhedeshian7318]

Hey Mark, the pineapple tomato is one of my favorite varieties to grow! I hope it produces well for you! It is SERIOUSLY sweet and my family and I like to prepare it simply with a bit of basil (fresh from the garden of course), a little extra virgin olive oil, and a crumble of goat cheese. To me it epitomizes all of summer in one bite!

[@lawntofoodforest]

I’d like a video on the top ten worst crops for fruit fly with good options that resist them. For example large tomatoes vs a much easier cherry that suffers less. I’m a natural gardener, in the ground and all mixed together, I don’t bother with nets. I tend to avoid fruit fly prone crops.

[@chrismcgovern1760]

...and how could anyone thumbs down this man? He is awesome!!!

[@sherryskari1784]

Hi Mark, the chrysanthemum leaves, shingiku is used in Japanese cooking for hot pots like sukiyaki and udon. I think you’ll like it. :)

[@Callatya]

You beat me to the strawberry spinach! Fabulous! I'm looking forward to seeing how well that grows up there ☺️

[@MadDog101]

Heinz has a glass house in Victoria that houses 3000 different tomatoes. Each variety has its own terracotta pot & saucer. That was 30 years ago, i don't know about today. I think it was the experimental section for new varieties to create new flavours in their products.

[@louholcomb2107]

We actually bake that spaghetti squash. We cut it in half, long ways, coat the inside with olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper, and any other Italian seasonings you like. Then we put it on a foil lined sheet, cut side down, and then we bake it a bit low about 375F for about 45 minutes. If you let it cool a bit to handle, you can scrape it out with a fork into the noodle like shreds. It's actually much more flavorful than noodle. I bet you'll like it. 👍

[@elizabethveness7340]

Always glad to see what you have in stall for all of us.. loving the enthusiasm.

[@annayakuhana3007]

Shungiku have a very "distinctive" taste, to put it nicely. It's like cilantro in that some people hate it while others love it. I will never eat it voluntarily 😖

[@DonPandemoniac]

Spaghetti squash is fantastic! Seeing how your pumpkins are doing, they'll probably grow really well. A tip on preparing those; cut them in half, scoop out the seeds and give 'em some oil, salt and pepper. Then roast the halves in the oven on parchment paper with the open side down until tender. Let them cool a bit and scrape out the flesh with a fork to combine it with what ever you want, like a meat sauce, sautéed mushrooms, cheese. Put the mix back in the skins and those back in the oven for a while (open side up naturally) and presto, stuffed squash baskets!

[@markdholsapple]

Hello from Santa Cruz, California! Bake the spaghetti squash, don't boil it. Cut it in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, and cook cut-side down on a lightly oiled pan until soft when pierced with a fork. Tgen use the fork to gently scoop out and separate the cooked strands of squash. Nice mild, sweet flavor. Saute with garlic, salt, pepper tomatoes, you name it! Versitile! Lots of recipe ideas online.

[@WinkyR709]

You've inspired another balcony gardener :) Planting my containers today!!!!

[@petekelly9772]

Hey Mark, For that particular Cauliflower (Romanesque)It eats and tastes like any other BUT pick it a few days earlier than you would for a normal Cauli. Because when they open and get loose, they get quite crumbly and are not so pleasant to eat.

[@williammaxwell1919]

Self-sown volunteer's are great. Out the front of my old Queensland era, there was paving of old bricks... and in the cracks grew Mexican coriander. I never succeeded in transplanting any, but man, it was so amazing to walk over it (appropriately shod) and smell the fragrance

[@LaurenHartog]

The spaghetti squash should do great during your mild winter as long as it doesn’t get too cold. You can cut them in half and bake them with some olive oil, salt and pepper, delish!

[@rachalnocchi5600]

Spaghetti squash is really very good, you can roast it in the oven as well!

[@Patmccalk]

It’s great to see you trying new plants! I myself am taking this growing season (in Canada) for expanding my repertoire of tomato growing, I bought like 20 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes and I’ve got 21 seedlings already started indoors. Definitely going to have to donate plants to neighbours or be overrun by them lol It’s exactly as you say, trying something new makes you feel great, good luck coming into the new season!

[@irenesutherland7081]

I too live in Canada (Ontario) I’ve got a crazy amt of plants growing. Do a give away to all my neighbours who want them on may 24 weekend.

[@Patmccalk]

@@irenesutherland7081 exactly! My neighbours love me when it comes to the end of April/mid-May

[@juliepeters8358]

Spaghetti Squash is best baked in the oven for an hour. What you need to do for prep is, cut both ends off, slice the squash lengthwise, scoop out center, put salt or whatever spices you like in center of squash, then to finish wrap your squash in foil to bake. When done be careful not to burn yourself while pulling foil apart then just get a large serving spoon and scoop out all the squash from the shell. We use cheese sauce or sometimes homemade tomato sauce. We also add some kind of meat to the dish and it turns out fantastic.

[@NELLIESWORLDS]

I watch ur videos to give me hope about growing foods and ur channel and personality is amazing and a happy n cheerful person and loving n kind hearted i love it and makes my day a little better especially what the day i jad with a pipe breaking and half flooding my apartment basement .. I cant wait to see all that u grow this season n mine r growing amazingly after watch ur channel on plants n soil and everything . thankful u made a channel

[@lizhaydon2250]

To he spaghetti squash grows great. I cook in the oven such as an acorn squash, then use a fork to remove then"spaghetti". Great video

[@cocafan33]

Intrigued by that strawberry spinach. Hope you do some videos on it once it’s growing

[@texassaltwaterlife4374]

Love this guy ...he was playing " wheres waldo" with can u see me now keep it up mark thats what sets u apart from all the other garden channels

[@theaquaticexperience6135]

You can just bake spaghetti squash with a little butter and it will make for excellent noodle substitute for spaghetti. I grow them every year. They are one of my favorites. Cut the stems an inch from the fruit and they will store nicely for nearly a year