Planting our Vegetable Garden | Alaska 2020

We take a look at what overwintered in our vegetable garden and head into the high tunnel for an early peek at what's growing so far this season. We plant onions, prune raspberry canes, and transplant our mixed greens and cole crops into the raised rows, and finish by building an outdoor trellis for the squash vines to climb.
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[@jackpotgman892]

I'm hoping that all the viewers agree, this is such a wholesome, friendly channel 👍 it should be recommend to others. Thanks for sharing this part of your life story.

[@akikoito1383]

It really is the best. I just discovered it and it has brought me so much joy!

[@marionbartley214]

Oh my gosh you're an verbal encyclopedia on Gardening I'm amazed.

[@RubenFletcher]

Once again, more young people need to take lessons from you young people!!! Bravo!

[@aprillea7363]

Ruben Fletcher I agree!

[@davewilliams6172]

Mint in the beds....Oh my....just keep an eye on it as it WILL take over very quickly. I only grow it in large earthen pots. Asparagus is a labour of love (it doesn't like competition from weeds) and a lesson in patience but it is well worth it. When using onions in the kitchen, save the bottom 1/2 inch with the root and re plant them, they will re grow fairly quickly. They usually put out two shoots which can be separated and re planted to get two for the price of one. The garden looks great and I am looking forward to seeing it develop. Love the channel and thanks for sharing

[@fation.]

I've grown a few types of mint. I think some are worse then others. Spearmint seems easier to deal with then the other ones i've tried. I think they are much easier to control then something like creeping charlie/ground ivy (part of the mint family) which is the most invasive thing i've ever dealt with. Mint tea is amazing stuff so i have to grow it.

[@davewilliams6172]

@@fation. One the guys at my old allotment site had spent 5 years trying to get rid of the mint that the previous owner had planted....the damned stuff just kept coming back again and again. I like mint tea as well....but mine is safely contained in half a barrel sized pot. Oh, and NEVER, EVER put it in an Aquaponics system, believe me....I know lol

[@afringedweller]

@@fation. Our mint was becoming so pesky to contain, we were going to get rid of our mint ENTIRELY......then we thought of our galvanized tub thats' bottom had been sort of ruined by burning leaves (don't do that!). The new mint garden then, holds more than several pots worth, and can be cut and dried 'whenever' and the tub isn't left to waste.

[@TheSassySpoon]

I do mine in pots too. It takes over everything!

[@Tser]

My neighbor planted mint on his side of a divide between our driveways. *sobbing*

[@MrSuckwitt]

Guday from Australia down under , love your style, I'm 68 and sit there watching your channel like a kid pretending it's me instead of you doing what you do .Sounds stupid but I left it too late to get out of the city life .Started watching you when you dug out the root cellar and followed you ever since, don't get sick of doing this channel as it doesn't just keep you alive. Will see you where ever we all end up .

[@kberlyc32]

You must have a degree in horticulture because you are so packed with knowledge! Y'all are amazing !

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

K C Dental Hygiene :)

[@deniseortiz-caruana5035]

Everything they know has come from their desire to live off the land. I think of it as The University of Life.

[@smallspaceswithGloria]

Schools should require one class for a year in surviving off our land

[@TexasVeteranFishing]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska can you message me on my FB page of the same name? i am really wanting to move to alaska and have questions that you all would be the best to ask since yall recently moved there.

[@faithrada]

Gardening is SO labor intense .... especially in Alaska. Love to see how all your efforts are being so rewarded.

[@PaulaJoDavis]

Love watching you guys working together and growing food! You both are so knowledgeable and hard working. Oh that I had been you 30 years ago!! Thanks so much for taking us along on your journey; it is thoroughly enjoyable. Shabbat Shalom and Blessings from Missouri.

[@bonniehollingsworth1996]

You are such a great natural teacher. You explain just the salient facts in a very understandable way.

[@boboallan1]

Looks like your root cellar won't be big enough this year. Best wishes for a healthy and bountiful harvest. Always LOVE watching your channel. Thank you for sharing!

[@paigegough6929]

You could put your lavender and rosemary in large pots heavily mulch and overwinter in the greenhouse.

[@herbhouston5378]

Now, that's what I call living! I'm, in a friendly kind of way, envious of what you all have made there... I wish you the very best of everything life will bring to your door... God bless you...

[@sabrinaqualley5743]

Jess at Roots and Refuge Farms (KZbin channel) said that you can top the leader on indeterminate tomatoes to stop the production of new fruit and force them to start ripening. I haven't tried it, but something to consider. Looking forward to the gardening year!

[@kaylaluby7946]

True. We are in zone 3 and do this... too short of a season otherwise :)

[@anaharvey9647]

Hello I really like your style of life in Alaska that is really life. I love you guys.

[@BethGrantDeRoos]

GREAT video for a variety of reasons. Like that you share what works, what doesn't work, mistakes made, lessons learned!

[@lisagrafton2529]

If you end up with green tomatoes at the end of the season, make green tomato relish. It's something I grew up sith. I'm sure you'll find many recipes onli. It's basically pureed green tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, onion. It's great on any meat, scrambled eggs, etc. One of my favorites! I really enjoy your fun, informative, and beautifully filmed videos. Stay safe and healthy. God Bless!

[@mattoja8857]

Yeah, what K C said...it’s insane how much you know and how well you communicate it on video. Keep it up; we’re watching! Cheers

[@colleenbrewer4453]

Yay so happy the asparagus over wintered. Looks like the garden did great!

[@kingrafa3938]

A very knowledgeable couple about gardening.

[@user-rj5dj6rz3n]

i love it when u talk everything about ur gardening.and i love lilacs too so im excited to see how that grows as well😃

[@mikeb5748]

You fix leggy plants by altering temperature, air speed, humidity and mounding up to the seedling leaves. The mounding up to the first set of leaves will encourage the plant to root. Only soil up to the baby leaves, not to the true leaves. Put a box fan in the high tunnel and open the door a few hours during the day. This will get rid of some of the humidity and give it a broadly more variety of temperature rather than hot during the day and chilly at night. So box fan on in the morning with the door open and then box fan and closed doors for the afternoon to preheat thermal mass for the chillier nights. You can change the speed of the airflow, a couple times a day, but you want the plants to wave a bit in the breeze. Not storm strength but some air movement to move the plants. Also epsom salt works wonders for plants that are yellowing, just broadcast a bit around the base of the plants and water. You will see almost immediate results the next day after the plants uptake the magnesium.

[@waweboardgirl]

Quick tip to get stronger stems: let the plants get some temperatures below 50 degrees. Like 1-2 day in a row. This will stop their growth for some time and make the stems thicker. In tomatos this results in more flowers in a smaller distance of stem. With peppers I don't know how it affects the flowering. The temperature should never drop below 38. Around 44 degrees is optimal. Then wait until the plant starts to grow again and repeat. Wind also helps to get stronger stems. I hope this might be interesting for you. Greetings from Germany 👋

[@afringedweller]

I hope they read their readers comments; but if not, it's interesting to me, in British Columbia, Canada - thanks, Diamond!

[@tararose966]

I'm LOVING Bandit foraging in the compost pile!!!

[@sarah.w1683]

So excited for another video and a nice long one too. Garden is looking great!

[@ignaciaforteza7731]

Love your channel. You work so hard. I certainly encourage family and friends to watch you. You are a brave example. 😊👌

[@johnarmlovesguam]

You've done great. That fresh tarragon goes really good on fish. The rosemary is worth the effort. More berries.

[@beckypincalifornia1985]

John Armstrong Tarragon with eggs ... Yum! Must have rosemary for any roasted meet or chicken.

[@500dollarjapanesetoaster8]

Yes, I'm surprised not more berry bushes like black currant, sea buckthorn, or gooseberries. They've shown they can forage for blueberries and cranberries, but I'd want more :)

[@ytreece]

@@500dollarjapanesetoaster8 I’ve wondered if they could cultivate cranberries in the bog. It would be a big PIA tho.

[@kathyhall7012]

This year you should "rice" some of your cauliflower and freeze it. You can use it just like rice. Make stir fried rice or add it to soups. Also top it with your stews or sauces.

[@1307scooter]

Ariel gardening master! Every garden is beautiful.

[@lindabreid]

I live in Sweden and your new way of growing onion is the most common way of growing it here :).

[@kathyhester3066]

My Dad would have loved your gardens especially your tomatoes. Dad always planted six dozen plants 3-4 kinds plus several cherry (red & yellow) tomatoes.

[@anthonyvolpe5206]

you have NO IDEA how jealous I am because of your green thumbs... I cannot grow anything...😁😁 but Ariel, you have tremendous talent...Eric too...Love the channel...been here since almost the beginning...

[@historyspot1542]

Remember how muddy your driveway was last year, with the spring snow melt? Removing the snow completely like you said sure did work wonders!

[@leal536]

For the asparagus - if you only get a few thin stalks, you can still pick them unless you plan to let them go to seed. My mother used to make a milk gravy (fat - butter, lard, oil and flour, then milk) and chopped the asparagus into this gravy and heated through. Then we served it on toast, biscuits or mashed potatoes. I have grown garlic many years. When I first started out, the guy who gave me the garlic bulbs to separate and plant, told me to use bulb food (1 teaspoon) in the bottom of the holes. I had garlic bulbs that some people swore were elephant garlic (they weren't) because they were so large!

[@almadesperado]

One crazy trick that my grandma used to speed up the tomato ripening in northern Russia was to pick up green tomatoes and put them inside a winter shoe ("valenok" in Russian) and keep it inside a house. I think any kind of winter shoe that can keep warmth inside should work. Believe me or not, after a week or two these tomatoes would become red and ready to use.

[@kprairiesun]

Rosemary is awesome! Just bring it in the house for Winter! Works for me and handy for adding to chicken. Love it for roast chicken and chicken and noodles and salad dressing

[@schonathancrews8820]

While they are "runners" the technical term is "daughters." They are the offspring of the main plant or "Mother." Love the channel!

[@komocka]

If you can store onions over winter you can grow your on bulbs to use next year, they are just onions grown (late) from seed but planted a lot closer, so close that the growth is interrupted early. Then the bulbs should be heat treated (stored warm) to avoid them running away and generating flowers when they are planted.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

I know this is an old video, but I'm hoping you realized that you can put all of those herbs into your high tunnel over the winter for better chance of survival. I love your stuff and I hope all is looking up!

[@samanthashirley3098]

I just love these videos! So much great information. I appreciate you taking the time to share what you've learned. This is my second year gardening in Alaska and ever. Your videos have been so helpful. There is so much more to learn than I ever could have imagined! I listened to this while folding laundry, and I must say, I'm going to have to watch again w pen and paper and take notes😊. These are not your run of the mill listen in the background while doing house chores videos! Todah Rabah (thank you) and shalom!!!!

[@gwynnethjarvis1596]

You should look into mulberries it is a Hardy Berry that grows on a tree they are really good in cold climates and they love moisture

[@lori-suzannedell7502]

Simple veg bed garden cover is a stake at each end, string tied tight from end to end, support sticks in the middle and then visqueen plastic over it. Then, use the hook side of tent pegs to hald the plastic edges to the ground. And, I always used a soaker hose so I wouldnt have to disassemble it everyday. And, if the sun is hot enough just open the ends to cool it down. Should save you some money over the PVC hoops.

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

Yall back lol Those young cuttings take them and transplant them. Most will take and make a new berry bush.

[@sallyfrenette9643]

Your gardens and knowledge are amazing. I love it and I just love you two. ☺️

[@familyfungi]

Don't skip the mulch. Hay is great for retaining soil moisture, stabilizing soil temps, providing food for soil microbes, and preventing erosion. Plus, it's adding more carbon back to the soil. So many benefits, highly recommend continuing planting in it.

[@kathrynletchford8603]

Try growing your lavender in a pot, and putting the pot in your tunnel for the winter. I have to grow lavender in a pot as well.

[@lilkatdevil]

How do you have it potted? I have mine potted as it seemed to do better (might put it in the ground sometime, though)

[@beckypincalifornia1985]

Thinking the same for rosemary. Grow in pots and winter in a warmer spot, such as the high tunnel ... with a lot of mulch and a cage covered with a blanket. Ditto for artichokes. When you build an addition, include a room for growing seeds/plants and over-wintering favorite plants. Or, build a small, heated garden shed! Spending your $$ with best wishes.😉

[@deborahstein]

I grow Lots of Garlic, Marbled or Glazed Purple Stripe are strong growers. Yes the Scapes are really good, harvest them when they start to uncurl to prevent them from stealing energy from the bulb.

[@shellymb]

Need to get a post driver ... not too costly and saves tons of time

[@LiveAboard]

I love new beginnings! The hope and inspiration of Spring is here! Thanks for bringing us along on your journey.

[@physicstutor6521]

The best tomato variety for this part of AK is called Mat Su Express. It was bred by Mark Oathouth at Mid Valley Greenhouse. It will set fruit outside if it's in the sun. Sungold cherry fruits well, as does stupice.

[@Oktopia]

I'm in Norway, zone 4. This is really useful and entertaining to watch.

[@jackiemartin2874]

I’m so happy that one comfrey plant survived!

[@murrayandru7527]

Well on your way to a Bountiful harvest , Kudos ! Take care and Enjoy All.

[@jenjen1499]

Your garden looks fantastic . Can’t wait to see it grow and be canned ready for the next winter . Cheers from Sunny Queensland Australia ....... Jen

[@coloradopackratprepper]

Cool watching planting!!!💞💞💞💞

[@trischaprock5983]

Yes pots are good for lavender. I have the most success using cinder block and grow it in the hole of the block. I’m a zone 6. Yet I learned this trick from a Michigan gardener and it works great.

[@wolverinehoff9789]

I love hearing about how things grow in a different climate. In Victoria, Australia, Rosemary grows like a weed all year round. You navigate your environment extraordinarily well. You will definitely need a bigger root cellar this year. Thank you for sharing another great video!

[@DeanJohnson67]

As a Carbivore I kept waiting for the glorious potatoes rows and rows and rows !!! :( --- I must have missed those being mentioned ;)

[@PatriciainOz]

If you look at their previous video they had HUGE MONSTEROUS LARGE potatoes that was pretty amazing I think like one weighed 2lbs ;) I am with you on the potatoes I wanna see what happens too.

[@StephenShreds]

They are skipping this year. One problem with growing potatoes in the same bed year after year is that potatoes are heavy feeders. Growing another crop of potatoes in the previous year's potato bed depletes the soil of nutrients, leading to low yields or reliance on fertilizer. Another problem is disease.

[@DeanJohnson67]

@@StephenShreds Thanks! Hadn't considered that!

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Dean Johnson we will be planting our potatoes very soon :)

[@DeanJohnson67]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska whew! I'd die without my potatoes! ;)

[@conniemorgan7974]

your green thumb is so apparent, I've watched a few of your vids, Well done.

[@chris-um6mt]

Hi from north central north Dakota? Zone 3. I just got to start planting my garden may 16th this year. We got three of inches of wet snow last Saturday. Lol. I use a 30 black cattle lick feeds tub in the spring to warm my water. I hand water with the warm water and refill. Works great for the spring😁 One caution,. Float a piece of wood in the tub so your bees have a safe landing zone.

[@chris-um6mt]

30 gallon black tub

[@stressrelief100]

Keep those videos coming . I love seeing them . Happy gardening.

[@jeep4ron]

Awesome to see the garden coming together this year.😊❤️ Have a great night you guys..!!

[@willykanos1044]

Strawberries - We planted them on a south facing hillside on Fairview Loop in Wasilla. Heeled them in, actually, because we didn't have time to plant properly. They wintered over just fine and we had lots of growth and lots of berries. Next door neighbors did the same but fertilized, mulched, and manured them. They had lots of leaves but few berries.

[@dottieholmes1623]

You can use some of your Comfrey as a fertilizer for plants that need potassium like potatoes. I use a blender and make a Comfrey slurry throw in a few egg shells and use it on my potatoes.

[@joharmon2148]

Looks promising for a great garden this summer.

[@markmaynard6551]

All the BESTEST of results to you and Eric... Great Speaking voice by the way.

[@lilkatdevil]

In central Cali, our bulb onions are doing very well! Lots of water!

[@TimothyGambleITGuy]

keep it up ! you always make my days better! thanks!

[@TheCubex2]

So nice to see younger folks working in the garden. Great videos thank you.

[@brianmikus6023]

Make sure to use the onions from bulbs first. They don't store as well into the winter. They are a 2nd year onion so they try to flower and the green stem inside stays rotting early. Seed and slip starts are 1st year. They last the longest in storage.

[@knis01]

I noticed in the winter when you try to open the door to the high tunnel there's ice build up and it's difficult. You might want to change the hinges so the door swings to the inside. It would make it easier.

[@AlmostHomestead]

Looking great you guys. We really appreciate the time that you take to explain what you're doing in the garden. We always get some helpful tips from you. Have a good one.

[@BrightestBlessings7899]

You can actually train squash that don't like to climb, to grow vertically. I am trying it this year, first time. Great luck and Brightest Blessings!

[@margaritarivera4396]

I'm super excited also with your garden guys

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

Smart with the tomatoes and peppers. I'm in a similar climate in U.P. of Michigan. It's best not to fixate on any tomatoes and peppers that won't finish. Start saving seeds with ones that finish and you'll be good. Stupice is a nice variety that is exceptionally cold hardy and can be set out a couple weeks earlier than normal BUT is delicious. A lot of the earlies suck in taste department. Still working on peppers. Hungarian wax and 60 day cayennes work

[@eddierich6179]

Maybe you already know, but onions grown from bulbs generally don't last as long when just cured as normal. I would recommend using them right away, or in canned goods, and save the onions from seed for fresh use out of the celler in the winter.

[@PatriciainOz]

If I know a six year old that likes to play in the dirt, could I send her to you? especially if you like mud pies and moats around castles. Great video and keep gardening.

[@Jan-cr2lg]

I am in Idaho, zone 5, I only grow yellow and white onions from sets (bulbs). I have never had a bad harvest, they are easy and get baseball sized if not bigger. I hope you like the sets, the price is right! Just for a comparison, I pay $1 for 1 cup of sets and get 35-40. Best of luck, thanks for sharing

[@waderue]

an idea for and high tunnel , take old milk jugs and paint black fill water and antifreeze and let set in the sun and act like heat sink keep the in high the warmth they off at will help keep the temp for your plant , but just for ya

[@TheSassySpoon]

I do that in my winter tunnel. It works!

[@toddsmith4704]

Excellent video! Your garden reminds me a lot of the garden we had when I was a kid .

[@xingcat]

I'm growing radishes and carrots on my back deck in Boston and I feel like a farmer, LOL. Love seeing all the food you grow!

[@Tser]

Ahhhhh Walla Walla. I have relatives who live near Walla Walla and when I was a kid we'd drive through and there were onion stands by the side of the road. So good.

[@ninorauseo6083]

Hello !! guys you are admirable your way of life is sweet, beautiful Alaska I would like to visit it, continue to love nature. Greetings from Tuscany Italy.

[@PlanetMojo]

I dumped a lot of year-old horse manure in my garden last year and it did fantastic. This year I'm trying a horse manure/Hugelkultur mix. I'm going to have to go back and look at your other videos to see how you grow in the winter -- we can get -40° here in SW Wisconsin!

[@senseiofsong]

I like the use of natural wood in the trellaces. Nice. Affordable.

[@liamfleming2070]

Great video segment. I’m glad for your instruction and information. I know I am a bit behind, but I am thinking of building some above ground garden boxes and give this a shot. Even if I fail, it still looks fun and your videos show that it is very rewarding. Thanks for your good, continuing work.

[@jessicamermaid2438]

I am always amazed at your garden. Ariel, you have such a scientific mind with that green thumb! Very good explanation, too.

[@redcossack245]

Wow. I thought your rows outside looked really good to start the season off. Awesome layering of those rows. Great you had so many perennials survive, I'm impressed given all the cold and snow you had. Have you guys thought of raising rabbits for meat and hides? Their meat is one of the healthiest and their manure is awesome for the garden.

[@sbethel14]

I absolutely love you guys, you are a joy to watch. I have now watched every video so that I can understand all the hard work and advice. Took me a while to get caught up haha. I have my first garden this year and have used some of your advice on tomatoes and also planted some Kohlrabi after watching your garden from last year. Thanks so much for getting me excited to grow some of my own food. Keep up the hard work, it really is worth it. 😊

[@gracemccolley7490]

I look forward to you guys figuring out how to get your lavender to survive. I live in a zone 3 as well and have gotten my lavender to survive a Minnesota winter yet. Also so happy to find a channel of someone growing things in zone 3. I feel as though there are not enough channels for gardeners/homesteaders in colder climates. As to roses you have got to Google the Minnesota tip method for roses. I have two roses that are only good in zone 5 or higher. This will be the third year I have had them and they have survived every winter here using the Minnesota tip method.

[@toddswenson9137]

i totally agree with Jackpot Gman awesome channel !

[@steveviau7159]

Love your channel and the way you guys live.

[@klazyy641]

Wow! A ton of information loaded into this video and gobs of how-to's as well. I'm not a gardener (apt dweller. . .) but am a great enthusiast for those of you who have the passion for it. Makes a LOT of sense considering how fragile out so-called super nation status has proven.

[@kimmurphy6864]

I look forward to all your videos 😃😃😃

[@carolinesemple2298]

With determinate tomatoes put a bit of ash from your wood fire around them. They love it. Not so much the indeterminate ones. I soak the garlic cloves in a seaweed solution overnight before planting out. This gives them a boost before they start also helps with fungal issues. Happy growing from Australia

[@abigailtroutman5431]

I love your videos! I enjoyed this video in particular because you show your different methods, why you choose them AND show you planting them. It was entertaining and informative. Thank you! I love your lifestyle and your passion for it!

[@margarethuffman1961]

Thank you so much for the gardening videos!

[@wanderingman-xh6do]

A couple of ideas...Bury a half conex underground. Tar the outside before burying to make waterproof and one stack for ventilation. Or just put the conex on the ground and cover with dirt. It would take a lot of dirt but it works. PVC irrigation with DC timer. Run hard line from tank to each areas and then use black soaker hose that can be removed come fall. Timer would water 2 hours per event. The orchard...Plant mulberry bushes inside the fence 18 inches away. they are perineal and won't interfere with sunlight. Don't know if you can weld, but if yes, check junk yards for scrap steel and build platform with base at 8 ft. To heavy for lumber. And paint it black, just like solar showers, let the sun work for you. Also, gotta capture rain, its free and not doing anything useful. I saw in one of your videos a fast moving stream. Is on your property? If yes, there's your running water and you can attach a paddle wheel for electricity.

[@MissouriCrookedBarnHomestead]

A hint for the tomatoes because I deal with the lack of ripening in Wyoming. It does not matter really how early you have to pull the tomato from the vine, it will still ripen. It is really the loss of the water supply on the fruit that causes the fruit to ripen. So, if you snap them off at a good size and take them indoors, put them on a window sill or somewhere that they get light, you'll see them ripen just fine. Last season I had to pull all of my large green tomatoes from the vines by early September due to snowfall. Take the lavender and rosemary indoors, a lot of your herbs you can grow indoors. I have a huge lavender plant indoors that I had started from over 25 year old seeds over 3 years ago now.

[@raijaperala9268]

So nice see your channel and see healthy living stile. Greetings from Finland 🙂🤗🐔🐣🐥🍓🌽🍏🍎🍅🌶

[@noocemiller6005]

Your raised rows are amazing, even after just one year. I can’t wait to see how your tomatoes do!