Substitute These 6 POPULAR Veggies with EASIER to Grow Varieties

In this video, I substitute six popular vegetables with other crops that taste just as good but are easier to grow at home.
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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 :)
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#gardening #vegetables #tips

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Everyone, I hope you enjoyed the video - thanks for watching and for supporting my Channel! FYI, I'm planning to go live this coming Thursday (yes, it has been ages), so keep an eye out around 9AM AEST or watch the replay. Also, don't forget to check out my Website, SelfSufficientMe.com cheers :)

[@aaronfram7501]

Love the videos. Been following for years now👍

[@kele1264]

I'm in New Jersey, USA. I'm trying to work out when I should be watching. I believe you are 14 hrs ahead of me. So if you're live at 9am AEST on June 22, am I to be watching at 7pm EST on June 21? Either way I'll be waiting for notification, I just don't want to miss anything.. By the way, I hope you have moderators to assist. If not, I'd be happy to pitch in. I mod for a number of channels. For me that entails blocking trolls, dropping links to channels or websites that you request be dropped, etc. Just a thought. Have a great day!

[@carljones3792]

Where can we buy the shirts, Mark. Lots of love from England.

[@raysouth1952]

I’m on the northern tablelands of NSW so sweet potato and taro are challenges. Our winters are just too cold and summers are short. Luckily, spuds do well here so no substitute needed. We can’t really grow iceberg type lettuces but it’s the high UV that’s a problem. The plants get sunburn then rot. That red spinach, is that orach? I googled red spinach but couldn’t find anything definite. There seem to be several plants that could be called red spinach. Which seed company sells it?

[@hortenciabeltran4666]

In in Southern California and I've grown swiss chard as a substitute for spinach. This year with all the rain and the cooler weve had, my swiss chard has bolted and developed powdery mildew. I've cut some of them back severely and at least one of them seems to be coming back but I may have to replant. No complaints though, I hope mother nature keeps the water coming. :)

[@LadyVoldemort]

I live in Indonesia, tropical climate all year long in an almost sea level city. To substitute for potatoes, besides sweet potatoes and taro, I plant cassava. You can chop the tree to 30 cm/1 foot long sticks and just stick them on the soil and they'll grow robustly. You can also eat their young leaves as greens. Delicious!!!

[@Ealsante]

Yes cassava! It's honestly harder to kill them than it is to keep them alive.

[@CristalMermaid]

I have never heard of eating cassava leaves. I think I heard that they are high in Arsenic and you can’t eat the cassava raw because of that. Do you cook the leaves before eating them?

[@wildforestorganics7298]

@@CristalMermaid They contain cyanide. You can pound them and soak them in water before rinsing and boiling to remove the cyanide.

[@oreopaksun2512]

@@CristalMermaid Cassava, and its close relative, chaya or Mexican tree spinach, which is only grown for leaves, require cooking to offgas the cyanic compounds. The toxins do NOT stay in the liquid, so soups and stews are easy ways to use the nutritious leaves. BTW, even the common potato is toxic raw, so just don't snack on these plants in the garden.

[@TheKrispyfort]

I think they're illegal in Australia. I could be wrong

[@jjudy5869]

In Kansas, my grandfather discovered Swiss Chard as an excellent replacement for spinach. It doesn't bolt, it is a cut-n-come-again leafy veggie. Great for all the canning that needs to be done so you can eat over the winter. Let the plant get about 12-inches high; cut it to about 2-inches high, and the crown will regrow. And best of all, for me, it has a milder flavor than mustard greens or collards.

[@hortenciabeltran4666]

Love swiss chard. It bolted on this spring and im having powdery mildew problems with it. I guess thats what happens when it finally rains in the dessert. Im in southern cali

[@angerainbow9200]

I just found Rainbow chard I have planted it all over the yard

[@Isaac-ho8gh]

Till I saw this comment, I thought that Spinach and the Swiss Chard were from the same plant species despite me knowing a lot about plants xD

[@conniepothas9760]

im from South africa, and i grow. sorrel, it seems easier to grow than spinnage. slightly more sour taste

[@genevrahsu4804]

Chard is decorative, delicious, freezes a treat if you blanch it, and mine came *back* this year despite us having a proper hard freeze! It overwintered under the mulch, and has shot up a big seed stem; I'm letting it go, and hopefully can gather the seeds before the birds do.

[@ohiogardener4019]

One of my favorite Lettuce varieties is the Romain (COS). I treat it as a leaf lettuce by simply pulling off the outer leaves and letting the smaller center leaves to keep growing. It continues growing the entire summer by doing cut-and-come-again with it.

[@BritInvLvr]

Plus romaine is better for you than iceberg. 😊

[@nyunixguru]

I cut and come all my lettuce varieties

[@schex9]

Same here. I played around with those other lettuces that he displayed, but I found that they went bitter as soon as we had a warm (80°F) day. And they just didn't produce as large a volume of leaves as the COS Romaine lettuce. I love it and we will be making a BLT with my homegrown lettuce in a few minutes!

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

With the Malabar spinach try this to get rid of the slimy texture. Shred it with a knife very finely. Pat dry, then drop into hot oil and flash fry. It goes a little crispy, like roasted seaweed. I don’t like Malabar raw either, but flash-fried is excellent. Done this way it also ends up with an amazing shiny green colour.

[@yeevita]

Try the very young leaves and the ends of the young tendrils. Also try the young seed pods/florets. For the big leaves, chop them up and mix them in with eggs and fry. I love doing that with basil and/or shiso as well. Delicious!

[@Sean_Shaun_Shawn]

I've had limited success with several of the popular varieties of strawberries up here in Scotland but our wild Strawberries grow like bloody weeds and are packed with flavour. The only catch is they're tiny by comparison, so I had the idea of slowly using up my bought seeds to plant both at the same time and letting nature hybridise them giving me benefits of both- size, proliferation and climate robustness specific to my area.

[@christinechapman9764]

That's amazing!

[@samthejackalope5427]

That would be cool. But I think I'd Forage and transplant some of the wild ones into your plot and let them do there thing.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Tiny but I bet they taste amazing! Good luck with your experimentation on improving the crop. Cheers :)

[@hoperules8874]

Ooo! I miss those tiny ones growing in the mounds of moss! Nothing tastes nearly as good. Thanks for the memory!

[@taski1]

hell, if they're as good as you say they are, where can I get some? Do you know what variety they are?

[@adora9551]

6:19 if you are worried about oxalates, add some sesame seeds or sesame oil when using spinach :)

[@blablabla2616]

What dose seasame seeds do ? I had thought they where high in one of the anti nutrients too?

[@adora9551]

@blablabla2616 Not sure about the anti nutrient but one of amino acids contained in the sesame pregents stone forming

[@blablabla2616]

@@adora9551 ok thanks 👍

[@sharoncontini3284]

Juice a lemon daily. You can water it down if like.

[@jenniferpetrellicarslearni2265]

And also vitamin K2 helps protect against the formation of kidney stones

[@rm4347]

This is my first time growing my own crops and I’m 12 hours north of you mark, I took all your advice and got the birdies and spent time getting my soil right and used plenty of mulsh (haha) And my ice berg crop was a cracker, healthy as and tasted really nice Never new it was on the harder side to grow. I made a few mistakes with a few things by over watering so I’m now using the finger to the knuckle method before watering. Thanks for taking the time to make these clips because you’ve helped a novice like myself out a lot

[@hikerlindacanadianrockies8478]

Beet greens can also be used like spinach. I just discovered garlic chives last year, and I quite like them!

[@MachinaOpus]

I grew sugar beet to try making molasses (which was a lot of work) but now I grow them as a substitute for regular silver beet.

[@456456459]

Do you mean the scapes off hard neck garlic? Never heard of garlic chives.

[@troxycat]

@@456456459 Nope not the scapes, they're just a variety of chive that has a nice garlic flavor. Just planted some myself this year, looking forward to cooking with them!

[@vickiephelps5169]

I love Mark and this channel because I have a very similar climate here in NW Arkansas, USA. We are hot and wet. There aren't a lot of long season crops that can survive in 110f+ and all of the tropical molds and fungi that we have here. Mark's tips have been great for my garden.

[@TACbaha]

I discovered garlic chives by accident a few years ago. I was a new gardener and didn't know they weren't the traditional chives. They have been in my garden ever since. They thrive here. I just separate the clumps every so often and now I have more than I could ever need. They also volunteer readily. If you haven't tried it yet, dehydrate some. They make a great seasoning!

[@n0mnom]

I grow lovage instead of celery. It's a perennial so I can have a celery substitute all year round, and if you grow it for long enough it can get really massive!

[@sharonadlam3195]

Hi n0mnom, do you just eat the Lovage leaves or the stems as well?

[@Selfsufficientme]

Excellent! Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@n0mnom]

@@sharonadlam3195 If it's to go in something like a stew then I'll chop up both leaves and stems. But I also just like just munching on the stems as a snack. In my opinion they taste very very similar to celery, and the texture of the stems is identical.

[@sharonadlam3195]

@@n0mnom Thanks for the info 😊

[@tinabarton2938]

I tried lovage last week for the first time. Yes it did taste like a really strong celery. Thanks for this. I have a hard time growing celery. I did not even think about using it as a substitute.

[@Daddyo_farms]

Have you tried putting your garlic in the fridge about two months before you planted? That’s what we have to do in order to get the chill hours for stratification

[@Selfsufficientme]

Yes, I have tried putting garlic in the fridge without much success but it could be worth a go again with other varieties. Thanks! :)

[@colonel.h.stinkmeaner]

Love your videos. Every time I get tired of working out in our massive garden/micro farm, I see your positive, honest, intelligent videos and I get re-motivated.

[@microbefeeder]

HA! Everything you talked about today actually grows well in my climate! I'm in northern america. I'm always jealous of people in climates like yours where you can grow pretty much year round, have citrus, mango, bananas, etc., but this video made me realize that the same would be in reverse in your climate. Maybe yours is still better, but many things I grow and love you can't grow well. We can always trade. :) Cheers!

[@spraymantis8998]

Hey mate, I’ve substituted sweet basil for African blue basil. African blue grows all year round, is hardier and produces amazing flowers for the bees. The pesto I make with the African Blue is near identical to the sweet basil, give it a shot 😊

[@spearageddon3279]

I also grow ABB, started with a cutting and propagated so I could put it everywhere I want pollinators. It is always loaded with bees and has become an absolute favorite of mine. I have it around the edges of my banana circle so it also hides my chop and drop mess in the center, while looking spectacular.

[@schex9]

I think ABB smells like licorice. Not a flavor I want in my meals.

[@wildchook745]

Yes, taro is wonderful, you eat the corms and replant the top with a bit of basal. Mark plant some next to your duck pond, it loves water too. The neat thing about them, is you don’t fertilise it. Sweet potatoes are another useful plant in the garden, it suppresses weeds, and you eat the tubers and the young leaves too. Not a fan of the Malabar spinach too. Spring onion is an all-time favourite to grow. They’re less fuss and you just stick it in the ground. Mine is snow peas, no podding, you snack on it straight from the plant.

[@ghulamabbasawan7175]

The issue with taro is that it take longer to mature, and more water-hungry

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hey Mary! Yes, I agree on the snow peas, such a great snack whilst doddering around the garden... Cheers :)

[@blacktulipfee]

I’m in South West of Western Australia. My backyard/veggie patch is under a lot of native tree shade. I love my house… but I don’t have enough sun for certain plants to flourish. Instead of tomatoes that end up with diesease, I have found that tomatillos grown quite well. They taste like sweeter green tomatoes, and I personally prefer the taste! Many jars of tomatillo and basil sauce have been made! 🌻🥰

[@Selfsufficientme]

Yes, another good substitute! Tomatillo Salsa is also delicious... Thanks for sharing :)

[@blablabla2616]

If you have extra tomitilllos try sliceing really fine with mandalin and sun drying them they are little flavour bombs this way- umami - sweet savory natural chips kinda like teriyaki flavour but better , real surprising 😃😋 I got excited and made 3 mason jars full .

[@tasgardener7923]

It really does come down to climate ultimately. Here potatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow and do great. Sweet potatoes on the other hand really struggle though I finally got a few last season. Tomato varieties like tigeralla and large varieties also do very well here.

[@kbjerke]

This year I couldn't get my radishes to survive - but the peas are going wild! Garlic is doing really well. HALF of my potatoes seem to be doing OK. Love your videos, Mark!

[@skittlesrainbowprincess]

That's interesting! My radish leaves grew fantastically (and the slugs feasted 😭) but no bulbs. Potatoes are growing and seem to be doing quite well as well as the peas! However my typically easy cool weather crops quickly went to seed since spring was more like summer this year.

[@kbjerke]

@@skittlesrainbowprincess This spring in Ontario it's been a strange growing season. We've had several hard frosts, but that only affected the potatoes' foliage. The peas are amazing, as is the garlic, but it seems I cannot grow a radish or daikon or even a beetroot! LOL Other years I can't grow a brassica to save my life. Leaf lettuce and bush beans are doing great too, though! Happy gardening!

[@williammaxwell1919]

Snow Peas were my biggest failure and greatest success: I never managed to get any pods into the house for eating 😕 because 2nd oldest son taught his 3 brothers how to harvest them off the vine 😊

[@kbjerke]

@@williammaxwell1919 Who can resist?! I'm sure I graze more than I bring into the house! LOL

[@skittlesrainbowprincess]

@@williammaxwell1919 that's definitely a success! You just need to plant more next time!

[@j.b.6855]

We like to eat salads during the gardening season, and while I am in 5b and can get a wave of black seeded simpson lettuce (our favorite) it will bolt come june. Then I got a free seed pack of Oak Leaf lettuce in an order. It will grow through the summer. It will eventually bolt, but it gets big and you can get a nice bunch of lettuce before it does. Its also great for cut and come again as it only bolts when it gets big.

[@natholloway9147]

In South Texas we have more cherry tomatoes than we can eat. I have raised beds, too, and love them. They went wild this year. We also planted potatoes for the first time and they were really a treat. Sweet potatoes are going bananas and looking forward to harvesting those sometime soon. I love your channel. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@mamabear5425]

try freezing your toms , straight in ziplocks bags . when you have a stash in freezer makes the best pasta sauce, use the immersion blender to smooth out, then back in freezer in smaller amounts to use as needed.

[@natholloway9147]

@@mamabear5425 That sounds like a super idea! I'll do that. Thank you!

[@desertfire]

Swiss Chard was a big surprise for me in place of Spinach. It has a more mild flavor and works well in a Quiche. I had never had it before growing it this year-works well in salads too.

[@christinechapman9764]

And it keeps going so long, just cut the outer leaves and let it stand and you'll have greens all year (depending on where you are of course).

[@knotengajin7359]

Just cooked up some beet greens yesterday and the flavor is very similar plus if your climate is right you can get the roots too. Also found a recipe to pickle the ribs so am about to try that as well.

[@erikjohnson9223]

Swiss chard is a type of Beta vulgaris (beets, in this case bred for greens rather than the taproot). Unfortunately most types get the "earthy" (geosmin) flavor also found in beetroot. If you don't like that (I don't), try the primitive variety "perpetual spinach." Geosmin is still noticeable in thinned seedlings, but I didn't really taste it in older plants. Unlike "Rhubarb" or "Oriole" chard (or multicolor mixes like Bright Lights) which look great with nasturtiums and some other flowers, or Bull's Blood beets (with a deep blood clot color which contrasts with most other foliage), it isn't decorative at all, but if you like to keep vegetables and ornamentals in different gardens, try it, especially in places where chard/beet is the easiest green to grow (Midwest USA?)

[@pennyfenner1354]

Hi Mark, I'm up in Cairns, so more tropical and even harder to grow most of the veg that you have mentioned. One of my favourite potato substitutes is the true yam, Diascorea alata. It grows with zero effort, and can yield massive crops, especially in the second year. It is the closest I have found to potato in terms of texture and flavour.

[@pd8559]

Look for white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and yellow yam (Discorea cayennensis) at African and Asian markets if you have any nearby. In the Philippines they use the purple variety of alata in making desserts.

[@maddycollins356]

First crops of cabbage, cauliflower, zucchini were great, no luck since. Toowoomba.

[@Ealsante]

Taro and sweet potato are both tropical crops too!

[@anthonypalmer329]

Hi Penny, we are on the Atherton Tablelands. Can we purchase some of the yam off you?

[@pennyfenner1354]

@@anthonypalmer329 hi Anthony, harvest time is around November, but the vines are producing bulbils now (like aerial bulbs for planting). I’m happy to give you some if you would like to grow. They are white yams. Purple yams are available at Rusty’s at the moment. 🙂

[@tickledtoffee]

I've had way more success with spring onions than large onions. And also with Swiss chard instead of spinach. I don't know if it's a climate thing (I'm in Cape Town in South Africa) or a me thing 😂 I basically just water them, give them some compost occasionally and they thrive. Great video, thank you (edit: society garlic is indigenous to South Africa, so it's everywhere here and it's definitely a great substitute for ordinary garlic)

[@Selfsufficientme]

I didn't realise society garlic came from South Africa - very interesting and another great export! I might have to chop up some and add it to my biltong seasoning... Cheers :)

[@tickledtoffee]

@@Selfsufficientme yeah, it might be tasty. It's great that you make biltong! :)

[@k.p.1139]

Hey Mark! This year I did something different, with my heirloom tomatoes. I started them inside until they were ready to go into a 2 inch pot. Once they were getting close to being to big for those, I moved them to a 5 inch square pot! Square seems to do a lot better than the round. When they about 10 weeks old, they were ready for the garden. They took off! It was a 100% success. I also planted them in an area that is 50% shade. They mostly get the morning sun, and a little in the late afternoon. NOW, had we not been hit with a freak hail storm, I would have had a lot more than I got. But, I still got a good bit! The plants struggled terribly after they were blasted! It looked like someone used it for target practice. But, I have more ready to go into the ground.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Unlucky with the hail KP but it seems like your effort and experimentation paid off big time! Cheers :)

[@proprietarycurez8463]

Yup! I'm trying to find all the veggy flavor I like but in a green leaf form. There's even a green pepper basil that's supposed to taste like bell peppers!

[@colleenkrall630]

We like potatoes but we grow kohlrabi and use them as a potato substitute. We peel them, cut them in small pieces, parboil, and freeze for using in soups, stews, whatever. Healthier too. I will check into growing taro. We live in Central Florida. Love your videos. Thanks.

[@gabriellefagan1014]

good to know, greetings from Cairns FNQ

[@tomcartmill401]

@@gabriellefagan1014 Far North Queensland. F N Q

[@christinechapman9764]

I am trying kohlrabi for the first time this winter (I am in a warm temperate zone), I've actually never eaten it, not a commonly available veg here in Australia, but I've heard glowing reports from my daughter, who lived for a while in Europe. They seem to be growing really well so far.

[@margiemurray2147]

We Live in Central Florida and can't get our Kohlrabi to grow at any time. What month are you planting your Kohlrabi in? Maybe I'm missing a month that would work best. Thanks for the input. Nana's growing in buckets in Central Florida

[@christinechapman9764]

@@margiemurray2147 I have planted in late autumn and winter (that's May and June here), very different climate to you though. Dry and temperate, hot dry summers, cold wet winters, lovely autumn, for the most part.

[@asahelkish5809]

Russel Crow giving gardening tips from down under is my new binge.

[@jeannenemmyers6580]

Hawaii has very unique growing issues. Rarely do we have days under 65 degrees (even living at 3000 feel). That leaves out a lot of crops...think any winter squash, collard and most greens (Southern people). I really appreciate when you do these types of videos. It's extremely helpful for challenging climates. Thank, Mark.

[@joshuahoyer1279]

Oh wow that's hard to imagine. Is it because of diseases? I would think squash plants would go nuts with that steady heat, but then again, powdery mildew and such would run rampant in that humidity.

[@Semiboes]

How exciting to read about someone gardening in Hawaii. I can't even imagine how different you work compared to my central European garden. All the best!

[@jeannenemmyers6580]

Most of the issues come with the volcanic soil and very little topsoil. It has to be brought in. Mostly tock. It's not super hot, rarely over 80 f, but not lots of rain. We're trying some new crops in hopes of getting something to work with our challenges. Thanks for the good wishes. I appreciate your insight.

[@joshuahoyer1279]

@@jeannenemmyers6580 oh wow that would be a challenge. Do you have much wood and leaves available in your area for a wood chip mulch? As it breaks down, it could add some nice structure, humus and nutrients over time.

[@jeannenemmyers6580]

@@joshuahoyer1279 some , but not much. We have a problem with our ohia trees dying with some unknown blight, caution has to used with disposal and we can't burn. Minimal leaves. Now our hibiscus seem to have something going on and we're cutting them close to the ground in hopes to save them (we've planted over 100 on the last 5 years. I'm loving all the ideas... this group of gardening folks is the absolute best!

[@kaiyamorgulis2392]

Maybe not necessarily a veggie, but I can't grow cilantro for the life of me. I've completely replaced it in my life with culantro and rau ram. Excellent video and definitely one of the hardest lessons to learn as an early gardener (usually because people don't teach you) is that learning to adapt your diet to your climate and making substitutions is the key to success! It feels so much better to get a great harvest than to lose 90% of a crop that you grew because you like buying it at the grocery store. And on top of that, you can replace finnicky potatoes with things like Jerusalem Artichokes and suddenly you're raking in a premium crop you can't even get at most markets here in Canada and it's impossible to kill!

[@Nocare89]

Thanks for the cilantro substitute. Mine took 3 months to grow like 5 5" stalks before going to seed. I planted like 50 seeds too xD

[@schex9]

Did you grow between October and June? Which Zone are you in?

[@kaiyamorgulis2392]

@@schex9 it's fairly impossible to grow anything significant between those months in Canada. Zone 6 where I am.

[@girak2]

Quilquina (Bolivian Coriander) is also a good substitute for cilantro

[@marym4186]

I might have a solution for you! have you tried planting the cilantro (with roots) and just letting it go to seed? basically plant it but don't harvest any and let it go to seed (purpose of production). Then, when frost is coming cover the area with leaves (to mulch) to protect the seeds.

[@caterjunes3426]

My husband is allergic to bulb garlic, but can tolerate garlic chives. I have a container of it that I planted at least 4 years ago and it's still going strong. My favorite use is to make pesto with it and the basil I grow every summer.

[@deb1973d]

We've stopped growing spinach and now grow Longevity Spinach. It isn't bothered by the heat. This plant also grows indoors and is a popular houseplant in some areas.

[@erikjohnson9223]

Has anyone seen studies on the presence of pyrolizidine alkaloids in Gynura species (longevity and Okinawan spinach). Taxonomy seems to place these in the groundsel (Senecio) tribe, and that scares me.

[@deb1973d]

@@erikjohnson9223 Thanks for the question. I have found a few studies that focused on Longevity Spinach. I'll follow the information trail. I had hoped it would be an alternative.

[@pattibrown1809]

I really enjoy all your videos Mark. Thank you so much! I'm a gardener in the Sonoran desert (USA). I've been gardening for almost 40 years, but I still love your great advice and ideas!!✌

[@datatamer]

In Michigan, where it sometimes drops to -20F, I grow chenopodium album (lambs quarters) instead of spinach. It's considered a weed, grows like one, and is fabulous cooked. Thanks for your videos, always encouraging!

[@bmiles4131]

It grew through summer 108F in my black plastic containers in Texas. Never got bitter, just trying to get used to fuzzy leaves.

[@philipcregger6477]

I had no idea about garlic chives. I’m definitely going to give them a try. Thanks, Mark - I love your videos!

[@darkknight145]

When it's not Cucumber Season (in my garden) I use Zucchinis in my salads as a sub.

[@eileenwineinger3173]

Hello Mark. I have been watching your channel for a few years. I was connected to it through a video you did with Kevin from e Epic Gardening. I'm living in very hot Central California so your tips for things that like hot weather have been very helpful. You've encouraged me to grow a lot of things that I haven't grown before. I am finally going to grow Malabar spinach , I just sowed tatsoi, and my second batch of green onions. I accidentally bought society garlic at the store and I'm loving it. Thanks for all your videos , Mark and for all the unconventional planting wisdom that is so awesome ( like trench composting) which I do even though I just have a small garden.

[@richardlove4287]

Mark, a really good growing garlic here in Bundaberg is Elephant garlic…we used to grow tonnes of it before the big floods wiped us out. Plant on the 1st of April and harvest on the 5th of November, these times are flexible it’s just easy dates to remember. Thanks for the video.

[@CurlyWirls]

I adore elephant garlic

[@variyasalo2581]

I'm in south Texas, 9a. We grow a lot of the spinach substitutes here. We start to grow larger tomatoes in Feb so they have time to get big enough before putting them in the ground. We also do cherry, grape, and jelly bean tomatoes until the plants get too wracked with disease. Then you make sure to "tip" plant a few good branches to start new plants in the fall. Thanks for the taro tip! Also, from the comments, ulluco and cassava. Also, try putting the slimy greens in pickling vinegar. I love pickled and fried okra but otherwise hate it cooked. Buen Dia!

[@variyasalo2581]

Ps- I love the ginger beer from Bundaberg! I'm making some from scratch soon because the cheaper varieties are tasteless and I'm spending a fortune ($7-$8 for 4 pack) on the good stuff from Oz!

[@richardlove4287]

@@variyasalo2581 , believe it or not we leased out a paddock to a ginger grower last year. He was growing for Bundaberg ginger beer so you may be drinking the very ginger from my farm. Cheers!!🍻

[@variyasalo2581]

Thanks, Bro! I'll be thinking of y'all when I'm tipping a brew!🤩

[@refreshgamesdev]

First season doing gardening, just in small containers outside as I don't have a garden, I've had success in re-growing spring onions from their roots and enjoyed harvesting the onion tops, to the point where I haven't had to buy green onions for a long time, which is great! Grown a few spinach plants from seed which I've been able to harvest from, although they are atttracting some bugs so I've just placed them under some protecting gardening cloth, hopefully that will help. Got some potatoes growing, about 60 days in, looking forward to August and hopefully a decent harvest, learnt about removing the potato flowers so they don't fool someone into eating one. Rocket has been nice and tasty to grow from seed and then cut back, let it re-grow and, well keep coming back it, it's amazing how fast the leaves come back with that one! But, my favourite plants are my basil seeds which startred off inside for a while, then I moved them outside and they're tunring out really well, planted them around what is my pride and joy, my tomato plant, again, not tried this before but I have 18 shirley tomatoes growing away on it and it's just great to have my daughter get involved with looking after them when she's with me. I only started off this year after having a watch through your videos and I can't wait until I can get some more veggies planted next month, might try chives if July is a good month to plant them here in the UK, sounds like a much faster garlic :)

[@refreshgamesdev]

Woke up and my tomato plant had fallen over, thankfully it hadn't broken, just a slow bend, added more supports and linked up with more twine at both the base and higher up linking around different main stems. On the bad side, that could have been the state for maybe 6 hours, on the plus side there's no visible damage and I've been able to fix her up before work this morning, also, there's a lot of tomatoes which is probably the reason for the balance issues, gave it a good shake afterwards and all seems fine again, will have my fingers crossed for when I return from work this abbo

[@maggieincanada2062]

Love this video! I have patch of garlic chive and green onion (grown from the grocery cuttings). Stir fried eggs with garlic chive is very good!

[@agdv62]

I’m in SEQ. This info will save yrs of trial & error! After 4/5 yrs of testing the staples I settled on growing “everything” that you’ve suggested as an alternative :) It made life so much easier in the garden 🌱

[@redo73]

Ditto that. I'm in Brissy. Where is Self Sufficient from?

[@macw2234]

In south Africa i came across a delight made from taro leaves called Puri Patha. Absolutely delicious

[@trilliarobinson7862]

A versatile sub for all sorts of veggies is Caigua. I only grew it for the first time this year, as a vine trained against a warm sunny wall. It is really pretty, with feathery leaves and yellow flowers. The "fruits" look like small curly prickly gherkins ! When young, you can eat them raw off the vine, like a cross between a snap pea and a cucumber. When older, scrape out the seeds, and they can be pickled or - strangely - when sliced and cooked in a stir fry, are quite like tiny capsicums, and although tough raw, soften up beautifully once cooked.

[@veneceweeks3730]

Hi. Where did you get the Caigua seeds please.

[@trilliarobinson7862]

@@veneceweeks3730 From Kings Plant Barn seed catalogue - new one out this month - in New Zealand

[@veneceweeks3730]

Thankyou. I live in Australia so will have to do the research :)

[@trilliarobinson7862]

@@veneceweeks3730 Good luck ! These are so easy to grow, I'm sure they will make their way across the ditch soon, if not already there.

[@MotoHikes]

Genuinely surprised Mark knows of the band Amaranth. You just keep getting cooler and cooler. Can you adopt me? Please?

[@billmandaue2168]

Collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens are great substitutes for spinach, and are grown all across the southern United States. Each has a slightly different flavor, but all are good. Also, here in the Philippines, we grow kangkong (also know as water spinach), which is a member of the morning glory family. Personally, I think it actually tastes better than spinach, and the stems are edible, as well as the leaves. Elephant garlic (which is actually in the leek family, but tastes like garlic) is a good substitute for garlic in warmer climates where garlic doesn't grow well.

[@Constellado]

I tried growing ulluco instead of potatoes here in NZ and it went way better than expected! I just harvested it right after the first frost here and I cooked some in a thai style curry. Delicious.

[@TheJohn8765]

I'd never heard of that plant until now but it looks interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@trilliarobinson7862]

I grow a bed of perennial spinach in Auckland, which does just what it says on the packet ! I have a permanent supply of large spinach leaves, and I just cut back anything old, damaged, or hinting at a flower.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Interesting! I might be abe to grow some over winter here... Thanks for the suggestion. Cheers :)

[@blablabla2616]

@@trilliarobinson7862 NZ spinach is good and hardy to . Grows like a ground cover

[@ralizek497]

I like these substitute verities videos, good knowledge. Its hard to grow the "standard" veggies in hotter climates. Even winter rarely gets below 20, making greens a hard thing to grow

[@galespressos]

Wonderful help for us. Thank you!

[@carolynmcbride3136]

This is my first year ever growing potatoes...I chose 3 varieties of fingerlings & they're growing just great in a raised bed!...Tampa, FL

[@CristalMermaid]

Greetings from Florida. You can also grow true yam instead of potatoes and New Zealand spinach. Thanks for the great information, I’ve heard about most of the veggies you recommended but I’ve never heard of the red spinach and Egyptian Spinach, and the tree lettuce and I want to try them. I would love to find the Glenn Large variety here in the states, I had the best luck growing Creole types of onions like white Creole and red Creole and for garlic I like the Red Toch and Inchellium Red. Not sure if you can find those varieties in Australia but I thought they were worth mentioning.

[@victoriac1672]

I’m in Florida too! The spinaches I have are okinawan, Malabar, and ginseng. My favorite thing to substitute for spinach though is red Chinese spinach. It’s an amaranth and so pretty and self seeds everywhere.

[@variyasalo2581]

Dixondale Farm here in south Texas sells the onions for the south and will give you lots of information on how to grow onions.

[@MargaretFinnell]

Good to see you Sir. Here in Ky , zone 6a I can't grow many of your fruits and veggies but your ideas are super for what I can grow. It is fun to see your garden. I love to see what other people are able to grow. I can grow the big tomatoes if the deer let me. The electric fence isn't working too well this year, time to raise the wires, and put the poultry wire up to keep the over population of rabbits out. Got traps set for the squirrals so the fun begins as I replant.

[@lifewithrebeccaa]

I’m in the states and we have winter and snow right now. Seeing the summer and heat in your videos makes me excited for spring ❤

[@Chris-us6pk]

@lifewithrebeccaa • you are living on stolen land and are a white supremacist.

[@robyn4715]

I think society garlic has a taste a bit like fried onions, but raw tasting at the same time. Really delicious and unusual flavour. And pretty, too.

[@musomaster9027]

Jerusalem artichokes are beautifully easy to grow and don’t require crop rotation. Good potato replacement! I have found cos lettuce do particularly well in cold climate, and is largely ignored by pests.

[@schex9]

I grew Jerusalem Artichokes in 2020, and they grew well. I harvested them when I was ready to grow cabbage and broccoli, but they had hardly made a root/rhizome, whatever. I decided that these would be better in a larger garden.

[@erikjohnson9223]

They don't *permit* crop rotation. Fixed that for you.😂

[@musomaster9027]

@@erikjohnson9223 they permit you to have more and more Jerusalem artichokes!

[@marilynbradley2139]

I've tried green amaranth aka Callaloo in my Alabama garden for a summertime green. It also makes the cereal amaranth when it goes to seed. Sometimes I have to spray it with Neem to keep flea beetles at bay, but it sends out lots of tender green leaves that I like to steam with lemon and butter

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi.... Mark nice to see you thanks you for showing your video gardening bye

[@lucieann21]

I live in northern Brisbane and grow Kangkong from October to April really well as a spinach substitute/ Asian green. Bok choy grows really well through most of winter and right into summer.

[@Taloth1969]

My wife and I in Florida zone 9b grow Okinawa spinach and Longevity spinach. It loves the heat and humidity here. The Okinawa spinach seems to be a bit more cold tolerant and stays looking the best all year around. Its a bit more leathery textured than standard spinach but still tastes good in salad or cooked.

[@steveevans1841]

I also grow both, they don't seem to like our winter much but they bounce back in summer. We live in Numulgi near Lismore just below the Queensland border. Our summers can hit above 35 and winters down to around 5 degrees C. They both taste good.

[@jennifertaylor4194]

I live in Florida 9b too. Longevity Spinach is good juiced when your vines swamp the whole side of your house! 😂

[@troxycat]

There's a variety of chard called perpetual spinach chard, and it really does have more of a spinach flavor than regular chard. I'm growing some this year, and having much more success with it than I ever did with spinach!

[@mamabear5425]

yes i grow chard. love it. sunshine coast qld

[@margiemurray2147]

Never heard of Perpetual spinach chard. Could you share with someone from Zone 9B Central Florida with where you purchased your seeds from? Would be very interested in trying to grow some in our area cheers the Nana's from Central Florida growing in buckets

[@troxycat]

@@margiemurray2147 I got mine from Baker Creek. 😊

[@cliffordpeacock7945]

Would love to see an episode on drain pipe soil vertical farming for limited spaces. Your pallet episode(upcycling) really something that motivated me into more vertical farming.

[@i2iFX_Colleen]

As far as lettuce, spinach and the like is concerned, I dont think you can go past Tatsoi.... It grows so easily and you can pick leaves for a salad or a whole plant for steaming or in a stir fry, then, when the plants bolt, the stems and flowers are so much like broccolini - flavour and look! Great all rounder in my opinion! Thanks for your terrific video Mark.... and Hi to some of your viewers - Odettte and Chris who are friends of mine that I had no idea follow you :) You are VERY popular out here in south west Queensland mark!

[@Gardenergal]

I totally agree about malabar spinach. Fun and very hardy and beautiful, but not pleasant to eat. We now grow it as a climbing flowering plant on the garden fences that get water.

[@yeevita]

Try the young leaves and young tendrils. They are much more tender and mild and less slimy. Also try them lightly cooked like spinach. I love the texture of the young seed heads too. They have to just forming and still tender.

[@MommaB9]

Some great suggestions. I'll definitely be trying the garlic chive. I've never had success with garlic. One substitute I also love and would highly suggest is instead of celery (very high maintenance) you can grow and use lovage. An easy perennial bush that grows to about 6ft tall and the leaves and stalks are edible and taste like celery. Stalks make a great straw for bloody Marys also!!

[@culdesacgrocerygarden]

Very interesting video from someone who is in Opposite World from the lower Midwest USA. Where I would be the happiest Gardener on earth to get sweet potatoes all year long. Here they are a challenge because our soil is not warm enough until the first week of June and then our first frost date is October 15. If you do the math they barely have the required 120 days to mature. My work around is having slips ready to pop in and growing in the raised beds, the birdie 8 in one set up as a 8 ft x2 foot bed so that the soil heats up quickly and I am planning on eventually covering it with a high tunnel to get an earlier start and a later finish. Fingers crossed. Here white potatoes are easy to grow as long as you get them in the ground early and plant them strategically where they will stay cool once the heat gets here. So I have them in grow bags under trees in the shade and hilled them with thick layers of old straw and they are doing fantastic. I tried to overwinter Egyptian Spinach by growing it in a greenstalk and it was really happy last August in our triple digit heat plus high humidity but when I rolled the greenstalk indoors for the winter, indoors it struggled with our long frigid winter. I think Australian gardeners are so fortunate to have things that grow all year long and not just for 6 months. Fascinating!

[@grandmothergoose]

I was never a fan of spinach until I discovered that I do like it when it's grown as a microgreen, which might be an easier way to grow it for some people. One of my aunts either didn't like or couldn't eat spinach, so she used to use all manner of things in recipes as a substitute, most commonly silverbeet aka swiss chard, but also beetroot leaves, bok choy, water cress, and a large crunchy leafed variety of I think it was basil?

[@adrian7050]

Hi Mark, I find Silverbeet and excellent substitute for spinach, similar taste but very hardy winter through summer. Fantastic reliable leafy green

[@scottkennedy1615]

Amen to it. If you keep a few plants inside, you have nice big leaves through winter too in colder climates (it's regularly under 20/-5 here). It really doesn't need much sunlight and won't go to seed when spring comes.

[@Cherbear609]

We live in a little rural area in the high desert of Arizona. Spring Onions, any kind of spinach, the mid-to small varieties of tomatoes do really well here in our intense dry heat. I’ve found that the biggest problem here is the critters will show up out of nowhere to enjoy a meal, lol. I heard you can eat Malabar Spinach (it sure is a beautiful plant). Thanks for all your power-packed videos. I love all the good info.

[@MargaretFinnell]

Malabar spinach is very good, esp the smaller leaves.

[@ticktockontheclock5691]

I'm having those same problems in the PNW. Sowing things direct doesn't work, as squirrels, rabbits, raccoons show up and eat the entire seeds. I thought they weren't germinating and kept planting more, accidentally encouraging them.

[@antondelights686]

The Taro leaves you can dry and then cook with coconut milk and shrimp paste. It’s called Laing and it’s so good. No waste on Taro.

[@robertantolik2146]

We aren't exactly in the same grow zone but I struggle growing garlic due to the heat here in Florida. However I can grow elephant garlic with ease. Technically a leek but tastes and looks like garlic

[@arlenelake8195]

Thanks Mark. I love these videos. Great substitutes, many that I have but still working on those harder variations

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Arlene! It's great fun working through all the various crops to grow at home - there's almost an endless list! Cheers :)

[@douglaspearce1187]

Have you had at a go at growing New Zealand spinach? Grows like the clappers and tastes just fine.

[@watthaile2053]

Whatever is a clapper ?? I've never heard of those.

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

💖Yes Mark… I’m in love with garlic chives too! All of these suggestions were ace ✌️💕👏🇦🇺✨🕊️

[@ofkgjsl]

love the wide angle shot in the intro - you can see and taste the fruits of your hard work

[@ljgerken]

Great to see you trying substitutes. When one variety doesn't grow well, you find another variety that will. Thanks for sharing your ideas and what is working for you. I am dealing with hot humid summers in west central Florida, but I only have partial shade (morning and midday sun, afternoon shade) to grow in. It's been challenging.

[@caseykish6763]

Yams and sweet potatoes are both good options for tropical/warmer climates. Radishes are also delicious roasted, very potato like.

[@gidget8717]

Have you tried growing elephant garlic? I live in central Florida and I haven't had any luck at all growing traditional garlic, but I can grow elephant garlic. Its got a milder taste than traditional but the cloves are bigger so more of it goes in the pan so it balances out.

[@You_Can_Grow_Too]

Hello from the United States subtropical portion of Florida! Instead of potatoes, we have been not only growing Taro, but also African Potato Mint. What a beautiful plant, and good tasting "potatoes". Instead of garlic (and garlic chives because I am struggling to grow them), try garlic vine! From what I understand, it is more for a tropical climate. I am so far having success with that. Instead of struggling to grow common greens we know in most of our stores, try these other tropical perennial greens like longevity spinach, Okinawa spinach, sisso spinach, katuk, edible hibiscus plants (look up salad tree, Bele) Surinam spinach, moringa... These, and so many other delicious substitutes, have showed us we CAN grow food. And thank you, Mark! Your information and experiences have helped us so much! Egyptian Spinach and Roselle, just to name a few😊...

[@mattjessgeorge686]

Awesome video Mark, we live just up from you in Caloundra and have been expanding our gardeners thumb. We have had minor successes but many failures as we have attempted growing every primary veggie you mentioned. We are going to give all of these substitutes a go and hopefully will get some good growth 👍

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

I've watched many of your videos and I love them, but this might just be my favorite. I am in southeast Texas, and a lot of your advice based on your climate translates pretty well to here. I like Malabar spinach well enough (not raw, but I don't care for almost any raw greens anyway) and I am growing both Egyptian and Longevity spinach on your advice. I'll be able to harvest them soon; I'm letting them get a bit bigger. I'll look into taro; I do love potatoes (a bit too much) and was planning to try them this winter, but taro might be a better idea. I'll try garlic chives and rakkyo as well. Thanks!

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

here in the Netherlands, I have been growing Peruvian truffle, red, and yellow sputs for a couple of years under my apple tree. each year I harvest I put half of them back since they are Andian potatoes they won't die with a bit of frost. each Christmas we have colorful French fries with whatever delicacy we are having that year quite a treat. as eggs taste like egg no matter what bird it comes from potatoes taste like potato no matter what breed or color.

[@nicoledeloncrais5940]

Yet again Mark, you are thinking and sharing. Thanks for your wisdom, kindness and ALL of your efforts... On ya mate, your the best 👍🎉

[@purdy185]

Love this type of video. Great to see the variety and options available 👍

[@crazychickenladyhomestead6918]

I occasionally have a problem with all nightshade crops, so we now grow green-striped cushaw squash to substitute for potatoes. And, they last much longer through the winter. They don't taste like much of a squash and can be used like a mashed or fried chunky potato very easily.

[@margiemurray2147]

Never seen or heard of that type of squash. Where did you get your seeds from? Is it more of a winter or a summer squash? The Nana's from Central Florida growing in buckets

[@annellacannella5674]

Cushaw squash are kinda like a pumpkin but they are green striped and have a long neck that has no seeds in it. It gets really big, keeps well and resists squash vine borers because the vines are more dense and because it will root at the nodes and so outruns the little pests. It needs a LOT of room to grow.

[@crazychickenladyhomestead6918]

Uh, the ones I grow have seeds. I get the original seeds from Baker Creek.

[@crazychickenladyhomestead6918]

Oh, they're a winter squash.

[@margiemurray2147]

@@annellacannella5674 thanks for the squash info have a blessed day

[@coloradopackratprepper]

Mom in texas grew beautiful beefsteaks but she had a problem with something taking what look like a bite out of the bottom of nearly ripened tomatoes. She finally caught the culprit. It was her toy poodle biting the tomatoes right behind her cause he was jealous of her not payin all attention to him!!!!!

[@pkoppula]

Hi Mark, Hope you're well. I had to lookup your channel to come and comment here. You're one of the positive people on KZbin. Seeing your videos brings about a calmness. Stay blessed always 🙏🏽

[@patriciatinkey2677]

Thanks for this, Mark! I agree with you about Malabar spinach! Slimy is icky! All those little hairs, too! 😐 I'll certainly try growing the Egyptian type, haven't had any luck growing the regular kind in South Florida. Spring onions are wonderfully care free! My bed of them is now 3 years old, & going strong! 😀

[@yeevita]

Not sure about little hairs, but the tiny ends of the Malabar spinach, the small new leaves, are barely slimy and have a much milder taste. I first loved malabar spinach from the market where all they sold were bundles of the end tendrils, sometimes with very young seed/florets. Lightly sauteed, they are delicious. I also eat the tiny leaves raw. The big leaves take a bit of getting used to. My mother did a light saute of them with a bit of soy sauce on them. I did eventually really like them, especially cooked with eggs into an omelette.

[@bmiles4131]

They are ok in wraps- you get the crunch without noticing the slime. Use smaller leaves. Also, oddly, good in rice dishes as a substitute for English peas.

[@PatriciaStephens-ou9hf]

Thank you for this video! I have difficulty with all of these vegetables, and I live in a warm climate slightly north of Florida. I will definitely look for edible taro, and have already started trying some of your spinach substitutes.

[@funnyweeman]

To add to the onions, we (scotland not far from glasgow) struggle to grow bulbing onions well but our spring onions have been going like champions for years now, survived -10°C and foot thick snow with no protection. Highly recommend the spring onion route if you struggle with normal bulbing onions

[@thatcouplerides]

I found Swiss chard grows well in my garden after many spinach fails from previous years. Great spinach sub 👍🏼

[@yshwgth]

Funny, in my local climate potatoes literally are the easiest to grow

[@davisia81791]

Same. I'm a beginner(ish) gardener in Zone 8B and potato is pretty much the only thing I had zero problems growing.

[@twosidedcoin4688]

UK here, potatoes are practically a weed in my garden, even had one come up under my rhubarb (bit annoying) from some peels in my compost. Insanely prolific here

[@abyssal_phoenix]

Oh yeah once planted they never leave here. Im in 7b I have grown to see them as a bit of weeds honestly, because they literally keep popping up anywhere i once planted them before, so i made a potato refuge and see how they do on their own there and i harvest what is available

[@carljones3792]

​@@abyssal_phoenix 8b, 7b where is this? Sounds like a prison.

[@loverlyredhead]

​@@davisia81791tell me your secrets? I'm in 8b and my potatoes gave me teeny ones because they died due to the heat.

[@LWCtabby]

I'm in NW Florida - long hot summers and short freezes in winter. I'm having good success with Everglades tomatoes (a cherry tomato). I tried Red lettuce this winter and it grew really good. I also am growing Brazilian spinach - it grows very easy - but I haven't really eaten it yet. I definitely want to try a Red Spinach and taro. I have potato mint that is growing good (as a potato substitute), but haven't had a crop yet.

[@tommacfarlan1232]

I'm in Charlotte, NC, USA and have found purple potatoes grow super well. In fact, I bought a bag at the grocery store in 2019 and left them to sprout accidentally, then decided during the pandemic to try gardening. I put them in containers and when it came time to harvest, I just dumped the container and sifted through the soil to find the potatoes. Much easier than digging and the potatoes love it. Just harvested my 3rd generation of these same potatoes, and about to throw the rest of last season's leftover starters into more soil. I have neighbors who can't grow a potato to save their lives, I just put them in a container and ignore them for two months. Not sure what those folks are doing. That said, I cannot grow carrots or bulb onions. Spring onions and garlic greens are where it's at for me.

[@anngahagen1370]

I'm on the San Francisco Peninsula, growing Egyptian walking onions works well, they have a small bulb but easy to grow, and the bulbets on the top of mature plants are the seeds for the next season's plants.

[@kmoecub]

I tried a small plot of those in Kansas over a decade ago. I never did water them, and as of three years ago (when I moved) they were still producing.

[@PegsGarden]

Love your videos, you are so right about garlic chives, I have been growing them for over 5 years now here on the West Coast of Florida Zone 9b, they do fantastic and they were from the grocery store, they have a nice garlic flavor, I need to look into growing some taro, I have a ton of sweet potatoes growing now in my garden and lots of herbs and my banana trees are doing great, thanks for sharing.

[@wjm1319]

Sweet potatoes are a stable for me because I use the sweet potato leaves to replace spinach. I actually like them more than the real spinach, and don't see the need for a different substitute, when I like the tubers, too. 2 constant crops from only one space in the garden.

[@pauljulian9642]

Hi Mark, Awesome video!! We are always looking for substitutes for traditional crops. We grow cassava as substitute for potatoes. We also grow chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) as a substitute for spinach...granted we can't eat it raw but is great in soups and stews. I'm not sure if these are considered environmental weeds in Australia(or elsewhere) but they are easy to grow, don't need much care, are pretty hardy and can be very productive.

[@SuzNews]

I like growing "water spinach" aka "aquatica" aka "kangkong" and some other names. The leaves are lovely raw or stir fried, and the stems cook up like asparagus. It really likes the Arizona summer heat.

[@lindageorge6663]

I love watching your videos

[@carolynkid216]

Thanks for this great list. I have some of the same issues and have switched over to cherry tomatoes...mostly the little yellow pear tomatoes and other small varieties that I rotate in. I also plant the Malabar spinach, and always plant Nasturtium to use in place of lettuce for the summer months. I do cook the Malabar though... the slime feel is an issue. I tried the garlic chives a few years ago, but they did not winter over. I need to try again. For my onions, I do plant large onions each year, but the yield is not always great, BUT my go-to are the potato onions, or multiplying onions. They are small, and one planted bulb will product 2-3 or 4 onions in it's place. I am using the offspring from my first pound of seed onions from about 5 years ago. I store about 50 of the best onions for the next year's planting, with each 'onion' splitting to provide 2-3 starts for the next year.They are fascinating little onions and one of my favorites each year. And they are delicious fermented! I should have my first garlic harvest next month. I had about 24 winter over, and grow, so I'm excited to see what kind of harvest I'll have. Again, thanks so much!

[@ginac9008]

Wonderful video Mark. I planted garlic last year and it was a total fail for me unfortunately. I have very healthy chives and garlic chives growing now. I have the purple spinach planted this year also the English spinach both doing very well. This year I have a very successful crop of snow peas and sugar snaps never been able to successfully grow either before. I have changed my liquid fertiliser this year that I think has made a huge difference. Look forward to the live on Thursday.

[@margiemurray2147]

Congratulations on your success. Is there another name for the purple spinach? What zone are you growing in? What did you change your liquid fertilizer to that help so much? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks from the Nana's growing in buckets zone 9b

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

Living in the deep south of the United States we go from jacket weather to shorts weather overnight. Potatoes are a bit tricky but if we plant them in the winter and don't have a hard freeze that last several days usually we can get a pretty good harvest. Our fickle weather patterns are making it a little more difficult but I keep doing it every year. We can only grow sweet short day onions in the south and they don't keep very long under the best conditions. However we grow multiplying onions that makes a small bulb but has great onion flavor and grows year round, best to grow in small raised beds or containers.

[@oreopaksun2512]

I can't seem to grow any alliums from seed, so spring onions from kitchen scraps, onion starts, and garlic chives from starts are my back-up and goto. Garlic chives seemed to have trouble establishing in the small quantities available in nurseries, but once the bunch gets going! I have all of these tucked under and around all beds and containers, and divide them every chance I get. Good reminder for tropical and subtropical gardeners to try, try, again (and try substitutes; one will hit that sweet spot of growing like a weed, and being tasty).

[@yeevita]

I let my alliums make seed pods and I cannot stop those things from growing. They really only grow in my pots though, since I am in the high desert. Nothing grows here unless I deliberately water it. I can sprout old onion seeds or leek seeds but it has to be under cover, so it stays moist. I do tend to keep trying with seeds. Even if they are finicky, I can usually get some to still grow 10 years or more on. I do pick up new seeds every 3-5 years though, but I save seeds much more than I buy them.