Time to Act: Essential Tasks That Will Supercharge Your Garden!

[@eeeeesha]

Thanks ben, I'm 13 and I use your tips all the time. I live in wales and the seasons are pretty short so your tips help me organise my planting

[@jessicajordan680]

It is very encouraging to read when young people foster a love of growing things! All the best luck in your garden! Wales is a beautiful, green country. I live next to the ocean in a semi mountainous desert 😅 I have to drive miles out of the way to see green like yours.

[@-AT-WALKER]

@@jessicajordan680 Excuse the random question but where you are, if you could only grow 3 veg what would they be? Totally agree btw, always a good sign when the next generation/s shows an interest early on!

[@juliawitts7270]

I also live in Wales, and am 70. It can be a very challenging place to grow, especially after all the rain this year. Well done you, enjoy your growing.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to hear you gardening at 13 - this is very encouraging! :-)

[@KimWilliamsystunisia]

Great to see a younger person gardening. I also live next to the sea, please free to get in touch regarding the joys and challenges on such a situation. Happy gardening 😁

[@jessicajordan680]

Ben, I know our zones couldn't be more different (10a southern california) but I enjoy watching your channel so much. You are cheerful and enthusiastic and your videos are paced and edited so nicely it feels like I'm watching a real TV show! You are a wonderful gardener and a lovely person. Thank you for encouraging us all to get our hands dirty and steward the earth with beauty and food ❤😊

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that. Happy gardening! :-)

[@kristinanoall]

Totally agree!

[@dengueberries]

How long is the growing season in Southern California? E.g. can you grow things like tomatoes almost year-round?

[@jacobwood8320]

May the 4th be with you!

[@avawestwood3366]

Hi Ben , I am a 70 year old gardener and love your tips! I'm quite new to gardening need all the help I can get! 👍😉

[@GrowVeg]

What a great hobby to have found - you'll love gardening! :-)

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

I am in Connecticut, zone 5B and planted carrots and beets last October under a row cover and have been eating fresh salads for about a month now. They did very well outside.

[@msdebbiep]

Adding that to my calendar!

[@david50028]

What was your coldest temp and how long did it last? Ive found in my 6a garden when the temps hit single digits or lower everything freezes even under a cover.

[@KaitouKoi]

Holy moly, please more of this time-based season based checklists!! so helpful!

[@lynnrushton7458]

I feel way behind this year! It will be autumn by the time I get sorted lol 🙈😂

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

This guy always putting out absolute fire content.

[@georginaazeez7823]

Honestly you are awesome! So educational (I'm a newbie gardener/self suffiency style) you make me laugh out loud, I do enjoy your humour and energy. You are a joy to watch.. Keep up the great work... I imagine it must be hard creating content all the time (and editing), when you really just want to be growing stuff & shove your fingers in dirt😊 (omg fish and bone meal... I literally labelled mine "devil's breath! For that reason alone... I find you hardcore!!) great content, succinct and informative and funny! ❤

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you so much for your kind words Georgina - it's a real pleasure to have you supporting the channel. Very happy gardening to you! :-)

[@karladoyle6241]

I understand your excitement over the first tip of corn. It always seems like magic, doesn't it?

[@GrowVeg]

Totally! :-)

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

I love your cheerie disposition and enthusiasm. 👍😁

[@CassiWooWoo]

Ben, you truly are one of life’s blessings, adored & respected by so many of us around the world. From composting to harvesting, I’ve learned so very much from you, which I’m able to pass on to my children as well as their friends whom are now old enough to help with various tasks & they LOVE every aspect of growing things. Thank you so very much ✌️❤️

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - this is so kind of you to say, thank you! It's so rewarding to be able to pass on a love of gardening to children too. Happy gardening! :-)

[@linedezainde]

"Show them no mercy!"... I laughed out loud! Living in zone 4, so looking forward to catching up.

[@suepowlesland8541]

Love your "levy" method around the squash instead of the plastic bottle. I'm trying clay flower pot ollas next to my tomatoes this year to help them get more consistent moisture and avoid blossom end rot. Going to plug the drainage hole with a wine cork and use the saucer as the lid. If it doesn't work...well there's always the wine for consolation 😊

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a great idea. :-)

[@Sue-ec6un]

Straw bales were great to grow in! My tidiest garden ever and the most diverse, with flowers and veggies growing happily the entire summer. Easy to keep weed free and...at the end of the season, they melt down into the soil creating a terrific spot to grow into the following year. Or you can compost them and have a great beginning to your next, and bigger, in ground garden!

[@kewiishow3923]

I've always wanted to try the straw bale technique. But this year i inovated what i had. Collected the used straw from my previous season and a big container. Packed it deep woth straw and planted 3 blue potatoes into it. And a smaller test trail in a grow bag of the same varity cause i bought 4 and needed a nother placr to plant. Defintely gonma try this every year with diffirent crops. Maybe some new plant options thisbyear while i replace my straw over the garden year.

[@judifarrington9461]

Instead of the plastic container for watering, I've been using terracotta ollas (or terracotta flower pots buried under the soil). Then I just fill pots rather than surface watering.

[@ahealthkit2745]

I've got a couple of 4L ollas that I've been using this year, one per raised bed! Works wonders and it's been keeping the whole bed moist despite irregular deep watering. Just make sure to top them up regularly, they can really empty out quickly! And don't forget to take them out when your nearing the risk of frost.

[@ewkelch]

Your straw bale conditioning plan gave me my best zucchini year ever, last year. I'm conditioning two bales now. Thanks!

[@GrowVeg]

I'm so pleased this worked so well - fab stuff! :-)

[@Marra7777]

Your videos are a welcome blast of cheer, Ben. Thankyou

[@Mote.]

Thank you again. My garden is absolutely beautiful. Your videos helped a lot.

[@dnawormcastings]

Love your energy after watching your video it makes me want to go out and start in my gardening 🇳🇿❤️

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good morning Ben, thank you for another most informing garden chat. Your enthusiasm never fails and you always encourage as you "plant" along. A spice I enjoy eating with the sweetcorn is a light dash of chilli pepper and sometimes a bit more, depending on my taste buds for the day!! I found quite a lot of Australian mealy bugs on the Japanese Maple, I pick those horrors off by hand and drop them on to the bricks and I love destroying them under foot. We try to use as little poisonous sprays as possible. Well we are in the winter season, but the days have just been so beautiful, not cold at all. Not really a good thing as we do need those seasonal weather changes. Trying my best to keep the Basil plants growing, they are in a container and looking great but at night I cover with plastic garbage bags to keep unexpected cold wind off them, so far so good. Remember my tomatoes from last winter, I love a challenge in the garden. Some we win some we loose, just keep giving it your best shot. Enjoy today, ease off with a good cup of Ceylon's best and a slice of fresh cake out the oven. Happy days. Many blessings.

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a splendid way to ease off the day! Happy gardening! :-)

[@CeolNH]

I’m jealous of all the beautiful spring sunshine and progress in your garden! It’s been a pretty late start in New England

[@paulamewies4798]

Just when I feel like giving up, your cheery chops gives me a poke with a pointed stick. Thank you from South Wales.🌳🐾🌹

[@Agmzjordana]

Thanks Ben for answering so many questions I didnt even know I had. As a new Vegetable Gardener with a small 60 m2 garden, your videos, website and garden planner is making this journey so much more enjoyable. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us your knowledge.

[@GrowVeg]

This is so lovely to read, thank you for the feedback. :-)

[@jackieo8693]

Excellent advice! It's been so chilly here, my salad greens are so tiny.

[@wren.songss]

I’d love a behind the scenes of one of your videos!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the suggestion - may well do one of those one day. :-)

[@MsDinoGal]

I just enjoy everything about your videos. Keep it up!

[@MyFocusVaries]

I needed the reminder that I've got seedlings to pot up. Thanks. I'm waiting for a cover crop to mature in a couple of beds where warmer weather crops will go.

[@elizabethdickerson2915]

I live in Connecticut, and have used bales for the past 2 years with much success. However, last year was super rainy, and the bales virtually melted to nothing by September! My poor tomatoes, tied with twine to their supports, were nearly pulled out of their holes on the bales as they sank, and I had to hill them up like potatoes! The bales are fairly pH neutral and sterile, which avoids so many troubles. Because the Farmer’s Almanac predicts another wet year, we’ve started raised beds, but I am still a fan of straw bales! Incidentally, we also had great luck growing in hay bales, but they melt even faster than straw. Thanks for all of your encouragement and advice! Cheers!

[@GrowVeg]

Interesting to hear your experiences of them. I've only ever tried them in the greenhouse where they are protected from heavy rain of course. It will be interesting to see if you get another wet year - I'm sceptical that you can forecast more than seven days ahead!

[@lynnpalfi4322]

Hi there. Loving your vids!!! Have noticed through my own personal experiences that when making the levees around things such as squashes, cukes, eggplants etc etc that I needed to make sure the water was quickly absorbed down into the soil. If it sat a might bit too long it would rot the stems at the ground level. Bright blessings in all of your endeavors. Keep the wonderful vids coming. BTW…. Anxiously awaiting another book by you! LOL.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, best not to have plants sitting around in wet for too long. :-)

[@lilspittin313]

Good info and sharing of the beauties of nature~

[@brucewebb7955]

I live in West Virginia and I use straw bails for extended winter gardening.helps keep frost away from roots.i grown corn, tomatoes, squash,and poll beans in November

[@self-aware-potatoe3266]

I’ve been enjoying your videos more and more. Thanks!

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Ben, another great video with lots if useful advice. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@SoulsJourney]

Instead of the plastic bottle, you could try terra cotta pots, or the olla watering system. I haven't tried it myself, but it seems to be gaining in popularity.

[@mahacollinson363]

Thank you Ben for the great clips. They are so good. I'm new to growing but I'm learning a lot from you. Thank you so much. Have a good Bank Holiday weekend!

[@GrowVeg]

And you! :-)

[@Playitagaindian]

I always love the knowledge you share. Your enthusiasm is infectious!

[@sandicalder6959]

South Western Ontario Canada here I have to watch these a month later ! Lol we haven't even started yet . Love your videos ,I'm just a month behind

[@phyllismcdaniel-cook946]

Hello Ben, Thank you for your expertise.

[@growersmindset]

i harvested some potatoes already! so easy to grow. just water when dry! it’s crazy how many you get from only a few plants. also the taste and flavor is so FULL. it’s like a superchargered potato lol. nice video.

[@Godisincontrol325]

😁 Thanks for the Knowledge Friend 🙏

[@KimWilliamsystunisia]

Hi Ben. Great video as usual. The levy method you use around your courgettes is traditional used here. We also have terracotta pots which do the same as the plastic ones maybe they are available in the UK. We are a little bit in front of you guys (zone 9b/10) board beans, carrots, beetroot and broccoli have all been harvested. Still cropping are runner beans, spring onions, strawberries, leeks and peas. Transplants going in now are of course tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, tahitian melon squash, melon and we are trying a new found plant called "Rat Tailed Radish". Happy gardening,

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like you guys are a long way ahead. Lovely to be enjoying melons - delicious. Happy gardening! :-)

[@KimWilliamsystunisia]

Melons will be available in a few more months. 🤣

[@don5125]

Thank you so much for doing these videos. So informative and enjoyable 😇 Please do more as a drip feed of information is like drip irrigation into our minds 😂👍

[@doras.allotment]

Absolutely love your planner! Thanks for another great video 😊

[@dkf4063]

Ben, you are brilliant. Thank you

[@AlissaPaige91]

I always love your videos ❤

[@veggiepatchideas]

Things are defiantly hotting up now.. Lets get growing 🙏🙏🌱🌱

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely! :-)

[@mrcreativequarter6087]

So lovely! Thank you! We bought a young blueberry plants - any tips on how to grow these please? We are in Norfolk, UK. Thanks again!

[@GrowVeg]

They need an acidic soil or ericaceous compost. More in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3Opppl4gK1qnsUsi=7ZK-bOudLCsC5GRo

[@mrcreativequarter6087]

@@GrowVeg Thank you so much!!

[@joannc147]

So fun to watch! I am in zone 8 (used to be 7b until a few months ago, harumph). I’ve had my salad greens, radishes, onions, carrots and leeks growing for about 5 weeks now. Harvesting lots of salad material as well as ripe strawberries. Raspberries are just starting to turn red (my fave!). I’m all done with veg seeds and transplants now…it’s prime growing season. I’m a bit late getting my perennial flowers planted tho, oops. Now it’s time to watch the magic! ….and water…..and fertilize…..and weed…..more weeding……didn’t I just weed that area this morning? Miss Rosie! Happy gardening!

[@GrowVeg]

Rosie will be in in a few videos coming up, don't worry. Enjoy those raspberries - and happy gardening! :-)

[@AtheistEve]

Thank you.

[@Hayley-y3b]

Currently having the worst time in blighty with slugs. Lost a broccoli that I had grown from seed (first time I'd ever attempted it!). Your cheery videos keep my going and hopeful I can get something out of my garden this year!

[@PinballPreparedness]

Straw bales are the absolute best for growing sweet potatoes

[@JohannaVeerenhuis]

Once I used straw spread around my zuchini plants… too bad it was loaded with seeds… 😅 Sooo much work to get rid of everything… Thanks Ben, nice as always! 🌱

[@ahealthkit2745]

Same issue happens with grass clippings if you cut your grass too late and have some weed seeds in there!

[@JohannaVeerenhuis]

@@ahealthkit2745 Thank you, I was wondering already… 🤷‍♀️

[@valoriegriego5212]

Howdy, Ben! Your garden is looking great!👍 We slow down sowing in May...the heat hits us in June...upper 90s and 100. My first planting of popcorn is already 2 feet tall.😋

[@GrowVeg]

Very impressed your corn is already two feet tall! :-)

[@RealBradMiller]

I am testing out five gallon buckets with holes in the bottom and a few smaller ones on the side. Filled with compost, soil, plant refuse from the yard and kitchen(paper towels, tea bags, coffee grinds, etc.) I will set the bucket near any plants that need a boost, fill it with water, and let that water seep in to the soil slowly. Then when not in use the bucket will be left open and unfilled with water to allow airflow. May even try putting a disk aerator in the bottom to keep the holes from clogging and to give the good bacteria plenty of oxygen. Also using five gallon buckets to collect rainwater at all my downspouts, because my basement floods due to the downspouts not going far enough from the foundation. Thanks for all the tips! Tearing up my straw bale garden that has gone over and using it as a brown component in my compost pile along with cardboard! ❇️🟢🌻🌼😏🥳🫂

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a great idea! :-)

[@looneygardener]

Last year I grew an eggplant with round fruit, about 4" in diametre. It was so prolific! I used your method of pollination, using an electric toothbrush. A total success! I have used the toothbrush to help my brandywines produce more fruit, as well. Great tip!!!!!

[@StoicCompass888]

Good information, I will do it

[@kewiishow3923]

This year im trying a test trail of a straw bail. Collected my used up straw from across my garden beds . Packed aome into my biggest of containers and planted potatoes into it as my trial crop. This far along i've already seen some growth of them sprouting along with my other batch of potatoes i pla ted into my raised hugel bed. First year planting seed potatoes and im so proud & excited of my progress. Also forsy year groing fava/broad beans and its such a new plant to me but i planted it with my spring brassicas. (Cabbage red & green, busselles sprouts, purple mustard) . Thus far their doing well together too. As per usuall love your videos always eases my gardeners amxiety about planting and sewing out my plants. Plus your close in zones to myself so its helpful that someone else experinces some of the same conditons as myself.😊

[@GrowVeg]

Great to hear this. I hope your straw potatoes continue to grow well. Keep up the good work! :-)

[@tanyatanya4704]

Love all your tips, Ben! Thank you for another wonderful and relaxing video! Looking forward to my patch of Leni Lenape black corn this year, and mini pink popcorn. It’ll be my first time growing corn, so I don’t have any expectations. Just hoping to have fun!

[@GrowVeg]

I hope you get a fab harvest from them - what fun to be trying them for the first time. Nice job! :-)

[@sonyahogan5673]

I've never tried straw bales before, think I might at some point. Probably should practice with soil more first till I'm more experienced!❤

[@gardenvillage8732]

Love Green house, Good job, Thank you for sharing.

[@JordanThomasRichards]

corn on the cob with a buttery buffalo sauce is fantastic!

[@L4Nigav]

a lot of weeds you can just add to your salads too ;) or let some nettle grow! the most nutritious plant on earth, and a nettlesoup is super tasty (:

[@markvincent5241]

Fabulous stuff Ben. I love to brush my corn with coconut oil and put them on the bbq. Definitely a game changer for me.

[@lucybarnard3954]

Thanks for the belly laugh with your old sprouting broccoli. 😂 flea beetles caused me more problems than anything else last year, I really don’t like them, my favourite beatle has to be John 😊

[@GrowVeg]

Haha - yes, a good choice of Beatle!

[@JJLewin1]

As always thank you Ben, exciting times for the garden. Just put my "Guinness Record" runner beans in and also Cabbage(s) as well as Collards, Sprouts etc. Running out of room already :)

[@minworks1626]

Hi, I grow my zucchini vertically. It has been very successful in my small garden. The leaves can be cut off below the vegetable and allows air to circulate to reduce powdery mildew. J

[@terricarrozza3198]

I've grown my garden using straw bales a number of times over the past 20 years. I have found that however, that they seem to limit the tomato crops- I get more tomtatoes when grown in soil. Its also hard to keep the vining varieties caged or supported on them but works very well with peppers and eggplants. There are seldom totally seedless straw bales so there's always the extra work of pulling or having to constantly cut back the grass growing in them and of course the bales do dry out quickly here in Virginian USA zone 7a. My garden gets full sum all day, so 14-16 hours during the summer and temps at times up to 98F. As you noted though, the height of the bales makes gardening a lot easier on the back and the mulch from the used bales is very handy in mulching my raised beds with some diatomaceous earth sprinkled on the surface before putting on a layer of used straw. I also use the straw to lightly cover grass and other patches of seeds to keep them moist for germination. Because my garden has limited space with all my raised beds in place now, I only use them when I know I am going to be planting an extra large garden and have time to condition them, because my garden has limited space. But, I always have about 10 unconditioned bales sitting around waiting to be used. I have to say that straw bales are one of the most useful things in the garden.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with bales. It's good to hear others' experiences. And as you say, always good to have a few bales to hand!

[@judytelles3518]

Failed at straw bail growing. The plants, tomatoes, didnt grow well. The bail has collapsed but I will add compost and use area again this year. I loved the look of the bails. Will do again.

[@GrowVeg]

Glad you'll be trying it again. :-)

[@juliehartley3652]

Thank you Ben for this very cheerful video. I have been getting on top of the weeds today, perhaps I'll be tackling a few more tomorrow too. My favourite way to cook sweetcorn is roasted on the barbeque and then topped with butter. Last year my sweetcorn didn't do very well but luckily I managed to buy some from a pick-your-own place - it was delicious. I'm hoping it's a bit sunnier this summer. 🌞

[@GrowVeg]

Let's hope for a sunny (but not too hot!) summer. :-)

[@ruthsgardeningdesciple8306]

Hi Ben, Long time no see. For aubergines I have tried grafted plants and they are brilliant. I have also tried grafted toms, melons, and Chillies with great success. Bring in West Wales has changed the way and what I grow. I find dwarf varieties brilliant, so my favourite aubergine now is Jackpot. I am not growing it this year though along with some other things because it has been extraordinarily cold all Spring and Summer. Thank you for your video.

[@GrowVeg]

Grafted veggies do seem to give an extra boost in changeable weather that's for sure. :-)

[@wrongwayconway]

Zone 6b 🇨🇦 Corn on the cob: lots of butter and salt. 🤤 I use a sprinkler system on a timer to water my garden because I work shifts and there are times I'm not able to get into the garden to refill ollas or other eco inground watering methods. When I retire I will be setting my garden beds up with ollas. 💚

[@GrowVeg]

I'm going to have to try these ollas - so many people are recommending them. :-)

[@fjalar4856]

Thank you Ben! Awsome Video. So helpful🙏

[@AB-bq1vn]

Hello Ben, I have a general question for you. My City Council have now banned the use of cardboard on our Allotments. They say that they could pose a health risk in the soil for years to come as the solvents used in the process of manufacturing. I'm no dig and have already done so on my beds, but I wanted to use it on my paths and covering with woodchip. Could you please advise. It's just yourself, Stephanie Hafferty, Charles Dowding and Huw Richards all use cardboard. With gratitude, Alison.

[@GrowVeg]

I would just use it covertly when no one is looking. Get down there at 5am. Lay the cardboard and wood chips. And no one would know. I think it's ridiculous to ban cardboard. The plain stuff - all tape and staples removed - should be fine to use.

[@bertarnoldo5199]

I use a party tray with an elevated center and pour beer into the middle and have a salt moat all the way around. Very effective

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea!

[@AlwaysBelieve777]

Thank you for another great video!

[@emmahughes2618]

I use tomato cages for my eggplants in containers 😊

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea! :-)

[@BumblebeeAdventure]

🐝thanks for the great video🌻

[@pnwexcso2939]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@thankgoodnessformyhigherse9756]

Good information

[@jaytoney3007]

My potatoes are going great. I'm thinking they will be ready to harvest in about a month. The mustard is growing fast. I'm going to take my second harvvest from it Monday, or Tuessday, and my first harvest of Swiss chard too. I have salad onions ready to harvest. The peppers and tomatoes are flowering and have fruit on the vine. The ground cherries are covered with clusters of fruit. The zucchini, lemon squash, crookneck squash, cucumbers, and cantaloupe are flowering. The pole beans are starting to climb the tunnel trellis. The kohlrabi are getting big. All my herbs, chives, marjoram, dill, basil, parsley, chicory, yarrow, oregano, cilantro, catnip, lemon thyme, comfrey, spearmint, and peppermint are growing well. I am harvesting radishes, lettuce, and strawberries. The Goji Berry bushes are almost large enough to transplant. With the spring warmth, 29C, the bugs are comming out, and doing damage. The peppers in my raised be are under attack, so I had to break out the Spinosad. The ones in my GreenStalk towers are pest free, so far. Now that the garden is fully planted, it is time to start making plans for the fall garden.

[@brianmoore4299]

Could you give us an idea of the location? Must be a zone 9 or 10. Quite a variety of veggies, herbs, and mints you mention. Certainly with that diversity it would seem safe to assume that you've got many different pollinator plants mixed in there too. Sounds like a wonderful place to just stand and look around. I love doing that in my garden.

[@jaytoney3007]

@@brianmoore4299 I'm in north central Alabama, zone 7b. I have marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, bachalor buton, and strawflower growing for pollinators. There is also a lot of flowering clover in my yard too.

[@GrowVeg]

Loads to enjoy there - brilliant! :)

[@kristinanoall]

As I watch this, it’s snowing outside, and my “Utah Gardeners” (USA) Facebook group is getting post after sad post from people who planted yesterday and are regretting it. 😢 I was nearly one of them! 😬 I’m definitely jealous of your weather, Ben!

[@GrowVeg]

Hope it warms up soon for you. :-)

[@gizzelleboccia1806]

thank you from ny very pleasant video

[@bnosnebkram88p9p]

Ben, hi, please can you advise, the best and cheapest way to extend hoops for my cloches. Gratefully yours

[@GrowVeg]

I like to make hoops from rolls of alkathene pipe, cut into sections to make the hoops. These can then be pushed into the soil and, if necessary for rigidity, ridge line poles of bamboo canes tied on with twine or zip ties.

[@hydrangeadragon]

Have you thought about starting a permaculture food forest? it's high yielding and a lot lower maintenance than regular gardening

[@GrowVeg]

I have a very small food forest. I call it that very loosely - An apple tree with current bushes and a few perennial vegetables underneath. But a full-scale Permaculture food forest would be amazing someday. :-)

[@jbrunogds]

Hi Ben, hope you are doing very well! I'm starting a vegetable garden at home for healthy eating (sweet potatoes, carrots, greens, etc.). I'd really like to learn more in an organized way (meaning, without picking through several videos from different KZbin channels). Do you have any recommendations for a book that covers the main planting techniques for food (for each plant - ideal soil, how to germinate, how to grow, how to fertilize, sunlight hours needed, how much water it needs, germination and harvest times, etc.)? If you know of any courses like this, that would be even better. Thanks a lot!

[@GrowVeg]

I love Charles Dowding's books, such as this one: www.charlesdowding.co.uk/checkout

[@LucindaCattery]

Mijn tomaat krijgt al bloemetjes moet ik deze eruit halen? Want het plantje is nog heel klein Bedankt voor uw leuke filmpjes ik word er helemaal blij van ❤

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, if the plant is still very small, I would remove flowers and let the plants grow on a bit before letting them go ahead and flower.

[@LucindaCattery]

@@GrowVeg thanks ❤

[@haafizmssx]

Great video again Ben. I've personally had a pretty rough week in my garden. Only one night (turned out to be the stormy night last week), Iforgot to put the lid on for the giant plastic containers that I'm using as cold frames for my seedlings. As I've mentioned a couple of times in you comments, my seedlings were too leggy and they died/snapped. Pretty heart breaking for a new gardener! Not getting any encouragement at all to do all the efforts again!

[@GrowVeg]

That is heartbreaking. But I hope you have the fortitude to carry on. :-)

[@grrlpurpleable]

So sorry that I have to unsub from this awesome channel... I just lost my beloved garden project and I don't know when or if I will have a garden to turn into a food growing paradise ever again. Thank you so, so much for all of the awesome content and information on this channel. It's too painful to stay right now. If I can I will return. Keep growing.

[@GrowVeg]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope you will get a chance to grow again. :-)

[@cassie_serenity]

Ah dude, each one your new videos get better and better! I really appreciate your advice!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much - really appreciate it. Happy gardening! :-)

[@AnyKeyLady]

Thank Ben! What is that caterpillar at 04:31 please? I use my old brassica stems as temporary canes. They are staked when they are growing to keep them straight to keep them off the ground and to give space for other plants. Not sure why they are called dwarf curled green kale when mine are nearly 6ft and flowering now?! It's not great for the environment to mail order but if your starts fail then it's best to go to a local garden centre or DIY store with a garden section on your next usual visit. I have had bad experiences with mail order tender transplants before arriving DOA. I am taking off the old triple glazed windows tomorrow (that were broken during the reno) off the old sandpit that we have repurposed for the 3 sisters - courgettes, sweetcorn and beans. Growing some Yellow Kentucky Wonder Wax beans in there, this year. Making a change by growing our courgettes in ground, rather than containers this year as it is too hot and dry in our London garden. Also with it being square i can block plant out some sweetcorn and direct sow some for staggered crops. I am so behind on things due to sicknesses but i think that it is not to best stress about things too much. We are zone 9a here where i am in London and some of our cool crops are starting to bolt. This is why i have decided to move them to crates now so i can now move them into the shade, transplant new ones and re sow. We already transplanted our runner beans last week and planted out our cucumbers today. I am so desperate for pots as we gave so many away and asked for the pots back as low income but didn't get them back! Same with canning jars. The London community seems to have left the building when people are happy to take £7 plants in the shops from you for free but can't return the stuff back for next year and still look down on you for growing these?! My spares are in fizzy and milk bottles this year and the snobs can either take it or leave it. I was mortified when some told me that they binned the pots and jars too!

[@GrowVeg]

That caterpillar is a tomato hornworm - a pest in North America, not the UK (thank goodness!). Great to have your beans and cucumbers planted already. Summer's not far off now! :-)

[@lilpixie25]

I have a question: with all the effort that goes into raising these beautiful vegetables, how much do they actually yield? Do you - creator and viewers who have a garden - manage to depend on your self-grown crops? Thanks, love the channel!

[@GrowVeg]

They yield a fair amount and make a very meaningful contribution. My small veggie garden in summer produces more than enough zucchini/courgettes, tomatoes, beans, salads etc. to keep us all satisfied. :-)

[@lilpixie25]

@@GrowVeg Wow, I really should finally start my garden, even if it’s just for greens! Thank you so much!

[@toniedalton5448]

Good am Ben. I grew potatoes in hay bales one year. Had some extra hay left over. They did really well. Got a good harvest and no weeds 😁. My potatoes are doing good this year. But do you have any tips to get rid of potato beetles ? (Tater bugs, we call them here in Virginia). I have a bad time with them Have a blessed day all !

[@GrowVeg]

Here's our guide to potato beetles - they can be tricky little so and so's! www.growveg.com/pests/us-and-canada/colorado-potato-beetle/

[@creatrix13]

Oh I dream of inexpensive bales of straw! lol

[@RawLondonGardener]

Amazing stuff, great video

[@TheTwistedTraceur]

might do this,, may do this

[@ninemoonplanet]

For sheer entertainment, pick an underdeveloped cob and give it to your dog. Mine loved the challenge, used the front teeth to get every kernel while I got a good laugh watching. Carrots are something my dogs loved, especially the ones just pulled. Unfortunately, they got more than should be allowed. 😂

[@nickiramsay2421]

As a veterinary nurse for over thirty years, I have lost count of how many corn cobs I’ve seen removed from dogs’ intestines when they have got wedged and caused a blockage. Really not a good idea to suggest this 😔

[@GrowVeg]

I'll have to try this one! :-)

[@dengueberries]

I know you mention straw bales but how about straw mulch? Could you use that as a comparator to straw bales?

[@GrowVeg]

Straw can make an excellent mulch around plants set into the soil, but planting directly into straw mulch might be trickier - really the straw bales are best as they are tightly packed and offer loads of room for the roots to reach down and explore.

[@sandraderbyshire562]

Which zone is Hampshire in England? Thanks Ben love your channel.

[@GrowVeg]

I would say the same as mine (in Oxfordshire) - so zone 8.

[@HelgaMurphy-e9s]

Great video as usual,I was wondering would it be suitable to grow herbs in the ridges when you hill your potatoes

[@GrowVeg]

Probably not as the potatoes will soon close over above (the foliage) and aren't in the ground that long anyhow before they'd be dug up.