Weird Things I Do in the Garden That Actually Work

I learned how to garden on the go while raising four young children. I didn't even know enough to know all the "rules" I was breaking. I was just having fun and figuring things out as I went. And it turns out, I still like my way of doing things, even though most people find it weird.
Here are some "weird" things you can start trying out in your garden to make it more fun and maybe even work better than the "right way" to do things.
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[@ryanhopps7966]

I’ve learned that when I experiment with anything, i might as well expect comments from people, and sometimes they’ll be rude comments. You do a great job at holding your tongue lol. Thanks for what you do and for sharing.

[@semsimama2191]

These things you mentioned are not weird at all because people have been doing these things in their garden bed for years. Nothing new at all but still informative.

[@jamielyn848]

I’m here for chaos gardening as a busy mom! I saw your book on Amazon and am glad KZbin recommended your videos!

[@sandraconner6968]

I like to use flowers on the outside of my bed for pollinators, pests, AND my neighbors! Pretty flowers that are the back of my garden gives my neighbors a prettier barrier than a fence.

[@iwona4685]

I love the idea with the trellis for tomatoes. This just makes sense. They're vines so they should vine. As far as suckers, why would nature make suckers for us to prune them? We challenge nature all the time and we rarely win.

[@jenniferc4083]

Knowing that I have a short (Zone 6a) season, I started planting my tomatoes closer together becasue they don't have as long of a warm season for growing. I grow them vertically on a trellis, spacing them 6 inches apart in a zig zag pattern on either side of the trellis...so on each side they are 12 inches apart, but staggered zig zag, 6 inches from one to the next on either side of the trellis. I prune up as I harvest, leaving only one set of leaves below each cluster of tomatoes, and then cutting the leaves off when I harvest the tomatoes. Chop and drop the leaves, to help compost and fertilize the plant. This is a combination of several different YT videos I have watched over the years. It absolutely amazes me how well this works out! The most astonishing, to me, is that the tomato plants seem hardier and healthier, and they have been lasting longer into the Fall when the temps start dropping down to freezing and will usually keep producing tomatoes even after the first hard frost. I start out with only using one 34" high hog panel, and towards the end of the season I have to add a second panel on top because the tomato plants just keep growing and growing and growing, producing a ton of tomatoes. So far the tallest have reached almost 6 feet tall! Not bad for only having about four months to grow up :)

[@Mortallifeonearth]

Love it! Your garden is gorgeous! I always plant way too much and get told everything needs it’s space 😂I had pulled back from that but seeing your garden, I’m moving full steam ahead now! Thank you for the inspiration!! Weird methods are the bomb! 😅

[@YarmouthBotanicals]

A garden "Red Herring." Nasturtiums are my go-to! This is all so refreshing. I know so many people that won't attempt to garden because of "the rules." There's no way to know for sure until you try!

[@GoodThingsEtc]

If I had the room, I would so do the trellis arch for tomatoes . I’m testing your gardening theory this year. I’ll keep you posted.plus I started my first ever worm composting 🌞Happy Spring everyone! Looking forward to getting your book! Maia

[@maiasobers3719]

Wow honey what are the chances I reading a message that I thought that I wrote(with the same content,as well as the same name((same spelling kid you not))? I too have started my first in bed worm composting as well as fell in love with this Gardenary method (so far so good)& oh how much prettier things look. Shout out to Nicole for breaking all of the rules & reviving our kitchen gardens! Happy Spring, Maia Divine

[@GoodThingsEtc]

Very very cool soul sister! It’s not often people have our name spelled exactly the same! I was named after a statue in Italy and you? It’s nice to you Maia! lol

[@lori-annallen9186]

Planted a couple 72 cell trays of marigold, calendula, nasturtium, alyssum, etc...once they sprout and get second leaves I will be squishing those babies in every space between the veg. Have been growing my ID tomatoes on wire fencing for a few years. Works so well that, this year, I am putting cattle panels up as a privacy screen around our sitting area and planting them with pole beans and ID sauce tomatoes (in grow bags). Adding an arched panel between centers of two existing beds for my sungolds...which should create a shadier area between for some lettuce. 🤞 Life is an experiment!

[@Fil-AmGardening]

Yes, I agree, gardening has to be fun I am going to follow your “weird” tips😊

[@joycleckley2881]

Plant cat nip by your tomatoe plants as it will repel the green horn worm which will devastate a tomatoe garden. Never knew this, stay open to new knowledge!💚💚💚

[@robertschmidt9296]

Years ago, i planted about ten rows of okra about 100 feet long. Each row was actually two rows about 7 inches apart and each plant about 2 or 3 incthes apart within the row. This is seriously overcrowding them and each plant will not produce its full potential but that wasn't my goal, my goal was maximum okra per acre. I got a lot more okra than if I had given them more space. I had plenty of seeds because I saved seed. I plan on testing for the best spacing.

[@lauraheraly3455]

This is so amazing! I recently bought your book about kitchen gardens, and it’s really enjoyable. I’ve been a gardener for a couple decades ago and was feeling burned out this season. You’re giving me great ideas, which is inspiring me again. Thanks!

[@Sweettomatovine]

I love to have fun in the garden and I definitely break the gardening rules ❤😊💚

[@GermaineRoss-sg9pf]

LOVE LOVE LOVE your advice- been gardening for 30 years and still learning- thank you for sharing these weird tips that make alot of sense!

[@flavforpar]

You are an absolute wealth of knowledge!!! Thank you, keep up the amazing work!!!!

[@nancycuppy3213]

Thank you so much, Nicole! I have learned so much....love gardening, did a little when my children were little and always thought when they were big and outgrew home that I would pour my time into my garden babies...thanks for all the great ideas...great job and keep going!!

[@AshebaSancho]

I just started gardening 🧑‍🌾 and I never comment on videos but I did because I love that I found your channel. Thank you❤

[@Gardenary]

Welcome to the Gardenary community!

[@newt52864]

Love your weird ideas !!!

[@melodylamour6123]

Oh, you're weird?? Hmm, maybe that is why we like you, lol.

[@poetsgarden1]

ooh love that tomato arch but my garden might be too small

[@minaygabs9441]

My favorite quote of this video: “More is more.” Leaving the sucker is probably the best idea I’ve ever heard! I don’t love huge tomatoes anyway. 😄

[@baneverything5580]

Well, you can create a new tomato plant very fast by cutting off a weak, stunted sucker low on the plant and give it a new very productive life. Same with cucumbers and a lot of other things to get a production boost.

[@rebeccawatson9284]

Thanks! I'm kind of a crazy gardener, too! Happy new garden season to you!

[@LeisurelyLorrie]

Love your channel

[@flafalaise]

And I just purchased your book. Can't wait to read it!

[@Gardenary]

Thanks for your support!

[@llmoonshadell5116]

You are fantastic! Thanks!

[@user-lm3ye4db7v]

Such great information 😊

[@denisestone9119]

great information, thanks!

[@susanperkins358]

I love these tips! I’m going to follow you and plant weird, this year.

[@phillygrl7898]

I have a celery growing in a flower pot on my front porch. I didn’t plant it there. It’s got a Mandeville planted next to it with a Cala Lilly, dianthus sweet potato vines , petunias that came back because I didn’t sow those . This celery plant is larger and fuller than the ones in my raked bed.

[@TheHappySensitive]

Love this!

[@marciahamilton7647]

Thanks for this idea, I will try it this year

[@bycourtney19]

Excited to try your tips

[@dawnwilliams8766]

Great information! Thank You!

[@philomenabrabazonobroin5236]

Very encouraging

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

This year, I planted my cabbage seeds in a row between two rows of garlic. The idea is that the garlic will deter the pests that make growing spring/summer cabbage disappointing.

[@paullavanmatre3012]

Same, except with onions. I also threw some strawberries in there lol

[@paullavanmatre3012]

Planning on adding on some sweet alyssum, borage, and cosmos. They are said to attract predatory wasps. :)

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

@@paullavanmatre3012 I have seeds for borage that's all the further I have gotten. I guess it is still April.

[@dianenye984]

Thanks for a fun and informative video looking forward to seeing more

[@Merzui-kg8ds]

You must have wimpy rabbits in your area if a flower fence keeps them out. Where I live the rabbits would eat through the flower fence before devouring your food garden.

[@melodylamour6123]

What you do on a small scale is called Poly culture versus a mono culture. And your design is beautiful.

[@jesusiscoming8237]

This is so interesting.

[@BLVRZ]

You’re amazing my friend,.. great tip I may use with the tomatoes 🍅

[@virginiaramirez4214]

Loved your ideals. Thank you so much. 🪴

[@annabenedict9419]

Thank you

[@lispottable]

I just found you and very excited to listen to your channel!

[@letadehart1905]

Yes

[@anniemorrison1250]

I've seen your methods before, oh yes, it is in my own garden. This year I am growing inside a chicken run with netting over the whole thing. I hope to beat the Japanese beetles this year.

[@katieheidinger4635]

I love being weird 🤣

[@vickiesaewert5552]

You're so weird and fabulous!

[@danielaionescu9473]

I really like the idea of the tomato trellis. The only fear that I have is aphids regarding tomatoes. I always have problems with this.

[@bettyc4345]

Love your videos and concepts of gardening. Do you have any suggestions on garden soil for container gardening? Thanks.

[@Gardenary]

I use the same raised bed mix for my containers too: www.gardenary.com/blog/how-to-start-a-garden-part-6-filling-with-soil

[@Gardenary]

For a small container, you could do organic potting soil mixed with compost for simplicity

[@danielle3139]

💚

[@cherylschumacher1832]

I’ve tried growing tomatoes for 3 yrs but the tomato hornworms have a different plan…. Tried different areas, containers and even hanging baskets….hornworms no matter what I do. Have you dealt with this and please tell me how.

[@BrigittAlvardo]

Love your channel, I'm weird so I get you. Can you tell me where to buy thick trellis , keep gardening weird.❤❤❤

[@Gardenary]

By thick trellises, do you mean metal? We have great options at shop.gardenary.com

[@flafalaise]

I stumbled across your channel and I have been consuming your content..LOL. I'm a newbie to gardening and would like to know where are the best companies to buy seeds from? Thanks

[@Gardenary]

Welcome! We have a line of Gardenary seeds, all organic and non-GMO, at shop.gardenary.com. They're things I've loved growing in my own garden. I also like Southern Exposure, Botanical Interests, and Baker Creek. Nurseries also typically sell seeds that have been locally produced, which is great b/c those plants are used to growing in your climate

[@wendybecker-metivier7674]

I'm a weirdo too!

[@cherrypico3188]

I bet the word "decoy" came to mind as soon as you were done filming huh? Lol

[@rebeccaford4707]

Maybe I am entering it wrong - can't get to the calendar page, getting an error 404 Page Not Found

[@Gardenary]

Try www.gardenary.com/garden-calendar

[@katrynlord6516]

Yes correct on tomatoes except for cherry tomatoes. You're never supposed to cut the suckers on cherry tomatoes.

[@Gardenary]

Well, I do, and I get tons of cherry tomatoes...

[@ruthinater4322]

I have a quick question. Why do you delete non offensive/ non negative comments ? I tried commenting on one of your videos other day and u deleted the comment because I explained a cheaper way to do something. Yet the comments that I left that didnt have that was not deleted? Why are deleting a not negative comment?

[@SydneyBristow0788]

She is not deleting your comments. KZbin does that or hides comments. It's based on certain words that trigger their algorithm....

[@Gardenary]

Correct. We often see that videos have more comments than appear. It's out of our control

[@ruthinater4322]

This is what I said "You can do that cheaper by going to marketplace or a thrift or local antique shop. Check for local seed libraries too"

[@ruthinater4322]

It's conveniently not deleted now for some reason. I've been on KZbin for a very long time I've never ever had a problem

[@kelleclark]

"Flower fences"...seriously? I wouldn't have anything left in my garden if I tried that! Deer, squirrels and armadillos would be laughing all they way thru the sunflowers, pansies and nasturtiums...

[@crystalh733]

Decoy

[@SydneyBristow0788]

Your videos are always on time to help me fix mistakes in the garden. This year I tried to do the lettuce, arugula and spinach (all loose leaf) in proper rows. I did have better results when I had dumped my seed across the garden, like you suggested here. So I'll go back to that. 🥬🥗

[@SydneyBristow0788]

11:22 I was told sacrificial plants might not be a good idea. The reason is, you have pests that now have a food source and keep coming. As opposed to work on repelling. I had considered sacrificial plants before though, and I haven't done it enough to make my own observations.