Row by Row Garden Show

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Watermelon Varieties

Since Hoss Tools has started selling seeds, Greg has decided to try a new variety of watermelons every year. In the past, he prefers growing watermelons such as Crimson Sweet before he started trying new watermelon varieties. Last year, he grew the Moon and Stars variety and this year he has decided to plant the Sangria Watermelon. When discussing the heirloom or open-pollinated watermelon varieties the few that we have available include Charleston Gray which is a more elongated, smaller sized watermelon that contained a thick rind and a very popular variety back in the day. The Moon and Stars variety consist of oblong fruits that average around 25 lbs but can get as large as 40 lbs. Another popular variety is the Sugar Baby which is a smaller sized watermelon that averages 10 to 12 lbs. Then, the last two heirloom varieties we have available are the Tendersweet Orange and Crimson Sweet which is great tasting watermelons as well. A hybrid variety is the Baby Doll which has a bright yellow interior that has an exceptional flavor profile. While the all sweet type watermelon varieties include Dulce Fantasia, Sangria, and Jamboree.

Tips for Planting Watermelons

When it comes to growing watermelons you can direct seed or transplant in a seed starting tray. Another factor of growing watermelons is they require drip irrigation to ensure you supply enough water directly to plant roots and control fungal diseases. It’s also very important to have pollinators to get higher production yield. For plant spacing, Greg recommends a foot or two with row spacing around five feet in the vegetable garden. All the fertilization should be done before fruits start to set in the area.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys try out the first batch of sauerkraut that Travis made using his cabbages harvested from the vegetable garden. Greg discusses the ideal time to plant potatoes so you don’t experience rotten potatoes in the next growing season. The guys also touch base on some products that are being restocked in the next couple of days.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about sowing onion seeds, storing seeds, spinosad effect on bees, healing potatoes, mixing B.T. and Spinosad, and treatment for aphids. Travis mentions last fall he started sowing onion seeds as early as last August and early September all the way through October. In sowing onion seeds this way he found that he can succession plant onions in the vegetable garden. Greg recommends storing seeds anywhere where you can get a constant temperature or environment such as a refrigerator. When spraying spinosad you should either do it right before dark or after dark when the bees are not in the garden pollinating. When it comes to mixing B.t. and Spinosad, Travis mentions they pretty much do the same thing so either use or other in the garden. Greg suggests using either Neem Oil or Pyrthine to control aphids and keep after them regularly to maintain a decrease in the population.

Product of the Week

• Complete Organic Fertilizer

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Types/Tasty Sweet Corn Varieties

The three major types/tasty sweet corn are known as standard, sugary extender, and supersweet. The standard is a su gene that is mostly your old-time favorite varieties including Silver Queen, Stowell’s Evergreen, and Jubilee. The standard type will germinate in cooler soils better than the supersweet and once they are harvested you have to do something with them quickly because they normally last about 3 days in the fridge. While the sugary extender or sugary enhance type is where you will find the majority of the most popular varieties such as Silver King, Bodacious, Incredible, Peaches & Cream, Ambrosia, and Argent Sweet Corn. Typically the sugary enhance gene can store a little better than the standard type and needs a little warmer soil temperatures to germinate. Lastly, the supersweet type is known for storing the longest once harvested and requires even warmer soil temperatures to germinate in the garden. Also, the supersweets require a little more maintenance than the standard or sugary enhanced type. Now an uncommon type is known as triplesweet corn which actually contains all three of the major genes such as the standard, sugary enhance, and supersweet. One thing about having the triplesweet contain all three of the major genes is that you don’t have to isolate when planting. Therefore, if you want to grow two different varieties of sweet corn you should plant whichever variety of the standard, sugary enhanced, or supersweet then wait two weeks and plant you a triplesweet in the vegetable garden.

Planting/Growing Tips

The main factor about planting sweet corn is it should be planted in blocks, not rows. Corn is pollinated by the wind so if you experience corn cobs that are half-filled at the end of the growing season it is most likely due to pollination issues. Therefore, planting in squares that are larger and blockier the better your pollination will be throughout the growing season. Another important factor about pollination is ensuring that your fertilizer is delivered right to your corn to help with the coincide of the tassel and silk development. When it comes to spacing, corn has a standard row spacing of 36 inches. Travis has tried growing corn with two-foot spacing but was not successful because there is too much foliage and your pollen can’t fall to the silks. For seed spacing along the row, it can vary a little bit depending on what irrigation you have, however, the most ideal is 6 to 8 inches apart. When dealing with fungus and disease on corn we suggest using Liquid Copper Fungicide, Complete Disease Control, or Spinosad.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis discuss a little bit about the pandemic that is happening right now. Travis has some Pak Choi that he has harvested from the garden. This variety of cabbage is a fast producing crop that creates steady production and excellent flavor profiles. Next, he has a variety of Gold Nugget Carrots that were grown in the garden for the first time this year and they are similar to the Bugs Bunny type carrots. The guys also compare their onion varieties that were harvested from the garden area.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about when to plant tomatoes and planting watermelons. Travis mentions that he just has a feeling when it’s time to plant tomatoes in the garden. He kinda knows when the frost is done and the temperatures start warming up it’s time to plant. Greg says he still has to get drip tape in the ground, but it is time once the true leaves start coming up in the greenhouse.

Product of the Week

• Sweet Corn Varieties

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Tips for Cross-Pollinating

When it comes to saving seeds the most important factor in keeping that seed pure to its genetics is ensuring you aren’t cross-pollinating with other varieties in the vegetable garden.

Different Types of Pollination

The three main pollinating types of crops are self-pollinating, wind pollinating, and insect pollinating. The self-pollinating crops include beans, peas, okra, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant which do not require beneficial insects to pollinate them. To ensure you do not experience cross-pollinating of the self-pollinating crops there are isolation distances to help with keeping the seeds you are wanting to save true or pure for future growing seasons. The isolation distances recommended for beans or peas is 20 feet, okra is 1500 feet, tomatoes is 10 feet, peppers is 100 feet, and eggplant is 50 feet between varieties in the area. When it comes to wind-pollinating, corn is the only crop that is wind-pollinated. When growing corn you have a male flower which is the tassel and the female flower which is the silk. Wind-pollination allows the pollen grains on the tassel to fertilize the silk and every little silk represents a kernel on the ear of corn. Another important type of pollination is our insect-pollination where we need bees to help us make fruits during the growing season. The insect-pollinated crops include cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, and gourds.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a handful of Viper Carrots that he recently harvested from the vegetable garden. Greg grew the Yellowstone variety that was rather small and more personal-sized carrots. The guys also discuss their composting technique for different plots and vegetables this growing season. According to Greg, it may be the year for planting potatoes, however, Travis is a little worried that the weather temperatures have struck hot quick for potato growing. Travis shows off a seed starting tray full of tomato transplants that are ready to be planting in the garden. The several different tomato varieties he plans on planting are Bella Rosa, Celebration, Brickyard, Red Snapper, Chef’s Choice Orange, Homestead, and Black Krim.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about planting sweet potato slips, using cotton gin trash compost, and squash succession planting. Travis likes to wait and plant sweet potato slips in June or sometimes even July that way he can dig them towards November. Although there as been concern about using gin trash compost, Travis and Greg are getting their compost from a gin trash company that is taking the right measurements to ensure they are creating quality grade compost that can be used in the garden area. Greg mentions when succession planting summer squash he always direct seeds and moves them over a row or two so he doesn’t plant in the same exact row.

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• AAS Winners

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Planting Summer Squash

When it comes to growing summer squash in the garden, there are many factors such as climate temperatures, irrigation, soil quality, and insect or disease pressures that must be controlled. Summer squash is usually the first warm-weather crop the guys recommend to plant in the vegetable garden.

Guide to Growing Summer Squash

Here in South Georgia, we are located in Zone 8B, therefore we plant summer squash typically as soon as temperatures become warm. Another reason behind planting summer squash early is to ensure we get around three to four rounds of squash before the squash bug pressure gets too bad in the garden. A few different varieties that we recommend growing is the patty-pan types like the Sunburst and Bennings Green Tint. When it comes to the more traditional summer squash types like the crookneck and straightneck we have varieties such as the Early Crookneck, Gentry, and Goldprize. Along with the summer squash, we have zucchini varieties such as Golden Delight, Golden Zebra, Spineless Beauty, Spineless Supreme, and Pascola. Next, the guys discuss the general rule of thumb when it comes to summer squash fertilization which is add a complete fertilizer like 20-20-20. To maintain disease control over the powdery and downy mildews we suggest Liquid Copper Fungicide or Monterey B.t. The number one factor when dealing with pests such as pickle worms, squash bugs, and vine borers is you have to control them early on to ensure they don’t become a larger problem in the vegetable garden. For pest control, Travis suggests mixing the B.t. with the Neem Oil one week and then the next week the Take Down Garden Spray. Overall, when growing summer squash you must get rid of plants when production begins to decline to ensure you don’t create a host for pest to live and feed off of.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a heap of Brussel sprouts that he has harvested from the vegetable garden. The different Brussel sprout varieties that he shows off is the hybrid, Jade Cross and productive open-pollinated Red Bull. The guys also discuss what crops they plan on planting coming soon in the garden. Greg is exterminating with using perlite on top of his seed starting trays after he dibbles in potting soil. The commercial growers use this perlite method to cover the top of seeds instead of using more Pro-Mix.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about when the payoff stage of onions begins, tips on growing corn on a smaller scale, planting winter squash, and the cause of having a hole in the center of potatoes. Travis mentions that you will know when the onion bulbs have begun the payoff stage because the base will start to enlarge. Greg recommends when growing a smaller scale of corn you need to make sure the corn is hilled well to help ensure strong weather conditions do not ruin the plot. When you experience having a hole in the center of potatoes, Greg mentions that it is a physiological problem that is known as a hollow heart and is most likely caused by too much or lack of irrigation.

Product of the Week

• Complete Organic Fertilizer

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Best Potato Fertilization Schedule

Unlike heavy feeder crops such as corn that requires lots of fertilizer, potatoes are a little different and need a certain range of fertilizer in the vegetable garden. When discussing the nutrients that potatoes need to have successful growth Travis talks about the maximum amount and you can scale it back to the desired amount you need for your garden area. The potato fertilization schedule starts with major three nutrients which is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. On the higher end of the scale, nitrogen is 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, phosphorous is 1.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, and potassium is 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. For the home gardener or small market farm, it is recommended to use a complete fertilizer like 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 to ensure you get all the required nutrients. Overall, if you had a 1,000 square foot of potatoes in the garden area you would need about 25 pounds of 20-20-20 throughout their lifetime growing span. Next for the fertilization schedule, we don’t need to give all the nutrients at one time in the area. Therefore, the first application should be when planting potatoes, you need to put 1/3 down which can be sprinkled along the furrow. The second application of 1/3 fertilizer can be applied at emergence or around the first hilling process. The final application of the 1/3 should be applied at your last or second hilling assuming you hill potatoes at least two times. Along with the three major nutrients, potatoes also need micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, and boron. We recommend using Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer to ensure you get all the calcium you need and use the Micro-Juice for the other needed micronutrients.

Indeterminate vs. Determinate Potatoes

When talking about determinate and indeterminate potatoes it is rather different than discussing types of tomatoes. Indeterminate potatoes are described by having a later maturity date than most other varieties. While the red potatoes like Red Norland, Red Pontiac, or Red Lasoda are all early varieties, therefore, known as determinate potatoes. Some people also believe you don’t need to hill determinate potatoes in the garden. However, in order to have a successful bumper crop, you will need to hill potatoes whether they’re determinate or indeterminate.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss not plucking the greens off rutabagas to help get a large size crop in the garden. Travis shows off a Texas Legend Onion that he grew in early November that has excellent flavor and great storage life after harvesting. Travis also talks about some new flower seed varieties such as Marigold Sparky Mix, Bachelor Button Polka Dot Mix, Cosmos Bright Light Mix, Snapdragon Tetra Mix, and Zinnia Cactus Mix.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about where to get vegetable bags, mixing sand with soil for growing carrots, tips for growing squash. Travis mentions when doing his weekly produce bag operation he recommends buying produce bags from Amazon which tend to hold vegetables a little longer than other bags. Greg mentions that instead of mixing sand in the soil he suggests adding a good compost to improve the nutrient value for growing vegetables in the garden. Travis and Greg suggest that the number tip when planting squash is plant them early in the spring to ensure you avoid harsh disease and insect pressures. They also recommend applying some pest control like Spinosad, Neem Oil, or Monetery BT.

Product of the Week

• 8 mil Drip Tape Irrigation Kit

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Let’s Talk Drip Irrigation

On this week’s episode, the guys answer some of the most popular frequently asked questions about drip irrigation in the vegetable garden. Although some people are intimidated by drip systems, however, it is rather simple and really a gamechanger in the garden area. The first question they answer is whether or not you can use drip tape irrigation with a gravity-fed system. Travis mentions that you can use drip tape with a gravity-fed system, but it is unfeasible overall. The second most popular question about drip irrigation is should it be buried or laid on top of the soil. Greg says you can really do either, but drip tape was designed to be buried under the soil to prevent it from being harmed by other elements. There are two ways to bury drip irrigation using our wheel hoe either with the plow set attachment or the drip tape layer attachment. Once the drip tape is in the ground, people often wonder how to know where the emitters are located after it’s buried in the area. The best way that Travis determines where the emitters are once it is buried is by turning the irrigation on and around 10 to 15 minutes depending on how dry the soil is, little water spots will develop where the emitters are located. They also mention that you can plant crops in between the emitters along the drip tape irrigation. The next question that is asked often is can you save drip tape and reuse it again in the garden. The guys mention that it can be reused depending on how conservative or frugal you want to be. Travis typically pulls tape up out of the area and then cultivates the area and lays it right back down, he never pulls it completely up and tries to store it. He normally uses the same drip tape four to five times and then replaces it with new tape. Another question the guy’s answer is you can certainly leave the drip tape in the garden over winter because it decompresses when it is not in use so you will never have to worry about it freezing during the winter season. The major difference between 8 mil and 15 mil tape is the 15 mil tape is almost twice as thick as the 8 mil tape. The 8 mil tape is designed for annual vegetables, while the 15 mil tape is better for perennials in the garden. When watering individual rows, you can use the drip tape row start valves which basically allows you to turn off or on individual rows that need irrigation. Another popular question is how long do you let drip irrigation run in the vegetable garden. Which is rather a hard question to answer because it depends on factors such as the climate, weather temperatures, soil type, the crop you are growing, and so much more. Greg mentions that you will get the feel for how wet it is the soil real quick and once plants start growing larger it may take longer to water, however, it all just depends on certain factors. You can also use drip irrigation in a raised bed situation it just may need more what we call tee and elbows for the mainline. When direct seeding in the garden, Greg recommends planting crops directly on top of the drip tape while planting transplants on either side of the emitters. The last question the guy’s answer about drip irrigation is how to avoid hitting it with the wheel hoe. Overall, by burying it and putting it out of the way we can avoid messing it up in the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss the different types of carrots growing in the vegetable garden. They also discuss potato planting since it has been super wet in the garden. The guys also discuss some okra varieties that have excellent flavor profiles such as Red Burgundy, Star of David, Silver Queen, Cowhorn, Perkins Long Pod, and Clemson Spineless.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about growing crops against tradition, controlling tomato spotted wilt virus, warm-weather cover crop, and growing collard greens.

Travis mentions that sometimes they try to push the limits of what crops they grow in certain seasons. However, he never tries to flip the seasons of crops around. Greg says that you can control tomato spotted wilt virus by either planting a virus-resistant tomato variety or treating insects with an insecticide early on in the vegetable garden. Travis recommends planting warm-season cover crops like buckwheat if you tend to have a shorter growing window or if you have a longer window the sorghum sudangrass is perfect. Greg recommends growing the Top Bunch variety because it will outperform all other varieties in the garden.

Product of the Week

• Drip Tape Irrigation Kit

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Planting Different Tomato Varieties

Since it’s time to plant potatoes in the garden area, it’s also the perfect time to start planting tomato varieties in the greenhouse. Here in Zone 8, the ideal time to start planting tomato seeds in the seed starting trays is around February 15th. Typically, the tomato seedlings will take six weeks to germinate which puts us planting tomato transplants in the soil right around the 1st of April.

Heirloom, Indeterminate

• Amish Paste
• Brandywine Pink
• Cherokee Purple
• Black Krim
• Jubilee
• Mortgage Lifter
• Sweetie Cherry
• Yellow Pear

Heirloom, Determinate

• Homestead

Hybrid, Indeterminate

• Black Cherry Zebra
• Chef’s Choice Orange
• Sun Gold

Hybrid, Determinate

• Mountain Glory
• Celebration
• SummerPick
• Tachi
• Red Snapper
• Brickyard
• Bella Rosa

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some watermelon radishes that typically have more of a bite than a normal traditional radish. The next crop that he has to show off this week is the Chioggia Beet variety. As the most visually appealing beet, this variety offers a less earthy flavor and a more sugary content profile than other red beets. As well another large cabbage variety, known as the Rio Grande which probably weighs around 15 to 20 pounds. The guys also do a little show and tell on the new seed varieties coming soon. The four new varieties on the site include Gentry Squash, Gold Star Squash, Pascola Zucchini, and Spineless Supreme Zucchini. As well as three new watermelon varieties which are supposed to be sweeter than our popular Crimson Sweet variety. These varieties include Dulce Fantasia, Sangria, and Jamboree watermelon.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about pelleted seeds, preserving corn seed, preventing mildew on cucumbers, and the best way to grow corn in the vegetable garden. Travis mentions that he thinks with pelleted seeds they may need a little bit more water than non-pelleted seeds. Also, with pelleted seeds, they don’t have a shelf life that will last nearly as long as unpelleted seeds. Greg says when preserving corn seed for next season it is recommended that you keep the seeds at least 1600 feet away from other varieties to ensure they do not cross-pollinate. Once you gather the seeds you want to save you will need to place them in the freezer for at least two weeks to keep the weevils out of them. If you are trying to prevent mildew on cucumbers, Travis recommends growing powdery mildew resistant varieties. The two varieties we have available that offer this disease package resistance is the Diomede and the Max Pack. When growing corn, Greg mentions that you know when there is enough fertilizer because you can see where you’ve burnt the edge of the leaf a little bit. The way he likes to add the fertilizer in the garden is by putting down a balanced fertilizer and every other time hit it with a nitrogen source.

Product of the Week

• Tomato Varieties

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Gardening Questions

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis answer several gardening questions that are asked by multiple customers.  The first question the guys answer on this week’s episode is whether to use two or three-foot row spacing when planting corn. Travis mentions that he has made the mistake of planting on two-foot row spacing which results in poor pollination and unhealthy crops. The second question they discuss is the difference in fertilization methods between raised beds and ground gardening. Greg indicates that it depends on the type of medium you have in the raised beds, however, they do drain better and you will experience more water leaching in a raised bed. The fertilization method that Greg recommends using as Complete Organic Fertilizer to ensure you the get needed amount of fertilizer. Next on the gardening questions list is there any sweet corn varieties that grow well without irrigation. Although all sweet corn loves water, the one variety that can grow without irrigation is the Stowells Evergreen. When discussing a shift in growing seasons using a high tunnel greenhouse, the guys recommend moving crops up a couple of weeks according to your planting zone to coordinate with the growing conditions in the high tunnel. The three crops that do wonders when starting out in a high tunnel greenhouse are summer squash, lettuce, and indeterminate tomatoes. The fifth question is rather different and interesting to think about which was what did the pioneers do for fertilizer before they could just run down to the hardware store and buy it. The guys suggest the most ideal way they think the pioneer’s used fertilizer is by establishing a grazing program with their livestock and a fallow ground program to let the soil rest and build up the nutrient levels by using the livestock manure. The guys also give their best advice for growing artichokes and asparagus around the homestead. However, Greg mentions that if you love asparagus you should be growing it on the homestead. Travis shows off a couple of shallots and needs some help to determine why some are splitting off and others aren’t in the garden. They list off a couple of recommendations for growing winter squash such as give them plenty of room to grow and plant early to avoid disease pressures. Another common question is how to rotate different crops in a single plot garden area. Greg has experienced this issue before in the garden if you aren’t able to rotate crops you can just move 10 feet over and the vegetables should be fine. Travis mentions that the best way to grow beets is by transplanting to ensure you get them uniformly spaced. If you have trouble growing all greens instead of beets that most likely means you have too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorus and potassium. When it comes to traditional gardening beds, it is recommended that watering ornamentals should be one inch per week. The last question that has been asked is whether or not we can build an attachment for the wheel hoe that would allow you to side-dress your plants. Once the guys started using the injection system the need for a side dressing attachment is kind of on the back burner right now but may come available in the future.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys talk new pepper seed varieties such as Touchdown Bell Pepper, Mama Mia Giallo, Mama Mia Rosso, Cinder Jalapeno, Lola Banana Pepper, and Santa Fe Grande.

Product of the Week

• Hoss Hat

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Most Popular Seed Varieties

The guys discuss the 15 most popular seed varieties that were chosen by customers as bestsellers. All of these seed varieties are excellent for growing in the vegetable garden and offer some of the best production and flavor profiles throughout the growing season.

Jambalaya Okra

The most popular seed variety that we have available at Hoss Tools is the Jambalaya Okra. As the most productive okra crop, this variety has heavy yields of green pods with excellent flavor profiles. We recommend transplanting in okra in early spring to get a jump start on the growing season.

Red Burgundy Okra

Not the most productive okra variety that we have available the Red Burgundy Okra is one of the best pickling varieties according to Greg. This okra variety produces deep red pods that will remain tender at even longer pod lengths.

Tiger Collard

Once we sell out of the Tiger Collards variety it will soon be replaced with the Top Bunch 2.0 collards. The Top Bunch 2.0 is the newest generation in the Top Bunch collard line. This is a hybrid variety that is great for early-maturing and will grow fast in the vegetable garden.

Bella Rosa Tomato

The Bella Rosa is an heirloom variety that performs best in hot and humid climates. Out of all the popular seed varieties, the Bella Rosa is the top performer for continuing to set fruits once temperatures become warmer in early summer.

Brickyard Tomato

As the most comprehensive disease-resistant package the Brickyard Tomatoes do best when planted in seed starting trays. Tomatoes can produce heavy fruits and will require some form of trellising system to support the plants throughout the growing season.

Goldprize Squash

As a highly productive squash, the Goldprize variety is a straightneck that offers excellent flavor profiles, texture, and storage potential. Throughout the growing season, squash is a crop that will require multiple harvests within the garden area.

Stonewall Cucumber

The Stonewall Cucumber is a hybrid slicer variety that offers improved yields, great disease-resistance, and exceptional consistency. It does best when direct seeded in the garden area and is a vining plant that will need a strong trellising system in place as it grows throughout the season.

Green Magic Broccoli

Out of all the popular seed varieties, the Green Magic Broccoli is one of the most popular broccoli varieties. This heat-tolerant broccoli can be grown in spring and earlier in the fall than other varieties. We recommend transplanting broccoli to ensure you get maximum production and better plants.

Calypso Cucumber

Another popular cucumber variety is the Calypso cucumber which is gynoecious meaning it produces all-female flowers for increased productivity and higher yields. This hybrid variety offers a strong disease package and early production within the vegetable garden.

Jimmy Red Corn

If you are looking for a variety of corn to grind for making grits and corn mill the Jimmy Red is the ideal variety for just that. We recommend planting corn using a walk-behind planter like our garden seeder that makes planting easy and allows you to customize your planting to meet your exact needs.

Rattlesnake Pole Beans

A very popular variety of beans to grow in the vegetable garden is the Rattlesnake Pole Beans. This heirloom variety has vigorous plants that grow up to 10 inches when trellised and produce around 6 to 7-inch pods that can be harvested frequently throughout the growing season.

Spineless Beauty Zucchini

The Spineless Beauty Zucchini is another hybrid variety that provides an exceptional production, increased storage, and disease package in the garden. The variety has spineless petioles which mean there is no itching sensation during and after harvesting zucchini.

Benary Giant Zinnia Mix

Along with growing vegetables in the garden, it is also great to plant cut flowers in the area. The Benary Giant Zinnia Mix contains a bountiful assortment of colorful flowers throughout the entire warm growing season. The following colors are included in the mix: orange, deep red, coral, lime, bright pink, carmine rose, purple, wine, salmon rose, white, golden yellow, and scarlet.

Bolero Carrot

The hybrid Bolero Carrot variety offers an excellent disease resistance package with great flavor profiles and storage capacity. This variety produces large heavy tops that make them easy to pull up from the ground during harvesting. Once harvested, carrots can hold in cold storage for several weeks and can also be blanched, frozen, and retain texture and flavor in the freezer.

Lacinato Kale

Out of all the most popular seed varieties, the most productive crops grown in the garden this year was the Lacinato Kale which is ideal for producing throughout the entire year. It can be planted in the fall months and will produce throughout the winter and into spring. We recommend transplanting kale at least 3 to 4 weeks before the desired outdoor planting date in the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss growing and eating leeks from the vegetable garden. It has been a busy week in the warehouse with the packing and shipping of potatoes. The Austrian Crescent Fingerling Potato is a popular variety that is hard to come by this year so be sure to get it before we sell out. A couple of new varieties that are now available on the site is Diomede Cucumbers, Max Pack Cucumbers, Athena Cantaloupe, and Black Zebra Cherry Tomato.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about starting winter squash transplants, growing Cherokee Tans or Seminole pumpkins on a cattle panel, tilling cover crops, and planting cold crops in the ground a little early.

Product of the Week

• Potato Varieties
• Spineless Supreme

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Transplanting Crops vs. Direct Seeding

When comes to transplanting crops and which are best for direct seeding it can vary depending on the several different plant varieties. For transplanting crops like beets you can either transplant or direct seed in the garden. Travis mentions in order to get consistently sized beets you must thin them and he prefers to do this in the greenhouse rather than on his knees inside the vegetable garden. The three other transplanting crops that are without a doubt better transplanted are broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage plants. Another crop that can be transplanted or direct seeded is cantaloupes and it is beneficial to transplant if you like in a climate where the warm growing season isn’t as long. When it comes to collards you can direct seed or transplant depending on how and what variety you are planting in the garden. Another crop that can be transplanted or direct seeded is okra because it does not like cooler soils you are able to get a head start on growing if you transplant okra. When direct seeding crops such as beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, greens, peanuts, radishes, etc all do better direct seeded in the vegetable garden. The advantage of transplanting crops is you will get a head start on planting which is really effective for areas that experience really high disease or insect pressures. Another advantage of transplanting is you get a head start on the weed pressure, especially with slower germinating crops.

Transplant Crops

• Brocolli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Kohlrabi
• Leeks
• Onions
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

Direct Seed

• Beans
• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Greens
• Peanuts
• Field Peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Summer Squash

Direct Seed + Transplant

• Beets
• Cantaloupes
• Collards
• Gourds
• English Peas
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Okra
• Pumpkins
• Rutabaga
• Winter Squash
• Swiss Chard
• Turnips

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has grown some of the Mr. Big English Pea variety for the first time in the garden. The guys address the comments about the egg in the hole feedback on last week’s garden show video. Greg shows off some of his Cheers and Jersey Wakefield cabbage from the vegetable garden. Greg also has his ghost pepper seeds in the freezer so he will get a better stratification process and quicker germination when he gets ready to plant them. The guys give an update on potatoes and hope to get them in and ready to ship next week.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about rotating in a small garden, advice for growing watermelons, and amending pH for every crop. Travis mentions that can be more difficult to manage crop rotation in one small garden, however, you just have to be more mindful of what crops you are planting in the area year after year. He also mentions that it is really beneficial if you are utilizing cover crops that will help with incorporating nutrients back into the soils. Greg gives three tips for growing watermelons which is to give them plenty of room, use drip irrigation, and attract natural pollinators to the area. Greg mentions the ideal way to control your pH for planting is to plant new seeds in a new spot every year and work it into your rotation.

Product of the Week

• Cherokee Lettuce

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Crop Rotation Strategies

If you fail to incorporate effective crop rotation strategies in the vegetable garden, you can experience recurring pests and disease problems that will become greater year after year. It is crucial to establish the right crop rotation strategies to eliminate these problems. Our goal is to not plant the same family of crops in the same spot in consecutive years.

Crops in the Same Family

Travis shows a comprehensive list of vegetables and their respective families. The first family of crops is Solanaceae, commonly known as the nightshades. This family includes popular vegetable crops like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. Most folks don’t realize that potatoes are closely related to the other crops in the nightshade family. As a result, you wouldn’t want to plant tomatoes, peppers or eggplant in the same spot as potatoes in a given year. If you are not careful to rotate these crops, you will almost certainly experience some blight issues that will intensify over time.

The next family is Cucurbitaceae, also known as the Cucurbits. This family includes crops like summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, and gourds. All of the crops in the Cucurbit family can have issues with powdery mildew and downy mildew, so rotating these crops ensures those disease problems will not increase year after year. Cucurbits also tend to have high insect pressure with pests like squash bugs, squash vine borers and pickle worms.

The next family is the Brassicas, which is one of the most popular families of crops grown in the vegetable garden. The brassica family includes mustards, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, bok choy, rutabagas, turnips, and radishes. Brassicas can have recurring pest issues if not rotated properly, especially with worms that will chew and eat the plant leaves.

Below is a list of all the important crop families for a vegetable garden:

Nightshades:

• Tomatoes
• Eggplants
• Peppers
• Potatoes

Cucurbits:

• Summer Squash
• Winter Squash
• Pumpkins
• Cucumbers
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupes
• Gourds

Brassicas:

• Mustard
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Turnips
• Kohlrabi
• Radish
• Rutabagas
• Boy Choy

Alliums:

• Onions
• Shallots
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Scallions
• Chives

Legumes:

• Beans
• English Peas
• Winter Peas
• Field Peas
• Peanuts
• Clover
• Sunn Hemp
• Hairy Vetch

Umbellifers:

• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Celery
• Parsley
• Dill
• Parsnips

Amaranth:

• Beets
• Chard
• Spinach
• Pigweed

Grasses:

• Corn
• Wheat
• Barley
• Sorghum Sudangrass

Mallow:

• Okra
• Cotton
• Hibiscus

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys sample a few varieties of raw greens including Tatsoi, Arugula, and Savanna Mustard. Greg provides an update on his multiplying onions and guinea nest onions from the garden. He also discusses the Ghost Peppers that are now available. He mentions they are limited and will sell quickly. The guys also mention that 20 more seed varieties will be added by the end of January.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about seed starting schedules, cleaning seed trays, favorite tomato varieties, and moving plants from the greenhouse. Travis mentions that his ideal seed starting schedule is to plant early spring crops such as lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., now. And he’ll start planting peppers in late January or early February. In mid-February, he will start planting tomatoes and eggplants, and towards the end of February start planting okra, watermelons, pumpkins, zinnias, and sunflowers. Greg says that he never really cleans his trays using bleach or anything. However, he does let his trays dry completely for a few days or weeks before planting again. The guys mention that their favorite tomato for flavor is the Sun Gold variety and the Bella Rosa variety for bigger tomatoes. When moving plants from the greenhouse to outside, Greg prefers to place them in a full sun area.

Product of the Week

• Rio Grande Red Cabbage

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Guide to Seed Starting

During the seed starting process, there are many aspects that can control the success or failure of growing quality vegetable transplants. The first thing that people sometimes question is why can’t they simply dig up soil out of the yard and place it in seed starting trays. Greg explains you can do this but it’s not going to work out well and is highly not recommended. Therefore, we recommend using a Pro-Mix Seed Starting Mix to ensure you get the needed amount of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite when growing transplants. While applying the mix it also needs plenty of water initially to get the seeds wet in the tray cells. The guys recommend using a Dramm wand which is included in our Premium Seed Starting Kit. After the mix is nice and moist, you can start to prepare the tray for planting seeds. When using your fingers to create indentions they should be in the middle of the cell to improve seed planting. When it comes to planting depth it is ideal if you plant on average twice as deep as the diameter of your seed. If you live in an area similar to us in the South and you are growing crops such as beets or radishes you will not have to worry about using a heating mat underneath the trays because those crops will germinate in coolish type conditions. However, for summer crops like peppers or tomatoes, it’s important to provide a heat mat underneath the trays to help with the temperatures. When growing indoors the trick to providing the ideal amount of light is to get led shop lights with a natural daylight bulb color and place them over the plant you are trying to grow. The guys also recommend watering at least 2 to 3 times a day until the roots reach the bottom of the cells. Once the plants start to get their true leaves or second set of leaves become more prominent that is the ideal time to start spoon feeding at least 1 to 2 times a week with fertilizer. There are several different ways to add fertilizer to the growing plants, but Travis recommends using 20-20-20 in a watering can and sprinkling along the top of the plants. However, the plants are really delicate so you have to be sure and not over-fertilize them which can cause them to burn.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss the weather conditions that are currently happening in the garden and how it can affect some vegetables and fruit trees. Travis also announces that he will be attending Deep South Homestead Gathering on March 21st in Perkinston, Mississippi, so be sure to stop by and see him.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about ball zucchini, treating cut potato pieces, and the recommend amount of 20-20-20 that is equivalent to 10-10-10. We currently have one variety of ball zucchini known as Eight Ball Squash which contains a darker green exterior with excellent texture and flavor profile. Greg mentions that in the past he has used fir bark dust as a fungicide on potato seed pieces, but he cannot see any difference from when he does and doesn’t use it in the garden. Greg mentions when using 20-20-20 you would want to use half as much as you would 10-10-10 because it is twice the strength. However, if you are using a water-soluble liquid or granular form it can change the recommended amount.

Product of the Week

• 338 Seed Starting Trays

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Garden Seeder vs. Seeder Attachment

The major difference that sets the seeder attachment apart from the garden seeder is it can attach to the Single Wheel Hoe and Double Wheel Hoe, while the garden seeder is a stand-alone unit that is used strictly for garden planting. However, both seeders have the same innovative seed plate design, hopper, and brush assembly. Having a customizable seed plate allows you to match your seed size and your desired seed spacing when planting in the vegetable garden.

Garden Seeder

The Hoss Garden Seeder is the most durable and versatile planter mechanism that ensures accurate planting in the vegetable garden. It contains a rolling disk as a furrow opener that rolls along the soil and leaves an opening for dropping a seed which makes it more forgiving in a wide variety of planting situations. This seeder is constructed with Amish-crafted hardwood handles and 15-inch steel wheels with a powder-coated steel frame that can last a lifetime.

Seeder Attachment

When it comes to planting with the Seeder Attachment it attaches to the wheel hoes to easily plant in the vegetable garden without wasting seed or over-planting along the rows. It contains a furrow opener that consists of a solid plate of metal known as the shoe that helps push through the soil and open it up when going along the garden rows. This seeder attachment is design to work in firmer, clay-like soils or non-tilled seedbeds.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis harvested some nice big Tehama Lettuce from the vegetable garden. He also shared some tips for what not to do when harvesting the different lettuce varieties. Currently, Greg has a test garden of onions where he has planted many different onion varieties to compare and contrast. When comparing the Warrior Bunching Onion and the Natsuguro Bunching Onion it seems that the Natsuguro variety has a little bigger bulb size than the Warrior variety. However, the Warrior variety seems to be more consistent in size compared to the Natsuguro variety. The guys also discuss several varieties such as English peas, Fordhook Lima Beans, and Savanna Mustard.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about planting in previous 10-foot walkways, growing under cover, planting sampler packs of potatoes, and determining pH in the soil. Travis mentions that normally if it was previously grass in the walkways, then it will grow back in the area. The guys also mention that they keep the walkways mowed in the garden as well. Travis highly recommends not adding wood chips to the walkways because they tend to make a mess and will require maintenance every day. Greg mentions that when growing under a hoop house it can be really beneficial if you live up North. However, we do not experience harsh cooler temperatures, so he recommends reading the Four-Season Harvest book by Eliot Coleman which can provide plenty of advice for growing up North. Travis mentions that we offer two sampler packs of potatoes which are the Homestead and Gourmet potato packs. He recommends a 30 to 40-foot row for planting a 10lb, sampler pack of potatoes. However, it’s important to consider the different types of potato varieties and their maturity dates when planting in the vegetable garden. Greg explains the best way to determine the pH of your soil is by sending a soil sample off to a university that will in return send back a detailed report that tells you everything you need to know about your soil conditions.

Product of the Week

• Lacy Phacelia

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New Year Resolutions of 2019

Since it is officially a new year that means it is time to go over the 2019 resolutions and see what was achieved and what did not do well throughout this past year. One of Greg’s 2019 resolutions was to do a better job maintaining soil health and use more cover crops in the garden. He mentions that he did a lot better with growing more cover crops and reduced his tillage drastically over this past year. However, Greg did not do well in adding in compost or chicken manure during pre-plant on a couple of occasions and he saw first hand how it impacted his vegetable garden compared to other gardens around his homestead. One of Travis’s resolutions for 2019 was to create his dream vegetable garden which he did achieve on his homestead. Greg’s second resolution for 2019 was to do better at succession planting which means being ready to plant the next crop once one crop is done maturing in the garden. He mentions that he has done extremely well with succession planting this past year and reminds gardeners of the importance of doing this succession planning throughout the growing seasons. When it comes to Travis growing more cover crops this past year, the cover crop that did extremely well for him during the warm season was the Sorghum Sudangrass and mowing it every couple of weeks. Another resolution that Travis had was to plant more multi-harvest crops and plant more winter squash in the spring. He mentions that he did plant more winter squash during the early stages of growth in his dream garden but they were not as productive as he hoped in the area. He also states that he did well with growing more multi-harvest crops, just wants to fine-tune it a little bit and stick to growing what crops work best for his soil type and weather conditions.

New Year Resolutions for 2020

After going over their 2019 resolutions it is time for the guys to discuss their New Year Resolutions for 2020. The first resolution that Travis mentions is to eat more from the garden. Greg agrees with Travis and he wants to make a conscious effort to just eat vegetables a couple of nights a week instead of having meat at every meal. Travis’s second resolution is to grow more beans especially the newer varieties in the vegetable garden. Greg’s second new year resolution is to allow some garden area to rest and instead of growing vegetables, he is going to plant cover crops to add more benefits back into the soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a purple Cauliflower known as Graffiti which he demonstrates how he likes to cook it. He has also grown the biggest Snow Bowl Cauliflower ever in the garden weighing in at five and a half pounds. Greg has a dual purpose cover crop of mustard greens and daikon radish that has done extremely well in the vegetable garden. It’s also that time of the year for all the winter crops to be mature and ready for harvest. Travis has harvested a huge Cheers Cabbage that weighed around seven and a half pounds from the garden. The guys discuss a couple of new seed varieties that they have started growing in the greenhouse as well.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about mustard gases in the soil, planting pumpkins, and recommend plants to start now in zone 8b. Travis mentions that the gases in mustard are converted to what is known as isothiocyanates which is a natural fungicide and natural nematicide which helps kill harmful funguses and nematodes when incorporated into the soil quickly. In the South, Greg mentions that the best time to plant pumpkins is within a week to two weeks after Easter and growing it off in the springtime. For zone 8b, Travis recommends planting cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, beets, and lettuce.

Product of the Week

• New 2020 Seed Varieties

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New Seed Varieties for Cool Weather

The guys discuss a few of their favorite seed vegetables that do best in the cool weather conditions. Some of these new seed varieties include tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon, broccoli, and cauliflower. The first new seed variety Travis mentions is the Red Snapper Tomato that is resistant to the spotted wilt virus and the tomato yellow leaf curl virus which both cause very dangerous issues in the vegetable garden. In the South, if you have failed at growing tomatoes in the past, you definitely need to try a virus-resistant tomato variety instead. The second new tomato seed is known as Tachi which is another spotted wilt virus-resistant variety, but also a nematode-resistant variety. Next, Greg talks about the Sugar Baby Watermelon which is an older variety that produces smaller personal sized watermelons. The fourth cool weather vegetable mentioned is a winter squash known as the Sweet Dumpling variety. This variety is the top of the line when it comes to flavor profile in winter squash. Another excellent broccoli variety is the Emerald Crown which is a hybrid that is grown more during the cool weather season. The fifth top cool weather vegetable is the Godzilla Broccolli variety that grows large heads at the top of the plant, making it easier to harvest. Next, is a traditional Early Crookneck Squash variety that has been around forever that produces golden-yellow fruits in the garden. Then, we have a new Twister Cauliflower variety available that produces upper leaves that actually twist and wrap around the plant to protect the cauliflower throughout the growing season. The guys explain a little tip about growing beans and talk about the new Gold Wax Bean, Royal Burgundy, Scarlet Emperor, and White Emergo varieties.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has all kinds of vegetables maturing in the garden. He has a Matejko Leek variety that had a few problems when it came to planting them deep enough in the soil. Greg and Travis show off a variety of beets, rutabagas, and Feng Qing cabbage. The guys also discuss a few varieties that will become available in the next year.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about a squash variety known as North Georgia Candy Rooster, where to get a Kohlrabi slicer, the spacing of pole beans on a trellis, seed longevity, fertility storage, and green magic broccoli heads. Travis mentions that they do not currently carry North Georgia Candy Rooster because it has been difficult to find a seed producer that has them, but he will continue to look until he finds some. Greg has had his Kohlrabi slicer for years, his particular brand is known as a King Kutter. Travis mentions that when planting pole beans vertically he likes to plant them tight such as 3 inches apart and on a double row. However, this planting method will take a little longer to harvest because of the dense foliage, the reward will be getting maximum productivity of pole beans. Greg explains that proper seed storage is to place them in an area where temperatures remain the same this ensures that they will remain stable. When it comes to fertilizer storage, as long as it does not get heavy amounts of moisture that cause it to start melting it should be fine. If the fertilizer starts to melt and get mushy, then it should be discarded. Travis has harvested some Green Magic Broccoli that produced heads weighing about a pound on average.

Product of the Week

• Premium Garden Seeds

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Top Ten Gift Ideas:

These gift ideas are the ideal perfect gifts for all types of gardeners whether you are a beginner or advanced vegetable gardener. As well as, they all are reasonably priced under $100, made in the USA, and quality products that will last you a lifetime.

1. Hoe Dag Tool Kit

This tool kit has everything you need to plant, weed, and cultivate your raised garden beds. The Hoe Dag Tool Kit includes a hoe dag, hand shovel, and hand rank that are all made with high carbon steel blades. Each tool has a riveted-socket design that attaches the implement to the handle to ensure it will remain attached through the toughest soil debris.

2. Seed Collections

There are three different themed seed collections that are excellent gift ideas that we have available which are the Pollinator Garden Collection, Heirloom Garden Collection, Fresh Salad Garden Collection, and Cool Season Garden Collection. With each collection, you get a variety of seeds that are all perfect for growing throughout the vegetable garden.

3. Garden Fertilizer

Another gift that you wouldn’t ever think about giving is 20-20-20 garden fertilizer. However, anybody, that loves to grow a garden would need this fertilizer in their next growing season. It has a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is great for fertilizing plants at all growing stages in the garden.

4. Complete Fermentation Kit

If you are shopping for someone that loves to preserve food from the vegetable garden the Complete Fermentation Kit is the perfect gift. This kit includes a pickle packer jar tamper, pickle pipe fermentation lids, pickle pebble fermentation weights, and an instructional booklet which is everything you need to start fermenting vegetables expect the jar.

5. Small Garden Tool Kit

Another great set of tools is our Small Garden Toolkit which contains three of our most popular hand-made tools for maintaining your garden bed. This kit comes with a garden trowel, crows foot cultivator, and batwing hoe that ensures you get maximum planting in the soil of your raised garden bed.

6. Micro-Boost

A product that has received multiple good reviews from customers is our Micro-Boost. It contains all the micronutrients that the plant could possibly need to grow throughout the season. It also works great in our EZ-Flo Injector to accurately fertilizer where plants need to uptake the most.

7. Harvesting Bucket

A long-time product of ours that has been an all-time favorite is our Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting Bucket. This garden tool is ideal for harvesting all types of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, okra, etc. Even fruit varieties such as apples, muscadines, figs, and berries.

8. Garden Gloves

The most comfortable gloves around is our Hoss Garden Gloves. For working all around the homestead these garden gloves remain durable and allow for maximum dexterity no matter what job you are doing. Some of the features it contains is padded palm cushion, stretchy nylon material, and extra reinforcement on fingertips for more durability.

9. Garden Hod

Another product that has been around for a long time that has been a favorite by many is our Garden Hod. This is a multifunctional harvesting bucket that allows you to harvest your vegetables and simply rinse them off all in the same container.

10. Pruning Shears

Our pruning shears have a lifetime warranty that contains a heavy-duty Savoy steel blade that provides the most high-quality pruners. The blades are very tough and are guaranteed to hold an edge that will last better than other shears at your local hardware store.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis show different ways to prepare and cook the strange-looking vegetable known as Kohlrabi. Greg has grown kohlrabi for around 5 to 6 years and loves to grow it because it is insect resistant, easy to grow, and quick to mature in the garden. When growing kohlrabi it has roots that grow right above the ground and Greg simply shears it off at the root. Next, he will take his knife so he can cut all the leaves off and then peels it like an apple. As the guys prepare it for cooking they like to use it as a substitute for cabbage and make coleslaw out of it. Travis mentions that it has a flavor profile similar to cabbage with the texture of a cucumber. The guys also discuss a little about the different cool flower varieties coming to the site next year.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about using the seed trays to sow seeds, selling the products in the seed starting kits separately, and cedar rust issues on apple trees. Greg mentions that if you are having problems with seedlings growing it might be a fertility problem. Once you reach the leaf stage, you need to start applying a little bit of fertilizer to the plants. Travis explains that the additional items that are placed in the seed starting kits such as the soil and garden labels are bonus items that were added to the kit to make it complete. If we removed those items from the kit it would not change the cost or shipping price of the kit itself. Greg says that when cedar rust is on your apple trees the main host is if you have a cedar tree close around and it should be removed to help control the rust on your apple tree. However, if you can’t remove the trees you can also use Liquid-Cop to control the cedar rust on the trees.

Product of the Week

• Calendula Prince Mix

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Growing Your Own Transplants

The major benefit of growing your own transplants is you are able to get a jumpstart on the growing season. This means you will have plants ready to go in the ground as soon as the weather conditions and soil temperatures are just right in the vegetable garden. Another benefit is you are able to grow a wider variety of vegetables because you aren’t limited to just the plants that are at the big box stores. Growing your own transplants can also be a much more affordable solution in the long run because you aren’t buying new plants from the store every growing season and hoping they make it once you establish them in your personal vegetable garden.

New Seeding Starting Kits

With the three new seed starting kits, the main difference is the size and overall components of each. The first seed starting kit that the guys discuss is the 24-Cell Seed Starting Kit. This kit includes two 12-cell trays, bottom trays, domes, pro-mix seed starting mix, complete organic fertilizer, and garden labels. With two 12-cell trays, you can grow up to 24 plants of any kind of vegetables. Next, is the 48-Cell Seed Starting Kit, which is basically double what you get with the 24-cell kit. The 48-cell kit includes two 24-cell trays, bottom trays, domes, two bags of pro-mix seed starting mix, two bags of complete organic fertilizer, and garden labels. The last new kit they discuss is the Deluxe Seed Starting Kit which includes two 24-cell trays, larger bottom tray, dome, 16-quart pro-mix seed starting, and the garden labels. They also discuss the Premium Seed Starting Kit which has been out for a while but is the ultimate seed starting kit to grow the most vegetable transplants. The Premium kit includes our 162-cell tray, the heavy-duty bottom tray, pro-mix seed starting mix, a Dramm rain wand, garden labels, and four premium garden seeds such as Arcadia Broccoli, Tiger Collard, Parris Island Romaine Lettuce, and Lacinato Kale. Depending on how many vegetables you want to grow and need that can help determine which seed starting kit would be the best fit for you.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis and Greg have several different fig varieties to show, discuss, and taste test. They give a small update on the new studio and adjustments that are continuing to be made. Greg talks about what plants are quickly growing in his vegetable gardens such as collards, onions, Brussel sprouts, and mustard greens. The guys also discuss the two common mistakes that people make in the fall and winter garden which includes not watering plants and adding enough fertilizer to the plants.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about wearing sunglasses on the video last week and their opinions on adding charcoal or biochar to the garden. Travis mentions that he does apologize for wearing his sunglasses in last week’s video it is just a healthy precaution to protect his eyes from the new studio lights. Greg mentions that biochar is a carbon product that makes this charred organic matter that looks like ground-up charcoal. It has been primarily used to help take away contaminants such as pesticides from the garden soil. If you are experiencing contaminated soil then biochar is the best option. Another factor of using biochar is it can be used as a sponge to basically hold nutrients in the soil. However, Greg believes that adding good quality compost is a more economical way of adding nutrients to the soil.

Products of the Week

• Seed Starting Supplies

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Wheel Hoe Comparisons

This week, Greg and Travis discuss a popular question they get from customers that are wanting to buy a wheel hoe but don’t know which one to choose. When comparing the Single and Double Wheel Hoe the main comparison is the toolbar is identical on both models. However, on the Double, the arms are flipped and it has a longer axle with an extra wheel. With these two models, you can convert from Double to Single and Single to Double because all the components are the same. While the High Arch is a completely different piece of equipment compared to the Single and Double. That being said you cannot convert the Single and Double to the High Arch and vice versa.

Single Wheel Hoe

The first model that we made available was the Single Wheel Hoe, which was based on the old Planet Jr. Wheel Hoes that have been around for over 100 years. If you’re a beginner gardener and have a small garden that’s around 30×40 or 30×50 in size, the Single is the perfect tool for you. It also comes with a set of three cultivator teeth that can be moved around the toolbar and up to five teeth can be used at once. With cool weather crops like lettuce, the Single Wheel Hoe allows for a narrower footprint when planting in the garden.

Double Wheel Hoe

There are a couple of advantages when it comes to choosing the Double Wheel Hoe over the Single Wheel Hoe. The first advantage is you are able to straddle smaller plants between the two wheels. This works great for planting potatoes because you are able to straddle the seed potatoes and cover them up using the plow set in the hilling position. Another big advantage of the Double is every attachment that we carry at Hoss Tools works on this Wheel Hoe.

High Arch Wheel Hoe

Similar in concept to the Double, the High Arch Wheel Hoe allows you to straddle plants as well, but much taller plants like corn and potatoes. It also contains adjustable wheel spacing meaning the wheels can move in or out depending on your desired spacing in the garden. So basically you have three different settings on the wheel spacing which includes the innermost being 4 inches apart, the middle being 6 inches apart, and the farthest being 8 inches apart. Another difference is the High Arch has two toolbars instead of just one, which provides many more possibilities for planting within the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis introduce the brand new studio for the Row by Row Garden Show. The guy’s show off the new bottom trays that fit our 162 cell seed starting trays for growing better transplants indoors. Travis has some Lacinato Kale that he harvested from the vegetable garden. They also discuss different varieties of figs and flavor profiles of each type.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about extending carrot life after harvest, tips for growing giant pumpkins, and direct sowing in the winter after harvest. Travis mentions when harvesting carrots, he normally either pulls them with the tops on them or pulls them and twist off the tops. Then, he rinses them off, lets them naturally dry off, and places them in a grocery bag to put in the refrigerator. Greg has some experience trying to grow giant pumpkins in the past. Greg created a little teepee to keep the sun off of them but the pumpkins ended up not doing well and exploding on him. However, Greg has some advice that he learned from his failure at growing giant pumpkins which includes applying drip irrigation, spoon feed them fertilizer, shade them out, and watch your downy and powdery mildew. Travis mentions that when direct sowing in the winter the best vegetables to grow include turnips, radishes, mustard, and spinach.

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Cog Hill Farm

Traveling around Salem and Valley Grand, Alabama, Travis recently stopped by to see his good buddy Jason at Cog Hill Farm. Travis and Jason talk a little bit about his philosophy on homesteading and gardening. Jason began his homesteading on his current property around 14 to 15 years ago and the gardening just evolved from there. He now has livestock such as chickens, goats, geese, and even a peacock. However, his favorite homesteading activity is gardening because that’s how it all began for him personally. When talking about the garden, one of Jason’s favorite crops to grow at Cog Hill Farm it would probably be everybody’s favorite crop which is tomatoes. Jason gave some advice for people potentially wanting to start a homesteading lifestyle that includes gardening and livestock. His biggest piece of advice is not to be scared and don’t be scared of making mistakes. A lot of times when people are getting started in gardening, sometimes they are influenced by experienced gardeners to do everything a certain way. However, at the end of the day, everyone’s gardening style is a little different and you should do the best you can with the resources you have available for your own vegetable garden. Jason’s two favorite products that have really helped him out this past year within the garden was the Wheel Hoe with the plow set and winged sweeps attachment. He has seen a significant decrease in his weed pressures since using both of these attachments in the garden. When discussing a little bit about Jason’s future plans for Cog Hill Farm, he hopes to expand his garden area and even dive into a little bit of market gardening within his community.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some Blue Knight Kale which is an improved variety of the curly leaf kale type. This is a productive variety that works great for making a kale salad in the kitchen. The guys discuss the cold weather and some vegetables that may not make it because of the weather conditions this year. If you have drip irrigation, make sure to keep the soil nice and moist to insulate the garden soil during cold spells. They also have around 15 different varieties of figs rooting in the greenhouse and we will be coming soon to the site. The guys also mention that the new studio is coming along and hopefully will be ready to show off in next week’s video.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about the flavor profile of onions, growing onions from seeds, and Greg’s cornbread recipe. Greg currently has multiplying onions, bunching onions, and regular onions all growing in the garden and will be doing a taste test later on to determine the differences of each. Travis mentions when growing onions and leeks, you can either transplant seeds or buy plants. However, you can do either it’s just all based around timing. For example, growing leeks in the ground takes a longer time than it does in the seed starting trays. When it comes to shallots you can plant them from seed, sets, or from plants. Greg mentions that the ideal way to grow onions, shallots, and leeks is in the seed starting trays or raised bed garden. When discussing he mentions that he always uses his cast-iron cornbread griddle to cook cornbread. However, he is still in the process of trying to perfect his cornbread recipe, but as soon as it does he will share it with everyone.

Products of the Week

• Heavy-Duty Bottom Trays

What’s Growing in the Fall Vegetable Garden?

There is currently a lot happening not only in the garden but in the greenhouse as well. Travis has some Rutabaga greens that he harvested from the garden. Which rutabaga greens taste can vary depending on the person eating them, but they typically have a taste profile similar to turnips or mustard. While Greg is in the process of perfecting his own recipe of cornbread from scratch in the kitchen. Travis has onion transplants growing such as Texas Legend and Sweet Harvest varieties in the greenhouse. When putting the onion transplants in the ground it’s best to go ahead and hit them with some 20-20-20 fertilizer for improved growth. Rutagbages, collards, and cabbage are all doing well in the fall vegetable garden. While in one area of Travis’s dream garden his Early Wonder beets are not doing so well and it may be caused by to much chicken manure when amended in the ground. Another issue in the fall vegetable garden was Travis’s carrot germination. When planted the weather conditions were just right, but then the temperatures dropped down to the ’40s which slowed carrot germination down quite a bit. However, they are doing better now and starting to make growing progress in the vegetable garden. Lastly, the guys discuss the really nice pin potatoes they had growing in the fall vegetable garden. A pin potato basically means when the vine crawls up by itself and pins down to make a potato.

Planting Cover Crops

The guys discuss a little bit about all the warm cover cropping they did this past growing season. He recommends planting Sorghum Sudangrass and Sunn Hemp if you are really trying to build the organic matter in the soil. Once it reaches around two feet tall, then go in and mow it down to incorporate back into the soil. For the cool season, Travis just planted a cover crop cocktail of Tillage Radish, Austrian Winter Pea, and Hairy Vetch.

New Varieties

As we are getting prepared for 2020, Travis is busy adding tons of new varieties for next year’s growing seasons. He currently has some powdery mildew resistant cantaloupes, well-known peppers, lots of new pumpkins, winter squash, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelons, beans, corn, gourds, and many new flower varieties coming to the Hoss Tools site soon.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about starting fertilizer in seed trays, what vegetables can be grown all winter long, have they ever bought garlic to break up and plant in the garden. The next question they answer is whether it is good to crop the leaves on the premier green mix in order for it to grow back. The last question they discuss is what they recommend when controlling Colorado potato bugs in North Texas. Greg mentions that you want to wait till your onion transplants get to be around an inch to an inch and half tall before you start to apply fertilizer to the seed starting trays. Travis states the vegetables that he recommends growing during the winter which includes broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, carrots, onions, leeks, garlic, mustard, rutabagas, turnips, radishes, and shallots. Greg says that he has never bought garlic and broke it up to plant from a big box store, but he has with potatoes before. Travis mentions that when cropping the leaves he suggests grabbing a handful and cutting level with it once the premium greens mix reaches around six inches tall. Greg recommends using either Neem Oil or Spinosad when trying to control Colorado potato bugs.

Products of the Week

• Loppers

Cool-Season Gardening

When it comes to gardening during the cooler months you have to consider planting vegetables that will thrive in cool weather conditions. Some of the best vegetables to grow during the cool season months are cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, onions, shallots, leeks, and lettuce varieties. To grow these different types of vegetables you should transplant or direct seed. When transplanting in the greenhouse our seed starting trays are the best option due to the internal vertical root training ribs that provide better aeration and root ball drainage. If you prefer to direct seed you can use our walk-behind garden seeder to accurately plant seeds without overplanting. It also comes with six seed plates that can be customized to fit various different seed sizes depending on the vegetable being planted in the garden.

Top 10 Vegetables

There are several types of vegetables that should be grown in the garden that many people don’t during this time of year. The first top 10 vegetable that you should be growing is Kohlrabi. A pretty cold-tolerant vegetable, Kohlrabi is a fast-growing crop that typically is ready to harvest within 40 to 45 days. We offer two varieties of Kohlrabi such as the White Vienna and Purple Vienna. The next variety to grow is the Premium Greens Mix which includes Mizuna, Tatsoi, Arugula, and Red Russian Kale. Another top 10 vegetable to grow is the Swiss chard which does best when grown in the Fall and Winter. The Bright Lights variety of swiss chard are resistant to early bolting and contains a wide color variation. The next varieties to grow are the Matejko and Tadorna Leeks which work great for succession planting until around May. Lastly, the guys talk about Chinese cabbage which is a broader category that several things fall under. This variety is a Spring Crisp Chinese Cabbage that makes elongated heads that are extremely good for sauteing. Then, we also have a Joi Choi Chinese Cabbage that has a lighter color stem. While the Feng Qing Pak Choi has a darker colored stem. However, they both have a similar taste profile as Chinese cabbage varieties.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some Peaches and Cream sweet corn he has been growing in the vegetable garden. While Greg has some Tiger collards and explains ways to grow them and harvest them from the vegetable garden. The guys also have a seed starting tray of Cherokee Lettuce transplants growing in the greenhouse. Travis also discusses a little bit about how he used the Dibble Wheel attachment to plant shallots earlier in the week.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about if the silage tarp will kill off cogon grass and have we filmed vlogs of hand tool maintenance. Travis mentions that although he hasn’t had any experience with killing off cogon grass, he does have experience with bermudagrass. When dealing with bermudagrass the best method the guys have found to use is in use tarp and till technique. This technique is basically putting the tarp on the area for two to three weeks, next remove the tarp to till the area, and then place the tarp back down to repeat till all the bermudagrass is eliminated. The two tools that Greg mentions to be a necessity for good tool maintenance is the farmers file and linseed oil. The importance of keeping your tools maintained and sharpened will help provide well-kept tools for all your needs in the garden.

Products of the Week

• Dibble Wheel Attachment
• Double Wheel Hoe

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Best Raised Bed Garden Tools

When planting in a raised garden bed you can tools that allow you to get a little closer to the plants. The first tool the guys discuss is the short single tine cultivator. This garden tool allows you to rake across the weeds and get in between the drip tape in the vegetable garden. Travis mentions that the single tine cultivator works great for making mini furrows to prepare for planting in raised beds. The next best-raised bed garden tool is the garden trowel. It contains a high carbon steel blade with a hand-welded shank and hickory handle. The Crows Foot Cultivator is the perfect tool for amending and preparing the garden soil for planting. The steel tines allow you to break up the hardest soils to prepare them for future planting in the raised bed. While the Small Batwing Hoe is best for pulling up soil on to plants or covering planted seeds. The next tool is the Cape Cod Weeder which is designed to skim across the soil and you can basically control the depth at which it digs into the soil. It is also handy for weeding up close to plants that way you don’t have to worry about damaging the plants. Another quality short handle gardening tool is the Scuffle Weeder which works great for shallow weeding to remove the small surface weeds that come up in the garden. Then, we have the Digging Tool which is great for breaking up soil in the raised bed or even pots and containers in the greenhouse this is a handy tool to use for gardening. The Small Section Hoe is another handy tool with a triangular-shaped blade that allows you to make little furrows for planting in raised beds. Then, an all-around general tool that is great to have for lightweight and heavyduty planting is the Hoe Dag. It is another high carbon steel tool that contains a sharp edge on both sides. Another great quality about all of these tools is they are made in the USA and have a guaranteed warranty.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis and Greg got an unexpected jumpstart in the garden. Travis went ahead and planted some onions in October that needed to be put in the ground. While Greg went ahead and planted some nesting onions, elephant garlic, and shallots in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about storging turnip greens and the difference between insecticidal soap vs. horticultural oil. Travis goes into Mrs. Hoss’s raised bed garden to demonstrate how to pick and store some Tiger collards. He begins by picking a hand full of collard leaves off the bottom of the plant. Then, trims the stems and places them in a bag kind of similar to the produce bags at your supermarkets. Next, tie a knot at the top of the bag, poke some holes for airflow, and they will store away in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks. Greg mentions that the difference between insecticidal soap and horticultural oil is that the oils are heavier and work better on a wider array of insects in the garden. However, the oils do have issues when used in the hot weather conditions whereas the soaps do way better in these certain conditions. So the key take away is to use horticultural oil during the cooler weather months and insecticidal soap during the hot weather months in the garden.

Products of the Week

• All Top Turnips

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Fall Pests to Deal With

In the South, some of the fall pests that we deal with are whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbageworm, flea beetles, and aphids. Whiteflies are known to live underneath the leaves of plants causing problems in the garden. In order to control many of these fall pests, you should spray early in the morning at daylight or late in the afternoon before sunset to effectively manage the pest problems.

Fall Garden Spraying Program

In order to control fall pests in the garden, we recommend using organic solutions to eliminate pest problems. The first solution we recommend is to use B.t. and Spinosad when dealing with worm problems. The spraying program for B.t. is you mix one ounce per gallon and start spraying early at least once a week in the vegetable garden. If you have a huge outbreak of worms, then you need to use a more powerful solution like Spinosad. When dealing with aphid problems the best solution is Horticultural Oil. The Hort oil also works great on ornamentals surrounding the yard. Similar to the Horticultural Oil, our Neem Oil is another solution that should not be sprayed during the summertime or when it’s very hot during the day. The Neem Oil works great for controlling non-worms such as aphids and flea beetles. The Complete Disease Control is another OMRI registered fungicide that works great with any general diseases that you may experience trouble within the vegetable garden. When you start experiencing serious problems with diseases the Liquid Cop is your go-to fungicide to use in the garden. Travis suggests having a spray day in order to ensure you are applying the pest controls at least once a week in the vegetable. This can vary depending on the amount of pressure you are needing to maintain, but Travis explains his rotation program for fall pests control. So one week, he will mix the B.t., Horticultural Oil, and the Complete Disease Control together and apply the mix to the garden. Then, the following week, he will mix together the B.t., Neem Oil, and Liquid Cop. This rotation program allows the fungicides and insecticides to not become susceptible inside the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and collards starting to grow in the garden. As well as, he just put kohlrabi, beet, and Brussel sprout transplants in the ground this past weekend. Greg and Travis also discuss the difference between packs and quarter pounds of the All Top Turnips, Purple Top Turnips, Florida Broadleaf Mustard, and Southern Giant Curled Mustard seed varieties.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about Vidalia onions, give an update on sweet potatoes, planting onion transplants in November, and are red onions short, long, or intermediate day. Greg mentions that in a specific area around Lyons and Vidalia, Georgia they produce Vidalia onions. However, the Sweet Harvest and Savannah Sweet onions that we carry are Vidalia type onions meaning they are grown similar to the Vidalia onions grown in those areas. Travis says his sweet potatoes are doing good in the dedicated plot, but the ground has been too hard to dig them up. When planting onion transplants, Greg explains you should start the seeds in the greenhouse six weeks prior to planting in the garden. For example, if wanting to plant in the garden around the first of November then the transplants should be started towards early to mid-October. The guys mention that there are red onion varieties for short day, long day, and intermediate day lengths.

Products of the Week

• Mustard Seeds
• Turnip Seeds

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Onion Varieties & Types

The three types of onions are intermediate day, short day, and long day. They are separated based on the regions of the country they can be planted and it has to do with the amount of day length at which they start the bulbing process. The two phases of onions are the vegetative stage and the bulbing stage. During the vegetative stage, your goal is to maximize the leaves you are getting on the onion plant. Each of the leaves on the plant represents a ring on the onion. For root development, we supply the onions with a 20-20-20 fertilizer to ensure the plants get the phosphorus and potassium they need. Once the roots are established we will give the onion plants ammonium sulfate to ensure they get plenty of nitrogen. Then, during the bulbing stage, each of the rings is filling up with water and producing a nice big onion. When they reach the bulbing stage we do not need to apply any more fertilizer to the plants, just plenty of water using drip tape.

Short Day Onions

When preparing to grow short-day onions, the best time to plant is in November if you are in zone 7 and 8. We recommend planting in November because the onion plants will have a nice stand of vegetation before the cold weather comes and then be able to survive it. While in the long run, you will produce healthier and bigger onions in the vegetable garden. The short-day onions will start the bulbing process once day length reaches between 10 to 12 hour days. If onions are planted in November, then the bulbing process will typically start in February and last a month or two which means harvesting will happen in mid to late April or early May depending on the weather conditions. The three varieties for short day onions that we have available are Savannah Sweet, Sweet Harvest, and Texas Legend.

Intermediate Day Onions

With the intermediate day onions, the best time to plant is around late January or early February and the bulbing stage will happen around mid-April or early May when day length reaches 12 to 14 hours. The only intermediate day onion variety we offer is known as Candy which is a very popular variety to grow in the vegetable garden.

Long Day Onions

If you live in the northern region the long-day onions are the type of onions that you would need to grow in the vegetable garden. These onions start the bulbing stage once the day length reaches 14 to 16 hours. Therefore, planting short day onions happen around early April so the bulbing stage is around either May or June. The only long day onion variety we have available is Walla Walla which is a widely grown onion that produces really well in northern climates.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis are waiting on the fall crops to germinate and weather temperatures to be just right in the vegetable garden. However, Travis has a good crop of Stonewall cucumbers coming out of the garden as of right now. Greg has got a few crops planted such as cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, and Tiger collards. The guys also discuss a couple of new varieties of vegetables. Three new varieties of radish such as Purple Plum, Helios Golden, and Cherry Belle. Then, the new okra varieties available are Cowhorn, Star of David, and Silver Queen. As well as, carrot varieties that include the Chantenay Royal and Black Nebula.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about how many carrot seeds to plant on a 40-foot double row and growing carrots in a raised bed. Travis mentions that he probably uses 3 to 4 packets when planting a 40-foot double row of carrots. Greg says growing carrots in a raised bed is a great idea, keep an eye out for a potential video soon.

Products of the Week

• Single Tine Cultivator

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Carrot Varieties & Types

There are four different types of carrots that all have unique characteristics known as Nantes, Danvers, Chantenay, and Imperator. The first type is known as Nantes, which has a cylindrical shape with the same width and is perfect for storing in jars after harvesting. The next type is Danvers which is known as being the Bugs Bunny carrot that has broad shoulders and fairly sharp taper towards the bottom. While the Chantenay is the short stubby carrot that works the best in hard or clay-like soils in the garden. Lastly, the Imperator is the really long slender shaped carrot that works perfectly in sandy soils. The Viper variety of carrots which is an Imperator type is known for producing the baby type carrots that you commonly see in grocery stores today. If you want more of a Danvers type carrot, Travis recommends growing the Danvers 126 variety. For the Nantes type, there are several varieties such as Bolero, Scarlet Nantes, and our new Gold Nugget carrot. The most carrot varieties that we offer are Imperator types that include Deep Purple, Purple Haze, Yellowstone, Viper, and a new variety coming soon is Black Nebula. The Chantenany type carrot that we have coming very soon to the site is called Royal Chantenay which will work great for people with harder soils.

Planting Carrots

Similar to planting onions, when planting carrots they should be planted on double rows with drip irrigation in the middle along the row. This allows us to not only save and maximize space in the garden, but it also helps with weed suppression. Travis recommends placing the drip tape anywhere between 2 to 3 inches apart and using the drip tape layer attachment to create a little furrow on each side. Then, you can simply plant the carrot seeds in the furrow along the garden row. Greg mentions when planting carrot varieties, be sure to plant them thick. In order to grow carrots, you also need plenty of patience and a good stale weed seed bank to ensure they germinate. The fertilizer system the guy’s like to use on carrots is place a little chicken manure in the furrow before planting the drip tape. Then, use 20-20-20 and Micro-Boost every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the growing season in the vegetable garden. If you set up your garden using the double row planting method, you can use the single wheel hoe between the middles to control any weed problems in the garden. When removing the weeds that are closer to the plants and near the drip tape, the guys recommend using the Single Tine Cultivator.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis try out some elderberry jelly and cowboy candy that a loyal viewer sent them. Travis has planted his first set of cool weather crops in the garden and more to come towards the end of the week. At the end of the show, the guys give a little hint about the topic they will be discussing on next week’s show.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about dealing with pest problems and using gravity feed with drip tape. Greg mentions that when planting fall sweet corn, you are more than likely going to deal with pest problems in the garden area. The best products to use when dealing with worm problems is Spinosad and Monterey B.t. Travis talks about using gravity feed drip tape in the garden. Although it could be done, it’s not overall feasible and you will face many obstacles in return.

Products of the Week

• Hoss Garden Seeder

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Viewer Questions Answered

Since several of our viewers have questions about growing shallots, leeks, onions, and garlic the guys decided to answer all your questions on this week’s episode. The first question the guys answer is when to plant Vidalia onions in the garden. According to Greg, if you are direct seeding go ahead and plant them in the garden. If you are transplanting Vidalia onions, you can transplant anytime in November. The next question is should elephant garlic seed be cold chilled or stratified for 8 to 10 weeks before planting? In the South, our temperatures never get cold enough to vernalize it so the hard neck garlic or soft neck garlic will stratify. With elephant garlic, you do not have to place into cold temperatures before planting because it will stratify whether we get a cold winter or not. The third question mentioned is what size plots do the guys have in their gardens. In Greg’s garden, he has a couple of different plots that range from 20×15, 30×40, and 40×60. Travis mentions that the garden plots are typically average around 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. The next question is wondering the best time to plant English peas and sugar snaps in the garden. Travis says that as soon as the weather conditions stop being higher than 90 degrees, he will begin planting English peas for the Fall. Another question a viewer has is whether or not garlic has any pest problems when growing in the garden. Greg has only experienced aphid problems on garlic, but no tremendous problems where it affects the garlic. He mentions that he has never treated elephant garlic or onions with a pesticide in the past. The sixth question is how many plantable cloves of the elephant garlic per pound and can you plant on double rows. Travis counts the cloves and normally between 10 to 12 cloves come per pound and he does plan to plant them in double rows in the vegetable garden. In the past, Greg has planted shallots using the dibble wheel and he plans to do it again this year. Travis mentions you can plant shallots and onion transplants using the dibble wheel. The next question the guy’s answer is if mustard plants will kill off root-knot nematodes. According to Travis, mustard plants will kill root-knot nematodes due to the release of glucosinolates. However, the spicier the mustard the better off it will kill the nematodes, so he suggest using Florida Broadleaf. The ninth question talks about how to cut cover crops in so they won’t come back in the garden. Greg says the only cover crop that is invasive and you could have problems with reseeding is Buckwheat. Just make to cut the seed pods and incorporate it back into the garden before they bloom and mature. Another question related to removing cover crops from the garden is can animals eat them down. Travis mentions that you can certainly get animals such as goats, chickens, pigs, and cows in the area to help remove cover crops from the garden area. The last question the guys discuss is whether they are using any nitrogen-fixing inoculants with the cover crops. Greg mentions that if you have a situation where you have been planting legume varieties for a long period of time the beneficial bacteria is already present in the soil. If it is a new area that you are planting a legume, then he would add a nitrogen-fixing inoculate to the garden soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis try some garlic dill pickles and jambalaya pickled okra that a viewer sent them from George Farms in Texas. This week, Greg has planted Sweet Harvest onions in his onion bed.

Products of the Week

• Drip Tape Irrigation Kit

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Shallot Varieties

The three varieties of fall shallots that we currently offer are Ambition, Monique, and Roderique. The Ambition variety is a traditionally shaped round shallot that contains a red to copper skin color and white flesh interior. The Monique variety is a semi-long shape that has a great disease-resistant and longer storage window. The Roderique is another elongated variety that makes it easier for slicing into smaller pieces for cooking.

Fall Shallots

Shallots are best known as a cooking onion and can be used in several different recipes when cooking on the homestead. If you combine the flavor of garlic and onion, that is pretty much the flavor profile of a shallot. When it comes to planting fall shallots, there is a proper way of planting them in order for them to be successful in the vegetable garden. Travis mentions that you can take our Single Wheel Hoe with the plow set attachment and create a little trench for the bulbs to be planted in. When placing the shallots in the trench, the root end has to be planted downward with the stem end facing up in the vegetable garden. The guys mention that there rule when it comes to planting alliums is to plant two weeks before your first frost date. For example, our first frost date on average is towards the end of November, so back up two weeks and our ideal planting time would be mid-November. Since the onions, shallots, and elephant garlic are all heavy-feeders they need at least an inch of water each week. Drip tape irrigation is the best way to ensure that these crops are getting all the water they need directly to the plant roots. The fertilizer requirements for the fall shallots is to start off with a complete fertilizer to help with root development. Then, once the plants start growing will switch over to just applying nitrogen. Overall, when planting fall shallots making sure you plant them properly in the garden and apply an accurate amount of irrigation and fertilizer will ensure that you get a successful planting throughout the growing season.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis currently has a few onion transplants planted for the fall growing season. However, Greg is going to try transplanting the Savannah Sweet variety in a little onion bed in the vegetable garden area. Most of the transplants in the greenhouse have started developing their true leaves, so the guys plan on applying a little fertilizer like the 20-20-20 to the plants soon. Travis also explains that he is no longer going to do the two-minute tip videos, but will still upload longer videos on Tuesdays instead.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about how much fertilizer to put along a row and how to create a row garden in an unestablished area for the Spring. Travis explains that according to whatever recommended fertilizer you are using and the size of your garden area you simply do a little algebra to figure out the correct amount. Greg mentions when making a new garden area the first step is to get the soil worked in and kill off the vegetative that is currently growing there. Next, take a soil test in order to adjust the soil and get the garden soil in the right range usually between 6 to 7.0. Then, during the wintertime, grow a cover crop of rye until you are ready to work in it again and get it ready for planting.

Products of the Week

• Brass Siphon Mixer
• Hortonova Trellis Netting

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No-Till vs. Tilling the Vegetable Gardening

There are several different opinions when it comes to no-till or tilling the garden area. When discussing the difference between tilling and no-till, it all depends on your personal preference whether you want to do it in your garden or not. No-till gardening means no disturbance of the garden soil except for when you place the seeds in the garden. While tilling in the vegetable garden means you are preparing and cultivating the soil for planting with tools such as a tiller, the Double Wheel Hoe, or Hoss Stirrup Hoe.

Benefits vs. Downsides of No-Till Gardening

The first benefit of no-till is the overall moisture conservation. Since you are not cultivating the soil the soil layer is not broken which provides the garden area with the ability to hold water better. Another major benefit of no-till gardening is erosion control. During heavy rainfalls, the no-till allows for a decrease in losing soil layers. The third benefit is the preservation of soil biology in the vegetable garden. However, this can be more important in certain climates that have areas with richer organic matter in the soils. The last benefit of no-till gardening is no burying of weed seeds in the vegetable garden. When tilling in the garden weed seeds get cultivated into the soil, but with no-tilling, the weed seeds stay on top of the garden soil. Although, along with benefits comes a few downsides to no-tilling in the garden area. The first downside when it comes to a no-till garden is the increase in weed populations. Weed pressures like nutgrass can cause serious problems because they have to be frequently cultivated in order to eliminate them completely from growing in the garden area. Another probably with weeds in a no-till garden is the limited ways to handle and control them. The second downside is during rainfall it does not stick to the soil meaning the water does not absorb into the soil without cultivation. The next major downside is the decrease in good seed germination in the garden soil. In the garden, when the area has been tilled the soil can then provide better seed to soil contact which is needed for good germination. Along, with poor seed germination, no-till takes much more time and energy. This can be an issue caused by mulching because you have to remove it to replant and it can tie up nutrients in the soil. The last downside of no-tilling in the garden area is the reduction of soil compaction. For some crops in the garden like carrots, it can be harder for roots to penetrate in the soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the greenhouse is full of transplants for the fall garden. The guys taste test some cob jelly from a viewer. They also discuss a little bit about the varieties of onions that are coming very soon.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about the spacing and fertilizer needs for tiger collards and all top turnips. As well as, whether or not they experience nitrate buildup in their garden soils. Travis mentions that the fertilizer requirements for both collards and turnips are similar which is one pound per a hundred feet pre-plant. With collard transplants, Travis spaces them one-foot apart and on double rows with drip irrigation in the middle. Greg mentions that in order to avoid having nitrate buildup in the soil, you should apply no more than what you need and place it directly where the plant needs it.

Products of the Week

• Drip Tape Irrigation
• Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer

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Fertilizing Brassica Varieties

When discussing brassica varieties like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussel sprouts are all heavy feeder crops. In other words, this means they need more nutrients through fertilizer applications than other crops in the vegetable garden.

Cabbage

When planting cabbage we recommend injecting around 1.2 pounds of the 20-20-20 per 100 feet to help encourage root development. Then, we will apply 1 pound per 100 feet of Chilean Nitrate at two and fives weeks after transplanting to encourage a straight nitrogen source to the cabbage plants. Cabbage also likes a boron supplement as a micronutrient in the garden. To fulfill the needs of the cabbage we use Micro-Boost to ensure all the nutrients are available for the plants. The cabbage varieties Travis plans to grow this fall is Charleston Wakefield, Cheers, and Rio Grande Red.

Broccoli

To fertilize broccoli it is best to inject one pound per 100 feet of the 20-20-20 garden fertilizer. Then, the Chilean Nitrate with 1 pound per 100 feet at three and five weeks. Another recommendation that Travis mentions is to hit the broccoli with some calcium nitrate once the heads reach about a quarter size and it will do wonders for your plants. Just like cabbage, broccoli needs boron as a micronutrient, so applying micro-boost every one to two weeks will help in the vegetable garden. The two varieties of broccoli Travis plans to grow this season is Arcadia and Green Magic.

Cauliflower

To grow cauliflower the garden needs to contain healthy soil that is full of organic matter. The ideal soil range for these brassica varieties is a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Almost identical to growing broccoli, cauliflower needs one pound per 100 feet of the 20-20-20 and one application of Chilean nitrate at four weeks. The three main micronutrients that cauliflower needs are boron, magnesium, and molybdenum. Our micro-boost will take care of all three micronutrients, so apply it weekly to the cauliflower plants to encourage strong growth development. Travis is planting the Flame Star, Snow Bowl, and Graffiti Cauliflower varieties in the vegetable garden.

Brussel Sprouts

In order to grow, Brussel sprouts in the garden we need to have cooler weather conditions. Out of all the brassica varieties, Brussel sprouts can be the toughest to grow in the vegetable garden. Since Brussel sprouts take around 100 days to grow, you may experience insect problems such as flea beetles or worms. The ideal time to plant Brussel sprouts is in the fall, but you can plant them in late winter too. The fertilizer requirements for Brussel sprouts is 2.5 pounds of 20-20-20 per 100 feet and 1.5 pounds of calcium nitrate every 4 weeks. The two varieties of Brussel sprouts we have started growing is Jade Cross and Red Bull in the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys are filling up the greenhouse with transplants for the Fall growing season. Travis has varieties of broccoli, cauliflower, beets, mustard, cabbage, turnips, collards, and a little bit of it all planted currently. While Greg has decided to direct seed his mustard and turnips in the vegetable garden. The guys discuss the most popular item for transplanting seeds which is our seed starting trays. Travis is happy to mention that his sweet corn is growing fast in the garden. Greg still has time for cover crops in the garden before fall. He currently has Buckwheat, Sorghum Sudangrass, and Mustard planted and will have plenty of time to turn them back into the soil.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions if the silage tarp becomes a mosquito breeding ground during rainy periods and whether our seeds are only sold for the southern states or can they be grown in the northern states too. Travis mentions that the tarp does hold a little bit of water after a heavy rain, but it usually evaporates quickly and he has not noticed any mosquitos on top of his tarp. Greg mentions that all the seeds that we carry can be grown anywhere, you just have to change your planting date.

Products of the Week

• Florida Broadleaf Mustard

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Why Plant Pelleted Seed Varieties in the Garden

Due to the various amount of seed varieties, certain crops have seeds that are irregularly shaped. The irregularly raw shaped seeds can in return cause problems when trying to plant them using mechanical equipment like a direct seeder or vacuum seeders. The vacuum seeders are typically used by larger greenhouse companies in order to seed their transplant trays a lot faster. In order to use the mechanical equipment to plant the various seed varieties, we need round shaped seeds instead of the irregular shaped seeds. For example, carrots have really small oval-shaped seeds that contain a naturally papery texture which makes the seeds hard to plant in the garden. However, when you have pelleted seed varieties they contain a round-shaped seed that works great in mechanical equipment like the seeders. Having round-shaped seeds allows for easier planting for transplants and direct seeding with our garden seeder. Along with easier planting, you are able to plant faster and save seeds when using pelleted seeds in the vegetable garden. The process of pelleting seeds is they coat the seeds with an inert ingredient which is a clay particle. Then, they put the seeds and the particular type of clay into a tumbler and roll it around until all the seeds reach a certain size. When pelleting seeds you are increasing the weight, size, and shape of the seed depending on the desired characteristics that is needed.

Pelleted Seed Varieties

The guys go over the pelleted seed varieties that we offer at Hoss Tools. Starting with pelleted lettuce varieties which includes Calshot, Cherokee, Coastal Star, Skyphos, Starfighter, and Tehama. We also carry pelleted carrot seeds which include varieties like the Viper, Yellowstone, Scarlet Nantes, Deep Purple, Gold Nugget and Danvers 126. As well as two pelleted beet varieties such as Early Wonder and Kestral Beets. While a few more beet varieties are going to be released soon in pelleted form. Some other seed varieties that are available are the Candy Onion and Tadorna Leeks.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has some Cherokee Tan pumpkins that he has harvested from the vegetable garden. The Cherokee Tan variety was a winner in maximum yield and flavor profile during the growing season this year. Greg also needs a little help from our viewers in finding out information on the old-timey multiplying nesting onion variety. Travis’s mentions that he currently has cucumbers, pole beans, and lots of okra growing in the vegetable garden. He also has planted peaches and cream sweet corn for the fall growing season in the vegetable garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about planting carrots on drip tape and cut flower cover crops. Travis recommends growing carrots on a double row of buried drip tape. He simply scatters the carrot seeds thick along the furrow in the vegetable garden. The trick with growing carrots in the vegetable garden is keeping the carrot seed bed wet until germination happens. The best tool to use when applying drip tape in the vegetable garden is our Drip Tape Layer Attachment on our Double Wheel Hoe. Greg mentions that the only cut flower variety that works as a cover crop is Sunflowers. They work the best as a cover crop because they grow quickly and shade out weeds when planted thick in the vegetable garden. Sunflowers have a dense root system which allows them to help with soil erosion in the vegetable garden area as well.

Products of the Week

• Hoss Garden Seeder

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New Fall Garden Seed Varieties

Not only are these seed varieties great to grow in the Fall garden, but a lot of these new seed varieties are exclusive and can only be found here at Hoss Tools.

Cabbage

The first new seed variety that offers an excellent disease-resistant is Cheers cabbage. Cheers can produce large heads that can usually grow to an average size of 5 lbs. The next variety is the Rio Grande Red which has been studied by Louisiana State University as being the largest red cabbage producer. Then, the Charleston Wakefield is the best-storing cabbage that produces conical heads in the vegetable garden. While the Savoy King provides crinkled-leaves and a crisp texture that makes this variety excellent for eating raw.

Carrots

When it comes time to planting carrots we recommend direct seeding in October. Unlike the Purple Haze, the new Deep Purple variety has a purple color that is throughout the entire core of the carrot. The next new seed variety we offer is known as Viper. This exclusive variety produces long slender carrots that average around 12 to 14 inches long. Another seed variety that is not necessarily new but we now offer in a new pelleted form for planting in our garden seeder is the Yellowstone carrot variety. Then, we offer the Gold Nugget variety which is a Nantes type carrot meaning that it is blunter on the end as opposed to sharp like the imperator type carrots. Lastly, the Scarlet Nantes is another Nantes type variety that produces carrots that have little tapering from top to bottom and blunt ends.

Greens

The only new seed varieties of greens we offer is the Southern Giant Curled Mustard. Known as an All-American Selection winner, this variety produces large curled leaves that contain the traditional “mustard green” flavor profile. It is an heirloom variety that has been a staple crop in the South for many years.

Leeks

Here in the South, leeks can be grown during the Fall, so we now offer two varieties of leeks to grow in the vegetable garden. The Matejko is a hybrid variety that is heat tolerant and rust tolerant, which is a disease that can sometimes be an issue with leeks. While the Tadorna leek is a cool weather variety of leek and can be transplanted in our seed starting trays in the early Fall as well.

Lettuce

A popular crop to grow in the garden is lettuce varieties. The first new lettuce variety the guys discuss is the pelleted Cherokee variety. The Cherokee variety is known to be the most heat tolerant red lettuce on the market. The next variety is Tehama which is another pelleted variety that is heat tolerant and slow for bolting. Then, we have the Coastal Star romaine variety that produces dark green leaves and full-size heads of crisp lettuce. The last lettuce variety is the Baby Leaf Lettuce Mix. This variety should be planted densely in a garden area and can be harvested several times throughout the growing season.

Onions

The most popular onion variety to grow in the vegetable garden is the Candy onion. The Candy Onion is an intermediate-day variety that grows well in many regions except for the far north and deep south areas of the country. The next onion variety that we recommend growing in the Fall garden is the Savannah Sweet Onions. The Savannah Sweet is a short-day onion that produces a flattened, granex shape much like the popular Vidalia type onions. Another short-day onion that is similar to the Vidalia onions is the Sweet Harvest variety. However, it produces jumbo to large bulbs, unlike the Savannah Sweet. Lastly, the Natsuguro Bunching variety is a spring onion that is excellent for harvesting several at a time in the vegetable garden.

Radishes, Rutabaga, & Turnip Seed Varieties

The Easter Egg Radishes are a colorful mix of red, white, and purple radishes to grow in the Fall garden. Another new exciting seed variety that we offer is the Laurentian Rutabaga. This variety has a nice sweet flavor profile that works great in soups and stews. Then, the All Top Turnip is another heavy producer of greens and will continue to have maximum production all throughout the growing season in the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has just finished planting his flowers for this growing season. He is also getting his fall garden ready for the upcoming growing season. In the next couple of weeks, Greg plans to go full force with growing transplants in the greenhouse and getting everything ready before the first of October.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions GMO cabbage seeds and when to plant onion seeds for November planting. Travis mentions that there is no such thing as GMO cabbage. The only GMO vegetable crops that gardeners have to worry existing is corn, sugar beet, squash, potato, and eggplant. Greg explains that when planting onion seeds for November planting he recommends planting six weeks prior. For example, if you want to plant during the first of November, you should go back six weeks which would be the 15th of September.

Products of the Week

• Crocodile Spinach
• Swan Spinach

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Fall Planting Schedule

It is no secret that the most popular growing season for gardeners is the Fall. When deciding on a fall planting schedule there are several crops that can be planted due to the weather conditions being not too cold or hot. This is the perfect time to get maximum production of crops to last you on into the colder months.

Best Fall Crops to Plant

When direct seeding in August we recommend planting with our garden seeder to plant sweet corn, pole beans, and cucumbers. However, when it comes to transplanting we like to use our seed starting trays to plant crops such as green magic broccoli, tiger collards, kale, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kohlrabi. In September, we recommend direct-seeding crops such as English peas, all top turnips, mustard, premium greens mix, and Easter Egg radishes. For transplanting in September we prefer to plant Calshot Romaine lettuce, beets, and Calendula Prince Mix. In October, the guys plan to have a Fall planting schedule of direct-seeded crops like carrots and cool-season cover crops. Then, lastly in November is the best time to plant onions, shallots, and leeks.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some muscadines which are a staple in the South. While Greg shows off some Blue Bayou Pumpkins that he has harvested from the vegetable garden. The guys taste test the pumpkins in the form of sliced wedges, pumpkin soup, and pumpkin muffins. Travis also discusses the till and tarp technique he has been using at his consultant farm. This method is being used in a newer garden plot area that is covered in Bermuda grass. He has covered the area with a silage tarp and has left it to sit there for 2 to 3 weeks. After a couple of weeks, he has folded the tarp back and tilled it at one end, then covered the area again. This repetitive method is creating a weed-free environment because you are tilling the weed seeds to the top of the soil then killing them off with the silage tarp that is covering the garden area.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about curing pumpkins, the start-up area for a market garden, controlling the pest in the garden, and how their shallots did this season. Greg has just finished harvesting his Blue Bayou and Cherokee Tan pumpkin varieties from the vegetable garden. He likes to cure them by placing them underneath the barn and in the shade. As long as they stay in the shade and dry they can cure for around three to four weeks. Travis currently has around 10 to 12 thousand square feet of area that he works in for his market gardening. If you are doing the market gardening part-time, 10 to 12 thousand square feet is the perfect size for a startup gardening area to work in. When it comes to pest control in the garden, our most popular products are Neem Oil, Monterey B.t., and Spinosad to name a few. In the Spring, the guys had an okay growing season of shallots. The guys are planning to plant them again according to their Fall planting schedule because they are similar to onions so they hope to get a better crop this coming growing season. The last question they discuss is when will the new fall seed varieties be available on our website. The guys mention that we are currently working hard to get them packed and available on the website every day. If you want to get updated when new seeds are available, you can be added to our email newsletter and be the first to know all about what’s new at Hoss Tools.

Products of the Week

• Cheers Cabbage
• Savoy King
• Rio Grande Red
• Charleston Wakefield

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Market Farming Strategies

There are a few different methods when it comes to small scale market farming. The two most popular models are the community-supported agriculture strategy and the farmers market strategy. However, many factors play into which model would work best for you in your location and what you prefer for your vegetable garden.

Small Scale Market Farming Model

Travis uses a little different market farming strategy than the normal community-supported agriculture or farmers market strategies. He uses a weekly bag model strategy which requires no upfront money and he takes bag orders from week to week. Each bag is $20 and contains five items each week for the customer. However, for the most part, customers do not get to customize their orders due to the vegetable garden variance and it can be a time-consuming process. When it comes to the quantities of how much is in the bag based on each item Travis likes to put enough for a family of four to have a side dish for supper. Travis shows off an example of what typically comes in the weekly bag model. The bag contains a set of four slicing cucumbers, four Goldprize squash, three Nubia eggplants, two small wonder spaghetti squash, and one hai kabocha squash all from the vegetable garden. There are a couple of differences between buying a weekly bag instead of buying vegetables from the grocery store. Travis mentions that most the vegetable varieties that if he offers in his weekly bag model you cannot get in the grocery store. Another benefit of buying the weekly bag of vegetables is the taste. With green vegetables like collards and kale, the taste is a lot better than in the grocery store because they tend to be healthier and the home gardener watches what products he uses in the vegetable garden. Another advantage you can add to the weekly bag model is by branding the bag and making recipe cards to go along with the vegetables inside the bag. Due to some of the different varieties of vegetables, recipe cards will help people learn how to cook these unfamiliar varieties like the Kabocha squash. Travis main marketing strategy is done through Facebook and a little email to customers.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg talks about his Cherokee Tan Pumpkins that he tried out in the garden this year. Although they turned out smaller than he anticipated, the disease resistance was excellent during the growing season this year in the vegetable garden. He also has a Blue Bayou Pumpkin variety that has a great disease resistance as well. It is a hybrid variety that improves production and contains a high sugar content that makes it great for eating. Travis shows off a new fertilizer product that we now carry called Ammonium Sulfate. This fertilizer comes in handy when growing onions, garlic, elephant garlic, leeks, and shallots. The guys also share a little information on what is going to be available soon in the new seed lineup for this year.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about cut flowers and planting a fall garden. When it comes to selling cut flowers at a market, Greg mentions that his cut flower expert friend Lisa Ziegler recommends using a CBVN tablet in order to preserve cut flowers for selling at the market. Travis mentions the first thing to get started in the garden is transplanting Tiger Collards, Lacinato Kale, Cheers Cabbage, and Green Magic Broccolli. These four varieties grow maximum production and are easy to grow in the vegetable garden.

Products of the Week

• Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer

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Small Scale Market Farming

There are a couple of different models that small scale market farmers use when it comes to growing your own food. The first model of market farming is CSA which is Community Supported Agriculture. This system is the process of buying shares upfront at the beginning of the season that the farmer delivers throughout the growing season. So if there is crop failure and the farmer cannot deliver the crops then you do not get your money back. Another small scale market farming model is selling at the farmers market. Nowadays, farmers markets have become a sometimes weekend-long event in several different towns or cities. From the guys experience the best farmers markets they have been to has been in higher populated areas. The last model, the guys discuss is the wholesale model or larger scale selling of produce. This can be for people that like growing produce and then sell it to country stores, restaurants,  or other local markets. Out of all three small scale market farming models, it can vary which one would work best for you as an individual and your personal preference.

Popular Techniques & Common Problems

Depending on certain areas in the North compared to the South, not every gardening technique works best. For example, a popular technique in some gardening areas is the use of 30-inch raised beds. Due to the guys growing so many different varieties of vegetables throughout the growing season the raised beds do not work for them personally. Another popular technique is heavy composting in the North. However, living in the South, we believe in providing good compost to improve soil structures for healthier plants, but heavy composting will burn out and leave our soils looking like sand. A method that is popular in the North and South is intensive growing. The meaning behind intensive growing is growing as much in the garden as you can in a given space. Some common problems that people have when getting started on small scale market farming is no experience growing in a garden, focusing too much on schematic details, and finding individuals that will buy on a consistent regular basis.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys do not have too many vegetables growing in the garden due to the weather conditions. Greg is currently cleaning out his garden, but he still has some ProCut Sunflowers and Zinnias growing. In the greenhouse, he is starting to grow some Cockscomb. Travis has been growing cover crops in his garden. He recently planted Top Millet and Buckwheat that helps with improving the soil structure and weed suppression. The guys discuss some new seeds that will be coming very soon to the website.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about when they are going to start growing collards and kale plants and where they get all of there knowledge from. Travis says if planting kale and collards by transplant start those at the end of August to early September. Greg says if you direct seeding plant them around the beginning of October. A lot of the knowledge that the guys have accumulated over the years is through informal and formal studying. Greg has done a lot of studying on insects, diseases, and received some certifications in agronomy and horticulture. As well as, experienced a lot of hands-on learning through various jobs in the industry. While Travis has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Biology and studied at the Ph.D. level for four years. Overall, a lot of the knowledge comes from getting in the garden and trying new growing techniques all year round in the vegetable garden.

Products of the Week

• Winter Harvest Handbook
• The Market Gardener
• The New Organic Grower

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Question & Answers Segment

On this week’s episode, the guys answer viewer questions about a couple of different cover crops grown in the vegetable garden. The first question is trying to determine if growing Austrian Pea for the honeybee population in the garden is good or not. Greg mentions that the Austrian pea is a wintertime pea so it can extend the season but it would not be his first choice for pollinators. The second question is all about the guy’s thoughts about allelopathic plants. For example, allelopathic qualities of cover crops such as peas or vetch help with nutgrass problems. While Buckwheat is allelopathic to pigweed. Thirdly, the guys discuss the issues causing deformation in melons. Greg explains the two main causes of deformation in melons is due to infrequent watering and poor pollination. Next, they discuss various vegetables that work best when planted on drip tape irrigation. Travis mentions that he uses his drip tape on almost everything except Irish potatoes. Using drip tape will save you time, conserve water, and reduce weed pressures greatly. Recently the guys talked about figs that have a closed-end and keeps the bugs out. Due to some research that LSU has done in the past, this type of fig variety is called the LSU Purple variety. The guys then discuss whether the silage tarps control nutsedge or not. Travis explains the silage tarps will help the nutsedge a little bit but not like the other weeds. You basically just have to aggravate the soil with the Wheel Hoe or incorporate some cover crops like Austrian pea into the garden. Next, the guys talk about how heavy silage tarps are and ordering bigger tarps. Greg says the silage tarps weigh about 60 pounds and are heavy depending on your size. It can be carried by one person but it’s more ideal for two people. When discussing fig trees Greg recommends planting fruit trees in the fall because it gives them a chance to get started without stressing. He also says amending the soil before planting and keeping it watered will help the fig trees as well. Then, they discuss the most productive pepper variety in the garden. The Aruba Cubanelle peppers are a hybrid variety that is the front runner in maximum yield when it comes to all the other pepper varieties we carry. The next question deals with how to treat Japanese beetle damage on flowers and vegetables. Greg says rotating between Neem Oil and Pyrtherin early on and keeping the garden clean will help control those pest issues. The last question that the guy’s answer is for new garden spots whether or not you should add a tarp first then grow a cover crop or grow a cover crop then tarp. Travis explains if you have a way of cleaning or tilling the garden spot to prepare it to plant cover crops then tarp. However, if you don’t have a tiller or a way to clean the garden area tarp it during the summer and plant fall cover crops.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, with the summer weather getting hotter and hotter the guys discuss a couple of different hot pepper varieties such as the Serrano, Cayenne, and Brazilian Orchid. Greg is about done growing for this season. However, he still has a few sunflower and zinnia varieties planted that have been the prettiest crop thus far in the garden. The only vegetable producing he has going on in the garden is okra. The guys are both in the cleanup phase to prepare it for fall planting season. The guys also talk a little bit about the seed line up coming out soon.

Product of the Week

• Hoss Hats

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Occultation vs. Solarization

Occultation basically means blocking something from view. For example, when studying Astronomy, when we experience an eclipse and the moon is blocked from the sun that is occultation. There are two forms of silage tarps that are used for solarization and occultation in the garden. For solarization, the clear tarps heat up the soil and are used if you want to sterilize your soil due to either nematode, fungal, or bacterial pressures in the vegetable garden. For occultation, the black tarps are used for maintaining soil structure, organic matter, and promote bacterial activity in the garden soil.

Using Occultation in the Garden Soil

On this week’s episode, the guys explain how occultation is used in the garden. When we block the garden soil from the sunlight this known as occultation. To use this technique in the garden we take Silage Tarps to cover the soil area. The main purpose of occultation with the black tarp is you create this moist environment that starts weed germination but they end up dying off as soon as the germinate because there’s no life to feed off of. This method is perfect for creating a stale weed seedbed or weed seed bank. The occultation is used to prepare your soil without using any kind gas-powered equipment such as a tiller, tractor, or harrow. So if you want to start a new garden area, but have no form of gas-powered equipment, add this Silage Tarp to that area. It works great when laid down for three to four weeks in the summertime or maybe up to six weeks in the wintertime. Then, just pull it up and go to planting vegetables in the garden area. Travis recommends to mow it down as low as you could then apply the silage tarp. If you are like Greg and have a longer existing garden spot that has high weed pressure these Silage tarps work great to suppress this weed seed bank. Another great benefit of Silage Tarps is it maintains the integrity of the garden soil. With the tendency of overworking our soils, this tarp method allows us to not overwork which maintains the proper tilth that we need to have for a successful vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has a Tubtrug colander full of Jambalaya and some stragglers of Red Burgundy Okra. Both productive okra varieties, but Jambalaya is top-notch when it comes to maximum production in the vegetable garden. Travis brought some of Greg’s favorite Brown Turkey Figs. He also has a Stonewall cucumber that was harvested off his Hortonova Trellis Netting. Growing on a trellis allows for higher yields and more growing space because vegetables are growing vertically in the garden. The guys also show off the different color Hoss Hats that we carry in Charcoal, Red, and Camo.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about what they learned from this growing season that they wouldn’t like to do again and squash bug pressures during the Fall. Although they had a good garden season due to the dry weather they both found one thing that they learned to not do in the garden again. For Greg, he prefers not to grow southern peas in the garden again. He did well growing the peas, but he cannot control the Southern pea curculio. Travis agrees that he can’t grow them as well. During late Fall and September, the squash bug pressures are probably the highest during the Fall months. Travis says to avoid even trying to grow any kind cucurbit vegetables during those months. The guys recommend planting any kind of cucurbits early in the garden to avoid those harsh squash bug pressures.

Product of the Week

• Silage Tarp

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Hybrid vs. Heirloom

When deciding between different hybrid and heirloom varieties to plant you should really weight out the benefits and flavor profiles that both varieties have to offer. More importantly, differentiate and decide which type of variety you prefer to plant in your personal garden. One major advantage that heirlooms have is they are open-pollinated meaning that the pollen is carried naturally through wind or pollinators. While hybrid varieties are hybridized meaning they have to be pollinated by human intervention to carry out the characteristics in the plant.

Taste Testing Hybrid Tomato Varieties

On last week’s show, Greg had the opportunity to taste test some heirloom tomato varieties and rank them based on most productive flavors. The guys were both unsurprised that Sun Gold came out on top with the most flavor profile out of all the varieties tested. This week Travis is taste testing three different determinant hybrid tomato varieties. When discussing these varieties, Travis explains that Bella Rosa and Brickyard tend to be hardier than the Mountain Glory in his garden that is surrounded by commercial farming. According to Greg, the Mountain Glory does better in the northern cooler climates where the disease pressures are not as high like it is in the southern climates. The guys recommend testing out all these varieties to see which one works best for you because it is all based on climate temperatures and disease pressures in the area that you live in. The first tomato that Travis taste tested is the Brickyard which he says to be more acidic in flavor and compared it to a store-bought tomato. The Bella Rosa was next in the taste test which came out less acidic and more of a fruity flavor than the Brickyard. The last tomato, Travis tries is the Mountain Glory. He describes it has being less complex and plainer than the first two he tasted. Overall, the Bella Rosa came out on top with the taste testing with Brickyard and Mountain Glory close behind it.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss everything that is popping up and blooming in the garden. Greg has some succession planting sunflowers from his garden. With hardly any tend to them at all, his ProCut Orange sunflowers bloomed to the perfect size and left him very impressed. For easy and quick planting these ProCut sunflower varieties work like a dream in our garden seeder. Travis has some Ageratum Blue Horizon cut flowers to show off from his garden. This is his first time growing this variety and the native bees have been all over this type of cut flower variety. Travis has experienced the best pepper crop in several years. He has a Merlot Purple Bell Pepper that has great flavor and yields. However, the Bayonet is the leading bell pepper when it comes to maximum production.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about their planting schedule and can you still plant sunflowers in Ohio. To keep track of what Greg and Travis have going on in the garden it is best to watch all our YouTube videos when they come out. This will help you know what to plant and when to harvest crops in the garden if you live in the same growing zone (8a). However, they recommend getting a garden planner which is helpful for any growing zone that offers plant and row spacing as well. Greg says depending on what part of Ohio you live in if you get the ProCut Sunflowers in the garden before August 1st you should be in good shape.

Product of the Week

• Tomato Varieties

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Indeterminate/Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomatoes are always a favorite and popular crop to grow in the garden. Whether they are heirloom/hybrid or determinate/indeterminate they all offer many different growing characteristics and flavors. The guys like to transplant their tomatoes in seed starting trays. Indeterminate tomato varieties are known to continue growing and producing all throughout the growing season. The heirloom varieties are described as your older varieties that have the same characteristics that have been passed down from generation to generation. These indeterminate tomatoes can be both heirloom and hybrid.

Taste Testing Tomatoes

On this week’s show, Greg does a little taste testing and rates several different indeterminate tomatoes. To start off the taste testing the guys begin with the goldish/orange, Jubilee tomato which is an heirloom variety. The second variety he tries is the open-pollinated, Amish Paste variety. This is a great variety for canning and preserving after harvest. Another heirloom variety that Greg tried was the Mortgage Lifter tomato. The fourth taste test was an extremely flavorable hybrid variety, Sun Gold. The next variety is the Cherokee Purple that is an old heirloom that originated back to the Cherokee Native Americans in Tennessee. To finish up the taste testing, Travis has a little surprise for Greg. Overall, Greg ranked the Sun Gold as being the best tomato out of these different indeterminate varieties. The Sun Gold offers the best citrusy flavor out of any other tomato variety. According to Greg his least favorite one was the Mortgage Lifter variety. The guys both agree that this variety grows really nice size tomatoes, but they do not offer a lot of flavor.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some ProCut sunflowers that he harvested. These beautiful sunflower mixes were the Lemon, Orange, Red Lemon Bicolor, and Plum. Greg talks about planting some more sunflowers with the garden seeder. They guys also taste test a Beaver Dam Hot Pepper that is more sweet than hot. They agree that it has more of a sweet heat or citrusy heat, but not hot at all. Greg has some productive Blue Bayou and Cherokee Tan pumpkins growing in the garden. They guys talk about one thing in the garden that has left them pleasantly surprised thus far in the growing season. Travis recently added bees to his garden and he has been surprised at how much more squash and zucchini production he is getting since adding these pollinators. Greg is surprised at how well his Brickyard tomatoes are doing this growing season. The guys also mention a little bit about Silage Tarps which is a new product that will be on the website soon. Greg is currently doing a trial with one in his garden right now. Silage Tarps are a great companion to the cover crop system in your vegetable garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about the difference in bean varieties, pickled okra recipes, and what seasoning do they like to put on their potatoes. Travis says that whenever they discuss bean varieties they mainly talk about pole beans and bush beans. When talking about pole beans they should be grown on a trellis because they grow vertically and they work best in smaller garden areas. Greg likes to use the “Pickled Pantry” book to get some of his pickled okra recipes. The guys mention that the seasoning they love to use so much is called Cavender’s Greek Seasoning. They like to use it to season many different vegetables in the garden and you should definitely try it out if you can get your hands on some.

Product of the Week

• Hortonova Trellis Netting

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Okra Varieties

Classified in the Malvaceae family, okra prefers warm-weather which makes it perfect for the summer growing season. The guys have tested several okra varieties over the years including Star of David, Cowhorn, Red Burgundy, Clemson Spineless, and Jambalaya. In their trials the Red Burgundy and Jambalaya varieties were the most productive. They do plan on adding more okra varieties in the future. These could include Candle Fire, Louisiana Velvet, Emerald and the Dwarf Green Long Pod okra.

Growing Productive Okra

The recommended row spacing for okra is 26 to 38 inches. Okra may be transplanted or direct-seeded. Rows should be spaced 28″ to 36″ apart, although the guys prefer the wider 3′ spacing. Plant spacing along the row should be 8-12″. Transplanting will require fewer seeds than direct-seeding. When transplanting, you can expect to use about 2 lbs of seed per acre. When direct-seeding, plant seeds 3-4″ apart and thin to 8-12″. This will usually require about 12-15 pounds of seed per acre.

The preferred soil pH for okra is 5.8 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic. Okra prefers a balanced fertilizer at planting. Something like a 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 formulation would work well. The recommended amount is 600-800 pounds per acre, which equates to 13 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.

Aphids and ants can be a major pest issue on okra plants. If you are experiencing ants in your okra, you more than likely you have an aphid problem. Aphids produce honeydew which attracts ants to okra crops. Also, okra is susceptible to parasitic nematode damage. To reduce nematode issues, practice proper crop rotation and plant cover crops like Sunn Hemp, Sorghum Sudangrass, or Mustard.

Okra is commercially harvested based on three pod-length classifications: Fancy, Choice, and Jumbo. Fancy pods are around 3.5 inches long, Choice pods are 3.5 to 4.5 inches long, and Jumbo pods are over 4.5 inches long. Fancy and Choice okra pods must be harvested daily to prevent pods from getting too large. Okra plants may be pruned as they are harvested. This will make the area cleaner and easier to harvest in the future.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis discusses his tomato struggles this year. It was a rough start, but he now has them producing well. The guys perform a taste test two heirloom varieties. They try the Cherokee Purple and the Jubilee varieties. The Cherokee Purple is a dark red, almost purple tomato, while the Jubilee is a yellow to orange tomato. They discuss the primary differences between determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties. Indeterminate tomato varieties will have a slow, steady production over a long period of time. Determinate tomato varieties will produce more tomatoes in a short window.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about planting fall corn and lowering soil pH. Travis explains that he likes to plant fall sweet corn anywhere from late August to mid-September. If you live in zone 7A, Travis suggests planting at the end of July to early August. It is a good idea to also plant the corn on drip tape to make sure it has plenty of water in the late summer temperatures. Greg says it is easy to raise soil pH, but can be really difficult to lower it. The only option for lowering soil pH is to use elemental sulfur. It is best to always perform a soil test before adding lime to elevate soil pH levels. This will ensure that you don’t add too much and over-adjust the pH.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Hortonova Trellis Netting
• Spinosad Garden Insect Spray

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Sweet Potato Planting

There are over 6,500 varieties of sweet potatoes in the world. Sweet potatoes are a member of the Morning Glory family and will typically mature in 90 to 120 days. Unlike Irish potatoes which prefer cooler soils, sweet potatoes are a heat-loving crop that grows well throughout the summer. Sweet potatoes are usually grown from slips, which are sprouts that are plucked from the sweet potato.

Growing Sweet Potatoes

The guys have tried several varieties over the years including Beauregard, Centennial and Covington. Thus far the Covington variety has been the most productive one for them. This year they will be growing the Georgia Jet which was recommended to them by their friends at Steele Plant Company. Sweet potatoes prefer sandy or loamy soils that are well-drained and not too rich in nitrogen. The optimal pH for growing sweet potatoes is between 5.8 to 6.2. When planting this crop, you should avoid growing them in newly-established gardens, especially areas that were covered in grass. They will grow better in well-established garden plots that have been farmed for several years. It is also important to avoid growing sweet potatoes in garden areas where you experience parasitic nematode problems.

The three major nutrient requirements for sweet potatoes are nitrogen, phosphate, and lots of potassium. The recommended rate for nitrogen and phosphorous is 60 lbs per acre or 1.4 lbs per 1,000 square feet. The recommended potassium rate is much higher at 200 lbs per acre or 4.5 lbs per square feet.

Nutrient applications are recommended per cultivation. At the first cultivation, you should apply all of the recommended phosphorous (1.4 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.) and half of the recommended potassium (2.25 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.). The other half of the recommended potassium (2.25 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.) should be applied before the second cultivation. Nitrogen (1.4 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.) should be applied in the third and final cultivation. This is the ideal fertilization cycle for sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes need adequate water when slips are young and roots are establishing. Drip tape can work great for this, as long as you don’t overwater when plants are older. Hilling sweet potatoes will help to reduce weed pressure along the row, but doesn’t necessarily increase harvests. You can also prune the vines as they grow to keep the area more neatly managed.

• Steele Plant Company

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis shows new variety of lettuce called Calshot. This is a red romaine variety which is available in pelleted seed form. Even with the dry and humid weather the guys have experienced lately, they were able to salvage a couple of heads. However, the flowers in the garden have been loving the warm weather. Travis has  been harvesting many of his Benary Giant Zinnias, including the lime, white, and the mixed varieties. Greg provides an update on his honey select sweet corn that Travis wanted him to grow this year. Greg explains that it is much sweeter than the varieties he grew previously.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about nematodes and buckwheat. Travis explains that nematodes are microscopic roundworms and they are present in every type of soil. They can damage crops by destroying the root systems. You can control nematodes by growing cover crops like Sorghum Sudangrass and Sunn Hemp. Greg says buckwheat attracts pollinators, especially bees, to your garden. Each cover crop can have a slightly different benefit and each one has a different maturity date. When selecting a warm-season cover crop, one should consider the window in which they expect this crop to grow and mature.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Micro-Boost

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Warm-Weather Cover Crops

Growing cover crops can be just as important as growing vegetable crops in the garden. Cover crops will restore your garden soils by increasing organic matter and feeding the soil biology. Warm weather cover crops are a great option during the warmer months when other vegetable crops may not grow as well.

Sorghum Sudangrass

Sorghum Sudangrass is monocot that contains a fibrous root system similar to corn. Sorghum Sudangrass will aerate and provide a significant amount of biomass for your soil. This cover crop is taller compared to other warm-season cover crops, and looks much like corn. It also provides a solid ground cover which will outcompete weeds and reduce further weed pressure. It can be broadcast or easily direct-seeded with our Hoss Garden Seeder.

Brown Top Millet

Brown Top Millet is another monocot, warm-season cover crop that works great to prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds. Many people like to use this cover crop as a livestock forage. Others will use it to create feeding plots for doves and other wildlife. Much like Sorghum Sudangrass, it is a taller cover crop and performs very well in the heat. It usually matures in 60 to 70 days.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a dicot, warm-season cover crop with a taproot system. It is the fastest-maturing warm-weather cover crops that we offer. Buckwheat will mature in four to six weeks. This crop is great for attracting pollinators such as bees because they absolutely adore this crop. It is an ideal plant to scavenge the phosphorus in the soil as well.

Sunn Hemp

Another dicot that adapts well in hot and dry climates is Sunn Hemp. This is also a fast-growing crop that only takes eight to twelve weeks to mature. Sunn Hemp works well on overfarmed soils like sandy soils that are nutrient-poor. It is also can be a nitrogen fixer and can be used to suppress parasitic nematode populations in the soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss the dry and humid weather they’ve experienced lately. Travis has tomatoes, winter squash, and cucumbers planted on drip tape, but cannot seem to cool them off from the heat. Much to his disliking, he has had to use an overhead sprinkler on his tomatoes and winter squash to cool the plants during the heat of the day. However, the Jambalaya and Red Burgundy okra are growing perfect in this warm weather. Another heat tolerant crop is the Tiger Collards. The guys have been harvesting quite a few of these lately. Greg has some Honey Select sweet corn that is almost ready to harvest. He explains that the brown silks are the primary indication of maturity with sweet corn.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about dry storage vegetables and transplanting sweet corn. Their Irish potatoes and Texas Legend onions will store for four to five months. On average, winter squash and spaghetti squash will last about six months. Seminole pumpkins will last about a year, making them one of the longest-storing crops. In summary, many of the dry storage vegetables will store for several weeks if given a dry area with good airflow and shade. Greg explains that he has transplanted sweet corn in the past, but it may be a little more difficult to transplant than crops like okra, tomatoes, and peppers. You can transplant sweet corn, it will just be more time-consuming.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Seminole Pumpkins

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Storing Vegetable Gardens

There are many ways to store your vegetable crops once they’re harvested from the vegetable garden. Whether you store them in the barn or under the carport, creating a storage area for your vegetable crops is important. Aspects like good airflow, shade, and temperature should be considered to keep your crops stored for their maximal lifespan.

Dry vs. Cold Storage

Dry: When it comes to storing crops like onions, garlic, shallots, winter squash, Irish and sweet potatoes, you want to make sure they are in an area that has good airflow and that is shaded and dry. Here in the South, most people have pole barns which are open-air, covered barns. For these areas, many people build a storage rack with hardware cloth or chicken wire to place their dry storage vegetables.

Cold: Other vegetable crops should be stored in a cool environment to preserve their longevity. These would include crops like greens, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, peppers, okra and many others. In addition to having a cooler temperature, airflow is also important. Travis prefers to use plastic produce bags, much like you would find at the grocery store, to store his cool-storage crops. He places the vegetables in the bag, ties a knot in the top and pokes a few holes in the top for airflow. This creates a similar environment to a plastic clam shell, which is also great for storing cold vegetables. Greg explains that it’s best to not wash vegetables until they are ready to be prepared or consumed. This will decrease the risk of introducing bacteria and spoilage. He also suggests washing squash and cucumbers in a dilution of baking soda as this will help to preserve them longer. Once washed with the baking soda solution, allow them to air dry and then place in cold storage. If allowed to dry, many vegetables like carrots, squash and cucumbers will store for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Tomatoes are a crop that doesn’t fall into either of the above categories. When storing tomatoes, the guys like to pick them during the pink stage. They will then lay the fruits on a towel-covered table under the carport. It is important to lay them in a single layer to prevent spoilage. The carport will provide shade and keep them shaded from direct sunlight, but will not provide a drastic temperature change while they continue to ripen. As soon as they ripen, they will take them inside and lay them on a table in the cooler, indoor climate. The ideal temperature for tomatoes is 60 degrees, so take them inside where it is 68-70 degrees. Here they will store nicely and be ready to eat.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss how they have both been experiencing perfect gardening weather recently. As a result, all the crops in the garden have been growing nicely. Greg has some indeterminate Sun Gold tomatoes that have been really productive this year. Initially these fruits will be green on the vine, but they will quickly turn yellow to orange. They like to harvest them at the yellow to orange stage as that seems to provide the peak flavor. Travis has dug all of his potatoes except his German butterballs, which have a couple more weeks before harvesting. This is Greg’s first year growing shallots and he is growing three different varieties. His favorite variety that he grew is the Banana shallot. Greg prefers to use shallots for cooking instead of eating them raw like his he does with onions.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about drip irrigation filter setups, watermelon fertilization and nutgrass problems. Travis suggests using a separate filter/regulator setup for each subplot in the vegetable garden. This is much easier than trying to move the filter/regulator setup each time you water a different plot. Greg explains that watermelons require about 120 units of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium per acre. Watermelons need a well-balanced fertilizer to help with decreasing the risk of blossom end rot. Every 10 to 14 days, Greg likes to inject either the 20-20-20 or Chilean Nitrate and add the Micro-Boost each time. Travis has had good luck with eliminating nutgrass, but it is not easy. You can aggravate it to death by using our wheel hoe with the oscillating hoe and cultivator teeth. Rotate them and use them at least twice a week and it will eventually go away.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• 8 mil Drip Tape Irrigation Kit

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Improving Your Summer Garden

Not sure what to plant in the summer garden? Instead of allowing the vegetable garden to become covered with grass and weeds, grow heat-loving summer crops and keep the garden healthy for fall plantings. A summer garden is a great way to include succession planting and crop rotation. A solid crop rotation will help to promote soil health, plant health and reduce insect/disease pressure.

Succession Planting & Crop Rotation

During the fall and winter seasons, crops like lettuce, beets, and brassicas such as kohlrabi or bok choi are excellent for crop rotations because they all have similar dates to maturity. This is a great three crop rotation for the fall, winter and spring garden. This rotation will provide plenty of food in the cooler months if succession planted properly. To have successful cool weather crop rotations, you should consider choosing crops that require the same amount of time to grow. Succession planting in late spring and early summer is a great way to extend the harvest into the warmer months. We suggest succession planting squash, cucumbers and okra to get multiple crops within a given spring/summer period. We usually plant okra three to four times from spring through fall. This will ensure that we always have productive plants in the garden. As older plants become taller and produce less, we will always have younger plants that are starting to heavily produce.

Sweet potatoes are also a great heat-loving summer crop that can be used to follow several other warm-season crops. We like to plant sweet potatoes behind our Irish potatoes or onions. Because they’re in different families, we can follow either of those crops with sweet potatoes in late spring/early summer. We usually plant sweet potatoes in late May to early June, but they may be planted as late as August in warmer climates. We plant slips from Steele Plant Company in Gleason, TN. Warm-weather cover crops are another great option for summer plantings. These would include buckwheat, sorghum sudangrass, sunn hemp and brown top millet.

Steele Plant Company: https://www.sweetpotatoplant.com/

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis brought some Sunburst patty pan squash and explains his preferred method of preparing and cooking them. This is Greg’s first year growing Rattlesnake pole beans and he has been surprised by the shape of the beans. They are not as flat as he thought they would be. For an heirloom variety, they are very productive and easy to grow. It has been a month since Travis has transplanted his peppers and they are not doing good. To fix resolve that issue, he decided to put some Epsom salt, some Gypsum to prevent blossom end rot and soil drench with Micro-Boost. After adding those elements to the peppers they are doing great now. Greg’s Honey Select corn is almost ready to harvest, while Travis’ Incredible Sweet Corn is growing fast but not quite ready to harvest.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about injecting micronutrients and spraying tomatoes for pests. Travis uses the Micro-Boost in his EZ-FLO Fertilizer Injector. The recommended rate is 1/4 cup per thousand square feet. For his garden, he adds two cups to the 2 gallon injector per injection. The Micro-Boost supplement may be mixed with any other fertilizer like 20-20-20, Chilean Nitrate or Liquid-Fish. Greg mentions that he does not spray his tomato plants while growing them in the greenhouse. But he does begin a spray program as soon as he transplants them into the vegetable garden. As soon as those transplants make contact with outside, non-sterile soil, it is a good idea to start a pest control program.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Micro-Boost
• Chilean Nitrate

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How Can We Control Pests?

We cannot always expect to fully eradicate pests, but we can control them in our vegetable gardens. By eliminating larval and younger individuals of the insect populations, we can break that life cycle and prevent further reproductively mature adults from being added to the population. It is also important to only plant certain crops when success can be expected. If pest pressure is extremely high during a given portion of the year, don’t try to grow certain susceptible crops during that time. It can be different for everyone depending on your climate and local biology.

Organic & All-Natural Pest Controls

Insecticides:

The most popular organic insecticide is Neem Oil, which will work best on insects in the nymph or immature stages. They even use Neem Oil in conventional farming because insects do not build a resistance to it. Another great organic insecticide is Pyrethrin, which is a contact insecticide. This means that it will kill whatever it touches. Because of this, it should be sprayed or applied late in the evening when the pollinators have gone to bed. Our Take Down Garden Spray includes pyrethrin and canola oil for a more residual control. The Take Down Garden Spray is not OMRI certified because the canola oil is not organically sourced. However, our Bug Buster also has pyrethrin as the active ingredient and it is OMRI registered. Horticultural Oil is a great option for controlling insects on fruit trees. Use it before bud break to help control insects that can attack any type of fruit trees. Our Fruit Tree Spray is a combination of both Neem Oil and Pyrethrin, which has a synergistic effect. All these products are concentrated and they will help control any of your soft-bodied insects. If you have any problems with worms or caterpillars in your cucumbers, you should definitely use B.t. B.t. is a naturally occurring bacteria and will kill the worms when they try to eat a plant that has been sprayed with it. This will break the pest cycle and prevent those larval forms from becoming reproductively mature adults. Spinosad is another treatment for worms, and it is a little more powerful than B.t. Spinosad is a naturally fermented product that can kill an insect either by contact or ingestion. For slugs and snails, we have a product called Sluggo, which is spinosad in a pelleted granular form. Sluggo works as a bait for slugs and snails in the vegetable garden.

Fungicides:

An OMRI registered option like our Complete Disease Control can be used for your fungal problems in the vegetable garden. You can use it either by soil drench or foliar spray as a protectant. When used as a soil drench, it can help with some of your soil-borne diseases. When used as a foliar spray, it covers the plant and protects it from disease pores. A widely used agricultural fungicide, Liquid Cop is great for controlling powdery mildew, downy mildew, and blight issues. Used especially for powdery and downy mildew, Bi-Carb is a great product to protect against those mildews on roses, vegetables, fruit trees, and ornamentals.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg brought some of his Calypso Cumcumbers, which is a hybrid pickling variety that is really productive in the vegetable garden. The guys taste test and compare the Calypso and Lemon cucumbers. Greg definitely recommends growing the Lemon Cucumbers in your garden. Travis talks about one of the most productive crops in the entire vegetable garden — Tiger Collards.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about their relation and their Hoss seed selection process. They also provide information on succession planting and vertical growing. Yes, Greg and Travis are related but they are not brothers. They choose seed varieties based on what they have tried and been recommended by seed and variety experts. They are always looking to provide new seeds and try new varieties that are easy for the home gardener to grow, but that may be difficult to obtain from another company. Greg explains how vertical growing is a great way to save space in the garden. He suggests vertically growing crops like rattlesnake pole beans, running butterbeans, and cucumbers.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Liqui-Fish Garden Fertilizer
• Micro-Boost

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How Hoss Tools Got Started

Hoss Tools began about nine years ago when Greg and his friend decided that there was a need for quality gardening tools that were made in the USA. They also wanted to be able to offer excellent customer support for those tools. At the time they were both working other jobs when they started Hoss Tools, so they were not able to completely focus on the new business. As the business grew, they both realized that it would require more of their time. Greg bought his partner’s portion of the business and started to create an online presence for the company. Since then, Greg has sold his other business and is now concentrating on Hoss Tools full-time. Travis joined the team around 2013 when the business really started evolving. Now Hoss Tools is completely direct-to-consumer so that we are able to provide better customer service and support.

Row by Row Garden Show: One Year Anniversary

The Row by Row Garden Show is a weekly gardening talk show where Greg and Travis discuss what is happening in their gardens, discuss a certain topic for the week, and answer viewer questions. For the one-year anniversary show, the guys decided to do a big giveaway for their viewers to thank them for showing so much support for the show thus far. The guys did a drawing for several collections of seed packs which included ProCut Sunflower, Lettuce, Peppers, and Summer and Winter Squash packs. They also gave away some of their fertilizers such as Chilean Nitrate, 20-20-20, and Micro-Boost. Finally, they drew names for some of their most popular garden tools like the short single tine cultivator, long single tine cultivator, 8 mil drip tape kit, and the new Hoss Stirrup Hoe. The two biggest products at the end of the giveaway were the Single Wheel Hoe and the Double Wheel Hoe.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has some freshly harvested Golden Delight Zucchini and Goldprize Squash that were really productive this year. Also, his cucumbers are about ready to harvest in the next couple of days. Travis shows his Starfighter lettuce that is looking really good and productive. He also talks about the productivity of his jambalaya okra and how tall they are growing. Greg also brought a huge bulb of green Kohlrabi and mentions that Travis may be envious because he doesn’t know his secret. He recently harvested all of his onions and laid them on the ground to cure for a couple of days before he stores them in the barn.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about yellow squash/zucchini issues, “banding” fertilizer, fish emulsion, and organic solutions for phosphorous and potassium. Travis explains that garden soil pH can become too acidic over time if you grow the same crops year after year in the same spot. This will also start to create some fertilization problems, because plants cannot uptake nutrients in soils with an incorrect pH. To help resolve these issues, you should practice better crop rotations and build the organic matter in your soils. To “band” fertilize, Greg takes his two-gallon sprayer with the tip-off and uses either some 20-20-20 or Chilean Nitrate. He then applies it in a band about 3 to 4 inches beside the plant or plant foliage. The fish emulsion products available in stores are not ready for uptake by plants. Any organic fertilizer will have a much slower uptake because it has to be broken down to those smaller chemical forms like ammonia or nitrate. Greg says that some good organic solutions for phosphate are soft rock phosphate and bone meal for phosphorous.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Micro-Boost

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Fertilizing Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops grown by the backyard vegetable gardener. Providing the correct amount of nutrients is an important part of solving the tomato-growing puzzle. Having an effective fertilizing schedule or program will greatly improve your success when growing tomatoes in the vegetable garden.

When To Fertilize Your Tomatoes

Here are some things to consider when thinking about fertilizing tomatoes. The optimal soil pH range for tomatoes is 6.2 – 6.8. In order to achieve the proper soil pH, you can apply lime three months ahead of planting to adjust the soil pH and provide some calcium for your tomatoes. A soil test should always be conducted before applying lime. It is very easy to raise the pH using lime, but very difficult to lower the pH if too much lime is added.

Tomatoes will benefit from a balanced fertilizer which includes equal parts of the three big macronutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. The recommended use of phosphorous is to apply all of it before planting, because it help the plants to establish a solid root system and phosphorous will not leach out of the soil. When applying phosphorous at pre-plant, you should apply 3.5 pounds of phosphorous per thousand square foot.

As opposed to phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium will need to be “spoon-fed” to the tomato plants. The recommended rate is 3.5 pounds of nitrogen and potassium per thousand square foot, but both of these nutrients should be administered differently than phosphorous. Only around 1.5 pounds of nitrogen and potassium per 1,000 sq. ft. needs to be applied at pre-plant. Then 0.3 pounds per thousand square foot will need to be applied on a bi-weekly basis. This is the “spoon-feeding” part. The best way to apply these fertilizers is through an injector that works in conjunction with the drip tape irrigation system.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis brought a bundle of one of the most productive crops in his garden — Lacinato Kale. He also brought some of his Texas Legend onions on which the tops have fallen. Once he harvests all the alliums (onions, leeks, elephant garlic) from this plot, he plans to go ahead and plant his sweet potatoes. Greg is thinking about planting a cover crop like Buckwheat before he plants his potatoes in June. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top with sweet potatoes this year.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about planting rattlesnake pole beans and reusing drip tape. Greg plants his rattlesnake pole beans directly on top of his drip tape. Once they emerge from the soil, he installs the cow panel trellis directly on top of the plants. He places the panel trellis about 3-4″ off the ground so that plants can easily grow on the trellis as they get larger. Travis does not save drip tape from one year to the next. But he does reuse it multiple times in a given year. So it can definitely be used for multiple seasons. He mentions that they have four seasons that they can grow food, so they will reuse the tape four times. You can also reuse the mainline by plugging previous holes goof plugs. There is not really a great way to store and put away drip tape, so it is best if you just use it in the four seasons and replace it.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• 20-20-20 Garden Fertilizer
• Micro-Boost

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Breaking Down the Forbes Article

We all know that everything written on the internet may not be completely true. When reading an article, it is important to understand the intention of the article and the background of the author or writer. You should always give yourself the freedom to make informed decisions. Building your own facts and knowledge on a topic is much better than assuming a person or media source is completely right all the time.

Setting The Facts Straight

In this Forbes Article entitled “Why I Don’t Buy Organic, and Why You Might Not Want to Either,” the writer has the position that there is not much difference between organic and conventionally-grown food. His first point includes the argument that there is no difference between the conventionally grown food vs. organic food. This is probably the biggest myth of the entire article. Commercially-grown food that you buy in the grocery store has often been over-fertilized and injected with pesticides that are completely different than what the organic farmers use on their food.In his second point, he makes the preposterous statement that conventional pesticides are non-toxic to humans. In reality the suffix “cide” in the word pesticide means to kill something. Any kind of pesticide can be harmful whether they are used for conventional or organic, but you have to understand and know the proper ways to use those pesticides.

The third point the author makes is that just because organic food costs more does not mean it is safer. Organic food costs more because it is more costly to produce. Organic farming usually occurs on a smaller scale and can be more labor intensive than commercial farming.The fourth point of the article is that conventional farming requires less land and is more eco-friendly. Organic farming was built on the premise of building the soil. Since then, the government has gotten involved with organic certification and the emphasis on building the soil has not been as strong. Conventional farmers are not interested in building soils, they’re interested in maximizing profits on a given piece of land.

The last point made by the Forbes Article is more truthful than any of the other points made. He states that the marketing of organic products is unethical and fear-based. This is somewhat true because so many companies exploit certain terms to comply with the demand for all-natural or organic products. In summary, it is important to understand how things are produced and know both sides of the conventional and organic farming argument. Then you will be able to make informed decisions based on what you believe, not what others tell you.

2016 Forbes Article: “Why I Don’t Buy Organic, and Why You Might Not Want to Either”

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has some red onions that are coming along pretty good, but are not quite ready to harvest. Travis recently planted two varieties of his winter squash in his new dream garden. He planted half in the Hai Kabocha and the other half in Small Wonder Spaghetti.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about side dressing corn and when to stop hilling potatoes. Greg usually side-dresses corn plants using some Chilean Nitrate and puts it about 3 inches from the plant. Travis says the time to stop hilling potatoes will depend on the variety. For early to mid-season crops such as our Yukon Gold or Red Norland, you would hill them around a 1′ – 1.5′ tall. With a later-maturing variety like the German Butterball, you can continually hill the plants as they grow for more potato production.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• German Butterball Potato

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How Much Water Does Your Garden Need

Knowing how much to water your garden can be rather tricky because there are so many variables at play. In general, vegetable crops in the garden need about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. If an entire acre was to receive an inch of water, that would equal 27,154 gallons of water. If you convert that to a smaller scale, that would equate to 0.6 gallons per square foot per week. Our 8 mil drip tape has an output rate of 0.4 gallons per minute per 100 feet. In other words, it would take 1,000 minutes or 16 hours for a single emitter to output 4 gallons of water. A common mistake is watering more than the holding capacity of the soil. The more dense the soil, the better the holding capacity and the longer you can water at one time. For sandy soils, the holding capacity will be lower and you should only water a maximum of 1.5 hours at a time. For clay soils, the holding capacity can be double and you could thus run the water for up to 3 hours a time before wasting water.

Factors That Can Affect This

One major factor is whether you are using subsurface or surface drip. Subsurface drip tape is buried below the soil surface and is the most efficient and conservative way of watering the garden. Surface drip sits on the soil surface and will result in loss of water through evaporation. This will require longer watering times because the water is not being delivered directly to the plant roots. Another factor is the placement of your crops. If your plants are directly on top of drip emitters, you will need less water compared to plants that are located between drip tape emitters. Crops like tomatoes and peppers are typically planted directly on top of emitters whereas corn and beans are planted between emitters. Two additional factors, which we cannot control, are wind and temperature. These will also affect how much water is needed.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg brought a kohlrabi bulb and explored some of his diverse language skills. After doing some research, Greg discovered that Kohlrabi in German means “cabbage turnip.” Not only do they eat Kohlrabi in Germany, but they eat them in Vietnam and Bangladesh too. In Vietnam, they call them “su hoa” and in Bangladesh, they’re called “ol kapi.” Kohlrabi has a mild turnip taste and most people prefer to eat them roasted, although they are great raw as well. Some people also like to make coleslaw with kohlrabi. Greg has added that to his to-do list this year. Travis just finished adding some stakes to his determinate tomatoes in the garden. The guys discuss different methods on why and how they like to add their twine around the tomato plants.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about organic pesticides and lettuce germination tips for non-greenhouse owners. Greg explains that any pesticide with the suffix “cide” designates that it was designed to kill something. The safest and best insecticide for preserving beneficial insect populations is Neem Oil. Another great organic pesticide is B.t., which works pretty much only on worms. As always, the best time to apply these pesticides is late in the afternoon in your garden. Travis gives some tips to help with germination for non-greenhouse gardeners. If you have any kind of problems with germination, it is a good idea to use pelleted and primed lettuce seed. Pelleted seeds offer wonderful germination rates, they’re easier to seed in the seed trays and they’re quick to germinate.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Calshot Romaine Lettuce
• Starfighter Lettuce
• 8 Mil Drip Tape Irrigation Kit

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Improving Your Garden with Cut Flowers

Do you want some vibrant, eye-appealing crops in your vegetable garden? Interplanting flowers in your vegetable garden will leave you astonished by how it can attract more pollinators and beneficial insects, which will subsequently improve your garden production. When thinking of planting during the summer months, interplanting cut flowers are a great choice because they can survive the summer heat much better than most vegetable crops.

Cut Flower Varieties

All of the cut flower varieties we carry can be direct-seeded or transplanted. We prefer to grow most of them from transplants because it makes it a little easier and it conserves seed. The great thing about growing cut flowers in the summer season is that they absolutely love the heat and do not have hardly any insect issues. All of our cut flower varieties have really nice long stems which makes them very appealing to the eye. A purple colored flower variety such as Ageratum Blue Horizon is a great pelleted seed that grows in these beautiful purple clusters. A brightly colored Cosmos mix called Versailles is great for attracting pollinators such as butterflies, birds, and bees. An older variety of Celosia, which you may remember as a child, is Chief Mix, also known as Cockscomb. The ProCut line of sunflowers is popular in the garden providing very manageable flower height. Another great thing about the ProCut Sunflowers is that they are pollenless. So when you harvest them and place them in a vase, they will not drip pollen and leave a mess. Our ProCut Sunflower selection includes colors like red, lemon, orange, plum, and white nite.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis brought a head of Skyphos Lettuce and shows how to make a healthy little snack using his lettuce and chicken salad. Greg calls it the Chicken Salad Lettuce Taco. The guys talk about a new variety of lettuce called Starfighter Lettuce, which is a pelleted seed that they have transplanted in a 162 cell seed starting tray. This Starfighter lettuce is ready to go in the ground and will get planted later in the week. Greg shows some of his Banana Shallots and was a little concerned on how well they were doing because he was late planting them. The ones he has pulled thus far were a little bit on the spicy side, but he thinks the taste is subject to change if he waits longer to harvest them.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about side dressing potatoes and they discuss whitefly problems. Travis explains that his preferred way of side dressing is using chicken manure compost. If you do not have access to quality manure compost, you can use some granular fertilizer such as 10-10-10. According to Greg, whiteflies can be tough to manage in some years. If it is a wet year and we receive plenty of rain, the whiteflies are really no issue at all. If it is drier year, the whiteflies are much more of a problem. Whiteflies can be tough because they are nearly impossible to control when they come into your garden. Greg does note that he’s had success using an insect growth-regulator called Knack, but that it can be hard to find.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Cut Flower Seeds

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Growing Winter Squash and Pumpkins

Winter squash are not planted in the winter months. They are planted in the spring, much like summer squash, but they will store well into the winter. That is why they are called “winter squash”. Winter squash should be planted in the spring after the chance of frost has passed. They are typically planted a few weeks after one would traditionally plant summer squash or zucchini varieties. One of the most under-recognized food sources for the home gardener, winter squash is a valuable crop that should be grown by more people because of the long-lasting shelf life without refrigeration.

Winter Squash Varieties

There are three primary species of winter squash, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita pepo, and Cucurbita moschata. Cucurbita maxima include species like kabocha squash that are very sweet and widely considered one of the best-tasting squash types. Cucurbita pepo includes varieties like Delicata and Spaghetti Squash. Cucurbita moschata includes varieties like Butternut, Seminole Pumpkin, Fairytale Pumpkin, and our Blue Bayou Pumpkin. The moschata tends to include more heat tolerant varieties and are a little more resistant to insect pressure. The recommended area of spacing to grow winter squash is at least a 20′ x 20′ or 30′ x 30′ area due to their extensive ground cover, much like watermelons. Most of these squash have 90 days to maturity which is about 40 days longer than summer squash. That being said, it is important to keep this winter squash on drip irrigation to reduce your chances of having issues with downy and powdery mildew.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some okra transplants that are ready to be planted. Growing okra from transplants has always been successful for the guys. Greg talks about how excited he is about his shallots that are looking healthy and growing well. Travis mentions that he may have to do a little research on when exactly he should harvest his leeks. However, they seem to be growing and doing just fine. So he will wait to harvest his leeks at a later time. The peppers are ready to “step up” into a 4″ pot once they start getting the second set of true leaves. So the guys are busy stepping up the peppers and getting those acclimated to the bigger seed trays in the greenhouse. The guys also share a new tool called the Hoss Stirrup Hoe which is a long-handled version of their Oscillating Hoe attachment for the Wheel Hoe.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about planting green beans and using fruit trees to attract pollinators. Travis says that pole beans need a panel or some type of trellis because they are climbing beans. Greg says it takes 50 days to maturity on pole beans and to definitely plant before the end of May. Greg states that trees are great for pollinators, but you should think several years ahead of time because they take longer to grow than flowers. With flowers, they are quicker and easier to get them in the ground and blooming if you need something quick. Some tree varieties that are wonderful for pollinators include native oaks or any trees that bloom in the springtime. Greg suggests that you should stay away from trees that are not native to your area because you will have difficulty growing those types.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Rattlesnake Pole Bean
• Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean

 

 

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Improving Your Garden Harvest with Pollinators

Pollinators are essential for producing fruits in the vegetable garden. Crops like squash, cucumbers and watermelon will require pollination in order to make fruits. The more pollinators present, the more fruits you will have to harvest. In order to improve your garden harvest, you must understand the importance of providing a healthy and safe environment for pollinators. You should always be cautious when spraying insecticides so that you do not harm the pollinator populations. Even some organic insecticides like pyrethrin and spinosad can be detrimental to pollinators if sprayed during pollination hours. So it’s always a good idea to spray insecticides late in the evenings, when the pollinators are no longer pollinating. You certainly want to avoid harsh chemicals like neonicotinoids. These are systemic insecticides that are inside the plant and will kill whatever eats or pollinates the plant. Neonicotinoids have been known to cause complete colony collapses in bees.

Special Guest: Gary from BEE-LIEVE

Today we had a special guest — Gary from BEE-LIEVE Farms. Gary spends the majority of his day working with bees. Greg and Gary discuss how poor pollination can cause fruits to be distorted or rotten on the ends. They also provide helpful tips to start and maintain a beehive in your garden. According to Gary, the best pollinating insect for a vegetable garden is the European Honeybee. He calls these the “true working bee.” If you do not have access to a beehive, you can increase pollinator presence by planting flowers and other plants that will attract native bees. Planting flowers such as zinnias, sunflowers and cosmos will help because those flowers have easily accessible nectar for the bees to feed. If you do decide to purchase a beehive for your homestead or garden, Gary suggests doing adequate research to educate yourself on how to maintain and care for the bees.

Check out BEE-LIEVE Apiaries & Farm: https://bee-lieveapiaries.com/

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis shows some of his Purple Haze carrots that he recently harvested. Greg tries dipping carrots in honey which he appropriately names “honey carrots.” Greg has rattlesnake pole beans, squash, cucumbers, and potatoes growing well in his garden. Travis explains that his potatoes are growing extremely slow this season. Also, he made a little mistake in his new dream garden. He thought it would be easier to plant his taters at one end of his subplot, but it ended up being the hardest dirt that he has in the new garden. This might cause a small issue because potatoes like soft, well-drained, sandy soil. And this dirt is the complete opposite.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about growing tomatoes in the fall and using drip tape for multiple seasons. Greg explains that growing tomatoes in the fall can be more difficult than growing them in the springtime. However, you can be successful if you plant your tomatoes early and use a disease-resistant variety such as Brickyard or Mountain Glory Also, have a consistent pest control spray program using Neem Oil or B.t. Travis talks about the best drip tape thickness if you intend to use it for multiple seasons. Travis always uses the 8 mil tape over the 15 mil tape because it is just much more flexible and easier to use, especially if you are reusing it for multiple harvesting seasons.

Products Mentioned in the Show

• Yellowstone Carrot
• 8 Mil Drip Irrigation Tape

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Summer Squash and Cucumbers

On this week’s episode, we discuss growing summer squash and cucumbers. Summer squash and cucumbers are in the cucurbit family. These plants have a relatively fast maturity date, but can be susceptible to fungal diseases as temperatures increase. Diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew can cause problems on squash plants once humidity levels increase in early summer. Drip irrigation drastically helps to alleviate those pressures by reducing leaf moisture. Summer squash and cucumbers are also susceptible to insect pressure from cucumber beetles, squash bugs and more. These insects are easily controlled in the larval stage, but can be difficult to manage once adult populations bloom. Using B.t. early can help to prevent large adult populations. Crop rotation and proper removal of crop debris are also extremely important when growing cucurbits. Fungal spores and insect eggs can overwinter in the garden soil and cause problems in future years. Therefore, it’s important to move these plants from year to year to prevent recurring issues. Some of our favorite varieties of summer squash include Sunburst, Golden Delight and Goldprize. Some of our favorite cucumber varieties include Calypso and Stonewall. Both of these varieties are gynoecious, which means they only produce female flowers and are extremely productive.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys taste a sample of yellow carrots that have recently been harvested from Travis’ garden. This variety is called Yellowstone and has always performed well in fall and spring. It produces very large, bright yellow carrots that are sweet and delicious. Greg also has some asparagus that he enjoys raw or cooked on the grill.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about tomato cross-pollination and “topping” peppers. Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but natural cross-pollination can occur, although rare. Most people, including us, have had no problems with planting multiple varieties of tomatoes in the same row. Greg mentions that he’s never heard of “topping”, or removing the apical meristem, on peppers. He says that he doesn’t see any benefit to doing that.

Tool of the Week

Yellowstone Carrot

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Pepper Varieties You Should Be Growing

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis discuss techniques for growing peppers and pepper varieties to plant in the vegetable garden. Pepper seed germination can take a while and will require some patience. Some varieties will take up to 2 weeks for germination. Hot pepper varieties usually take longer to germinate than sweet pepper varieties. Pepper transplants grow well in our heavy-duty seed starting trays when placed on a heated germination mat. Because pepper seedlings can be quite fragile, we recommend replanting them in 4″ pots before transplanting into the ground. This will allow the stem to become stronger and more durable. Large pepper plants will need some form of support to keep them upright and keep fruits off the ground. For just a few plants, we recommend using our smaller Tomato Cages. For many plants or an entire row of peppers, the Florida Weave trellising technique works great. You can use cotton twine or commercial-grade, poly twine for this technique. Our current pepper varieties include Bayonet Bell Pepper, Gold Rush Banana Pepper, Tiburon Poblano Pepper, Beaver Dam Hot Pepper, and many others. Bayonet Bell Pepper is a hybrid variety that produces blocky, consistently-sized fruits. The Tiburon Poblano Pepper and Beaver Dam Hot Pepper, although not very hot at all, are some of our favorites for grilling and stuffing.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys talk about green onions or spring onions. Greg has some green onions from his garden that are just starting the bulbing process. At this stage, it is important to provide the onion plants with plenty of water, but not to fertilize them anymore. Once the vegetative stage has ended, the plants will require no more fertilizer and just need ample amounts of water to produce large, sweet onions. Travis shows some of the hybrid varieties that he transplanted such as the Bella Rosa, Mountain Glory, Brickyard, and Sun Gold tomatoes. The guys had pretty good germination on the Bella Rosas and Sun Gold varieties. However, the rats got into the Mountain Glory and Brickyard this year and did not have great success with the germination on those varieties.  They guys show the difference between transplanting tomatoes versus peppers. They transplanted both the tomatoes and peppers at the same time, but the tomatoes are ready to go in the ground and the peppers are not. The peppers are just now popping up in the seed trays because they take longer to germinate than the tomatoes.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about heat-tolerant lettuce varieties and storing seed potatoes that have been cut. Cherokee and Muir lettuce are varieties that have been highly acclaimed by many market farmers and are known to be very heat-resistant. We hope to carry both of these varieties in the near future in pelleted form. Travis says that he does not put lettuce on a seed mat because it germinates fine in the greenhouse during the winter without a seed mat. Greg says when cutting seed potatoes up, he simply puts them in a bucket and leaves them in a dry, cool place. They could be spread on a table or other surface, but we haven’t found that to be necessary. Sometimes Travis will dump his into another bucket every other day so they don’t get too much moisture at the bottom of the bucket and that will allow them to be equally distributed. Although, not really sure if it truly works it may just be all in Travis’s head.

Tool of the Week

• Bayonet Bell Pepper

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Vegetable Seedlings in the Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about growing vegetable seedlings in a greenhouse. Greg explains how this can be tough for someone who is at work all day because the greenhouse and the plants inside it will need repeated supervision. Unless some automated systems are used, it’s not very realistic for those who are away from home during the day. They discuss how vegetable seedlings need a constant environment and to avoid sudden changes in temperatures. In their greenhouse, this is done by opening the windows based on the outside temperature. They talk about grow lights and how they should be put directly on top of the seed tray initially and slowly elevated as the plants grow. This will prevent plants from becoming leggy as they attempt to climb to the lights. Travis explains that they don’t use an automatic watering system, but that those are extremely handy if you’re going to be away for a prolonged period of time. He also suggests having a spigot at the greenhouse to better utilize a fertilizer injection tool like their Brass Siphon Mixer. This tool allows you to easily water and fertilize vegetable seedlings simultaneously.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has some English peas that are maturing in his garden. He mentions that the plants are loaded with blooms and he’s been harvesting the pods as they are ready. They explain that English peas from the home garden taste so much better than those bought at the store and that they are also great to eat raw. Travis brought a few Bolero carrots from his garden. They are not as large as he would like yet, but they are slowly getting there. They also discuss the taste difference between homegrown carrots and those purchased at the grocery store. Greg has had a little bit of a worm problem on his collards so he sprayed them with some B.t. fertilizer.  The guys are about to start pulling onions in the vegetable garden. When the onions get big enough it can sometimes be hard to get in the garden to clean the area up. However, the guys like to use the Short Single Tine Cultivator which allows you to weed and cultivate in between the onions easily. The guys also look forward to carrying a good supply of elephant garlic and shallots coming this Fall.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, they answer questions about corn earworms and suggested crops for a first-year vegetable garden. Greg explains that planting early is one of the first keys to success against corn earworms. Travis also mentions that applying Spinosad Garden Insect Spray to the silks and tassels a couple of times a week will also take care of the earworm problem. For a first-year vegetable garden, Travis recommends using the KISS principle — Keep It Simple Stupid. He explains that one should strive to do 3-5 crops really well versus doing 10 crops unsuccessfully. Once you perfect those crops then you can move on to other crops. He suggests growing potatoes, okra, beans, cucumbers, or squash that are relatively easy to grow to start for your first-time growing in the garden.

Tool of the Week

• Short Single Tine Cultivator

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Corn in the Vegetable Garden

As part of the Poaceae family, Corn has been a staple crop from generation to generation. Pollinated by wind, corn is a heavy feeder and needs lots of space, water, and fertilizer to grow good during the warm season. When growing corn it prefers to grow in well-drained soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Depending on the heat temperature and varieties of corn it can take anywhere from 60 to 100 days to harvest in the garden.

Sweet Corn Categories and Varieties

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about different corn varieties for sweet and field corn. They begin by discussing the different types of sweet corn which are indicated by the genes present. There are three main sweet corn categories based on the genes they have which are su (standard), se (sugary extender) and sh2 (supersweet). There are also varieties with combinations of these genes, which is the case with the Honey Select variety. The su, or standard, varieties include those older cultivars such as Silver Queen, Silver King and Stowell’s Evergreen. These varieties have more starch and less sugar as compared to the se and sh2 varieties. The se, or sugary extender, varieties include cultivars such as Ambrosia, Peaches and Cream and Incredible. The sh2, or supersweet, varieties have the highest sugar content and store the longest, but are the most finicky when it comes to germination and planting depth. Greg recommends that beginner gardeners go with one of the su varieties, but that he has grown many of the se varieties in the last few years with great success. They also talk about their field corn varieties which include Jimmy Red, Blue Hopi, Truckers Favorite and Hickory King — all of which are great for grinding into corn meal and grits. Greg is feeling generous today and gives away some South American Popcorn seed to the first 10 viewers that send us an email.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys sample a couple of beets from Travis’ garden. Travis mentions that a customer recently asked him about the taste difference between red and golden beets. To help answer the question, he brought a Merlin beet and a Touchstone Gold beet from his vegetable garden. After sampling, the guys both agreed that the Merlin beet has a sweeter flavor and higher sugar content, but that they are both delicious and fun to grow. Greg has lots growing in the garden right now. He has kohlrabi, tiger collards, English peas, onions, and shallots all growing really good in the vegetable garden this season. Greg and Travis also hope to get some of there potatoes in the garden this weekend since potato planting season is right around the corner.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about pickling okra and planting asparagus or strawberries in their garden. Greg brought a book called “The Pickled Pantry” and agrees to send it to the viewer who asked the question. He mentions that the book contains several great pickled okra recipes that he’s tried that have had great success. He has liked one of the sweet and one of the spicy recipes in the book. Travis explains that they have several beds of asparagus growing behind the warehouse for a long time. They guys also have a couple of asparagus growing videos on their YouTube Channel. Greg has been doing some research on strawberries so maybe we will add those to our seed lineup in the near future.

Tool of the Week

• Premium Corn Seed
• Mockmill Stone Grain Mill

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Vegetable Garden Designing

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about their vegetable garden designs and what they plan to plant, how much, and where they plan to plant crops for their spring gardens this year. Travis has a sketch of his new 1/4 acre garden plot that they prepared using a tractor harrow and chisel plow last weekend. He mentioned that he will still need to till the area once and get the soil pH tested, but once he does that it should be ready to plant for the spring. Greg and Travis discuss the importance of having a garden design that is broken up into subplots, as opposed to having one large continuous garden. The subplot design makes it easier to compartmentalize certain crops and makes it easier to practice proper crop rotation. Travis mentions that his new garden area consists of six subplots that are each 30′ x 35′ and his pathways are 10-foot wide. He prefers square plots because it is easier for crop rotation and to attract pollinators. Greg shows a sketch of his garden area where there are 7 subplots that vary in size slightly. He has a slight problem with the walkways being 6-foot which in hindsight could have been a little bit longer. As of right now, he has cover crops in this garden plot that he will soon be incorporating into the soil to help build soil nutrients and prepare the plot for the spring crops. They both talk about the importance of having walkways between the plots, and they prefer grass walkways over wood chips. Overall, the subplots make for a more manageable garden which allows you to have proper crop rotation and breaks up your fertilizing and watering to different sections in the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys share a bulb of raw kohlrabi from Travis’ garden. Travis mentions how he prefers to eat the kohlrabi raw, but that it also tastes great when cooked. You can eat the leaves on Kohlrabi, but the guys have not tried that out yet. Greg is having a little problem in the greenhouse with mice eating on his pepper seeds, but he plans to take care of those this afternoon. They discuss how they’ve recently started pepper, tomato and eggplant seedlings for spring. Travis talks about some of our Gardening Gloves that are extremely comfortable and will fit your hands nicely unlike any others you can find at the store. Greg also talks about a new product in their seed line, Wynne Peanut. He explains that this is an improved variety with excellent disease resistance, high oleic acid content, and great storage potential.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about tomatoes splitting and tomato trellising stakes. Greg mentions that tomatoes will split as a result of excess moisture or irregular watering. Also, some newer varieties are not prone to split as bad as the old heirloom varieties. He suggests picking a newer variety that is not prone to splitting. Also, apply a drip irrigation system that allows for more consistent watering, but if the excess water is a result of rainfall, there’s not much you can do. He does explain that the hybrid, round varieties are less susceptible to splitting as compared to the heirloom varieties. Travis states that he prefers t-posts and wooden stakes for his Florida Weave tomato trellising. While the t-posts are a bit of an upfront investment, the wooden stakes can be easily found and will last for several years before needing replacement.

Tool of the Week

• Hoss Gardening Gloves
• Hoss Garden Seeder

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Tips and Tricks for Tomato Growing

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about growing tomatoes in the vegetable garden. They mention that tomatoes are one of the most popular crops in vegetable gardens across the world, but that they can also be one of the most challenging to grow. They like to plan they’re planting just right so the tomatoes start in the seed starting trays and then go directly into the garden. They first discuss the different varieties that are available, including heirloom and hybrid variations. Heirlooms, while beautiful and delicious, can be highly susceptible to diseases. Meanwhile, the hybrids provide a more consistent appearance and are resistant to troublesome diseases like tomato spotted wilt virus. They suggest growing tomatoes like Bella Rosa, Mountain Glory and Brickyard for disease-resistance and improved yields. They explain why growing your own plants is a much better option than purchasing them at a store. They also explain that the size of the transplant has nothing to do with how well the plant will do once planted in the ground. They discuss trellising techniques including cages and using twine to do the Florida Weave. Some of the tomato varieties can get huge so having a trellis technique will help the crops stay off the ground. Travis suggests using cages for indeterminate varieties and the Florida Weave for determinate varieties. We have several videos on the Florida Weave Trellis on our YouTube channel. Finally, they explain the importance of adequate calcium when growing tomatoes. Supplementing calcium by adding Pelletized Gypsum will help to prevent blossom end rot, which is caused by a calcium deficiency. Travis likes to add the gypsum when he plants them in the ground, but Greg likes to do it a week or two before the first bloom set.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some Butter Crunch Lettuce that has a nice large head on them and says that they have great field holding ability in the cooler months. He also talks a little bit about the new hybrid variety, Harmony Butterhead Lettuce which has excellent production and is a pelleted seed. Greg has a Watermelon Radish that he grew in the vegetable garden. The guys cut into the radish to taste test and observe the bright pink to purple coloration on the inside of the radish root. Travis mentions that watermelon radish, also called red meat radish, tends to be less spicy than traditional radishes. They also take longer to grow but are less susceptible to splitting as they get larger. The weather is starting to warm up a little bit and the cover crops are paying off. Travis also shows a sneak peek of the final prototype of our new Hoss Stirrup Hoe.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about lunar planting and the difference between ammonium nitrate and Chilean Nitrate. Travis explains that the concept of lunar planting is a myth or “old wives’ tale,” and that potatoes will grow regardless of the moon phase. He suggests planting potatoes as soon as your climate or soil conditions will allow, and not wait on the moon for planting. Greg explains that Chilean Nitrate is an organic product that is naturally mined in Chile, while ammonium nitrate is a chemically produced fertilizer. While they have a very similar action in the soil, one is naturally-derived and the other isn’t. Ammonium nitrate is a lot more powerful so they are apt to burn more than the Chilean nitrate in the garden.

Tool of the Week

• Watermelon Radish
• Skyphos Butterhead Lettuce

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Increasing Your Potato Harvest

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss their favorite tips and practices for growing a huge potato harvest. They walk through the four varieties of seed potatoes that they now carry, which include Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Adirondack Blue, and German Butterball. They mention how some varieties are early-maturing and others are late-maturing, and that this should be taken into consideration when planting. They suggest planting potatoes 3-4 weeks before the last frost date in spring. For their planting zone, which is zone 8, the ideal planting time is Valentines Day throughout the end of February. They talk about cutting potatoes to get more from the seed potatoes purchased. They suggest cutting the seed potatoes so that there are 2-3 eyes on each piece. Seed potatoes should be cut several days before the intended planting date, because they need time to suberize or heal. This will prevent the potatoes from rotting in the ground, making them less susceptible to fungal disease in the soil, and provide a better potato harvest in the end. They mention that the Hoss Double or High Arch Wheel Hoe with the Plow Set attachment is the perfect tool for planting potatoes. The Plow Set allows you to make a planting furrow and cover the potatoes easily, just by pushing the wheel hoe along the row. Hilling, or covering the plants with soil, will also ensure a large potato harvest. This should be done every 2-3 weeks as the plants grow, leaving just a few leaves uncovered. To decrease issues with blight causing problems with foliage on your potato plants you should apply a fungicide. Greg recommends using Liquid Copper Fungicide to help with your blight problems. It is very weather resistant and sticks to the plant once it dries out leaving lasting control.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg shows the preferred size that he likes when harvesting his Skyphos Butterhead Lettuce, which is an open-pollinated variety. He also brought some Daikon radishes that he grew as a cover crop in his vegetable garden. Although these were grown as a cover crop, they are also great to eat and are considered a high-demand crop in some markets. Travis explains why Tillage Radish works so well as a cover crop. The long roots penetrate deeply into the soil, providing aeration and reducing soil compaction. The roots also sequester nutrients from deep and store them so that they are available to the upper soil layer when they are incorporated or tilled into the soil.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about harvesting peppers and growing onions from seed. Travis suggests two techniques to help when you are adding trellis to the plants get the string on the main stem of the plant so it won’t smush all the leaves together. The other suggestion is growing peppers in cages to provide more airflow, allow leaves to spread, and decreases disease problems in the garden. This will also help to prevent fruit from being stuck in the middle of the plant and being inaccessible for harvest. Greg explains that onion plants can be grown from seed in the greenhouse, but that it is much easier to just purchase plants from companies like Dixondale.

Tool of the Week

• Tillage Radish

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Tips for Succession Planting Year Round

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about succession planting crops in the vegetable garden for continual harvests throughout the respective growing season for a particular crop. Succession planting is an effective strategy for one-time harvest crops or crops that are continually harvested throughout the growing season. They first discuss succession planting with cool-season crops like lettuce, kohlrabi, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. All crops that mature fast so around 50 days or less. Travis mentions that he likes to succession plant these on 1-month intervals. This means that he will start seeds for these crops every 4 weeks and always have them in the garden throughout the fall and winter growing seasons. In the cooler seasons, crops are less likely to bolt and will hold better in the field. This allows one to harvest vegetables as they need them, instead of having to harvest the entire crop at one time. They also talk about succession planting warm-season crops that decline in production as the plant’s age. They specifically mention okra and squash, which tend to be less productive once the plants reach a certain age. To keep that continual high-productivity in their gardens, they will succession plant okra and squash every couple of months to ensure that they have those crops producing throughout the warm growing season.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has a head of Skyphos lettuce from his garden. Skyphos is a variety of red butterhead lettuce that does really well for them. They have it available in a pelleted seed form which makes it easy to singulate when planting in seed trays. They also show some seed potatoes that they are now carrying on their website. They have four different varieties which include Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Adirondack Blue, and German Butterball. Greg shows several different varieties of shallots. Shallots are a part of the Onion family but have a different species which is allium. They show off a Banana variety that is long and slender. Most people cook this variety by roasting them. Greg is going to plant a few different varieties and test which ones he likes best. When growing shallots they are believed to be less dependent on daylength, unlike onions. However, when storing shallots they store away just like onions do. After testing these shallots out this year, we hope to carry them along with some more seeds in the near future on the website. The guys also show off their new favorite Hoss Gardening gloves which offer comfort, durability, and flexibility. They come in two different colors: Hoss red and kind of pastel green color. We also have different sizes of these gloves for everyone to use in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys talk about some upcoming seed varieties that will be posted on the website soon. These include a couple of new varieties of beets. One of the beet varieties called Solo and it is a monogerm variety, which means it does not require thinning like the multigerm varieties. They also have a new beet variety named Kestrel which offers superior disease-resistance and uniformity. Also, some more cucumber and lettuce varieties like the Stonewall and the Calypso and pelleted lettuce seed like Harmony and Calshot. Travis talks about a new variety of sweet corn called Temptress which is what they call a “quad sweet”. The “quad sweet” means that it has the heirloom flavor with the modern corn sweetness. Overall, lots of great productive varieties coming to the Hoss Tools website soon.

Tool of the Week

• Skyphos Butterhead Lettuce

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Hybrid vs. Heirloom Seeds

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about vegetable seed and the differences between hybrid, heirloom and GMO seed. They first define heirloom seed as those that have been passed from generation to generation back in the early 1900s. Heirloom plants are open-pollinated, which means that seed can be saved and used for the next year’s crop. Some heirlooms are locally adapted to handle certain disease or pest pressures, which is certainly an advantage. Greg is a big believer in that heirloom corn has more disease, insect, and drought resistance than the hybrid varieties. One misconception about heirloom seed is that they have better taste or flavor than hybrid varieties. They say that the hybrid varieties were made for more production than taste, unlike the heirlooms. Greg and Travis believe that this is not 100% true. While the heirlooms may have a more unique shape, many of the modern-day hybrid seeds offer superb flavor comparable to that of heirlooms. Artificial and natural selection has two different meanings. Artificial selection or hybridizing means that humans have been involved and they had control in selecting things to happen. Natural selection has to do with nature taking its own course of action without any human interaction with it. They talk about hybrid seeds being the result of a cross-breeding between two related varieties. With hybrids, all of the first generation (F1) plants are the same. However, hybrid seeds cannot be reliably saved because the F2 individuals will not be true to variety. Hybrid seeds are great because they usually offer increased disease or pest-resistance and increased productivity. Hybrids allow you to get a certain selection done that have a particular outcome of the varieties. Finally, they discuss how GMO seeds are manufactured and address the ecological ramifications of seeds that allow the widespread use of non-selective herbicides. Genetically modified organism (GMO) is when you take a gene from an unrelated species or nonplant organism and isolate that gene based on the trait you are looking for. Then, you take that gene and insert it into the plant so that plant carries the same trait.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a head of Butter Crunch Lettuce that he harvested earlier that day. He mentions the butterhead lettuce is his favorite because it has such a smooth texture and rich flavor. Butterhead lettuce is great for making wraps with shrimp, chicken or pork. Greg has been harvesting some radishes out of his vegetable garden. If you do not like the radishes spiciness a lot of people like to saute them instead of eating them raw. He has a watermelon radish that has a little split which can be caused by too much water or they have grown too large. A tip when storing away radishes you can snap the leaves off of them and place them in a little bag and they will store in the refrigerator nicely. Travis has some Joi Choi Chinese Cabbage that grows nice little heads and has great taste.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about knife sharpening and the cost of hybrid seeds. Greg mentions that a leather strop is his favorite device for sharpening a knife. As long as the blade is not extremely dull, it can work to shape fairly easily with a leather strop and sharpening compound. Travis mentions that hybrids seeds are usually more expensive because they are more costly to produce. They are also usually better quality seed because they have been bred for disease-resistance or high productivity.

Tool of the Week

• Butter Crunch Lettuce

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Best Knives for Gardening and Harvesting

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about the best knives for gardening and general use around the homestead. They each chose five of their favorite knives that they use frequently around their garden and farm. They first talk about the different types of metal present on modern-day knives and discuss the differences between high-carbon steel and stainless steel. They mention that high-carbon steel is your older type steels that are easier to sharpen, but requires more maintenance and care. The high-performance stainless steels, which have become increasingly popular as of late, are great but can take longer to sharpen because the metal is harder. The Bushlore Knife has a walnut handle and 1080 high carbon steel. Similar to the Bushlore is our smaller Sapien Knife that is high carbon steel also. The guys talk a little bit about the Old Hickory knives that are made for harvesting and for kitchen or food preparation. These knives include the cabbage knife which is made for cutting greens, lettuce, or cabbage. Similar to the cabbage knife is the California knife. Travis’ favorite knives include the ESEE-3, the Morakniv Craftline, the Kershaw Leek and his newly acquired Benchmade 940. Greg’s favorite knives include Buck folders and several made by Bark River Knives. They conclude that the Kershaw Leek and the Bushlore Knife are the best two knives for the money.

Show and Tell Segment

On the Show & Tell segment, Travis has a head of Parris Island Romaine Lettuce that he grew in his vegetable garden. He recently sprinkled some Chilean Nitrate and used his Hoss Wheel Hoe to cultivate alongside the row and that’s when his lettuce really started taking off. They give the lettuce a taste test and talk about the flavor compared to traditional iceberg lettuce. Greg mentions that romaine is his favorite type of lettuce to grow. They discuss how romaine is great for making Caesar salads or using for lettuce wraps with chicken, pork or shrimp. They talk about when using hybrid seeds you should make sure that you put one per seed tray. Greg prefers to seed by hand because it is a lot easier with those pelleted seeds. Greg shows his little mini greenhouse that he has a rooted fig cutting in that they had previously demonstrated on a video. It has some buddings and he will soon move it out to the greenhouse. They guys also discuss a little bit about the new seed room and the new products that will becoming to the Hoss Tools website very soon.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, they answer questions about starting spring crops in seed trays and the frequency at which soil samples should be taken in the garden. They explain that they usually start spring transplants around early to mid-February. Some spring transplants would include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, and watermelons. Travis does not recommend transplanting squash in the seed trays because they may experience some transplant shock. Greg explains soil sampling and suggests that the potassium, or “potash”, levels shouldn’t change much between winter and spring. He explains that potash is a little bit mobile in the soil so when doing an application of potash you should do it pre-plant a couple of three weeks before planting. Greg recommends not sampling the soil again as those nutrients should still be there for spring planting. Always remember when doing a soil sample and reading your phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen levels you should apply them two to three weeks before planting not three or four months in advance.

Tool of the Week

• Bushlore Garden Knife

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Preparing Your Garden Plot for Planting

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about the different ways to prepare a garden plot for planting. They first discuss how to determine the appropriate size of the garden. They explain how they prefer small subplots versus one large garden plot. The subplots make the garden easier to manage and are more friendly to proper crop rotation. They’ve found that planting in long rows is not the best solution for crop rotation because you are limited to where you can plant year after year. They talk about different ways to prepare the soil on a new garden plot. These would include using a bottom plow, harrow, tiller or tarping. They suggest starting a couple of months before you intend to plant, as this will allow enough time to break up the grass clumps and get the tilth to a working state. Also, Greg says when you go to prepare a garden plot do not forget to do a soil sample test so you know what level of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen you need to add to the soil before planting.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a jar of pickled okra that his father-in-law made. The guys try it on the show and talk about their favorite ways to make pickled okra. Travis brought a head of white cauliflower that he harvested from the demonstration garden at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Although it can take a while to produce, cauliflower is one of the best-tasting treats from the cool-weather vegetable garden. He also has a head of purple cauliflower called Graffiti. With the purple cauliflower, you don’t have to worry about much discoloration because of the darker color. This is a great variety that is rich in antioxidants and holds its color when cooked. We also carry a yellow to orangish, Flame Star Cauliflower that is a hybrid and has great heat tolerance. Greg talks a little bit about when you want to use calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. In the southern climates, you should use some ammonium sulfate on onions because it is a nitrogen source that contains a lot of sulfur which onions love. In the northern climates, you should use calcium nitrate to help supplement your nitrogen source to onions.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about planting the Premium Greens Mix and how to manage squash borers. Travis explains that the Asian greens mixes are pretty cold-hardy and can be planted anytime throughout the fall and winter growing seasons. Succession planting these beds of greens is a great strategy to ensure continuous harvests throughout the cooler months. Greg says if we have a really bad cold spell they will take a little longer to germinate and pop up, but if you have warmer days it won’t take long at all to pop up. They mention that squash vine borers are more easily controlled in the larval stage, but can be difficult to manage once adult populations begin to thrive. They suggest using rotations of B.t. and Spinosad to eliminate larval individuals and prevent adult populations from flourishing and doing maximal damage. Greg says instead of using B.t. he would use Neem Oil and switch it out with Spinosad. As well as, good crop rotation because it is not good to plant the same crops in the same spot year after year. Also, removing crop debris like eggs that can overwinter in the soil will decrease your chances of squash borers in the vegetable garden.

Tool of the Week

• Graffiti Cauliflower

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Vegetable Gardeners: New Years Resolutions

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss their New Years Resolutions for their own personal gardens. Some of their New Years Resolutions include expanding their garden size, growing more cover crops, growing more winter squash in spring, doing more pickling and fermenting, and growing more okra. Travis mentions that he has plans to expand his garden area by 1/4 acre after the removal of trees and finishes the preparation of the soil so he can get started planting spring crops. This will add at least six more subplots to his current garden production. Another resolution is that he would like to incorporate more summer cover crops into the rotation, especially in the months of August and September when many things won’t grow due to the extreme heat. He also mentions that he wants to grow more crops that can be harvested more than one time. So crops like Asian greens, Lacinato kale, tiger collards, and okra would all be great because you are able to get multiple harvests off that one crop. Greg explains that one of his New Years Resolutions is to increase his soil health by nurturing the earthworm and microbial populations in it. Another resolution he has is to do a better job in succession planting this coming year. The last resolution that Greg mentions is he wants to go back to growing his favorite field corn variety, Hickory King. It is an old heirloom variety that produces around 12 to 13-foot tall stalks and each stalk produces two huge ears of corn. Overall, Greg and Travis looking forward to trying out these New Years Resolutions and hope to have more successful gardens in the new year.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has some Purple Vienna Kohlrabi and Premium Greens Mix that he grew in his garden. The Purple Vienna Kohlrabi is a great fall/winter vegetable that is cold-hardy, fast-growing and great to eat. The leaves are edible, but most people grow them for the bulb which sits at the bottom of the plant. The bulb has a flavor that resembles a cross between cabbage and cucumber. The Premium Greens Mix is a combination of several different greens like Tatsoi, Mizuna, Arugula, Red Mustard, and Red Russian Kale. This is a great fast-growing, productive crop that grows in the cooler months. It is a “cut and come again” crop that may be harvested 3-4 times throughout the cool growing season. It’s great when prepared raw for a salad, but also can be sautéed with other cool weather vegetables. The tool of the week is the Farmers file that has a double-side for taking the excess material off and single-side for finishing up getting that edge as you want it. Greg talks about the new hand-held Oscillating hoe that they have been working on that has been redesigned to fix on a handle.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about NOP compliant pelleted seed and how to plant mustard as a cover crop. The NOP is the organic compliant pelleted seed which you see a lot with carrots or lettuce. They explain that pelleted seed will definitely be something they carry in the future, but the varieties may be limited initially. They contrast growing a large cover crop of mustard versus a small one and explain that broadcasting is more feasible on a larger plot while a walk-behind seeder works well for smaller plots. Greg says if he is using mustard for a cover crop he will broadcast it, but if he is using it for a food crop he will use the seeder and plant in rows.

Tool of the Week

• Farmer’s File

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Biofumigation in the Vegetable Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss using biofumigation as a sustainable technique for controlling harmful soil pests like nematodes. Travis begins by describing how biofumigation works so different plants like brassicas will release certain compounds when their leaves are broken down into the soil. Brassicas and mustards both have those different compounds known as glucosinolates. Broadleaf mustard is a great cover crop to use for biofumigation. Travis talks about a plot that he has grown throughout the fall in an attempt to remove nematodes that he found on an okra crop. When certain crops (like mustard) are chopped and incorporated into the soil, they release chemical compounds that fumigate the soil and kill harmful soil pests. Biofumigation is great for nematode control, weed pressure, and fungal diseases. Also, it helps with Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt.

They talk about best practices for incorporating the biofumigant crop into the soil, including what equipment to use and when to do it. Travis says they recommended having your soil pH as close to neutral or 7 as possible. Another recommendation is adding nitrogen or the nutrients before you plant. They mention that the plant leaves must be adequately chopped for the biofumigant chemicals to be released. This is best done with a tiller or a harrow. The chopping and incorporation of the biomass are also best done when the soil is somewhat moist. Due to the release of the biofumigant gases, it is important to not plant anything in that area until the cover crop is completely decomposed. This will ensure any of the biofumigant effects do not affect the following crop.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys talk about the large amounts of rain they’ve been having and how it has impeded their ability to cultivate the garden. They mention that they have been unable to inject fertilizer through the drip system, but have been side dressing using Chilean Nitrate. Greg used the fertilizer on his onions, radishes, mustard, and beets in the vegetable garden. Travis talks about his onions and how he’s been fertilizing them regularly lately. They guys also answer some questions that viewers have been having about when you can suspect to see our new seed lineup on the website. They also talk a little bit about the start of construction on our new climate controlled seed room. The guys share their tool of the week which is Broadleaf mustard. It is not only great to eat, but it also offers disease and weed control in your garden. We offer the mustard in a one, five, and ten-pound bags.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a wish from a viewer. Travis reads a letter from a 16-year-old boy who raises chickens for egg production to sell at the farmers market. The boy grows his own corn for feed and was having trouble with weeds hampering his corn production. The guys were glad to grant his Christmas wish and send him a new High Arch Wheel Hoe and some attachments to help him grow more corn for the future.

Tool of the Week

• Broadleaf Mustard

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Best Gardening Gifts for Under $20

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about the best gardening gifts under $20 for the holiday season. The first one they show is the Carrot and Potato Washing Brush, which is an excellent vegetable brush for harder-skinned gardening harvests. This brush is made in the USA and very high-quality. The second stocking stuffer is the Hoss Garden Planner, which provides planting dates, plant spacing, row spacing and even companion planting suggestions for a wide variety of vegetable crops. The next gardening gifts include Wooden Garden Labels which is great for putting in your transplanted seed trays or even in the garden so you can know what you planted. The fourth gardening gift is the Farmers File, which is great for keeping hoes and other hand tools sharp. Greg then shows the Corn Silking Brush, which is hard to find but very useful for removing the silks on fresh sweet corn. Travis shows one of his favorite tools for pickling vegetables, which is the Pickle Packer vegetable tamper. The last gardening gifts under $20 include Cotton Butcher String, the California Knife and the Handy Twine Knife, which are all especially handy to have around the farm and garden. They also discuss some of their favorite gardening gifts that are not available on the Hoss Tools site. These would include Muck Boots, Foxgloves, a Buck pocket knife, Row Cover and a Filson wax canvas hat.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has a head of broccoli that came from Travis’ garden. Travis mentions that this is the Green Magic variety, which is especially heat-tolerant compared to other standard broccoli varieties. He mentions that they will soon carry two varieties of broccoli, Green Magic and Arcadia. While Green Magic is especially heat-tolerant, Acadia performs well in cool weather when soil moisture tends to be higher. Greg’s garden is drying out from all the rain lately. He has lettuce and mixed greens planted and will need to hit them both with some fertilizer soon. Travis side dressed with some Chilean Nitrate last night since there is rain coming. This weeks tool of the week is the Bushlore Garden Knife which has a high carbon steel blade and a full tang.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a question about a 40-year-old fig tree ceasing production. Greg mentions that disease can sometimes cripple old trees, but that he would still have hope for it. He recommends pruning all the old, dead wood and cutting at an angle so the wood does not hold in there. One thing that Greg has noticed about fig trees is they respond well to good water. Make sure you provide enough water to that tree when you experience a dry period. He says give it about a year to grow back and it should stay true to variety. If it does not come back and flourish it may have got to infected so remove the tree and replace it. Greg gives one tip that he likes to do with his fig trees. He takes a 5-gallon bucket then drills a small hole at the bottom of the bucket and fills it with water. Greg places that bucket next to his fig tree during the dry period and the fig tree is gradually getting water from the 5-gallon bucket. Greg shows off one more gardening gift idea at the end of the show. Which is the Garden Hod that works as a great multifunctional harvesting bucket.

Tool of the Week

• Bushlore Garden Knife

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Propagating Fig Varieties

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about fig varieties and how to propagate new trees from existing ones. They talk about the different flavor profiles that can be present in a given fig variety. These can include berry, honey or sugar. Berry figs have more of a strawberry or fruity taste and tend to have a purple or red pulp. Honey figs have a caramel or molasses flavor and tend to have a golden pulp with yellow skin. Sugar figs have a basic, sweet sugary taste with a slight tannin flavor and will have a brown or amber pulp and dark skin. All fig varieties can be a combination of any of these categories, so the flavor scale is more of a continuum than a specific classification. Greg talks about open-eye versus close-eye figs and mentions how the close-eye trait is an adaptation that protects the figs from insects and makes the fruit more palatable. Travis mentions that figs are parthenocarpic, meaning they don’t require fertilization to produce fruit. The fig, in fact, is simply a collection of unfertilized female reproductive organs. Greg explains that many people buy fig cuttings and rot them by themselves which sounds a little intimidating at first. However, Greg gives a little demonstration on how to take the fig cuttings and rot them for the garden. They also discuss the research that has been done at Louisiana State University (LSU) where many improved fig varieties have been developed over the years and released to the public. Greg recommends starting out with those fig varieties.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg has a satsuma orange that he got from a neighbor’s tree. He explains that these types of citrus can be grown well in the deep south as long as the winters are not too cold. Travis brought a beet to taste test on the show. The beet is the Merlin variety, which has a very high sugar content compared to other red beet varieties. He also has a Purple Vienna Kohlrabi variety that is cold-tolerant and it has a similar taste to turnips. Kohlrabi is a great vegetable that’s easy to grow and has excellent taste raw or cooked. We offer a Purple Vienna and a White Vienna Kohlrabi variety. They guys talk a little bit about adding fertilizer to there Mustard cover crops in the garden. The tool of the week is the diamond hoe. This is a great go-to tool that slides along the top of the soil surface to remove those small weeds in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about drip irrigation and what type of hat Greg is wearing on the show. They explain the crops for which they prefer drip irrigation and those that they prefer to use overhead irrigation. Travis uses more drip irrigation than Greg, so it tends to be a matter of personal preference with some crops. Greg says it depends on the short-term or long-term crops and whether the crops warrant the drip tape or not. Short-term crops like summer squash Greg does not add drip tape on because he feels that they don’t necessarily need the drip tape. On the other hand, crops like tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, pumpkins, or corn he always puts drip tape on those long-term crops. Greg mentions that his hat is a Filson. It is a waxed canvas hat which can get hot in the warmer months but is the perfect hat for the winter months.

Tool of the Week

• Diamond Hoe

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Growing Garlic and Elephant Garlic in the South

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about growing garlic and elephant garlic in their southern climate. Which can be somewhat tricking growing in the garden with the temperatures we have in the deep south. They begin by distinguishing between hardneck and softneck garlic. Travis mentions that softneck grows well in areas with milder winters, whereas hardneck garlic prefers areas where winters can get pretty cold. Greg explains that softneck garlic is what is traditionally found at the grocery store. He then shares his experience with growing softneck garlic in his garden. Garlic needs cold temperatures or vernalization, which is the induction of flowering or bulbing. This vernalization period is necessary for the garlic bulb to stratify, or produce cloves. Greg mentions that it rarely gets cold enough in South Georgia for that stratification to take place. Some people claim that putting the cloves in the refrigerator before you plant can help with growth in the southern climates. On the other hand, the guys explain that they have had success growing elephant garlic. Elephant garlic, although related, is not a true garlic. Elephant garlic is closely related to leeks than garlic. They plant elephant garlic around the same time they plant onions. They dig a furrow and plant the cloves with the pointed ends up, about 3-4″ deep in well-drained soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg talks a little bit about his Covington potatoes that have done great in the garden this year. Next year he is thinking about doing a row of Covington and Georgia Jets from Steele Plant Company to see which one does better. Travis brings the bottom of an okra stalk from his garden. Due to the cool weather, he recently pulled his okra plants from the soil. He mentions that this is a good opportunity to check for root-knot nematodes. From the appearance of these roots, there doesn’t appear to be any root-knot nematode damage, which is good. He also brought some transplants that are ready to go in the ground, which includes Parris Island Romaine lettuce, Brussels sprouts, and beets. The tool of the week is our high carbon steel pruning shears that are really easy to sharpen. These shears are great for pruning muscadine vines and fig trees.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about soil blocking and pruning Brussels sprouts. Greg mentions that soil blocking is a good technique for people who like to take a long time to do something simple. He explains that the arguments for soil blocks don’t hold water against their heavy-duty seed starting trays. Travis has a little more experience with growing Brussel sprouts. He talks about topping Brussels sprouts to get a better harvest. He mentions that the stalks will start by making a ton of foliage on the center stalks and then you will start to see the axillary buds begin to form. Under that foliage on that center stalk, you will then start to see your Brussel sprouts form. If you do not go in there and cut the tops off the plant’s energy will be more focused on making leaves. Also, the Brussel sprouts will be unevenly sized along the stalks of the plant. Travis recommends getting a pair of pruners and cutting off the top apical meristem. That will allow the plant to put more energy and focus into growing more buds or Brussel sprouts. This will also increase more evenly production on the stalks in the garden.

Tool of the Week

• Pruning Shears

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Top 10 Best Gift Ideas for Gardeners

On this week’s episode, the guys take a break from the traditional gardening discussion and talk about the best Christmas gift ideas for gardeners. They have a top 10 list that they reveal. They start with some cutting tools including their Watermelon Knife, Hatchet and Village Machete. The watermelon knife is made by Ontario Knife Company in New York. This tool is great for cutting up any of your larger produce like watermelons, pumpkins, or cantaloupe. One of Greg’s favorite tools is the high carbon steel hatchet. This is an ideal tool for light cutting of limbs or word around the garden or homestead. Greg talks about how a nice machete is a perfect gift for anyone because it is such a versatile tool with many different uses around the farm and garden. This machete has a beautiful walnut handle and has a high carbon steel blade with a full tang. Travis continues through the list with a couple of his favorite short-handle tools, which include the Short Single Tine Cultivator and their famous Garden Trowel. He mentions that the Single Tine Cultivator is absolutely his favorite tool for weeding onions, garlic, and similar crops in the garden. He talks about the strength of the Garden Trowel and how it is guaranteed with a lifetime warranty. Then they talk a little bit about their complete fermentation kit. This kit offers everything you would need to start fermenting your own vegetables. They then feature a couple of harvesting containers which include the TubTrug Colander and the extremely popular Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting Bucket. Travis speaks about the durability and indestructibility of the TubTrug Colander and how it won’t become brittle over time. The popular Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting bucket offers comfortable padded support that will make harvesting ten times easier. Finally, the number one gift idea is their Single Wheel Hoe. Greg mentions that this is the ultimate gift for someone who is just getting into gardening.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys discuss the speculation of the Grand Solar Minimum that has been hypothesized by a UK scientist. Travis mentions that this is supposedly a more extreme, prolonged version of the solar minimum that happens every 11-12 years as a result of reduced solar flares. The guys discuss the possibility of if it is true that means there will be longer colder months. He mentions that many of the sites giving validity to the Grand Solar Minimum are in the “prepper” community. Greg mentions that he’s not going to worry about anything he can’t control. He also mentions that if anyone is going to be alright, he believes it will be them. The guys also talk a little bit about getting into the seed business. Starting in January, they will have a brand new seed lineup with many different varieties coming to the website.

Top 10 Christmas Gift List

10. Watermelon Knife

9. Hatchet

8. Short Single Tine Cultivator

7. Village Machete

6. Garden Trowel

5. Complete Fermentation Kit

4. Old Hickory 8″ Slicer

3. TubTrug Colander

2. Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting Bucket

1. Single Wheel Hoe

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:17 — 39.0MB) | Embed

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Coldest Tolerant Crops Grown in the Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about the coldest tolerant crops to grow in a vegetable garden. They begin by discussing factors that will increase cold tolerance. These include pre-conditioning and the amount of soil moisture present. If plants have been pre-conditioned to cooler temps, they will be more likely to survive than plants that experience a drastic drop in temperature. Due to water having a high specific heat, it insulates soils and keeps them from freezing. They always like to place the plants that are in the greenhouse to the outside of the greenhouse a few days before planting so they are able to adjust to the cooler outside temperatures. They talk about the cool weather champ crops that can withstand the harshest cold temperatures which include carrots, beets, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, parsley, spinach, and leeks. Travis mentions that even with temperatures in the teens last year, he saw no damage to his carrots. They discuss the fact that collards are probably the coldest tolerant crop of them all, as some varieties have been noted to be cold tolerant down to zero degrees Fahrenheit. The crops that have moderate frost tolerance include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, mustard, onions, shallots, radishes, and turnips. These crops will not die from a light frost, but it may burn the tips of the leaves or foliage. They recommend if you ever have a chance of building a high tunnel greenhouse that is a great investment that will allow you to grow food year and not worry about the frost.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about sweet corn in late fall and collards. Travis has an ear of Ambrosia corn harvested from the demonstration garden at the Hoss Sustainable Living Center. He mentions that most people only grow corn in the spring/summer, but that it can be grown throughout most of the year when no threat of frost is present. They also discuss collard varieties and reference a conversation between a seed representative about a trial between Tiger, Bulldog and Top Bunch collard varieties. Travis is really pleased with his Tiger Collards in the vegetable garden. Travis talks a little bit about the Top Bunch 2 variety that will be released soon. However, it may be a little pricy when it becomes available to buy. Greg has some cover crops starting to come up in the garden. As soon as the guys receive their onions from Steele Plant Company they will be planting onions in the garden. The tool of the week is the heat-treated steel, digging tool. Similar to the Hori Hori style gardening tool the digging tool is great for cultivating and weeding in smaller garden areas.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about trimming onions and planting shallots. Greg explains that he can’t see any reason to trim the tops of onions for an upcoming frost. The tops are the location of photosynthesis which is critical to the plant. And even though they may burn a little in the frost, they will be just fine. Travis mentions that shallots can also be planted at the same time as onions. Shallots are apart of the onion family so this will allow the green onions to be harvested as a smaller version of the Yellow Granex or Texas Legend onions they grow.

Tool of the Week

• Digging Tool

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:12 — 48.0MB) | Embed

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Growing Onions in the Vegetable Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about planting and growing onions. They talk about the difference between short-day, intermediate-day, and long-day onions and how you can determine which type is best for your area. The short-day onions are between 10 to 12 hours daylength. The intermediate-day is 12 to 14 hours daylength. Then, long-day are between 14 to 16 hours daylength. The ones that they can grow are short day onions because of where they live in the south. They also discuss the varieties that have worked well for them which include Texas Legend, Yellow Granex, Southern Belle Red and Red Creole. Greg and Travis discuss how they like to plant their onions thick and thin later when harvesting some as green onions. Travis mentions that growing onions can be broken into two phases — the foliage stage and the bulb stage. He explains that you want to grow as much foliage as you can, which in turn will create nice, large bulbs during the latter stages of the plant growth. They also talk about fertilizer needs for onions. They mention that onions need a complete fertilizer with phosphorous and potassium initially, but then mostly nitrogen throughout the rest of the foliage stage. Travis will give the onions 20-20-20 to start off then lay off with that fertilizer and sometimes top dress or sprinkle some Chilean Nitrate. They recommend to stop adding fertilizer when the onions get to the bulbing stage. According to Bruce at Steele Plant Company, the sweetness of the onion is completely dependent on the amount of water it receives. When it comes to harvesting onions you should wait till the tops fall over. Steele Plant Company is also sending Greg and Travis some shallots, leeks, and elephant garlic to trial out in the garden this year.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about some radishes that were just harvested from Travis’ garden. Greg mentions that he recently planted several rows but is concerned about the heavy rains affecting the germination. Travis also explains the difference between multiform and monogram beet seed, and the need for thinning when using multiform beet seed. He prefers to grow beets from transplants because he can thin in the greenhouse versus thinning in the field. Greg has got carrots, English peas, cilantro, radishes, and beets all planted in the garden. The tool of the week is our dibble wheel attachment that can attach to our Single, Double, and High Arch Wheel Hoes. This is a great tool that makes indentions in the soil for transplants or seeding.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about adding phosphorous to the soil and will glyphosate kill weed seeds. The first step when wanting to add phosphorous is you should do a soil test to check where your levels are in the soil. Greg explains there are many different organic sources for adding phosphorous to garden soils, which include soft rock phosphate, hard rock phosphate, bone meal, and triple phosphate. He mentions that soft rock phosphate would be his preferred organic solution, but that the inorganic forms work very well also. Greg also states that if you have too much phosphorous in the soil you can use a crop like corn to pull away some of that phosphorous from the soil. Travis explains that glyphosate or commonly known as Roundup will not kill mature weed seeds and is only engineered to kill the plant. He says the best way to control weed seeds on your dirt is to incorporate them in or kill the plant before it seeds.

Tool of the Week

• Dibble Wheel Attachment