Row by Row Garden Show

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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

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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

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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

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Avoid These Mistakes When Planting Carrots

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about planting carrots. They start by discussing the four different types of carrots that are defined mostly by their shape. The Danvers type is the traditional “bugs bunny” carrot that has broad shoulders and tapers down to a pointy tip. The Nantes type, which is Travis’ favorite, is more cylindrical with a blunt end. The Imperator type is slender and long and would be best suited for softer, well-drained soils. Finally, the Chantenay type is a short and stubby carrot that would be best suited for harder, clay soils. Travis mentions his favorite varieties to plant which include Miami, Bolero, Yellowstone and Purple Haze. Greg talks about some of the mistakes he has made in the past when planting carrots. These would include not planting them thick enough and not having enough patience for germination. Carrots can take up to 21 days to germinate so patience is very important when growing carrots. Greg has a little tip to help with stratification of carrots. He says you can put your carrot seeds in a Ziploc bag and place them in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. Then, after a couple of weeks take them out the refrigerator and plant them immediately in the garden. This will in return help shorten the length and cause the germination to be quicker on the carrots. The optimal soil temperature is around 75 degrees, so the best time to harvest carrots is in February. A pest that you may experience when growing carrots is root-knot nematodes. It’s important when doing crop rotation to avoid planting okra with carrots to reduce that nematode pressure. Another issue that you can experience is cavity spot or Pythium which is a soil disease in the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, Greg talks about the sweet potato crop that he recently dug. He has two really nice sweet potatoes that he brought to show the audience. He mentions that it is probably the best crop he has ever grown and that they will have sweet potatoes to eat for many months. Travis provides an update on getting onion plants from Dixondale Farms and mentions that it looks like it will be the end of November before they will ship onion plants. They discuss a little bit about there garden at the SunBelt Expo. They have ambrosia corn almost ready to harvest in the garden. As well as, their Broadleaf mustard cover crop that has just started coming up. The tool of the week this week is the single tine cultivator. One of our popular hand tools this is useful for scratching around onions, carrots, or elephant garlic that are planted closely together in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about no-till farming and ants in the garden. Travis mentions that true no-till farming can only be done with heavy commercial equipment because it’s tough to penetrate uncultivated soil with hand seeders. And although many market farmers claim to be “no-till,” they are actually minimum till. Greg and Travis prefer minimum till and only use the tiller when removing crop debris or leveling the soil. For ant control, Greg mentions that there are many toxic solutions on the market. But for use around the food garden, he prefers to use something like the Monterrey Ant Control which has non-toxic ingredients. It is a bait product so it will not kill the ants immediately and it may take a couple of days.

Tool of the Week

• Single Tine Cultivator
• Short Single Tine Cultivator

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Correct Soil pH in the Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about soil chemistry and the importance of having the correct soil pH. They define pH as the concentration of free hydrogen ions and explain how the pH scale works. Most vegetable annuals prefer a soil pH that is just slightly acidic, usually around 6.5.  They talk about factors that can lower soil pH, which include rainfall, the addition of fertilizer, and certain cover crops. Greg talks about the importance of performing periodic soil tests to keep an eye on the soil chemistry. While soil pH can be easily raised with the addition of lime, it is extremely impossible to lower pH if you get it too high. There are two different formulations — pelletized and agricultural grade. The best option is to get the pelletized lime because you are able to apply it using a fertilizer spreader. That’s why it’s important to do your own soil test so that the correct amounts of any pH adjusting material are added. If you add elements to the soil that you do not need you will have repercussions that are not easily fixable. Finally, they discuss the importance of macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and sulfur. If pH is incorrect, then the availability of these nutrients will be affected. Greg says when you have deficiencies in your plants most of the time the first thing you need to check for accuracy of pH in the soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, Travis talks about his recent sweet potato harvest and brings an extremely large sweet potato to show the audience. He mentions several techniques he tried this year that seemed to work well on his sweet potatoes. They also talk about the Rattlesnake pole beans growing in Travis’ garden. These have been a very prolific crop thus far and are very appealing to the eye because of their purple color. Greg is in the process of cleaning his garden up and getting ready to plant all his cover crops. Brassicas, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and collards are all in full swing in the garden. The tool of the week is the Hoss Tools, garden fork. A great heavy-duty tool for breaking ground and digging potatoes. The guys also mentioned how great it was to see so many people stop by the Hoss Sustainable Living Center at the SunBelt Expo last week.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a question about composting and whether it should be applied to the entire garden or just where the plants are going to be. Travis mentions that compost can serve two purposes — to improve the workability of the soil and also to provide nutrients. He also mentions that most composts are carbon-based, while they use mostly manure-based compost which has much more nitrogen. The carbon-based composts may be applied to the entire garden area as a way to amend or improve the soil structure, while the manure-based composts are typically only applied along the row due to the high nitrogen content. They guys say it’s all about what you have available around your area.

Tool of the Week

• Garden Fork

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The “Back To Eden” Gardening Technique

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss the recently popular “Back to Eden” gardening technique. This technique involves mulching the entire garden area with straw or wood chips in an attempt to reduce weed pressure and conserve moisture. Travis mentions that while it does suppress some weeds, there will still be weed seed inputs from wind, water, and animals. And those weeds would require pulling by hand because of the inability to use a cultivating/weeding tool in a heavily mulched area. The guys agree that there preferred way of keeping weed pressure to a minimum is by planting cover crops. Also, adding cover crops will increase soil nutrients back into the soil. Overall, it does keep some weed pressure to a minimum, but frequent cultivation is much easier and effective. Another Back to Eden claim technique is that you will need less water and fertilizer in the garden. Travis says although it may reduce water usage it will not reduce fertilizer usage because of our location in the deep south. In the South, because of our soil types and weather, it is hard to keep nutrients in the soil for the plants to uptake. So we have to add fertilizer supplements to provide plants with the nutrients they need in the soil. Greg mentions that replicating a forest environment is not a good idea for vegetable plants. When growing a vegetable garden, we must manipulate the environment because these plants such as tomatoes, peppers or watermelons are not native. As a result, mulched areas create an unnatural environment for these cultivated varieties. Using wood chips will tie up your nitrogen nutrients in the garden which is a natural process that has to decay. Travis also mentions that the Back to Eden method is not a very time-efficient method of gardening. With short-term annual crops, it requires too much time to remove mulch when you plant versus simply cultivating the area once a week.

Show and Tell Segment

On the Show & Tell segment this week, the guys talk about their upcoming event at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Greg says the garden is looking good with corn, collards, cut flowers and more. Greg also has some Seminole Pumpkins that he recently harvested from his personal garden. This pumpkin variety is very resistant to viruses and diseases that typically plague pumpkins grown in southern climates. Travis mentions that the Seminole variety has great flavor and is perfect for making pies or even baby food. The tool of the week is Chilean Nitrate which provides a natural source of nitrogen for the vegetable garden. Travis used it recently to side dress his broccoli, collards, and cauliflower. Greg used it also at the expo to side-dress corn and all the greens and it ended up making a huge difference in the plants. This is the best product to use if you need to add some nitrogen to a nitrogen-loving plant.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a question about tillage radish spacing as a cover crop. Tillage radish works great in heavy clay soils because it grows deep in the soil and provides great nutrients. Travis explains that recommendations suggest a spacing of rows 6″ to 14″ apart, but that he would err on the side of having rows closer together. He suggests planting rows 6″ apart if planting tillage radish with a walk-behind seeder. Greg talks about the benefits of tillage radish as a cover crop because it acts as a sponge for nutrients and breaks down easily when incorporated into the soil.

Tool of the Week

• Chilean Nitrate Fertilizer

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The Difference in Wheel Hoe Attachments

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss the wide variety of attachments that are available for the Hoss Wheel Hoe. They go through each attachment and help to explain which are the best wheel hoe attachments for each particular garden or situation. They talk about the new Winged Sweep attachment that just became available and how it has more “bite” than the cultivator teeth. This additional bite or angle of cultivation will be helpful to those with harder, clay soils or those with heavy weed pressure. They also differentiate between the standard Sweeps and the Oscillating Hoe attachments. They mention that the Sweeps are for lighter jobs, while the Oscillating Hoes are some of the best wheel hoe attachments for heavier applications. We offer 3 different sizes of the oscillating hoes — 6, 8, and 12 inches wide. The guys are also in the process of designing a handheld oscillating hoe that will be released soon. The Spreader Bar is a tool that extends the length for adding more attachments or offsetting your work path. They discuss the usefulness of the Disk Harrow attachment for light duty cultivation in softer soils. The last attachment they talk about is the Drip Tape Layer attachment that fits on the Double Wheel Hoe which makes it quick and easy to lay drip tape by yourself in the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about the variety of collards that they are growing this fall. Travis has Tiger Collard variety of transplants that are very similar to the Top Bunch variety that was so popular for many years. However, due to crop failure, the Top Bunch variety is no longer available. Travis also has Lacinato kale and Red Russian kale that are ready to move into the vegetable garden. They also provide an update on the demonstration garden at the Hoss Tools Sustainable Living Center for the Sunbelt Ag Expo and mention that they will be planting some mixed greens and cover crops there in the next few days. The pest pressure has decreased drastically in the last couple of weeks which is great for the vegetable garden. The tool of the week is Spinosad which is an organic control that helps with pest problems in the garden such as worms, thrips, and caterpillars. It has two different modes of action it can kill on contact or kill by ingestion within 48 hours of applying to the plant.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a question about well water vs. tap water and using drip tape on onions. Greg mentions that tap water, or “city water”, can affect the pH of your garden soil over time. He believes the chlorine concentrations are low enough to not have a significant effect, but that the pH should be monitored if one is using municipal water on their vegetable garden. Greg says it is important to know what level of pH is in your water because it has an effect on your soils. He recommends taking a sample of your water to a local pool store and asking them to run a pH test on it. They guys are currently waiting for their onion stalks to come from Dixondale, but as soon as they receive them they will be planting onions. Travis explains that his system for planting onions has been extremely effective year after year. He recommends planting onions on drip tape, with two rows of onions per one line of drip tape.

Tool of the Week

• Spinosad Garden Insect Spray

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Improving Your Irrigation in the Garden

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss the best solutions for vegetable garden irrigation. They discuss which crops are more suitable for overhead irrigation or hand-watering. These would include very short-term crops like potatoes, mustard, or mixed greens. They have such a short maturity date, it’s really not worth the time to install drip irrigation on these crops. With longer maturing crops, they recommend using drip irrigation for many reasons. Using drip tape for garden irrigation saves time from having to move sprinklers around the garden and it also uses less water because the water is applied directly to the plant roots. Drip irrigation will also reduce weed pressure and plant diseases by limiting leaf moisture. Greg states that drip tape was designed to either go sub-surface or underneath the plastic mulch. That is the most effective way because it will not move around on you as it does laying on top of the soil. Our drip tape comes with emitters every 12 inches apart which allows water output for .4 gallons a minute per 100 feet. Using drip irrigation you are not wasting any water and all that water is going directly where the plant needs it. They answer some frequently asked questions about run time and using it with a gravity-fed system, lifespan, and removal.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys provide an update of the demonstration garden at the Hoss Tools Sustainable Living Center as part of the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Greg mentions that things are growing well despite some heavy whitefly pressure. They have a good stand of Ambrosia sweet corn growing and it will need hilling soon. They applied drip tape irrigation which has been great in these drought temperatures we have been experiencing. Travis mentioned that he recently planted a mixed greens variety that has Tatsoi, Mizuna, Red Russian Kale, and Arugula. He also mentions that his jambalaya okra is producing very well and he’s been using a new technique called the “prune and whoop” which has been effective. The tool of the week is Rabbit and Squirrel Repellant this is the best product for keeping small rodents from eating your Brussel sprouts and cauliflower plants. It works best to apply early on in the garden and don’t use close to harvesting time. The second tool of the week is we now offer a 1-pound package of Broadleaf Mustard. Cover crops are great for the garden because they break down into the soil and apply nutrients that the soil needs. Another advantage cover crops have is they keep nematode pressure to a minimum in the garden. These cover crops can be planted with a seeder or broadcaster in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer a question about planting cover crops. Greg mentions that cover crops will need a light layer of soil on top of them to germinate. If you have any kind of small seed you should plant it very shallow in the soil, but with full soil contact. So after broadcasting on top of the soil, a light raking is needed to cover the seeds for germination. Greg recommends planting these seeds at least a half inch in the soil. He mentions that a disk behind a tractor would bury the seeds too deep, but that the Disk Harrow attachment for the Hoss Wheel Hoe is a great way to cover those seeds in the vegetable garden.

Tool of the Week

• Rabbit and Squirrel Repellent
• Broadleaf Mustard Cover Crop Seed

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Importance of Cover Crops

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss growing cover crops to improve garden soil health. Hoss recently added a complete line of cool and warm-season cover crops on their website, and the guys are excited to share these with the audience this week. Growing cover crops has many benefits including nitrogen fixation, soil building, weed suppression, erosion control, pest and disease suppression among others. All cover crops have certain benefits that they specialize in. They recommend using cover crops if you are not growing anything else in the fall garden because it will help reduce the weed seed bank in the garden. They discuss the five cool-season cover crops that should be planted in fall, giving the crops enough time to establish before winter frost arrives. These include crimson clover, hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas, winter rye, and tillage radish. Also, most of these cover crops can be planted with our Hoss Garden Seeder. The crimson clover we offer is coated with inoculant on the seed which makes it simpler to plant and grow. It also is great for pollinators like bees because they absolutely love it. For harder, clay soils, the guys recommend using tillage radish to aerate hard soils and improve drainage in areas that hold too much moisture. The Austrian Winter Peas are great for planting a food plot for livestock. Out of all the winter cover crops, it is the fastest growing cover crop. Next is the winter rye which a lot of commercial farmers that do no-till use when farming. This is the only cover crop that does not work with the garden seeder you should broadcast it in with a rake or harrow. The last cover crop they discuss is Hairy Vetch. This crop re-seeds really well so if you want a cover crop that is going to naturally re-seed and produce really well this is the one the guys recommend. Clover, vetch, and winter peas are all great nitrogen-fixers which sequester nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to your garden soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about their sweet potatoes that are still growing. They planted these in the middle of June and sweet potatoes usually require about 100 days to maturity. However, their plants were fairly weak when planted, which may delay this time to harvest. Travis brought a few small ones that he dug and mentions that they probably still need another 30 days or so to get larger. Travis also shows a photo of his Ambrosia sweet corn that was recently side-dressed with Chilean Nitrate and hilled with the High Arch Wheel Hoe. Greg shows a photo of his Pro-Cut Sunflowers that have started to bloom and are adding lots of color and pollinators to his fall garden. The guys talk a little bit about the crops growing down at the SunBelt Expo. However, they are experiencing some whitefly pressure which has the plants not doing too well. The tool of the week is our dibble wheel attachment that works perfectly for planting transplants or seeds.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about blood meal and baby lima beans. Greg mentions that blood meal is a fast, organic nitrogen source that can be used for heavy feeders like cabbage. He also mentions that he would probably not use it when close to harvest time. Travis addresses the baby lima bean issue and mentions that baby lima beans are a specific variety that has been bred to produce smaller beans.

Tool of the Week

• Dibble Wheel Attachment

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Fall Garden Crops

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss their favorite fall garden varieties that they’re growing this year. The crops include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, lettuce, collards, beets, kohlrabi, cabbage, and mixed Asian greens. Their favorite variety of broccoli is called Green Magic and they like it because it is very heat-tolerant and does well planted early in the fall. They do mention that broccoli should be harvested before it gets too “seedy”, as it is not very palatable once that happens. They mention Kale as being one of those “superfood” crops because it is loaded with antioxidants. Greg and Travis discuss three different fall garden varieties of Kale — Lacinato, Winter Borer, and Red Borer. The guys recommend growing Kohlrabi in the fall garden as well. They are great for stir-frying or making slaw. For cauliflower, their preferred fall garden varieties include the Denali variety for a white cauliflower. Last year they tried the purple cauliflower variety called “Graffiti” and it did really well up until the first frost. The reason behind growing your own fall garden varieties is the ability to control what is being sprayed on the crops. Greg explains that most people do not know, but nitrates are not regulated on any type of green in the United States. Therefore, there are not any rules that farmers have to follow when it comes to spraying nitrate to their crops. So sometimes if you go buy some greens from the grocery store and you have stomach problems this could be caused by nitrate poisoning.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about the Christmas Lima Beans that Travis has growing on a panel trellis in his garden. These are a speckled, running butterbean variety that has been very prolific when grown in previous years. The seed has a red and white variegated color that turns grey when cooked. These beans preserve well, dry well, and are also great for cooking fresh. Compared to a traditional green butterbean, these have a nuttier flavor that is great in soups. They also discuss a little bit about their potato situation in the vegetable garden. Travis has corm that is growing about a foot and half tall getting ready to hill. He believes it will be ready to harvest in 55 to 60 days. They hope to start planting sweet corn at the SunBelt Expo this week and get some other crops growing soon. The tool of the week is a Garden Knife combo which includes our Cabbage Knife, California Knife, and Farmers File. These are excellent knives to use for some of the fall crop harvests in the vegetable garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about nut grass and choosing between the High Arch and Double Wheel Hoe. Nutgrass can be one of the most persistent and annoying weeds in a vegetable garden. Travis mentions that it can be controlled by “aggravating it to death,” which simply means frequently cultivating a few times a week. He prefers to alternate between the cultivator teeth and the sweeps on the Wheel Hoe. Greg distinguishes between the High Arch Wheel Hoe and the Double Wheel Hoe. He mentions that the High Arch Wheel Hoe would be his preferred choice because of the versatility it offers with cultivating and weeding attachments. However, if you want to use some of the other wheel hoe attachments like the drip tape layer attachment the double wheel hoe would be the better option.

Tool of the Week

• Garden Knife Combo

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Let’s Talk Muscadines

On this week’s episode, the guys discuss muscadine grapes. Muscadines are a staple of the south and are not tolerable of extended cold periods below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Muscadines are a native crop in the South that is definitely planted in the majority of everybody’s yard around here. The can grow in zone 6 through 10, so pretty much mid-south and down can grow these muscadines without a problem. Travis shows examples of the four different varieties of muscadines planted on his homestead. He has two “bronze” varieties and two purple varieties. The larger bronze variety is called Scuppernong, which is probably the most prevalent variety. The smaller bronze variety grows in huge clusters and is great for making wine. Although the variety is unknown, the larger purple variety appears to resemble the popular “Cowart” variety, while the smaller purple one appears to be similar to the popular “Noble” variety. They discuss how muscadine vines are relatively maintenance free once established, and how they only need routine pruning once a year. Greg says the best way to eat them is fresh off the vine and demonstrates how to eat the muscadines since there can be a little trick to it. However, you should definitely avoid eating the seeds inside a muscadine. Travis explains that there is a particular way to prune muscadine vines such as leaving a certain amount of growth with the vines. Greg mentions the two ways of planting muscadines — trellis system or arbors. Back in the day, they used to plant arbors and you were able to go underneath the vines to harvest the muscadines. However, arbors do not produce as many muscadines. Nowadays, the trellis system is the best and most popular technique. Greg talks about the muscadine wine that they make and mentions that too much can cause one to have the “zoomies.”

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about the crops they have been planting for fall. Travis has just planted a row of Rattlesnake Beans and Christmas Lima Beans on a panel trellis and they are just starting to emerge from the ground. These are both old heirloom varieties that have done well. Greg has a patch of Seminole pumpkins that are doing really well and starting to set small fruit in the garden. He has not experienced any trouble with mildew yet, so fingers crossed he does not have issues this growing season. The guys also have recently planted fall potatoes for the first time and are very hopeful for that experiment. At their demonstration garden for the Sunbelt Expo, they’ve planted zinnias, cockscomb, and okra thus far with much more to come. The tool of the week is our durable heavy-duty steel, dura rake which works perfectly for bed preparation and cleaning your garden area for planting.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about drying Indian corn and seed tray planting technique. Greg mentions that he puts his field corn in the greenhouse under a fan to keep the weevils off the corn until it dries completely. Then he will put the corn in the freezer which keeps the weevils dormant. Travis answers a question about overcrowding seed trays and he explains that they’ve never had any issues with their heavy-duty seed trays. He has a flat of scarlet kale for demonstration that is beautiful and ready to be transplanted in the garden. Greg and Travis recommended never skipping a cell when planting in a seed tray.

Tool of the Week

• Dura Rake

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Basics of Growing Vegetable Transplants

On this week’s episode, the guys talk about growing vegetable transplants. When it comes to transplanting they recommend a lot of the fall and early spring crops — Lacinato Kale, Green Magic Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Tiger Collards. Obvious crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, and kohlrabi all do better when transplanted. Depending on the certain growing season there are some crops that you can either direct seed or transplant. These crops include beets, okra, zinnias, and sunflowers. Travis says that crops like corn, beans, and peas do not try to transplant at all they just do better direct seeding. They cover everything from the best seed starting mix, the best seed starting trays, how to seed the trays, how to fertilize once the seeds germinate and more! They discuss several different methods for growing transplants including soil blocks, cheap, flimsy seed trays, and quality seed trays that last a lifetime. Greg and Travis explain that if you use soil blocks for growing transplants then you end up wasting time because they take so long to prepare. Although the guys explain that the most effective method for growing transplants is to use our high-quality seed starting trays. They debut the new Premium Seed Starting Kits for fall. Which includes a Dramm wand, wooden garden labels, four garden seed varieties, pro-mix seed starting mix, and a seed starting tray. These kits allow you to grow over 300 plants in one complete kit. Travis also explains why organic fertilizers do not work well on vegetable transplants because it takes too long to convert organic sources to a usable form of nitrogen. As a result, they recommend using a conventional fertilizer like 20-20-20 to get fast results and keep plants happy in the vegetable garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about some cold crops like kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, collards, and lettuce that will be great to get ready to transplant soon. They show off a tray of zinnia transplants that are ready to be planted in their demonstration garden at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. They talk about how the root ball has developed nicely around the Pro-Mix seed starting mix. The Pro-Mix is also the tool of the week for this week. Greg and Travis have been using this seed starting mix for vegetable transplants for a long time in the greenhouse. As always the guys have tested this Pro-Mix in their greenhouses for a couple of years before adding it to our website.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about cover crop planting frequency and the most problematic weeds in their gardens. Greg mentions that cover crops should always be cut and incorporated into the soil before going to seed. Therefore if spring crops are finished, you would need to plant a summer cover crop and follow that with a cool season cover crop in the fall. Travis suggests growing buckwheat or millet during the summer, mowing that and incorporating it into the soil, then planting some crimson clover in the fall. Greg mentions that his most problematic weeds include pigweed, nutgrass, and crabgrass. Travis has a sample of some purslane from his garden and he explains that this weed is problematic for him because it doesn’t dry and die as easily as other weeds. It is the most aggravating because in order to get rid of the purslane you must go into the garden and remove it by hand to throw it away.

Tool of the Week

• Pro-Mix Organic Seed Starting Mix

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Special Guest: Brue Frasier

On this week’s episode, the guys air an interview with Bruce Frasier of Dixondale Farms. While at a meeting in Chattanooga, Bruce and Greg had a chance to sit down and record a conversation for the Row by Row Garden Show. Dixondale Farms is the largest onion plant producer in the United States. As Bruce explains, if you purchase onion plants for your garden, there’s a very high chance they were grown in Texas. Dixondale grows over 800 million onion plants per year, which include short-day, intermediate-day and long-day varieties. Bruce explains that the type of onion you grow will depend on your climate and daylength. When discussing fertilizer requirements for onions, Bruce likes to use 10-20-10 ratio that offers nitrogen. However, initially, phosphorous and potassium are what encourages root development in onions. Then they will take up the nitrogen and get growth and foliage. Bruce explains that a perfect onion has 13 rings. He explains how to grow the perfect onion in the garden. Greg mentions that the Texas Legend is his favorite variety to grow, and Bruce provides some other great variety suggestions for those living in northern climates. When discussing the red onion varieties his favorite is there exclusive Red Candy onion. According to Bruce producing red onion seeds are extremely difficult because they have a tendency to bolt easily. However, Red Candy is one of the most bolt-resistant varieties offered. So instead of a two-year process, they have to make it a three-year process which most other companies don’t like to do. Bruce also mentions that they’ve recently started carrying shallots and leeks which are more fun to grow and great in soups. Shallots and leeks are known more in northern climate gardening than in the South. However, they can grow in the southern climates. Greg and Travis look forward to testing those out in their southern climate garden in the future.

Show and Tell Segment

On the Show & Tell segment this week, Greg has some pickled beets that a friend gave him. The guys have been growing beets consistently for a couple of years now and they intend to try picking some this year. Travis explains that he prefers to transplant beets as opposed to direct seeding them into the garden. This is because he can control the germination easier and get more consistently-sized beets and greens. Greg has some heirloom corn varieties, Bloody Butcher and Jimmy Red, that he harvested about a week ago from his vegetable garden. The tool of the week is our high carbon steel, diamond hoe that has nice quality ash handle with a wax finish instead of the lacquer handles that wear off easily.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about weeding slow-germinating crops like carrots and cover crops for clay soils. For slow-germinating crops like carrots, Travis suggests several techniques that can be used to control weeds until the plants are able to outpace the weed growth. These techniques include flame weeding and wire weeding in addition to ensuring the weed seed bank is reduced as possible. Carrots do a lot better direct seeding than transplanting. Travis suggests using the wheel hoe to get the weed seed bank depleted off and clean before starting to plant. For clay soils, the guys recommend rooted vegetable cover crops like purple top turnips and daikon radishes. Because their roots penetrate deep into the soil, they do a great job of making the soil more workable while adding quality organic matter in the garden.

Tool of the Week

• Diamond Hoe

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Wheel Hoe History of Plant Jr. & Hoss Wheel Hoes

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about wheel hoe history from the Planet Jr. to the modern day Hoss version. The wheel hoe history begins with the Planet Jr. which was a staple piece of farm equipment in the early 1900s. However, the production of the Planet Jr. Wheel Hoe was ceased in the 1960s. It wasn’t until the 21st century that the Wheel Hoe regained popularity as the ideal weeding and cultivating tool for small market farms and backyard gardens. Planet Jr. made a single wheel model and a double wheel model of the wheel hoe. The double wheel model was similar to the modern-day version of the High Arch Wheel Hoe, with the extra clearance for taller crops like corn, beans or peas. Greg and Travis have some old Plant Jr. catalogs that they show and explain the difference to the modern day Hoss attachments. The major differences are the manufacturing of these attachments now that Hoss has evolved too. Back in the day, all of the Plant Jr. attachments were manufactured by casting. Now, we no longer having casting companies that make tools like this and if so it is not as great of quality and consistency is not the best. Greg talks a little bit about the two different handles that Plant Jr. offered which was a standard pistol grip handle and the steam bent handle. The standard pistol grip handles were cheaper to manufacture and the steam bent handles were used for the horse-drawn machinery. However, Hoss offers both the pistol grip handles and the steam bent handles on our website. Greg explains that if you are interested in the history of the Planet Jr. there is a Facebook group that you could join to learn more about the wheel hoe history.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, Greg has some pickled okra in a jar and mentions that it is one of his favorite snacks from the garden. He pickles the okra with two different recipes, a sweet version and a spicy version. According to Greg, the best-pickled okra variety is the Red Burgundy. Travis mentions if you happen to grow to much okra a great way to preserve it is by pickling. Travis talks about some of the eggplant varieties growing in his garden this year. He mentions that he grows the unique varieties as opposed to the traditional Black Beauty variety. He especially likes the Japanese style eggplant which is long and slender and really great for frying eggplant chips. Travis also has a chamber bitter weed that he pulled from his garden. Which will grow between pepper plants that have been trellised up. More of a tropical week it will grow extremely fast and spread really bad in the garden if not controlled quickly. Greg says the best way to deplete this weed is by removing it mechanically from the vegetable garden. The tool of the week is the high carbon steel garden trowel that was made by a blacksmith in Missouri.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about pruning eggplant and nematode control. Travis mentions that he always prunes his eggplant mid-season because the plants get too wide. For nematode control, the guys suggest employing strategies of crop rotation, cover crops, and solarization. Proper crop rotation of nematode-susceptible crops should be practiced so that the nematode populations don’t continually flourish. According to university research, cover crops of mustard are effective in reducing nematode pressure. In addition, solarization with a clear tarp can create enough heat to kill the nematodes.

Tool of the Week

• Garden Trowel

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Sunbelt Ag Expo: Hoss Sustainable Living Center

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about their yearly demonstration garden at the Hoss Sustainable Living Center. The Hoss Sustainable Living Center was started in 2014 as part of the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, which occurs every year in the third week of October. The Sustainable Living Center consists of an approximately half-acre demonstration garden in addition to a pavilion with exhibitors related to gardening and sustainable living. This allows customers to come and test out the tools in the garden and see which tools/products work best for them. Over the years, the guys have been able to experiment and determine which crops perform best in this planting area. Because the garden is surrounded by a 400+ acre research farm, the insect and disease pressure is troublesome. In addition, the garden is located in an old airfield that is extremely flat and drains poorly. The guys have had to add several amounts of good compost to try to build things up in the garden thus far and it seems to have helped greatly. Some crops that they have tried and seem to do really well there include kale, sweet potatoes, corn, and chard. They tried the Asian green mixes last year and they did really well also and only took 21 days to maturity. Every year they usually grow cauliflower and Brussel sprouts which are typically not ready to harvest at the time of the show but are fairly close. Although winter squash is timely for the annual agricultural expo, they don’t grow very well there due to whiteflies and powdery mildew. Travis explains that they do not direct seed much when it comes to preparing plants for the demo garden only okra, corn, and sometimes peas. They typically like to transplant everything because it tends to grow better and they have better control when it comes to insect/disease pressure. This year they are trying fall potatoes for the first time and hoping that will be a success. If it does not Greg and Travis always have a backup plan to grow something else in the potato spot instead.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about pears and okra. Greg is eating a pear that he got from his neighbor’s yard. He mentions that these old varieties of pears are harder, but tend to have great flavor and make great pies. Travis talks about his succession plantings of okra in his garden. He mentions that the first planting is getting too tall to harvest and that he may soon remove it and start harvesting the second planting. As they start planting for the SunBelt expo the tool of the week is our seed starting trays. They have a flat of binary giant zinnias that they have planted that are growing good.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about drip irrigation and amending clay soils. Travis explains how to calculate your water flow rate using a stopwatch and a 5-gallon bucket. Once the flow rate is calculated, it’s easy to figure how much drip tape your well or water supply can support. Greg answers a question about amending clay soils in the garden. He mentions that adding significant amounts of good organic matter compost and gypsum or land plaster can improve clay soils. In addition, adding organic matter via cover crops and compost will improve soil workability and drainage.

Tool of the Week

• Seed Starting Trays

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Tilling in the Vegetable Garden: Do’s & Don’ts

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about using a tiller in the vegetable garden. The guys discuss several situations when it is appropriate to use a tiller, and other situations when it is not appropriate. The popular problem that we find is people tend to overuse the tiller in the garden. It’s not a good idea to use a tiller immediately before planting. This is because tilling introduces many air pockets into the soil which can result in less than ideal seed germination. It’s also not appropriate to till when garden weeds have gone to seed because that will simply bury those seeds where they can remain dormant and germinate later. Finally, tilling should not be done when plants are established because this can cause severe damage to feeder roots. Tillers should not be used as a cultivating tool because they create too much disturbance. Tillers are great tools in certain applications. These include breaking new ground, preparing the ground for root crops, incorporating cover crops into the soil and leveling the ground after hilled crops like corn or potatoes. Greg explains that if you are looking to repair damaged soil he suggests using the tiller once or twice a year only to repair the seedbed in the garden. Lastly, they talk about the different brands of high-quality tillers on the market. Up until 2001, the Troy-Bilt tiller was the top-notch rear tine tiller on the market. But that company experienced a buyout and are no longer the quality they once were. Currently, the top two brands available are the Grillo and BCS tillers, which are both manufactured in Europe. Both are high-quality machines with many different attachments for mowing, plowing, tilling and more!

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about their squash plants that have been surprisingly successful during the summer heat. Travis mentions that he has two varieties currently growing — Tempest and Patty Pan. He’s been giving lots of attention to these plants to manage the squash bug population. He’s also been applying fungicides twice a week to deal with the excessive rainfall they have been experiencing lately. He alternates between Liquid Copper and Complete Disease Control applications. With fall gardening right around the corner, the tool of the week is our heavy-duty seed starting trays. That works perfectly for transplanting tomatoes, okra, peppers, and watermelons. They also mention the possibility of offering a seed starting kit in the future.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about shade cloth and spraying corn. They mention that they personally don’t use shade cloth in the garden. Instead, they only grow during certain weather windows where success is more likely. Travis explains that he usually waits till the middle of October to plant carrots because the soil temperatures are cooler which means they will have better germination. Greg prefers to spray over the top tassel and let it spread over the corn for earworms. However, it can be hard to spray on some of the taller corn varieties like Jimmy Red. If he can not reach the tops because they are taller he prefers to spray the top of the silks of the corn. Overall, he prefers to go over the top of the corn with a good volume sprayer because of the excellent coverage it applies to the plants. Spraying early and coverage are the two most important factors when it comes to fertilizing the corn in the garden.

Tool of the Week

• Seed Starting Trays

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Cut Flowers in the Garden

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about growing cut flowers in their vegetable garden. Growing cut flowers provides many benefits, but the primary benefit is to attract pollinators for crops that require insect pollination to produce fruit. These crops would include things like squash, cucumbers, and melons. Greg says the “The Flower Farmer” book really helped him understand cut flowers. Another great book that Greg recommends is “Vegetables Love Flowers”. Their favorite types of cut flowers to grow are zinnias, sunflowers, and Celosia, also known as cockscomb. They prefer the Benary’s Giant Mix variety of zinnias because they produce larger flowers and have a wide variety of colors present. Their favorite variety of sunflower is the Pro Cut variety, which is available in many different colors including red, orange and lemon. These have a smaller seed than a traditional sunflower and are the preferred variety for commercial producers. They work perfectly planted in our garden seeder. Greg mentions how they also make a great cover crop because they will shade the soil and reduce any weed growth. Another benefit they offer is they are pollenless meaning when you cut them they do not drip yellow pollen everywhere. Lastly, they talk about growing Celosia. Their favorite variety of Celosia is Chief Mix, which provides an array of different colors. Cockscomb flowers can get quite large and top heavy so these plants may need trellising or early harvesting to prevent stalks from bending or breaking. One advantage is they are really easy to grow and heat/drought tolerant. However, a disadvantage is they can become invasive and grow year after year which is not good in the vegetable garden. Greg mentions that he likes to grow dahlias, but he does not recommend them for someone just starting out growing cut flowers in the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about growing potatoes in the fall. This will be the first year that they’ve tried growing potatoes in the fall. Based on the information provided by Greg at Irish Eyes Garden Seeds, it should work. They are planning to plant the potatoes at the end of August for an October harvest. They will be ordering the seed potatoes now and keeping them cool in the fridge until planting time. Based on the limited availability of seed potatoes during this time of year, they will be planting the Yukon Gold variety only. The guys also plan to plant some potatoes at the demonstration garden at the SunBelt Expo this year. The tool of the week is a newer product that they are designing called the Winged Sweeps attachment that will work great on the Hoss Wheel Hoes.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about planting corn in the fall and Asian stink bugs. The guys grew fall corn last year at their demonstration garden for the Sunbelt Ag Expo and had great success. The insect pressure is heavier in late summer and fall, so more frequent applications of B.t. and Neem Oil are necessary. Also, providing adequate water via drip irrigation is a must. Greg mentions that they see many different variations of stink bugs and that they can be hard to control in the middle of summer. As a result, he tries to manage the populations with frequent spraying early in the year. This allows him to get the spring crops harvested before significant insect damage occurs. Greg says keeping the garden clean and neat after harvest will help reduce the stink bugs food source.

Tool of the Week

• Winged Sweeps

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Pole Beans in the Vegetable Garden

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about growing butterbeans, bush beans and pole beans in a vegetable garden. Travis mentions that he prefers to grow bush beans on a double row system with drip tape in the middle. This enables him to grow twice the amount of beans in the same amount of space that one row of beans would normally occupy. He references a YouTube video where he demonstrates this procedure. Beans do not like hot temperatures. They will throw their blooms off and not make so always plant beans early in the garden. For food preservation, the guys like canning them with potatoes and green beans most of the time. They talk about the different varieties of beans they’ve tried growing in the past including Blue Lake, Momentum, Kentucky Wonder and Provider. These different bean varieties are easy to harvest and have high production. Of these varieties, Blue Lake seems to be the most popular variety for bush beans. Greg mentions that he prefers growing pole beans due to the ease of harvesting. For pole beans, he prefers the Kentucky Wonder variety. We also offer a great speckled Rattlesnake pole bean variety. The guys also talk about growing climbing varieties of butterbeans. They suggest planting them in the springtime and getting two or three harvestings out of them. Then, it will begin to get hot so spray them with fungicide and insecticide and they will come back and you can pick till frost. Greg is currently growing an heirloom variety that makes a darker bean, and they’ve both had great success with the Christmas Lima variety in past years. A staple bush butterbean that is grown in the South is a Fordhook variety. The seeds are huge so it is one of the only things that can be hard to plant with our garden seeder. Greg also recommends planting this variety thick for better germination in the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about the figs that they’ve been harvesting. The most popular variety is the Brown Turkey fig and that’s what most people have planted in their backyard. However, there are some improved varieties that have been developed through research at Louisiana State University. Greg recently planted some of these varieties and is excited to see how they do. The tool of the week works perfectly to help guide the gardener on when and what type of varieties to plant in the garden during the growing seasons.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about growing onions and how to remove/reuse drip tape. They mention that onions require heavy amounts of water and fertilizer. It is important that both of those are provided frequently during the early life of the onion plant as this will result in a larger bulb later. They recommend 20-20-20 or a granular fertilizer once a week in the garden. For removing drip tape, they suggest that it can be easily pulled up for almost every crop in the garden — the exception being corn. For corn, they recommend cutting the stalks with a machete and succession planting a crop that provides a heavy ground cover like sweet potatoes, winter squash or pumpkins. This will allow you to reuse the drip tape without removing it. Greg just did this the other day with his sweet corn. He pulled his ambrosia sweet corn and went on top of the same drip tape with his Seminole pumpkins.

Tool of the Week

• Hoss Garden Planner

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Seedless Watermelons

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about growing watermelons — seedless watermelons are grown commercially and heirloom varieties on the homestead. Greg’s favorite variety to grow in his garden is the Crimson Sweet watermelon. This is a round watermelon that has an excellent, sweet taste. In previous years, he’s also tried other varieties including Orange Glo, which is an orange-meated watermelon that has a great taste as well. He mentions other popular varieties for the home gardener like Charleston Grey, Jubilee and Moon & Stars. They discuss the importance of using crop rotation and drip irrigation when growing any kind of cucurbit, especially watermelons. Although watermelons don’t typically experience significant insect pressure, they are very susceptible to fungal diseases. With excessive rainfall, fungal spores are able to get into the watermelons and start germinating which can cause powdery and downy mildew. By practicing a 3-year crop rotation and reducing leaf moisture with drip irrigation, many of these fungal diseases can be kept under control. For the home garderner, growing older open-pollinated varieties are much better than growing the seedless watermelons. They also discuss how seedless watermelons are grown commercially. Seedless watermelons begin with a diploid watermelon seed that is treated with a chemical called colchicine. This chemical disrupts the cell division process which results in a tetraploid seed. When that tetraploid plant is grown in the presence of diploid plants (pollinators), the reproductive result is a triploid fruit that has no viable seed. This triploid fruit is the seedless watermelon. According to Greg, the reason home gardeners should not grow the seedless variety because the seeds are so expensive. Here in the deep south are climate and soils are excellent for growing watermelons, so we have heavy production of commercially grown watermelons surrounding our area.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, Travis talks about the different varieties of peppers that he’s growing this year. The first one is a corno di toro type called Carmen, which is a sweet pepper that turns red upon maturity. This variety has been very prolific so far. He’s also growing Banana and Cubanelle varieties, which are also sweet peppers. The cubanelle variety is more of a blocky pepper which makes them nice stuffing peppers as well. For a hotter pepper, he’s growing the Serrano variety. Serrano peppers are slightly hotter than a jalapeño, although the heat of pepper has a lot to do with how much water the plant is given. With a lot of crop turnover happening in the garden lately the tool of the week is the push pull hoe. One of Travis’s favorite tools, the push pull hoe is an excellent tool for preparing the soil and removing weeds for new crops in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about purple hull peas and gardening on a hill. They mention that sandy loam soil is probably the best for purple hull peas because they like warm climates and well-drained soils. Also known as field peas, purple hull peas are a staple in the south. Over the years, however, the pressure from the pea curculio insect has made it almost impossible to grow them locally. If your homestead land is hilly like that seen in West Virginia, they suggest planting along the hill, not up and down the hill. Other suggestions including using drip irrigation for constant watering and building terraces/contours to retain water. As long as you plant along the hill they believe drip irrigation will be very effective when planting.

Tool of the Week

• Push Pull Hoe

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Common Garden Myths and Misconceptions

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about some common garden myths and misconceptions. They explain the origin of these myths/misconceptions and discuss whether or not they have merit. The first common garden myth involves planting on a hill or an elevated planting bed. Greg mentions how this practice originated in large-scale agriculture and trickled down to backyard gardening. Planting on an elevated surface is an effective practice if you have drainage issues or problems with excess moisture. But if you don’t have those issues, planting on a “hill” is just an additional step that’s not necessary. They also discuss lunar planting which involves planting garden crops based on the 28-day lunar cycle. The proponents of lunar planting believe that it is advantageous to plant on the new moon or full moon because the gravitation force of the moon pulls water to the soil surface, increasing germination. Travis explains how lunar tidal cycles work and why small bodies of water don’t experience tidal forces like the open ocean. Based on this evidence, Travis concludes that soil moisture levels are not significantly affected by lunar cycles, and thus the lunar cycle has no effect on seed germination. Another misconception is you don’t always have to pull weeds up by the roots in the garden. Travis explains that when you use tools like the push pull hoe and disturb those weeds you are removing those top leaves and cutting off the food source which will cause the weed to die. The last common garden myths are compost tea. The idea behind this is people believe they are adding oxygen using this water-soluble compost. So by adding oxygen, you will obtain a bloom of beneficial bacteria and microorganisms. However, the process you have to go through to get these compost teas are timely and ineffective. It’s simpler to just use regular good compost that has applied benefits already accessible in it.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about one of Greg’s favorite foods — the tomato sandwich. They discuss the difference between the heirloom and hybrid varieties that they grew. While the Brandywine tomatoes have a nostalgic look and have a deeper red color, they can’t tell a huge difference in the taste compared to the disease-resistant Bella Rosa variety. They conclude that the Bella Rosa is their favorite tomato because of the disease-resistant package and superior taste. The tool of the week is the popular Golok Machete. A sharp 1075 high carbon steel machete that works great for chopping down corn stalks in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about using liquid 7 on sweet potatoes and how to control nut grass in the garden. While liquid 7 is an effective pesticide, it also can be fairly toxic and harmful to pollinators. The guys recommend some more environmentally-friendly solutions like Monterey B.t. or Spinosad Garden Insect Spray. Greg says it works best if you rotate these two pesticides on a weekly basis in the garden. Nutgrass is an extremely persistent weed that can have an extensive root network. Control can be difficult, but frequent disturbance over time will eventually reduce the population. While some people use hogs, the Wheel Hoe is also a great tool for providing that repeated disturbance. Travis mentions that when he started new gardening spot he had a bad nutgrass problem. In order to reduce this problem, he started alternating between the Cultivator Teeth and the Sweep attachments on the Wheel Hoe. After doing this once or twice a week for a couple of weeks he noticed that is nutgrass problem was depleted.

Tool of the Week

• Golok Machete

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Tips for Growing Sweet Potatoes in the Vegetable Garden

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis talk about growing sweet potatoes in a vegetable garden. They are a crop that grows well in very warm temperatures and should not be planted until the temperatures have warmed significantly in the early summer. Greg and Travis prefer to plant them after early spring crops are finished, so they’ll put them in a spot where Irish potatoes, broccoli, lettuce, etc., have been previously harvested. Along with okra, peppers, and eggplant, sweet potatoes are one of the few crops that do well throughout the summer in south Georgia. You can plant sweet potatoes directly behind regular potatoes because they are not related and don’t have to worry about cross-pollination. Unlike Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes are grown from slips. These slips are grown commercially in big greenhouses or hoop houses. The slips, or “draws” as some old-timers call them, are plucked from the tubers, bundled and delivered to the customer. Their preferred source for slips is Steele Plant Company in Gleason, TN. There are many different varieties of sweet potatoes that will differ in the color of the skin and the inside color. Over the years, Greg and Travis have tried the Covington, Centennial and Beauregard varieties. They prefer the Covington variety as it has been the most productive in side-by-side testing. Greg explains that commercial growers will mow off the leaves before harvesting so that the potato skin becomes thicker and makes them store better. He is going to try that this year in his garden to see how well it works.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, the guys talk about the Ambrosia sweet corn that they’ve been harvesting from the garden. Greg mentions that he picked a wheelbarrow load that morning and it was currently being creamed and put in freezer bags. Although the Silver Queen variety had been their favorite for years, they are really big fans of the Ambrosia variety. They talk about the wide range of sweet corn varieties and how certain genes can determine the sweetness and storage ability of each variety. The Ambrosia variety is a bi-color corn that is in the “se”, or sugary extender, category. The tool of the week is the very popular Over the Should Harvesting Bucket, which works great for harvesting sweet corn, tomatoes, or okra.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about beginner gardening tools, the frequency of using drip irrigation and hilling plants in the garden. They recommend the Single Wheel Hoe as a great starter tool for a beginner gardener due to the versatility with many attachments. Along with a couple of good hand tools like the single tine cultivator or diamond hoe. For a first year garden, they recommend 40′ x 40′ as a great starter size. Then you can gradually work your way up to a larger garden in the future if you wish to do so. They mention that they typically run their drip irrigation at least once every other day, assuming no rainfall. They discuss the importance of frequency with watering and making sure the garden plants don’t become stressed due to lack of water. Finally, they go through a list of the garden plants that perform best when hilled. Greg explains that corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and regular potatoes all like to be hilled in the garden. However, some vegetables like okra, cucumbers, squash, and lettuce you should avoid hilling in the garden.

Tool of the Week

Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting Bucket

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Growing the Best Okra

On this week’s episode, Greg and Travis discuss all things okra. They talk about their favorite varieties of okra based on several trials that they’ve conducted over the years. Last year at the SunBelt Expo demonstration garden they trialed the Star of David, Jambalaya, Cowhorn, and Red Burgundy. The two okra varieties that came out on top for them was the Jambalaya and Red Burgundy. Although many people only grow the Clemson Spineless variety because it’s probably the most available, there are many other varieties that provide increased productivity and better texture. The guys have tested the Clemson Spineless against the Jambalaya and Red Burgundy and it does not compare in production. The cowhorn variety tends to be more popular in Louisiana because they use it in gumbo. Travis says the Star of David is excellent for frying because the pods are large, wide, and round so it soaks up the batter and grease when cooking. Chris Smith, who is with Sow True Seeds out of Asheville, NC, has around 130 varieties of okra that he has collected over the years. He’s currently has a blog and is working on a book called “In Defense of Okra” where he will elaborate on those varieties and everything okra. Okra is a crop that requires very little maintenance in the vegetable garden. It is not a heavy feeder, and so it doesn’t require much water or fertilizer relative to crops like corn or onions. Greg and Travis recommend doing several succession plantings of okra through the growing season. They transplant the okra in spring, then direct seed several other successions starting in May and throughout the summer to have the best harvests.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment this week, Greg has just picked a bowl of fresh blackberries from his thornless blackberry patch. These blackberries are extremely prolific and great to eat raw, in smoothies or to make delicious blackberry cobbler. They also talk about the cucumber varieties they have grown this year. They grow a “pickle” variety and a “slicer” variety each year. The pickled variety they are growing this year is called Max Pack, which is an F1 hybrid selected for productivity. The slicer variety they’re growing is called Olympian, which they have grown for several years and prefer it for its uniformity and excellent production. Because both varieties are hybrids, they can grow them on the same row without having to worry about cross-pollination. The tool of the week is the handy twine knife or a “ring knife”, which is a ring that you wear on your finger that contains a sharp blade that makes cutting plants like okra a breeze in the garden.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about using Sevin Dust, a popular insecticide that can have a negative impact on pollinators and beneficial insects. Instead, the guys like to stick to more natural chemicals like Neem Oil that won’t kill their beneficiaries and pollinators in the garden. They also answer a question about storing potatoes and other vegetables, and how washing these vegetables can affect their shelf life. Travis does not wash his potatoes or any crops until he is ready to eat them. The crops will last longer in storage if you let them dry out and store them without washing them off. Greg explains a little trick if you prefer to wash them before storing you should use baking soda because it will help that crop not break down.

Tool of the Week

• Handy Twine Knife 

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The Best Squash Varieties

In this week’s episode, Greg and Travis discuss growing squash in the vegetable garden. The most frequently grown varieties are probably the standard yellow crookneck and the black beauty zucchini. The popularity of these varieties if simply a result of availability. But there are many other varieties that have better flavor and higher productivity. They provide examples of prolific and disease-resistant varieties that they have tested and proven over the years. Some of these newer varieties include Tempest, which is yellow and Green Machine, which is a productive, uniform green zucchini.

Summer vs. Winter Squash

They differentiate between growing techniques for summer and winter squash. While summer varieties are a repeat-harvest crop, winter varieties are a one-time harvest crop. Winter squash will also need to be planted several weeks later than summer squash. Winter squash does have the benefit of longer storage, as most varieties can be stored for up to six months. Greg’s favorite varieties include Delicata, which is an elongated squash that is very sweet and great for roasting. One of Travis’s favorite is the powdery-mildew resistant varieties of Acorn, such as TipTop PMR. For a spaghetti-type, they prefer the smaller varieties like Angel Hair that smaller, yet more prolific. They discuss some summer squash varieties that they have tried throughout the years such as Zephyr, Golden Dawn, Sunburst, and Eight balls. If you are just starting out gardening and want an easy crop to grow they recommend growing summer squash. However, they should be planted early on to avoid insecticide and fungicide pressures. The only pest that the guys have had problems with in the past is pickleworms. These pests will bore holes into your cucumbers, squash, winter squash, and sometimes summer squash. To handle this pickleworm problem it is important to use good rotation with natural controls like Neem Oil, B.t. or Spinosad.

Show and Tell Segment

In the show and tell segment, the guys talk about the bumper crop of potatoes that they had this year. Out of the 7 or 8 varieties that they trialed, the ones that performed the best were the Jelly and Blue Belle varieties from Irish Eyes Garden Seeds. Both of these varieties grew very large, uniform potatoes that exhibited excellent disease resistance. They plan on growing both varieties again next year and maybe eliminating the standard red potatoes from the rotation. Travis has two varieties of his last round of carrots that he has harvested. The tool of the week is our digging fork that has a foot pad for right-footed and left-footed individuals.

Viewer Questions Segment

In the question and answer segment, the guys explain corn pollination from the male flower (tassel) down to the female flower (silk). Every silk on an ear of corn represents a kernel so when all the silks get pollinated from the tassel you get a full ear of corn. In the South, we have plenty of wind and water so pollination is great for the silks. In other areas, some people take cane poles to brush over the tops of the tassel to get pollination. Greg explains that problems with germination begin with planting two or three long rows of corn. To get maximum production, germination, and pollination corn should be planted in square blocks. They also answer a question about controlling ants on the homestead using natural and conventional methods. Greg says the best organic control for ants is Spinosad. It is a bait formation so ants will have to eat it and then carry it back to the queen to kill the colony. Another organic control that is sugar based is Monterey Ant Control which contains spinosad and iron phosphate.

Tool of the Week

• Garden Fork

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Fertilizing in the Vegetable Garden

On this week’s show, Greg and Travis discuss techniques and strategies for using fertilizer in your vegetable garden. They talk about the different terminologies used to quantify amounts of fertilizer, including parts per million (ppm) and pounds per square feet. While much of this terminology can be confusing, thinking about fertilizer in terms of pounds per square feet is the simplest way to calculate fertilizer needs. There are many different forms of conventional and organic fertilizers that can be used in a vegetable garden. As far as conventional fertilizers go, their favorite is the 20-20-20 formulation which has 20% nitrogen, 20% phosphorous and 20% potassium. This is a water-soluble fertilizer that works great being injected through a drip irrigation system, as it provides a quick boost to the plants that are noticeable in just a few days.

Organic fertilizers include products like Chilean Nitrate, Fish Emulsion, Blood Meal, Bone Meal, and Compost. As far as organic fertilizers go, Chilean Nitrate is probably the fastest-acting and works great for side dressing corn before hilling. For the other organic fertilizers mentioned, the action is much slower because the nitrogen has to be converted into forms that are available to the plant. Compost is a very effective soil amendment to use before planting, adding organic matter and nutrients to the garden soil. Although compost is available in many forms, chicken-manure based compost is the most nutrient rich. Just be sure to add it several weeks before planting, so that you don’t burn the young plants.

Show and Tell Segment

In the show and tell segment, the guys talk about the last succession planting of beets that are almost ready for harvest. They also discuss the F1 hybrid variety of Top Bunch Collards that are being harvested, and why this variety is probably the best collard variety to grow. They also have a red beet variety still growing in the garden. Travis has been overhead watering these beets because he planted them with no drip tape. He has been struggling with keeping them watered, but thankfully the rainfall we have got lately has really helped them out. However, with the extensive rainfall the last couple of days the guys have been struggling with downy and powdery mildew on squash and watermelons. They have been spraying a lot of Bi Carb Fungicide to help control these mildews in the vegetable garden. The tool of the week is our TubTrug Bundle that are long lasting harvesting buckets. Available in many different sizes that are flexible, durable, and UV resistant.

Viewer Questions Segment

In the question and answer segment, the guys talk about organic and natural pesticide solutions for controlling bean beetles in a vegetable garden. As with any organic pesticide program, spraying early and frequently is very important. To kill bean beetles or any type of pest, you will get the best results when you spray in the early stage or “nymph” stage, once they get to the adult stage they can be impossible to kill. In of the organic pesticides like Neem Oil, Horticultural Oil, or Pyrethrin is great to disrupt the lifecycle of the insect. In the second question, they talk about proper crop rotation techniques to maximize the potential of your garden. The guys explain that the best method for rotation is by breaking your garden up into small subplots. Not only will this help with crop rotation, but it will provide a more manageable garden. Not planting crops in the same place year after year and rotating crops around in the garden will help reduce disease and insect pressures.

Tool of the Week

• TubTrug Bundle

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Fruit Trees & Perennials

On this week’s show, Greg and Travis talk about growing fruit trees and perennials on the homestead. They discuss many different types of fruit trees and bushes that they like to grow on their own homestead. These include mulberries, blackberries, blueberries, figs, and muscadines. Many of these fruits require very little maintenance once established. In early spring, mulberries are usually the first to produce fruit. These grow on a tree and look much like blackberries, but they don’t have the larger seeds like blackberries and tend to be a little sweeter. Although wild, thorned blackberries are very prevalent in the south, they prefer growing the thornless varieties. The thornless varieties are not quite as sweet as the wild varieties, but they are larger and much easier to harvest. When growing thornless blackberries, you may want to consider some type of trellising system to contain the plants. Once they become established they are pest, disease, and insect resistant. They guys like to use them to make wine, jam, and pies out of them. Fig trees are also a great addition to any homestead. Greg talks about the fig tree program at Louisiana State University and how new varieties are being developed for improved production and better flavor. Most of the older trees you see are the Brown Turkey variety, but some of the new varieties make larger, more attractive fruits.

Show and Tell Segment

In the show and tell segment, the guys talk about lettuce that they’ve been harvesting from their gardens. They mention the Salanova varieties that are highly acclaimed, although they do tend to have some issues with the bottom beginning to rot if left in the ground too long. However, they seem to be very insect and disease resistant. There are also many varieties such as Adriana which provide a great substitute with a more affordable seed price. The guys have some Blue Belle variety of potatoes that they have harvested from the garden. They have had a bumper crop of potatoes during this growing season. Travis has a Bravo variety of radish that was harvested from his garden. This variety is a purple radish that has a really pretty inside. Greg shows off an eggplant variety that they had started trialing in their demonstration garden at the SunBelt Expo several years ago. Unlike your regular eggplants, this variety is called Ichiban or Japanese eggplant. A more slender eggplant that offers great flavor, Greg uses it mainly for frying. The tool of the week is the new single tine cultivator that works perfectly for close weeding and cultivating in the garden area.

Viewer Questions Segment

In the question and answer segment, the guys answer questions about cover crops and squash bugs. They talk about their preferred cover crops and what time of year is ideal for growing each. Greg has become a big advocate for cover crops in the garden because they add many benefits to your soil nutrients and reduce nematode pressure. They like to use cover crops like Broadleaf Mustard, Sunn Hemp, Hairy Vetch, or Crimson Clover. When using cover crops some of them can be invasive so you should incorporate them back into the soil before they reseed in the garden. They also discuss controlling squash bugs with all-natural and organic insecticides. These type of controls require spraying the plants when they are in the young stage and preventing adults from establishing in the population. Neem Oil, Spinosad, and Pyrethrin can all rotated around and used to control the squash bugs in the vegetable garden.

Tool of the Week

• Single Tine Cultivator

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Welcome to the Row by Row Garden Show

On the debut episode of the Row by Row Garden Show, Greg and Travis talk about the origin of the show and how they got the name. Greg and Travis started the show so they could have more of regular interaction with their customers/viewers on what is going on in their gardens and ways to help you improve yours. Before the first airing of the show, they conducted a survey with their customers and newsletter subscribers to get ideas for the show name. After receiving many great ideas, they settled on Row by Row, the Garden Show. It is intended to be a weekly show for gardeners of all ages and all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner, experienced backyard gardener, or small scale market farmer, this show will have great information that you can implement into your vegetable garden. With the addition of their Row by Row Facebook group, they hope to encourage interaction between listeners who post photos of their garden and harvests. This is a great way for everyone in the group to learn from others’ experiences and connect with fellow gardeners around the United States.

Top 4 Reasons You Should Grow Your Own Food

The main segment this week includes a discussion of the top 4 reasons that someone should want to grow their own food. The number one reason they believe that growing your own food is important because you know what is being applied in it. Over the years, there has been a recent push for organic food in grocery stores and supermarkets. In the past, organic simply meant all-natural. Now, the government has set rules and standards on what is considered organic and non-organic. The list they have created has some products that are not considering completely natural or organic. By growing it yourself, you know exactly what type of insecticides and what types of fertilizer has been used. For example, neonicotinoids are an insecticide that is used widely in commercially grown vegetables that Greg is personally against using in his garden. Food grown at home also tastes better because it hasn’t been over-fertilized with excess nitrogen. The time you spend in the garden to produce fresh natural crops outweighs the commercial growers that are trying to get the most production and maintain that crop to make it to the supermarkets. Finally, growing food is a great skill-set to pass along to the younger generation to ensure they’re able to do the same. It is important to embed the value of hard work and receiving those rewards in future generations to come.

Show and Tell Segment

In the show and tell segment, the guys provide a snapshot of what is growing in their gardens currently. They mention the Cubanelle peppers are already producing many peppers per plant each week. They also talk about the onions that are almost ready for harvest, and how to tell when your onions are ready for harvest. For onions, they prefer the Texas Legend and Red Creole varieties from Dixondale Farms. Greg explains that he has found that over the years keeping water applied to them and sprayed with fertilizer will produce bigger onion bulbs. Another thing is you should not cover them up with soil. When cultivating, Greg likes to use his sweeps attachment on his Double Wheel Hoe to add a little soil around his onion plants in the garden. Once the produce a good size and the tops start dying back and folding over that is a tale-tell sign that they ready for harvest.

Tool of the Week

• Heirloom Whole Corn