I usually let my grandkids pick out several varieties of seeds that they want to grow each year. One year they planted all purple garden: purple cabbage, purple string beans, purple potatoes, purple tomatoes, purple peppers… They had a blast. They never ate so many vegetables. It was also a great thing for me because they were motivated to help me in the garden.
I have heard tales of people growing purple beans ornamentally, to see the purple flowers. I always wonder which purple vegetables taste differently compared to the older green ones. Which did you find tasted better?
As a Brit who has lived in Hungary for ten years, just wondered what variety of Hunarian "Paprika" the seed catalogue in your video was. Their isn't a seperate word for pepper and chilli in Hungarian they are both "paprika" with one type being "édes" (sweet) and the other being "csípős" (hot). Alma (apple) is a popular pickling paprika sold at markets and comes in both sweet and hot varieties. Szeged near where I live is famous in Hungary for it's paprika, it even has a paprika museum in the city.
As weird as it may sound, I love "going through" catalogs with you. You've pointed out things in the past that I totally overlooked and I've run over to my catalogs to check it out to see if it might do well in my garden. 😂 This is an exciting challenge you made for yourself and I can't wait to see the results!
I have been gardening in Colorado for 30 years. I always look for something new to put into the garden every year. There is great joy in growning, harvesting, and eating what is grown in the garden by you and for your family getting quality food.
I know they aren't top notch seeds, but today I picked up 72 packs of seeds at the dollar tree. I have had mostly good luck with their basic variety offered and will be adding a few other things from other stores or catalogs (oh and I have some I saved from last year I look forward to growing again!), but for now I am just happy to have them in hand and start planning my 2024 garden! HAPPY GARDENING!
Nothing wrong with dollar store seeds. Same companies, just less seed in packet. My local stores sell packets from McKenzie Seeds, one of the biggest Canadian seed companies. Instead of 25 cucumber seeds I might get 10. And that's still plenty for a small garden.
They didn't have seeds last year in my area. I'm a farmer and I buy them as backup seeds. I generally just bring the entire rack to the front and buy the whole thing.
@@happy2cya70 My farming operation started as a garden!!! Over the past 10 years I shoveled 50 50ft long beds. I now have a tractor and a tiller, and I was in my late 20's when I started. So much work, but I took my time!
I got a late start last year and picked up a habanero pepper seedling because there wasn't much left at the nursery. To my delight, it thrived. It grew to be about three feet in diameter and soon produced around 200 _beautiful_ orange peppers. But then things took a turn---the peppers were so spicy I couldn't eat them. Just a tiny morsel, finely chopped and sprinkled lightly on a dish was too much. I heard that you can reduce the heat by cooking, so cook I did! And very quickly the house filled with a choking, airborne spice. 🤣I couldn't stop coughing and had to open the windows and take the pan outside. So that was my 2023 garden adventure. Let's see what 2024 brings.
I never get volunteers from plants I like! If I don't like it so much, it's guaranteed to self seed & return. I do like to buy different seeds & see what new plants I can come up with. If the critters don't get them first.
My recommendation is buy one pound of PLS595 peas to fill in any empty spaces you may have. They only grow about 18" tall, so no trellis required. Very disease resistant and require little care after germination. They don't like the heat of summer, so just spring/fall planting in your zone. Can be grown in winter in zones 9b and warmer.
I lived and gardened in the Denver for 17 years, and I loved growing Siberian tomatoes and Mad Hatter peppers. Have moved to Missouri and am learning all over what grows well here.
Here in 5B WY I got Siberia and Moskvich tomato seeds to try this season. My current main goal is to be able to get produce from tomatoes and things like green beans earlier than August given our short season. That Siberia tomato claims it will set fruit down to 38 degrees. Moskvich is an heirloom developed in St. Petersburg. Excited to try both, along with other varieties that I know will only come later. To be fair, sometimes it feels like WY is not too dissimilar from Siberia ;)
@@WYO_Dirtbag Several years ago I tried Moskvich (I like to try at least a few new things each year). I was in SE Pennsylvania, zone 7a & Moskvich did well, tasted good, wasn't big but was fairly early. Now, I'm in zone 5b in the mountains of western Maryland (think WV). Moskvich has been one of my most reliable tomatoes!! Love it!
I love trying new plants- last year it was new types of squash- mildew got them🥲. I also tried tomatillo’s- they did well and I’d never even seen or tasted one before! Purple carrots - became a new favourite a couple years ago!
My garden is in year 2. So, I am still in the "everything is new" phase. I love your videos and love your approach and encouraging attitude! Can't wait to see what happens in the new year!😊
I’ve moved from NC to Maine this fall and changed from zone 8 to 5! I prepared for this by growing indeterminate tomatoes which I had never grown before, shorter season and should produce better earlier in the season. My favorite was Floridade which I got from MIgardener, now to see if they do well in a completely different climate! Also in 2022 I had a problem with SVB in my pumpkins and zucchinis so in 2023 I switched to some completely new varieties which boasted SVB resistance in online forums. My favorite was Tahitian Melon (c moschata). I’m excited to garden with new challenges in the north and I’m excited to see your garden this year!
Wow. Changing zones considerably seems kind of daunting, but equally, if not even more, rewarding. It’s fun to try to trick nature into growing things from other regions. Also fun to dive in to native successes. Cheers to you!
What a brilliant idea! AND SO HONEST - we don't really garden to save money and the glut problem of successful growing shows eating fresh veg is not perfect. This is the answer to THE LOST MOJO CRISIS! ❤
If you haven't grown Rampicante squash, try it! I picked up a plant last year on a whim, had no idea what it was, and they were amazing! Vines spread through the yard all through summer - no disease, no issues with bugs. They can be harvested small like regular zucchini, or allowed to get HUGE and turn orange to cure for winter squash. I still have a 4-ft one in my kitchen. Baker Creek sells the seeds.
Good Morning Gardener Scott, Happy New Year 2024😊 Gardener Scott putting yourself in many gardeners shoes what a new gardener or a more experienced gardener would experience. I’m sure we will all join you on this new journey of growing all new varieties of vegetables in your garden😊
I can talk for the cucumber. Delicious. It is smaller but you can do what you would do with others cumcumbers, you just need more off them. Although.... They have more seeds and more water surrunding them. Love the "looking for the thrill" vibe. Life feels better with it. It stops time too. Well not stop but makes it last more, like when we were kids.
Hello from subtropical Australia. I have such respect and appreciation of you and your gardening knowledge and techniques, gardener Scott. All I can say is, “Good on you “ I have also a lot about cold climate seed sowing. Thank you. It is exciting to see new plant 🌱 varieties grow in your garden. I look forward to seeing all that you have chosen , from seed sowing to harvest, and it would be wonderful to see how you use and preserve your harvest too. 😊 I also am trying to grow flowers, herbs and vegetable varieties that are new to me. There are so many to choose from. I have even removed one of our lawns so that I could grow many new plant varieties, mostly from seed. I have gardened for 40 years in a couple of different climates, always growing the same old things. This year I have been growing almost everything from seed and trying not to buy punnets of seedlings. 🌱😊😊. It brings me so much joy, and my husband too, when we see new plants start appearing in our garden.
Scott, I grew paprika peppers last year (2023), my husband smoked them and I freeze dried them. Wonderful smoked paprika powder! I’m in northern Michigan, I had to bring them inside to finish ripening to red, worked great though. I’ll start them earlier inside this year -
I'm excited to see how thos goes for you. I don't think I could habe every single plant in my garden new to me, but I admire your willingness to try that. I always try one or two new varieties each year, and that's enough excitement for me. My husband looks forward to his Sun Gold cherry tomatoes each year, as do I. We would be sad without them. But, as I said, I'm excited to see how this goes for you.
I did this last year with my tomatoes, and it was my best year of tomato harvest and I live in the coldest part of Utah. My 2 favorites were pineapple tomatoes and rainbow tomatoes. sooo good!!
Something fun I grew for the first time in 2023 was the Tahitian Melon Squash. Just one plant put out multiple 30 foot vines. Each squash was around 15 to 20 pounds! It is in the Butternut family, so it is super sweet and delicious. This squash also will store all winter, so we have alot of food all winter thanks to this plant. I got the seeds from Baker Creek. This plant was suggested to me by Nate Muri from the Garden Like a Viking RUclips channel.
I grew this years ago because someone gave me some seeds. I had 5 plants! Took over my yard, moved to the neighbor's chicken coop, then out to the drainage ditch in the front. The whole neighborhood kept track of it. Most fun I've ever had in the garden.
Love your idea! Mix it up. I set aside 20% of my garden space every year for trying something new. That is how I have discovered veggies I didn't grow up eating and expanding my horizons. I go into it sometimes not having any idea of when it's ripe or what to do with it but I love having that "challenge " as I part of my yearly adventure! If it doesn't grow or I don't end up liking it- it is still a win because I have learned more about gardening along the way! I have to say you have me thinking about my carrot selection for this year...
This will be my fourth year gardening, so I'm definitely still learning. One thing I grew for the first time this year was sweet passion melon from Bakers Creek. It was prolific, producing small personal size melons. I loved it because it grew fast, and was so yummy! They climbed up a trellis and because they're small, the fruits didn't need any extra support. I'm in zone 8a southeast VA. Happy gardening!
Digging a compost trench was one of the best things I ever did. If you decide to give it a try, I highly recommend going at least three feet deep. Mine is 3 * 3 * 40. I fill the first ten feet until it settles down, then start filling the next section. Mostly fall leaves mixed with local fruit and coffee grounds. It took years to fill, but now it's generating 2+ yards of compost per year. I don't turn it, so very little effort required.
Great idea. I have very few regulars I plant annually. I enjoy trying new varieties as it keeps me focused on tending to my garden to see how it goes. This year, my garden focus is flipping to cut flowers vs. veggie focus as my pantry is stocked & I am up for a new challenge. I am still doing some veggies.
Last year I grew spoon tomatoes for the first time (Free seeds from Baker Creek). I planted several plants and had no idea how prolific they would be. They produced thousands of pea sized tomatoes. At first it was great going out picking and eating them handfuls at a time, but we soon got overwhelmed. This year I'm just going to grow one plant in a container so we can still get that quick snack of tiny tomatoes with out being over doing it.
We are going into year 27 and every year has evolved. They say you garden to your personality. You mentioned peppers and spicy carrots. Looks like you are finally out of your military mindset and seasoning things up a bit. Good luck and Stay safe 🤠
We tried ''Queen of Malinalco'' tomatillo last year, oh God, what a success! The fruits are wonderfull, taste like green apples. Very easy to grow, no deseases nor insect problems. You need at least 2 plants for pollination. And the bees love it like crazy too! This will be a return for us this year and years to come. From Canada.
You rebel!!! 😂😂 That's is an awesome way to Jumpstart your gardening juices again! I have grown the dragon carrot almost every year. It is indeed a spicy sweet carrot. Enjoy your experimentation this year!
Thank you for this! I'm in Colorado, also, and last year was the worst year ever for my garden. Between the soaking spring rains, hail, and a freak tornado, nothing survived. I have been debating if I even want to have a garden this year. But you've inspired me. I'm going to try all new plants and see what happens. Hopefully, this will also reignite my love of gardening. Thank you! Please keep us posted on your progress!
I'm also in CO, and the hail and torential rain was so devastating last year (though I didn't have to water nearly as much) that I almost gave up. But here I am again, looking at see catalogs and deciding when to start my seeds. It's an obsession! Haha. Good luck, and let's pray for better weather this year!
my "new" this year is starting a native garden for pollinators. Learning about winter sowing. I have just grown veggies in the past, so a whole garden of native plants has me pretty excited
I have a small greenhouse i purchased last year. I started my seeds in there and had so much success with all my plants. I do have a cheap greenhouse heater for these cold Ohio nights. Might be able to start some longer varities early in your greenhouse. Just a thought
This year we added quite a few new varieties of food. Some we had never eaten and are going to plant again. Dropping some varieties of tomatoes and adding some new ones too. Like they say variety is the spice of life and we love a spicy garden!
I’m growing many new (to me) varieties this year, too! Look forward to learning the results - from you garden and mine! Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA - 1/4/2024.
One thing I changed a few 14:18 years ago is the variety of zucchini I grow. I’ve always found that the black beauty variety that everybody sells tends to be mushy and watery when I steam them, and the flavor bland. I’ve switched to Coatsta Romanesco, which is firmer when cooked and, as the Botanical Interests catalog describes, has a “big, nutty flavor.” The maturation time is about the same as the black beauty at 52-60 days. And it does well here in zone 5B, 100 miles to the north of you.
I just love hearing about the interesting picks that you discovered in this season's catalogs. You could do entire videos about what's different and exciting to try!
This coming week I will lay out my garden plans for spring. Get soil fully prepped for English peas. Got all the amendments ready to make my seed starter mix. Everyone talking about the terrible food problems coming. Will do the best I physically can.
I give my younger two kids their own spaces in my garden. This year they each chose Little Finger carrots, and a combo of Cornichon cucumbers, Tokinashi turnips, & Minowase daikon (did fabulous last year). I am trying cabbages for the second time, still learning about them (Red Acre, Ditthmarscher Fruher, & a red Napa-type called Purple Express). I had wonderful success with an onion from Baker Creek called Red of Florence. Rarely do I have a veg turn out like its photo, but this one sure did and I was so proud. It was also totally delicious! IN, now Zone 6a.
Happy New Year Gardener Scott! My carrots have never really taken off. I'll try them again a couple different ways thru the season. My inground beds are covered with mulched leaves, and straw. Hopefully the soil life is doing better.... thanks for your guidance these last couple of years.
My garden is in year 3. This year I'm expanding again and I have picked out several new varieties. One thing I am definitely growing for a second year is a German Johnson tomato. This variety was my best tasting from last year.
I love your gardening spirit. 😃 It’s what makes gardening fun, trying new things to grow. It’s challenging and educational. I’m in zone 6a. I don’t know if anyone has grown Mexican Midget tomatoes but they have a great flavor and are quite prolific. I look forward to seeing what you decide to grow. 🥰
Cant hurt to try something new. I cannot grow seeds this year because we are going on a long vacay in 2 days so I will be buying my plants from the local nursery in April. I too am planning on some new varieties but I do have my fave tomatoes and basils too. Good luck. Will be watching from Oz and NZ.
Here in 5B WY I am looking in building a plastic covered hoop tunnel 12x40 this year to replace one of my PVC hail netting structures. See If I can extend the season out a couple weeks as well as try and get my first harvest of things like green beans and tomatoes earlier. The wind and hail will be the concerning factors with such a structure. We will see.
We expanded alot. I can't wait to see your upcoming videos! The totally tomatoes catalog has a chefs choice section. The "Chef's choice bi-color tom " is one we tried 6 years ago and will always be in our 5b garden!
I planted Yellow Stuffer Tomatoes last year from MIGardener and they were a very good addition to my tomato garden. We stuffed them with chicken and tuna salad. Also baked them with stuffed pepper mix and Mexican rice.
As a Master Gardener, you never stop learning nor should you! Last year I picked up some Goat Bag Tomato seeds from our Master Gardener seed exchange. I had a wonderful crop; over 2 pounds per tomato for some of them. This year I'm going to grow Giant Oxheart tomatoes which are slightly different than Goat Bag. I am also going to grow Micro Tom and Sweet Pea Current tomatoes. I've never grown those varieties before. I think my grandchildren would like those smaller ones.
I'm going into my fourth gardening year so I can totally relate to the excitement factor. On the other hand I'm glad about a little bit of routine setting in and knowing what to expect of a certain vegetable or variety. As for suggestions, I'd recomment Indigo Rose as a tomato if you haven't tried that one. I grew it for the first time last year and so far this is my all time favourite tomato. It's black on top, the bottom ripens from green to red like a normal tomato. On the inside it's very juicy and sweet and it makes the best tomato salad ever. However, don't go for it if you like your tomatoes firm. It's rather on the soft side. The size is something between a cherry tomate and a normal salad tomato. I'll definitely grow it again this year. I'm in zone 8a and it worked both in the greenhouse as well as outside.
Hi! Zone 6 here. I adore this idea and am doing something similar with my garden this year. This year I'm sorting my garden by color to make a rainbow instead of sorting by type. For example my white section will have the Wapsinicon Peach Tomato (a white tomato with fuzzy skin from Seed savers), the Mattapeño(a white stripey variegated jalapeño from Matt's peppers), and white Kilimanjaro marigold seeds from Botanical Interests. The tastiest thing I've grown that I recommend is the sunrise bumblebee cherry tomato. Beautiful stripes and incredible taste both cooked and fresh off the vine. Very crack resistant. Best of luck to you with your adventure! Thanks for sharing.
Ground cherry preserves are FANTASTIC!!! My grandma made them every year and I really miss the flavor. Try making them with crushed pineapple in them too. I plan on raising some this season too :D
Love the idea and looking forward to your updates this year. I usually try to attempt at least one new variety each year but this is taking it to the extreme 🤠. Should be really interesting for you and your viewers this year.
Don’t know if you’ve ever grown Rosella cherry tomatoes but they are divine!! ❤ They have the delicious Umami flavor like the Cherokee Purple or Krim that you like but they are MUCH more productive because they are a cherry 👍🏼
Garden Huckleberry was HANDS DOWN the biggest (tastiest) surprise for me here in my Colorado garden. It was purely experimental for but made the most incredible jams and cobblers. Plants were a little buggy until they established in-ground, then they were 100% hassle-free right up to harvest the day before our first freeze. Not for fresh eating - the magic happens with cooking these gorgeous black fruits.
Thanks! That is good news. Huckleberry usually needs low pH soil and I've been amending mine to be a bit below neutral. It may be time for me to try it.
We planted huckleberries in 2023 that are native to our area, shrubs - Gaylussacia baccata. Such great looking plants, such fantastic fall color and forage for our native bees - but the berries? The birds got there first… LOL.
I’m putting in Chinese kale or gai lan this year. It’s great in any application where you want big leaves and sweet stems. I get Asian vegetable seeds from Kitizawa, which is now owned by True Leaf.
I found myself on tomorrowseeds in order to get some Jarrahdale blue pumpkin seeds and ended up going though their entire listing and getting alot of vegetables and greens used in Asian cuisine since we like to cook Asian dishes. One of the things I got that I am excited about is the Japanese hulless baby corn.
I discovered my ghost pepper, cayenne peppers went crazy over cool and cold weather only got 3 peppers during the summer but fall time and 2 lightfrosts my plants doubled in size and I got 4 or 5 peppers that grew before it hit 0 at night. I was blown away. So I left them in the bed and see what happens in the spring.😊
I recommend Tiny Tim micro-dwarf tomatoes. They are the perfect cherry tomato to grow in containers that resist cracking and still taste good! I live in Colorado as well and growing Cherry tomatoes in a container has always been an issue for me (sun gold, sun suger) - However Tiny Tim is completely opposite of that. It reminds me that certain varieties thrive in different conditions. It has taught me a lot about choosing the correct variety for the place/container your planning on growing in - IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Brave move Gardener Scott, exciting! 1st from MI Gardener the ''Banana Melon'' I'ma try it this year. 2nd Parsnips? Any variety, they're so underrated! Water the planted seeds daily until they germinate and they aren't too hard to grow, + many ways to enjoy them in the kitchen. Sliced & roasted in the oven the same way as beets with olive oil & sea salt Yumm! Good Luck in 2024!
Sounds like a great idea and a big challenge but also wonderful to discover something unexpected and fun. My Dad taught me gardening and even though we grew favorites each year, he always wanted to try at least a couple of new things and it's a great idea. You never know when you can discover something that really is a great producer and adapts well to your climate. I'm in Colorado too and looking forward to hearing your results.
Happy New Year! What an exciting proposition! With the new USDA zoning map, I've gone from a zone 5b to 6a. I'm looking forward to stretching my boundaries in '24. It is not "out there" but we were blown away with Spanish Musica Italian pole beans. I got mine from Renee's Garden. They are very prolific, and stay tender on the vine much longer than other varieties, even up to 8". They were a saving grace in our garden when my husband and I both had pneumonia in Sept. 2020. We just received my greenhouse a week ago, so I am interested in learning how to use it to my best advantage. We are looking forward to another educational year with you!
Trying something new is a great idea, but I like to try new things alongside what I usually do so I can make a direct comparison. It's hard to compare results without a proper control, even with years of experience, because every growing season is a little different.
Wow what a radical approach to your garden this year. I admit I love my favorites and would hate to not have them, but I also like to grow new things. I'm not as brave as you so I'll keep a few of the tried and true while adding several new things this year. I'm growing two new tomatoes, a new early jalapeño, a new (and only) carrot, new (and only) cabbage, two new lettuce, and two new onions (from seed this year for the first time). So, good luck with your adventure this year and I look forward to hearing about all the new varieties.
I love to try new varieties every year especially tomatoes. Two stand outs from last year are Ananas Noire and Prairie Fire. For peppers, sugar rush peach and Lesya are new favorites. All purchased from Baker Creek.
This is really good. I do feel many get into an auto pilot, partly because we are creatures of habit. I love new things, even if they don’t ultimately work. Will never find those new things you will adore if you don’t explore them.
Tammy, Do you have a favorite source for your Jicama seeds? I live in NC so hopefully my season will be long enough. Any growing tips you'd like to pass along to a rookie?
You're a cool dude, and an excellent gardener. I've learned a lot from your videos and I've also gotten encouragement through garden challenges. Keep up the good work. You're making a difference.
I been growing Chervena Chushka Bulgarian sweet peppers for quite a few years now. Fourteen plants yield between one or two five gallon buckets full of sweet peppers.Even in northern Michigan's short growing season. Honeynut squash is another great insect resistant plant.
Every year I try a few new things, along with my stand-by reliables. Some are great successes, others not so much. But always nice to get even a small harvest from the experimental plants. This may sound really basic, but I always thought the brassicas were too difficult to keep from being slug and bug infested, but after growing broccolini one year, then I tried Copenhagen cabbage and got some nice although not large heads, and then I tried Brussels sprouts, which I am harvesting gradually and enjoying looking out at in the winter garden this year!
I am absolutely loving this video and you’ve inspired me. I’ve been on the fence about trying new things but you have just absolutely motivated me and I’m really interested in some of the seeds that you mentioned because some of them I already had in mind. Great video and so glad you made it. You’re enthusiasm is contagious and I’m loving it.😊❤
Love this. With so much skill and experience Im sure you can grow anything! I organize new veg and herbs ideas around cuisines, as I love to cook. Last year it was tomatillos , canned a ton of salsa verde. Spanish Padron peppers were another fave for tapas, and so prolific . I have an interest in medicinal herbs/roots and there are endless possibilities there. Look forward to your updates in 2024!
I usually let my grandkids pick out several varieties of seeds that they want to grow each year. One year they planted all purple garden: purple cabbage, purple string beans, purple potatoes, purple tomatoes, purple peppers… They had a blast. They never ate so many vegetables. It was also a great thing for me because they were motivated to help me in the garden.
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I have heard tales of people growing purple beans ornamentally, to see the purple flowers. I always wonder which purple vegetables taste differently compared to the older green ones. Which did you find tasted better?
Love this!
What a fun idea!
I've grown royal burgundy beans for a few years and love them. They grow well and are easier to pick as they don't hide under the leaves as well.
As a Brit who has lived in Hungary for ten years, just wondered what variety of Hunarian "Paprika" the seed catalogue in your video was. Their isn't a seperate word for pepper and chilli in Hungarian they are both "paprika" with one type being "édes" (sweet) and the other being "csípős" (hot). Alma (apple) is a popular pickling paprika sold at markets and comes in both sweet and hot varieties. Szeged near where I live is famous in Hungary for it's paprika, it even has a paprika museum in the city.
As weird as it may sound, I love "going through" catalogs with you. You've pointed out things in the past that I totally overlooked and I've run over to my catalogs to check it out to see if it might do well in my garden. 😂
This is an exciting challenge you made for yourself and I can't wait to see the results!
I have been gardening in Colorado for 30 years. I always look for something new to put into the garden every year. There is great joy in growning, harvesting, and eating what is grown in the garden by you and for your family getting quality food.
Go for it.
You would make a good seed tester for a seed company.
I always grow about 50% favorites and 50% new varieties. It keeps with what I know grows well and keeps the all new excitement.
I know they aren't top notch seeds, but today I picked up 72 packs of seeds at the dollar tree. I have had mostly good luck with their basic variety offered and will be adding a few other things from other stores or catalogs (oh and I have some I saved from last year I look forward to growing again!), but for now I am just happy to have them in hand and start planning my 2024 garden! HAPPY GARDENING!
Nothing wrong with dollar store seeds. Same companies, just less seed in packet. My local stores sell packets from McKenzie Seeds, one of the biggest Canadian seed companies. Instead of 25 cucumber seeds I might get 10. And that's still plenty for a small garden.
They didn't have seeds last year in my area. I'm a farmer and I buy them as backup seeds. I generally just bring the entire rack to the front and buy the whole thing.
@@AnenLaylle7023 I thought about taking the whole rack up there too, but we have a smaller garden and I didn't want to take them all.
@@happy2cya70 My farming operation started as a garden!!! Over the past 10 years I shoveled 50 50ft long beds. I now have a tractor and a tiller, and I was in my late 20's when I started.
So much work, but I took my time!
Lucky you! I’m in Mass and my local Dollar Trees didn’t have their seeds out yet. Was able to get some hard to find supplies though.
I got a late start last year and picked up a habanero pepper seedling because there wasn't much left at the nursery. To my delight, it thrived. It grew to be about three feet in diameter and soon produced around 200 _beautiful_ orange peppers. But then things took a turn---the peppers were so spicy I couldn't eat them. Just a tiny morsel, finely chopped and sprinkled lightly on a dish was too much. I heard that you can reduce the heat by cooking, so cook I did! And very quickly the house filled with a choking, airborne spice. 🤣I couldn't stop coughing and had to open the windows and take the pan outside. So that was my 2023 garden adventure. Let's see what 2024 brings.
LOL, I hope 2024 goes well
Wow! There’s some excitement 😂😂
I’m constantly evolving when it comes to vegetables in my garden. I’m always changing it up and growing new plants every year.
All my favorites come up as volunteers now … so planting new and unusual plants is quite rewarding and something I highly recommend for everyone 🤗
I never get volunteers from plants I like! If I don't like it so much, it's guaranteed to self seed & return. I do like to buy different seeds & see what new plants I can come up with. If the critters don't get them first.
My recommendation is buy one pound of PLS595 peas to fill in any empty spaces you may have. They only grow about 18" tall, so no trellis required. Very disease resistant and require little care after germination. They don't like the heat of summer, so just spring/fall planting in your zone. Can be grown in winter in zones 9b and warmer.
I lived and gardened in the Denver for 17 years, and I loved growing Siberian tomatoes and Mad Hatter peppers. Have moved to Missouri and am learning all over what grows well here.
I was thinking he should try any vegetables/fruit that have cold sounding names in them.
Here in 5B WY I got Siberia and Moskvich tomato seeds to try this season. My current main goal is to be able to get produce from tomatoes and things like green beans earlier than August given our short season. That Siberia tomato claims it will set fruit down to 38 degrees. Moskvich is an heirloom developed in St. Petersburg. Excited to try both, along with other varieties that I know will only come later. To be fair, sometimes it feels like WY is not too dissimilar from Siberia ;)
@@WYO_Dirtbag Several years ago I tried Moskvich (I like to try at least a few new things each year). I was in SE Pennsylvania, zone 7a & Moskvich did well, tasted good, wasn't big but was fairly early. Now, I'm in zone 5b in the mountains of western Maryland (think WV). Moskvich has been one of my most reliable tomatoes!! Love it!
I love trying new plants- last year it was new types of squash- mildew got them🥲. I also tried tomatillo’s- they did well and I’d never even seen or tasted one before!
Purple carrots - became a new favourite a couple years ago!
My garden is in year 2. So, I am still in the "everything is new" phase. I love your videos and love your approach and encouraging attitude! Can't wait to see what happens in the new year!😊
I’ve moved from NC to Maine this fall and changed from zone 8 to 5! I prepared for this by growing indeterminate tomatoes which I had never grown before, shorter season and should produce better earlier in the season. My favorite was Floridade which I got from MIgardener, now to see if they do well in a completely different climate! Also in 2022 I had a problem with SVB in my pumpkins and zucchinis so in 2023 I switched to some completely new varieties which boasted SVB resistance in online forums. My favorite was Tahitian Melon (c moschata).
I’m excited to garden with new challenges in the north and I’m excited to see your garden this year!
Thanks for the suggestions.
Wow. Changing zones considerably seems kind of daunting, but equally, if not even more, rewarding. It’s fun to try to trick nature into growing things from other regions. Also fun to dive in to native successes. Cheers to you!
What a brilliant idea! AND SO HONEST - we don't really garden to save money and the glut problem of successful growing shows eating fresh veg is not perfect. This is the answer to THE LOST MOJO CRISIS! ❤
If you haven't grown Rampicante squash, try it! I picked up a plant last year on a whim, had no idea what it was, and they were amazing! Vines spread through the yard all through summer - no disease, no issues with bugs. They can be harvested small like regular zucchini, or allowed to get HUGE and turn orange to cure for winter squash. I still have a 4-ft one in my kitchen. Baker Creek sells the seeds.
Good Morning Gardener Scott, Happy New Year 2024😊
Gardener Scott putting yourself in many gardeners shoes what a new gardener or a more experienced gardener would experience.
I’m sure we will all join you on this new journey of growing all new varieties of vegetables in your garden😊
I can talk for the cucumber. Delicious. It is smaller but you can do what you would do with others cumcumbers, you just need more off them. Although.... They have more seeds and more water surrunding them.
Love the "looking for the thrill" vibe. Life feels better with it. It stops time too. Well not stop but makes it last more, like when we were kids.
Hello from subtropical Australia. I have such respect and appreciation of you and your gardening knowledge and techniques, gardener Scott. All I can say is, “Good on you “ I have also a lot about cold climate seed sowing. Thank you. It is exciting to see new plant 🌱 varieties grow in your garden. I look forward to seeing all that you have chosen , from seed sowing to harvest, and it would be wonderful to see how you use and preserve your harvest too. 😊 I also am trying to grow flowers, herbs and vegetable varieties that are new to me. There are so many to choose from. I have even removed one of our lawns so that I could grow many new plant varieties, mostly from seed. I have gardened for 40 years in a couple of different climates, always growing the same old things. This year I have been growing almost everything from seed and trying not to buy punnets of seedlings. 🌱😊😊. It brings me so much joy, and my husband too, when we see new plants start appearing in our garden.
Excited to see your results in a few months!
Scott, I grew paprika peppers last year (2023), my husband smoked them and I freeze dried them. Wonderful smoked paprika powder! I’m in northern Michigan, I had to bring them inside to finish ripening to red, worked great though. I’ll start them earlier inside this year -
Glad to hear that. It's exactly what I want to do.
I'm excited to see how thos goes for you. I don't think I could habe every single plant in my garden new to me, but I admire your willingness to try that. I always try one or two new varieties each year, and that's enough excitement for me. My husband looks forward to his Sun Gold cherry tomatoes each year, as do I. We would be sad without them. But, as I said, I'm excited to see how this goes for you.
I did this last year with my tomatoes, and it was my best year of tomato harvest and I live in the coldest part of Utah. My 2 favorites were pineapple tomatoes and rainbow tomatoes. sooo good!!
That’s fantastic!! I’ve only gardened for 3 years. So I still haven’t had enough time to choose favorites! Ty
Something fun I grew for the first time in 2023 was the Tahitian Melon Squash. Just one plant put out multiple 30 foot vines. Each squash was around 15 to 20 pounds! It is in the Butternut family, so it is super sweet and delicious. This squash also will store all winter, so we have alot of food all winter thanks to this plant. I got the seeds from Baker Creek. This plant was suggested to me by Nate Muri from the Garden Like a Viking RUclips channel.
I grew this years ago because someone gave me some seeds. I had 5 plants! Took over my yard, moved to the neighbor's chicken coop, then out to the drainage ditch in the front. The whole neighborhood kept track of it. Most fun I've ever had in the garden.
Love your idea! Mix it up. I set aside 20% of my garden space every year for trying something new. That is how I have discovered veggies I didn't grow up eating and expanding my horizons. I go into it sometimes not having any idea of when it's ripe or what to do with it but I love having that "challenge " as I part of my yearly adventure! If it doesn't grow or I don't end up liking it- it is still a win because I have learned more about gardening along the way! I have to say you have me thinking about my carrot selection for this year...
Good luck on the new adventure in the garden. Grateful for all your teachings. Really learned alot from you.
I'm trying many new varieties this year as I've moved to a completely new climate. It will be fun to follow along with you.
I like to grow colourful foods. I enjoy the beauty of colours. Thanks for your inspiring channel contents over the years.
What a great idea. You’ve just encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone.
This will be my fourth year gardening, so I'm definitely still learning. One thing I grew for the first time this year was sweet passion melon from Bakers Creek. It was prolific, producing small personal size melons. I loved it because it grew fast, and was so yummy! They climbed up a trellis and because they're small, the fruits didn't need any extra support. I'm in zone 8a southeast VA. Happy gardening!
Digging a compost trench was one of the best things I ever did. If you decide to give it a try, I highly recommend going at least three feet deep. Mine is 3 * 3 * 40. I fill the first ten feet until it settles down, then start filling the next section. Mostly fall leaves mixed with local fruit and coffee grounds. It took years to fill, but now it's generating 2+ yards of compost per year. I don't turn it, so very little effort required.
Great idea. I have very few regulars I plant annually. I enjoy trying new varieties as it keeps me focused on tending to my garden to see how it goes. This year, my garden focus is flipping to cut flowers vs. veggie focus as my pantry is stocked & I am up for a new challenge. I am still doing some veggies.
Last year I grew spoon tomatoes for the first time (Free seeds from Baker Creek). I planted several plants and had no idea how prolific they would be. They produced thousands of pea sized tomatoes. At first it was great going out picking and eating them handfuls at a time, but we soon got overwhelmed. This year I'm just going to grow one plant in a container so we can still get that quick snack of tiny tomatoes with out being over doing it.
We are going into year 27 and every year has evolved. They say you garden to your personality. You mentioned peppers and spicy carrots. Looks like you are finally out of your military mindset and seasoning things up a bit. Good luck and Stay safe 🤠
I love this so very much! My husband thinks I’m crazy sometimes, but it really does bring me joy. Also, the dragon carrots are yummy.
We tried ''Queen of Malinalco'' tomatillo last year, oh God, what a success! The fruits are wonderfull, taste like green apples. Very easy to grow, no deseases nor insect problems. You need at least 2 plants for pollination. And the bees love it like crazy too! This will be a return for us this year and years to come. From Canada.
You rebel!!! 😂😂 That's is an awesome way to Jumpstart your gardening juices again! I have grown the dragon carrot almost every year. It is indeed a spicy sweet carrot. Enjoy your experimentation this year!
Thank you for this! I'm in Colorado, also, and last year was the worst year ever for my garden. Between the soaking spring rains, hail, and a freak tornado, nothing survived. I have been debating if I even want to have a garden this year. But you've inspired me. I'm going to try all new plants and see what happens. Hopefully, this will also reignite my love of gardening. Thank you! Please keep us posted on your progress!
I look forward to hearing about your results.
Yes, it was a hard garden year in Colorado last year. I had a lot of struggles too…here’s to a productive and successful 2024 for all of us!!
I'm also in CO, and the hail and torential rain was so devastating last year (though I didn't have to water nearly as much) that I almost gave up. But here I am again, looking at see catalogs and deciding when to start my seeds. It's an obsession! Haha. Good luck, and let's pray for better weather this year!
Wow, sounds great and i look forward to hearing about the new garden adventure !!!
So inspiring! You didn't stop evolving.
Very exciting! I hope 2024 is your best gardening season ever. Your words are inspirational in so many ways. Thanks!
my "new" this year is starting a native garden for pollinators. Learning about winter sowing. I have just grown veggies in the past, so a whole garden of native plants has me pretty excited
I have a small greenhouse i purchased last year. I started my seeds in there and had so much success with all my plants. I do have a cheap greenhouse heater for these cold Ohio nights. Might be able to start some longer varities early in your greenhouse. Just a thought
This year we added quite a few new varieties of food. Some we had never eaten and are going to plant again. Dropping some varieties of tomatoes and adding some new ones too. Like they say variety is the spice of life and we love a spicy garden!
Looking forward to seeing your garden choices.
I’m growing many new (to me) varieties this year, too! Look forward to learning the results - from you garden and mine! Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA - 1/4/2024.
One thing I changed a few 14:18 years ago is the variety of zucchini I grow. I’ve always found that the black beauty variety that everybody sells tends to be mushy and watery when I steam them, and the flavor bland. I’ve switched to Coatsta Romanesco, which is firmer when cooked and, as the Botanical Interests catalog describes, has a “big, nutty flavor.” The maturation time is about the same as the black beauty at 52-60 days. And it does well here in zone 5B, 100 miles to the north of you.
Thanks. I usually grow Black Beauty and need a change.
My favorite is a purple bell pepper. I love trying new varieties. I will still plant the faithful ones. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Wow! What a way to shake things up to get out of a rut!
I just love hearing about the interesting picks that you discovered in this season's catalogs. You could do entire videos about what's different and exciting to try!
loving the enthusiasm ! looking forward to your ne adventure !
This coming week I will lay out my garden plans for spring. Get soil fully prepped for English peas. Got all the amendments ready to make my seed starter mix. Everyone talking about the terrible food problems coming. Will do the best I physically can.
I'm sorry you feel that rut. I just found you the other day and appreciate how you teach, but I want you happy. Hang in there and best wishes.
Thanks. It's not as negative as it might sound. I see it as an exciting opportunity.
I give my younger two kids their own spaces in my garden. This year they each chose Little Finger carrots, and a combo of Cornichon cucumbers, Tokinashi turnips, & Minowase daikon (did fabulous last year). I am trying cabbages for the second time, still learning about them (Red Acre, Ditthmarscher Fruher, & a red Napa-type called Purple Express). I had wonderful success with an onion from Baker Creek called Red of Florence. Rarely do I have a veg turn out like its photo, but this one sure did and I was so proud. It was also totally delicious! IN, now Zone 6a.
Happy New Year Gardener Scott! My carrots have never really taken off. I'll try them again a couple different ways thru the season. My inground beds are covered with mulched leaves, and straw. Hopefully the soil life is doing better.... thanks for your guidance these last couple of years.
My garden is in year 3. This year I'm expanding again and I have picked out several new varieties. One thing I am definitely growing for a second year is a German Johnson tomato. This variety was my best tasting from last year.
I love your gardening spirit. 😃 It’s what makes gardening fun, trying new things to grow. It’s challenging and educational. I’m in zone 6a. I don’t know if anyone has grown Mexican Midget tomatoes but they have a great flavor and are quite prolific. I look forward to seeing what you decide to grow. 🥰
Cant hurt to try something new. I cannot grow seeds this year because we are going on a long vacay in 2 days so I will be buying my plants from the local nursery in April. I too am planning on some new varieties but I do have my fave tomatoes and basils too. Good luck. Will be watching from Oz and NZ.
Wow such a deep blue sky there! 💙
I am a new gardener anyway but now I'm gonna be braver, more imaginative and just go for it. ❤ Thank you sir ❤
That's the way to proceed. Good for you!
Here in 5B WY I am looking in building a plastic covered hoop tunnel 12x40 this year to replace one of my PVC hail netting structures. See If I can extend the season out a couple weeks as well as try and get my first harvest of things like green beans and tomatoes earlier. The wind and hail will be the concerning factors with such a structure. We will see.
Our seed catalogues are the new Sears catalogues lol. So excited when I get them in the mail.
It sounds like you'll find new favorites this season. Sounds like you'll have fun!
We expanded alot. I can't wait to see your upcoming videos! The totally tomatoes catalog has a chefs choice section. The "Chef's choice bi-color tom " is one we tried 6 years ago and will always be in our 5b garden!
I planted Yellow Stuffer Tomatoes last year from MIGardener and they were a very good addition to my tomato garden. We stuffed them with chicken and tuna salad. Also baked them with stuffed pepper mix and Mexican rice.
As a Master Gardener, you never stop learning nor should you! Last year I picked up some Goat Bag Tomato seeds from our Master Gardener seed exchange. I had a wonderful crop; over 2 pounds per tomato for some of them. This year I'm going to grow Giant Oxheart tomatoes which are slightly different than Goat Bag. I am also going to grow Micro Tom and Sweet Pea Current tomatoes. I've never grown those varieties before. I think my grandchildren would like those smaller ones.
A new pepper I have grown is called Antip Aci Dolma. Bell pepper size and spicy like a jalapeno. Likes a bit of shade or shelter. Cheers.. Ann
I'm going into my fourth gardening year so I can totally relate to the excitement factor. On the other hand I'm glad about a little bit of routine setting in and knowing what to expect of a certain vegetable or variety. As for suggestions, I'd recomment Indigo Rose as a tomato if you haven't tried that one. I grew it for the first time last year and so far this is my all time favourite tomato. It's black on top, the bottom ripens from green to red like a normal tomato. On the inside it's very juicy and sweet and it makes the best tomato salad ever. However, don't go for it if you like your tomatoes firm. It's rather on the soft side. The size is something between a cherry tomate and a normal salad tomato. I'll definitely grow it again this year. I'm in zone 8a and it worked both in the greenhouse as well as outside.
Hi! Zone 6 here. I adore this idea and am doing something similar with my garden this year. This year I'm sorting my garden by color to make a rainbow instead of sorting by type. For example my white section will have the Wapsinicon Peach Tomato (a white tomato with fuzzy skin from Seed savers), the Mattapeño(a white stripey variegated jalapeño from Matt's peppers), and white Kilimanjaro marigold seeds from Botanical Interests. The tastiest thing I've grown that I recommend is the sunrise bumblebee cherry tomato. Beautiful stripes and incredible taste both cooked and fresh off the vine. Very crack resistant. Best of luck to you with your adventure! Thanks for sharing.
I'm in year 1 of planning my garden in a desert climate! Today I see I've sprouted Rocky top letuce mux in a grow bag in my RV!!🌿
❤❤❤❤❤❤ pineapple tomato heirloom variety I grew it in my garden all I can tell you it is a Big Tomato 1 1/2 lb to 2 lb tomato❤❤❤❤❤ tasty sweet
Ground cherry preserves are FANTASTIC!!! My grandma made them every year and I really miss the flavor. Try making them with crushed pineapple in them too. I plan on raising some this season too :D
Love the idea and looking forward to your updates this year. I usually try to attempt at least one new variety each year but this is taking it to the extreme 🤠. Should be really interesting for you and your viewers this year.
This year for an entry into our local fall festival, I will be growing a collection of historical vegetable varieties Pre 1890.
Looking forward to your upcoming videos…as I’m sure they will be as good as ever.
Don’t know if you’ve ever grown Rosella cherry tomatoes but they are divine!! ❤ They have the delicious Umami flavor like the Cherokee Purple or Krim that you like but they are MUCH more productive because they are a cherry 👍🏼
Thanks!
Thank you, Jason!
Garden Huckleberry was HANDS DOWN the biggest (tastiest) surprise for me here in my Colorado garden. It was purely experimental for but made the most incredible jams and cobblers. Plants were a little buggy until they established in-ground, then they were 100% hassle-free right up to harvest the day before our first freeze. Not for fresh eating - the magic happens with cooking these gorgeous black fruits.
Thanks! That is good news. Huckleberry usually needs low pH soil and I've been amending mine to be a bit below neutral. It may be time for me to try it.
We planted huckleberries in 2023 that are native to our area, shrubs - Gaylussacia baccata. Such great looking plants, such fantastic fall color and forage for our native bees - but the berries? The birds got there first… LOL.
I’m putting in Chinese kale or gai lan this year. It’s great in any application where you want big leaves and sweet stems. I get Asian vegetable seeds from Kitizawa, which is now owned by True Leaf.
I found myself on tomorrowseeds in order to get some Jarrahdale blue pumpkin seeds and ended up going though their entire listing and getting alot of vegetables and greens used in Asian cuisine since we like to cook Asian dishes. One of the things I got that I am excited about is the Japanese hulless baby corn.
I discovered my ghost pepper, cayenne peppers went crazy over cool and cold weather only got 3 peppers during the summer but fall time and 2 lightfrosts my plants doubled in size and I got 4 or 5 peppers that grew before it hit 0 at night. I was blown away. So I left them in the bed and see what happens in the spring.😊
I recommend Tiny Tim micro-dwarf tomatoes. They are the perfect cherry tomato to grow in containers that resist cracking and still taste good! I live in Colorado as well and growing Cherry tomatoes in a container has always been an issue for me (sun gold, sun suger) - However Tiny Tim is completely opposite of that. It reminds me that certain varieties thrive in different conditions. It has taught me a lot about choosing the correct variety for the place/container your planning on growing in - IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Brave move Gardener Scott, exciting!
1st from MI Gardener the ''Banana Melon'' I'ma try it this year.
2nd Parsnips? Any variety, they're so underrated!
Water the planted seeds daily until they germinate and they aren't too hard to grow, + many ways to enjoy them in the kitchen. Sliced & roasted in the oven the same way as beets with olive oil & sea salt Yumm!
Good Luck in 2024!
Sounds like a great idea and a big challenge but also wonderful to discover something unexpected and fun. My Dad taught me gardening and even though we grew favorites each year, he always wanted to try at least a couple of new things and it's a great idea. You never know when you can discover something that really is a great producer and adapts well to your climate. I'm in Colorado too and looking forward to hearing your results.
Happy New Year! What an exciting proposition! With the new USDA zoning map, I've gone from a zone 5b to 6a. I'm looking forward to stretching my boundaries in '24. It is not "out there" but we were blown away with Spanish Musica Italian pole beans. I got mine from Renee's Garden. They are very prolific, and stay tender on the vine much longer than other varieties, even up to 8". They were a saving grace in our garden when my husband and I both had pneumonia in Sept. 2020. We just received my greenhouse a week ago, so I am interested in learning how to use it to my best advantage. We are looking forward to another educational year with you!
This was what I needed to get excited about gardening this spring! I’m a new gardener and definitely trying some new plants this year
Trying something new is a great idea, but I like to try new things alongside what I usually do so I can make a direct comparison. It's hard to compare results without a proper control, even with years of experience, because every growing season is a little different.
Exactly what I was gonna say 😊 I introduce something new along with my usuals each year
Wow what a radical approach to your garden this year. I admit I love my favorites and would hate to not have them, but I also like to grow new things. I'm not as brave as you so I'll keep a few of the tried and true while adding several new things this year. I'm growing two new tomatoes, a new early jalapeño, a new (and only) carrot, new (and only) cabbage, two new lettuce, and two new onions (from seed this year for the first time). So, good luck with your adventure this year and I look forward to hearing about all the new varieties.
Oh this will be interesting all new varieties to you mate. I'm sure this will make for great videos. Awesome stuff
I cant wait for my garden to ever do so well i get bored 😂 lol. Will be fun to watch along with your growing season to see how it goes!
How fun! I'm growing all "weird looking" squash, trying tps potatoes, and growing lots of microdwarf cherry tomatoes in my greenstalks.
I love to try new varieties every year especially tomatoes. Two stand outs from last year are Ananas Noire and Prairie Fire. For peppers, sugar rush peach and Lesya are new favorites. All purchased from Baker Creek.
This is really good. I do feel many get into an auto pilot, partly because we are creatures of habit. I love new things, even if they don’t ultimately work. Will never find those new things you will adore if you don’t explore them.
I’m not sure if your season is long enough, but Jicama is a wonderful different vegetable that grows easily.
Blessings!
Sadly, my season isn't long enough.
Tammy,
Do you have a favorite source for your Jicama seeds? I live in NC so hopefully my season will be long enough. Any growing tips you'd like to pass along to a rookie?
You're a cool dude, and an excellent gardener. I've learned a lot from your videos and I've also gotten encouragement through garden challenges. Keep up the good work. You're making a difference.
I been growing Chervena Chushka Bulgarian sweet peppers for quite a few years now. Fourteen plants yield between one or two five gallon buckets full of sweet peppers.Even in northern Michigan's short growing season. Honeynut squash is another great insect resistant plant.
Every year I try a few new things, along with my stand-by reliables. Some are great successes, others not so much. But always nice to get even a small harvest from the experimental plants. This may sound really basic, but I always thought the brassicas were too difficult to keep from being slug and bug infested, but after growing broccolini one year, then I tried Copenhagen cabbage and got some nice although not large heads, and then I tried Brussels sprouts, which I am harvesting gradually and enjoying looking out at in the winter garden this year!
I am absolutely loving this video and you’ve inspired me. I’ve been on the fence about trying new things but you have just absolutely motivated me and I’m really interested in some of the seeds that you mentioned because some of them I already had in mind.
Great video and so glad you made it. You’re enthusiasm is contagious and I’m loving it.😊❤
Love this. With so much skill and experience Im sure you can grow anything! I organize new veg and herbs ideas around cuisines, as I love to cook. Last year it was tomatillos , canned a ton of salsa verde. Spanish Padron peppers were another fave for tapas, and so prolific . I have an interest in medicinal herbs/roots and there are endless possibilities there. Look forward to your updates in 2024!
This year, I'm adding a solar panel to heat and cool my greenhouses in Palmer Lake. I hope to start seeds in February.
That's my plan for later this year as well, with solar panels and solar powered fans, lights, and heat.