G'day Everyone, if you would like to purchase a sifter like to one shown in the video (Cheryl makes them herself) you can receive 15% off by using code DTFXUJWA2F43 go to rollingsifter.ecwid.com/ (use code at checkout). Contact Cheryl for questions about the rolling sifter or how to buy one here: Earthkeepinggreen@gmail.com
I thought you would have mentioned upside growers that you hang from your ceiling inside your house. I had some produce from them, and it tasted amazing.
I had just came back from my grandma's house in Elkton a few minutes ago, I thought I might as well go check my garden and just like I thought I saw that my seedlings started to sprout I saw some radishes, watermelons, okra, beans just about everything else. I'm actually glad I decided to start my own garden.
I want to say, be careful ordering seeds internationally, I order seeds quite a bit, what happened was I ordered some chilli seeds online, waited weeks, in the meantime this coronavirus started hitting the news. I got a letter from quarantine stating that they had to confiscate my order due to the fact that they could not identify the seeds (I thought was fair enough).
I "panic bought" 4 chicks and two ducklings. I started extra seedlings for my neighbors - tomatoes, peppers, herbs, etc. Love watching your channel for calming advice to weather the coming months.
I’m one of the many people who found your channel because of the pandemic, but your energy is so pleasant and your videos are wonderfully entertaining and educational. I bet you’ve found several lifetime subscribers- thank you for everything you’re doing to help the world, Mark!
I'm using some empty feed bags to grow in. The kind that's woven plastic so it can drain and breathe. I just tape the bottom corners together to give the base a round shape, and fold it down like cuffing a pants leg. So far, so good!
I'm growing things in everything I can find. I have a few pallets, some pots and I'm making grow bags. You're right. It's better to just dive in here and start than to let fear paralyze you.
Grow bags are rad. They 'air prune' the roots and prevent the plant becoming 'root-bound'. Once the 'main' root (not the tap root, just any of the main root legs) has reached the fabric and been 'air pruned' it promotes lateral growth off that root all the way back to the plant.
@Oshe Shango Totally agree. Every morning, lot of lawn mower sound pollution, oil pollution and lot of personal resources, just to keep the grass a few inches long. The grass is not useful for anyone. Small areas of grass is okay, but lawns and lawns of grass is lame like u said!
Thank you for this video. I live in Miami In the high rise on the 11th floor and finally was able to start my own garden on my balcony, with your help. Super knowledgeable stuff. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
I can not thank you enough, your channel gives me hope that I may not get the future I was hoping for (a big bit of land to cultivate on) I can still create a movable garden for myself and my family. A potted garden with guinea pigs is totally achievable and can move with us. Thanks mark for the inspiration from a mum and registered nurse renting on the Gold Coast suburbia.
As a child I always remember my grandparents gardens. Lemons, choko’s, mulberries, mangos, watermelon, their veggie plot always changing with the seasons. I always remembered the feeling of walking out in their garden and eating food straight from the tree or ground, and my grandpa often chasing me out of his veggie patch for eating his future show winning veggies 😂😂😂😂😂. Today my wife and I enjoy the same experience. We live on a 800msq suburb block but have lime, lemon, mandarin and orange trees, dragonfruit, ginger and thriving veggie patches. I hope that the interest in growing your own food continues after the corona virus has passed.
I’ve grown veggies, herbs and flowers in all kinds of containers: old buckets, metal garbage cans wheel barrows, and, of course, more conventional/decorative containers. If it will hold dirt and drain well, you can grow in it....ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO.
Long time fan here. I noticed your giant spike of views a few days ago. Great work! You've been making videos for AGES now so I'm SO glad your channel off now, no-one could deserve it more. I live locally and have been using your videos as a guide for setting up my own property for self-sufficiency. Keep them coming!! I love the Dad-jokes too!! 👌😎🌲
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. The best thing that will come from this situation is people growing food. It is the smartest thing to do at any time. Peace
PLEASE make a pdf book with all your self sufficient gardening growing advice! From the basics (how to tell if a food can grow in your region), to advanced tips and things you've learned to grow better food. I'd buy it in a second! If not, what books do you suggest?
Thanks for the suggestion and I am brainstorming ideas for a future self-sufficient book. I do recommend looking for a "vegetable gardening guide" specific to your country or region these types of publications are a good place to start. For example, we have Yates Garden Guide here in Australia and the Royal Horticultural Society Fruit & Vegetable Gardening in Australia both publications are excellent. Cheers :)
vjm3, if you live in the U.S. your County Extension Service has brochures and gardening tips for your area, free for the taking. Since we’re quarantined you might be able to find them on-line. Their information was very helpful to me.
As an apartment porch gardener, I thank you for taking the time to focus on pot gardening. I've been subscribed to the channel for months because it's fun to watch and learn even if I can't do the things you do, but it's nice to occasionally get some advice I can also use :)
With all the fear and anxiety right now I find your videos very soothing and informative. I started my garden when I was 16. It was a kids wading pool full of dirt I dug from the woods. I bought a few plants at the local fruit stand. It grew from there. But at the heart of the huge garden today right smack in middle is what’s left of the pool. I’m 39 now.
Hey Mark, just wanted to give you a shout out to say how much I get out of your videos. As an ex Army guy myself (24yrs RAINF) I love the presentation format and the explanations. I also love the fact that you are still rocking the ET and found a use for it other than bashing your legs on obstacle courses. Love your work mate, its helping us immensely as we start up our own patch on the Gold Coast.
I am heavily relying on your channel and your amazing content to help me with my garden to provide for my family. This is a lifestyle change for me, these times have demanded we become self sufficient for life. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
great job by helping the average Joe get started. I've been teaching many people every day I go to the home improvement store garden dept. blessing to you.
I’ve noticed that you allow for a greater depth of a planter for crops like coriander than I see many local gardeners do. Some say that having a shallow planter cuts down on the amount of compost and other soil amendments you have to add and reduces the need for watering (!) since you are not having to wet soil that the roots are not occupying. Some also say that you can actually kill plants by overwatering them in a deep container since the surface soil is dry long before the soil around the roots is. In my climate, I find deep planters an advantage because in hot weather, the soil can get quite warm. In fact, I line the sides of planters for ornamentals with paper mache. This creates insulation between the soil and the sides of the containers exposed to the sun (you can also cut cardboard into panels to fit the sides of a planter but I find that paper mache lasts longer). I have to water shallow containers more in hot weather than deeper containers, and I believe that crops in shallow containers are more subject to heat stress. My only doubt about deeper containers is that I may be growing things that do well in the pots I have (they are mostly deep), and that the comparisons I’ve been making between shallow and deep containers are skewed.
We stated growing in containers on our tiny balcony already, Tomatoes, jalapenos, small cucumbers and a bunch of herbs, been a joy watching them grow. Prompted me to look for tips and wound up here. Thanks for the video!
I’ve even grown zucchini in an old tree stump! It had a hole in the middle so I filled it with soil and grew pounds of food in it last year!!! Apartment garden hack lol
If you can get your hands on some comfrey, plant some around the stump. Their roots will follow all the way down the dead tree roots and bring those nutrients to the surface. Best mulch/fertilizer that keeps regenerating.
@@emilym155 a nice hack to getting nitrogen rich soil, look for stinging nettles. Also chop the stinging nettles up and boil in water to make tea. We can drink it for medicinal properties, or let it sit for 2-3 weeks and give it to your plants as compost tea. They're very high in nitrogen, they grow on nitrogen rich soil.
I am not completely through the vid (yet) but have noticed so far that you haven't talked about the possible "poisons" that some plastics can leech into the soil/plant. I have just started a compost in a few buckets that I have and it was #1 for me to make sure the plastic used were food safe or whatever you call it. I love your videos and have been watching constantly for the last 6 months or so. I'm so thrilled to see how things are really taking off for you! We are in a time where your knowledge is so helpful and will literally be the difference between being able to grow food and eat OR go hungry... I'm on your side brother! 😊
This has been me. Not-so-great city block so I've been following your channel growing in pots with cheap soil and blood & bone. I've had some success and some failures over the last year, but I keep trying different things to see what works for me. Even small stuff like a bit of fresh spring onion chopped over dinner makes a big mental difference these days. Thanks for all your inspiration and advice! You're a life saver!
i have a condo in Montreal , and grow in pots on my patio. I grow herbs, strawberries , chili and jalapeno peppers, eggplants, tomatoes. My ornamental plants are grown from seeds, i love to grow citrus trees from seeds from the ones i buy. its fun and affordable. i;m teaching my 2 year old to grow from seeds , and in a few years we should have a property and i cant wait to have a huge garden,
Hi Mark! Just a thank you....I'm learning a lot from your videos and they're not only knowledgeable but fun to watch too. Stay humble, stay positive and try not to consume your good energy on negative people (negative comments). Keep up the good work!🤘
thank you so much for this video - I am planning my garden and was getting so overwhelmed because my reading resource was limiting me to raised bed gardening. I knew I could do it another way and have it be more accessible for me considering my current limitations of living in a rental, dealing with chronic pain, being on a tight budget, etc. this video gives me so much hope and motivation - thank you so much!!!
My tips would be plant in potting mix, grow, enjoy and eat. But your tips are much better :D I hope after this situation many of new gardeners will continue to garden :)
Hi Mark, you have just taught me why I had such a disaster crop. I spent a small fortune (for me) buying seedlings and watering them all summer (water was so expensive) and got a lot of dead plants and hardly any veggies ( 1 zucchini for example). It turns out my use of too clay-heavy soil straight out of the garden did it....Anyway, I have just gone and bought a trailer load of vege mix soil and while I'm ready to go planting, there was not one single punnet of seedlings at the garden and soil shop! COVID-19 has improved finances for some industries at least..... so I'll be hunting seeds...So a big thanks from me in South Western Australia. Much appreciated. kind regards, J
Thank you very much Mark. As usual a user friendly guide of how to plant food in any type of containers one can get hold of. You are a very funny person and it makes the whole episode most enjoyable to watch...keep safe, in gratitude...
If you cant by leaf mulch just or wood chip in the autumn get some bags filled with wood and leaf mulch.in the summer when local councils will cut grass'bag it'.In the uk we get mole(rodent) hills that the moles dig deep below is rich soil.Of you have horse fields near you speak to the owner and ask if the can clear the field of manure which is better for the horses.
My 4 yr old master Gardener granddaughter and I have a booming spring with our crops. We got 6 yds of compost from a local hardwood mulcher. 1)3 each if organa grow, Biomix and mushroom mix. I need it up at planting further with even more microbes and life. Good soil is the gold for a farmer.
Ty for all you do and share!! I know there is some sort of payment on RUclips, but the time, planning, and efforts will never fully compensate all the priceless wisdom you share
Great video. We produce a ton of fruit and veggies on a tiny, postage-stamp-sized urban yard. Since the soil is heavy clay with hard-pack eight inches down, we do a lot in containers, In fact, we grow all of our tomatoes and 90% of our salad greens in containers. And like you, our "soil garden" are raised beds. Ours are only about a foot high, framed with timber.
I do mainly container gardening, not for space but its my favorite way to grow. 5 gallon wicking buckets are my favorite. Watering is easy, and weeds are at a minimum.
Great videos. Live in Ireland and have a tiny tiny yard. Dug up the slabs, put in a pond and now have 5 buckets of spuds, then I've got chillies, grapes (which I've been successfully growing for a few years now) Rhubarb, parsley, sage, I killed my Thyme :S but got myself a compost tumbler and we're building up our soil. Love it. it's been a good year now, slowly taking shape. I'd love a big fat organic garden but I can make do with what we have here. These videos are just lovely, brings some light into times of isolation. :D Thanks!
Good post Mark. Keep em coming. Lots of people trying to grow veggies for the first time with no space other than containers. Like you said, don’t forget to water. In my opinion the biggest challenge to container gardening. Side note: years ago you posted an artichoke video and I also live in a subtropical zone (9B south Louisiana) so against conventional wisdom last august (best guess for when because different hemisphere) I decided to try starting from seed. This morning I was walking my garden and voila! First artichoke appeared out of nowhere. Gardening not only provides food when otherwise hard to get, it gives a sense of mental well being in times of stress. An old man I know used to say, “If you want to get closer to God, put your hands in the dirt”.
You always lift my spirits!! We had snow, just a few days ago, but the seeds that were planted and covered with a row cover are coming up! Beets, lettuce, arugula are doing well. Still harvesting carrots, turnip greens and beets, from last summer, that where planted in raised beds next to our house.
Love your videos, I learned a lot! Started with gardening last spring, when lockdown was in place, and I'm loving it! Luckily, I have a yard, but since I live in the hills, the soil was pretty rough, a lots of clay! What I did was, I took the similar black container you used for tomatoes, and I went into woods, looking for old stumps! All around them, is pure humus, I just removed the leaves, ad packed the blackest soil I saw in my life! I made MANY trips, so I had enough for the whole garden! It worked great, the soil is now in between, not clay, but also not humus, and that's perfect, cause more clay-ish soil keep the water longer! And one more thing, I use a concretation of home-made fertilizer, I put nettle plant in the large container with water, and I left it there for 2 weeks.. The end result smells like hell, but I think that is a good sign :) I don't use it pure, I mixed it with water before watering, and I don't water leaves with that
Speaking of pecans.... the last year I lived in Texas where I picked up bushels of them in my yard, I boxed them to bring to Colorado where I now live and pecans don't grow. I put some out for the squirrels who had never had pecans before. VERY happy squirrels!
Luv that sifter, so practical. I remember as a kid helping to shake a flat screen sifter for miniscule amounts of soil. So much work for such little results ! I wonder if you've seen the Plant Abundance channel. He DIYed an industrial size rotating sifter out of a cement mixer. Too large for most home gardens but perfect for a food forest. 🌱🌱
hey mate... I introduce you as Russell crow to my friends and thanks to you my friend I have become self sufficient by growing heaps of vegetables in my back yard for last 3 years. Cant thank you enough. keep up the great work
This is the 3rd year I've been growing in containers. My containers are used chemical barrels. Easy to clean. Plus it's a good heavy duty plastic. I put my drainage holes a couple inches from the bottom. I do that so the bottom is saturated and it'll self wick. This year I'll be growing in 40 containers, all half barrels except 6. Those are totes cut in half. Some of the containers I'm having to make my soil. Those I added hay to the bottom and filled up with creek sand. I'll add worms to them as well. I'll get some potting soil to mix in the top few inches
@@lonelycloud9085 I only really starting gardening a few years ago. There was an assembly at my son's school and they planted some seeds to take home. I asked my son if he wanted to start a garden and I can show him a thing or two. Kids being kids, he didn't think that this 'old man' could do it. Well, needless to say, I showed him that this 'old man' knows a thing or two. My garden has gotten bigger and bigger each year, this year will be my biggest. I enjoy it, it keeps me busy. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, so moving around helps me as well
I just sorted out my cucumber and tomato seedlings yesterday to bigger pots. 4th year in a row of balcony growing, this year the apartment building company might provide bigger containers in the yard too! Cheers from Finland!
I really enjoyed the different ways you show people can grow. I also love that you are thinking of people that don’t have acres. Awesome video as always my friend . Prayers for you and your lovely family 😊
We've rush-planted a bunch of seeds in pots here. I had planned to finish the beds (building them out of rock) first, but I figure horses are faster than carts, so it'll catch up in due course. Really enjoying all the recent content! It's been a big help and motivator for myself, and I suspect quite a few others. Big thumbs up.
Hi Mark. Great video with really practical ideas. Just planted into 5 styro boxes and pots my new garden seeing its so nuts at present. Planted rocket, bok choy, radishes, perpetual lettuce, wasabi leaf, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and shallots. Just love the whole channel mate, content, humour, format, fails, Aussieisms, just Tops. From up the hill in Toowoomba!
Love your channel, buddy. Always a pleasure watching your videos. I live in a top floor apartment block in Scotland with no balcony, but for the past 4 years I've successfully managed to grow various different cherry tomatoes and chillies, and even a bell pepper by accident once. This year I've got Bhut Jolokia's and Habaneros and some other strains which all grow successfully on my window sills. They're just starting to flower now.
Great advice as always Mark. My containers are doing great thanks to taking your advice years ago. I just wanted to stop in and hang with one of my favorite people for a minute :)
You should see the soil we have here in Florida....It's mostly sand. no heavy clumping problem here! I enjoy your channel because we have similar growing seasons. Keep up the good work!!!!
That pride visible on your face when you presented the pecan to the screen. That feeling of accomplishment when a plan comes together. Started watching your videos as I've just bought my first place. Zero experience gardening and I've inherited a small sloping weed filled jungle, this weekend is clear out time but man alive your channel has given me some ideas with what to do with my place.
I so look forward to the day I can move to an apartment with a balcony! A yard isn't a realistic goal for many years yet, but I should be able to swing a balcony in maybe a year or so... 🤞
@@roxyc5345 nothing yet, but getting closer! It'll be a while yet, but I expect to get something this year. I'm taking it slow, I expect to live in my next apartment for a good decade or so so I don't want to compromise on too much.
thanks for your tips Mark, been watching a lot of your videos lately. We don't have a commercially bought composer, so i dug a hole in the clay soil and we have been throwing our kitchen waste and plant prunings into it and layering it with soil as we go. Been doing it for three weeks now and no smells or anything, so assuming it is slowly composting down. In a few more weeks (unless any of the kitchen waste seeds start sprouting, then I'll just leave it to see how it goes) we'll turn the soil and have some good organic mix to use if we get locked down further and need additional growing medium for plants. Worst case, it will just be great soil for the grass to grow over the top of the pit once its full. like you say, just get out there and get stuck into it! even if it fails we've still reduced the waste going to the tip. We have also been collecting glass jars instead of recycling them, so if our other plants grow successfully, we can pickle some of them. Please keep up the fantastic work you do and we all really appreciate the effort and time you put into making your videos.
I just want to thank you for helping the world at times like these and doing your best, with coming out with all these videos. These videos gives us hope .
Thank you so much for these videos! I am a new gardener who kills every plant I come in contact with sadly, but I’m trying so hard and learning so much. ☮️💜🌱
My problem is the weather. I can't plant until after frost date. I have a 50 ft by 50 ft organic garden so I have plenty of room to grow veggies. Love all your tips! I've learned a lot!
You've inspired me to try to find a tomato and a pepper start and try container gardening again. I'm in the SW Utah desert and think I'll try some mulch on top and getting the bottom of the pot off of the hot gravel of my yard. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Mark ...I'm from Guyana in South America...I enjoy your videos and I am trying your methods of planting vegetables...seeing some good results thus far
Thank you for sharing so much with us. I have small space so have been using small containers and some big pots for planting. I also turned a single bed base upside down and filled it up with soil for planting. So far so good.
I mixed my own potting soil from really cheap topsoil that's just composted sawdust and a compost manure blend. It drains really well and my plants are really happy. I used a handful of weeds in the bottom of the pots to keep the soil in should help keep the plants fed. It cost me about the same as buying the premium potting soil but I got three bags worth for the price of one bag of the premium
G'day Everyone, if you would like to purchase a sifter like to one shown in the video (Cheryl makes them herself) you can receive 15% off by using code DTFXUJWA2F43 go to rollingsifter.ecwid.com/ (use code at checkout). Contact Cheryl for questions about the rolling sifter or how to buy one here: Earthkeepinggreen@gmail.com
I thought you would have mentioned upside growers that you hang from your ceiling inside your house. I had some produce from them, and it tasted amazing.
Cant get it sent to Canada :(
Can you make a video on how to save n keep seeds I’m getting ready to harvest soon.
@@barriegraham4306 stop the video, count the elbows and lengths, manufacture one yourself!
How did you get one in Oz? Tried to order but they won't deliver to Australia :(
.....”It’s better to start and fail than to not start at all.”
I needed to hear that. Thank you, I have started, I hope to win.
Epic video, Mark!
Hey Kevin!
EPIC GARDENING, KEVIN!
I had just came back from my grandma's house in Elkton a few minutes ago, I thought I might as well go check my garden and just like I thought I saw that my seedlings started to sprout I saw some radishes, watermelons, okra, beans just about everything else. I'm actually glad I decided to start my own garden.
That's great! I'm still waiting on my beetroot and silverbeet seeds I planted last week to spout 😃
I do think since it's the rainy season now I think my plants are over watered. But I won't know till I actually harvest the plants in a few weeks.
I want to say, be careful ordering seeds internationally, I order seeds quite a bit, what happened was I ordered some chilli seeds online, waited weeks, in the meantime this coronavirus started hitting the news. I got a letter from quarantine stating that they had to confiscate my order due to the fact that they could not identify the seeds (I thought was fair enough).
Well I didn't know that but next year I'll make sure to plant some watermelon and okra. Even though it's the spring time do think they'll grow?
@MrBurdekin St Augustine Florida what about you?
I "panic bought" 4 chicks and two ducklings. I started extra seedlings for my neighbors - tomatoes, peppers, herbs, etc. Love watching your channel for calming advice to weather the coming months.
All the best with you new birds! Cheers :)
I’m one of the many people who found your channel because of the pandemic, but your energy is so pleasant and your videos are wonderfully entertaining and educational. I bet you’ve found several lifetime subscribers- thank you for everything you’re doing to help the world, Mark!
Great video all organic is key to plant health and the world cheers 🙏🌴🌲🌱
I'm using some empty feed bags to grow in. The kind that's woven plastic so it can drain and breathe. I just tape the bottom corners together to give the base a round shape, and fold it down like cuffing a pants leg. So far, so good!
Feed bags..
Great idea! Thanks
@@sueyoung2115 You're welcome!
The added bonus to your amazing videos is the birds. The sound of the birds makes me smile every time.
So awesome.
One of the best channels on RUclips. Thanks for the consistently informative and entertaining content. Netflix should sign you up.
“Anyone for a pecan...?” 😋 “a forgot ma shovel”! 👍 g’day from Bonnie Scotland 🏴... hope y’all keeping well. Thanks again for sharing 🌱 🌱🙏
lol. Ozzies love your accent too . We should become sister countries
G'day Mark, wanted to tell everyone that this guy ^ is SO GOOD. He completes the self sufficient cycle and shows anyone how to do it. Thank you Mark!
I'm growing things in everything I can find. I have a few pallets, some pots and I'm making grow bags. You're right. It's better to just dive in here and start than to let fear paralyze you.
Grow bags are rad. They 'air prune' the roots and prevent the plant becoming 'root-bound'. Once the 'main' root (not the tap root, just any of the main root legs) has reached the fabric and been 'air pruned' it promotes lateral growth off that root all the way back to the plant.
Good stuff! :)
I've learned so much from my fails, I figure by the time I have an actual yard, I'll be ready. :)
@Oshe Shango Totally agree. Every morning, lot of lawn mower sound pollution, oil pollution and lot of personal resources, just to keep the grass a few inches long. The grass is not useful for anyone. Small areas of grass is okay, but lawns and lawns of grass is lame like u said!
Thank you for this video. I live in Miami In the high rise on the 11th floor and finally was able to start my own garden on my balcony, with your help.
Super knowledgeable stuff.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
I can not thank you enough, your channel gives me hope that I may not get the future I was hoping for (a big bit of land to cultivate on) I can still create a movable garden for myself and my family. A potted garden with guinea pigs is totally achievable and can move with us. Thanks mark for the inspiration from a mum and registered nurse renting on the Gold Coast suburbia.
I enjoy listening to his Aussie accent plus have always liked the self sufficient mindset.
As a child I always remember my grandparents gardens. Lemons, choko’s, mulberries, mangos, watermelon, their veggie plot always changing with the seasons. I always remembered the feeling of walking out in their garden and eating food straight from the tree or ground, and my grandpa often chasing me out of his veggie patch for eating his future show winning veggies 😂😂😂😂😂. Today my wife and I enjoy the same experience. We live on a 800msq suburb block but have lime, lemon, mandarin and orange trees, dragonfruit, ginger and thriving veggie patches. I hope that the interest in growing your own food continues after the corona virus has passed.
I’ve grown veggies, herbs and flowers in all kinds of containers: old buckets, metal garbage cans wheel barrows, and, of course, more conventional/decorative containers. If it will hold dirt and drain well, you can grow in it....ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO.
Me too. I use everything and anything to grow plants in.
Long time fan here. I noticed your giant spike of views a few days ago. Great work! You've been making videos for AGES now so I'm SO glad your channel off now, no-one could deserve it more. I live locally and have been using your videos as a guide for setting up my own property for self-sufficiency. Keep them coming!! I love the Dad-jokes too!! 👌😎🌲
Mark, you're an absolute Legend! Hope you continue to stay safe during this pandemic.
Thank you Sullivan and you too mate :)
My dude! Thank you, I'm attempting to grow some food while in a apartment complex.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. The best thing that will come from this situation is people growing food. It is the smartest thing to do at any time. Peace
PLEASE make a pdf book with all your self sufficient gardening growing advice! From the basics (how to tell if a food can grow in your region), to advanced tips and things you've learned to grow better food. I'd buy it in a second!
If not, what books do you suggest?
Thanks for the suggestion and I am brainstorming ideas for a future self-sufficient book. I do recommend looking for a "vegetable gardening guide" specific to your country or region these types of publications are a good place to start. For example, we have Yates Garden Guide here in Australia and the Royal Horticultural Society Fruit & Vegetable Gardening in Australia both publications are excellent. Cheers :)
@@Selfsufficientme Thank you! Keep us updated on your book when it's close to completion.
vjm3, if you live in the U.S. your County Extension Service has brochures and gardening tips for your area, free for the taking. Since we’re quarantined you might be able to find them on-line. Their information was very helpful to me.
Sign me up.
As an apartment porch gardener, I thank you for taking the time to focus on pot gardening. I've been subscribed to the channel for months because it's fun to watch and learn even if I can't do the things you do, but it's nice to occasionally get some advice I can also use :)
With all the fear and anxiety right now I find your videos very soothing and informative. I started my garden when I was 16. It was a kids wading pool full of dirt I dug from the woods. I bought a few plants at the local fruit stand. It grew from there. But at the heart of the huge garden today right smack in middle is what’s left of the pool. I’m 39 now.
Hey Mark, just wanted to give you a shout out to say how much I get out of your videos. As an ex Army guy myself (24yrs RAINF) I love the presentation format and the explanations. I also love the fact that you are still rocking the ET and found a use for it other than bashing your legs on obstacle courses. Love your work mate, its helping us immensely as we start up our own patch on the Gold Coast.
You are such a genuine bloke, I always feel a bit more grounded after watching your videos & learn something too. Keep up the good work mate!
I am heavily relying on your channel and your amazing content to help me with my garden to provide for my family. This is a lifestyle change for me, these times have demanded we become self sufficient for life. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
I really enjoy seeing your plants being watered.
great job by helping the average Joe get started. I've been teaching many people every day I go to the home improvement store garden dept. blessing to you.
Before I got my allotment, I used to grow on my balcony . Got loads of lovely stuff in containers xxx
I’ve noticed that you allow for a greater depth of a planter for crops like coriander than I see many local gardeners do. Some say that having a shallow planter cuts down on the amount of compost and other soil amendments you have to add and reduces the need for watering (!) since you are not having to wet soil that the roots are not occupying. Some also say that you can actually kill plants by overwatering them in a deep container since the surface soil is dry long before the soil around the roots is. In my climate, I find deep planters an advantage because in hot weather, the soil can get quite warm. In fact, I line the sides of planters for ornamentals with paper mache. This creates insulation between the soil and the sides of the containers exposed to the sun (you can also cut cardboard into panels to fit the sides of a planter but I find that paper mache lasts longer). I have to water shallow containers more in hot weather than deeper containers, and I believe that crops in shallow containers are more subject to heat stress. My only doubt about deeper containers is that I may be growing things that do well in the pots I have (they are mostly deep), and that the comparisons I’ve been making between shallow and deep containers are skewed.
I love all the hanging containers on the sides of what looks to be your water catchment!
We stated growing in containers on our tiny balcony already, Tomatoes, jalapenos, small cucumbers and a bunch of herbs, been a joy watching them grow.
Prompted me to look for tips and wound up here. Thanks for the video!
I’ve even grown zucchini in an old tree stump! It had a hole in the middle so I filled it with soil and grew pounds of food in it last year!!! Apartment garden hack lol
How big of a tree stump??
XpetraXpazlX an old Garry oak, quite large, only took a couple of buckets of soil to fill.
If you can get your hands on some comfrey, plant some around the stump. Their roots will follow all the way down the dead tree roots and bring those nutrients to the surface. Best mulch/fertilizer that keeps regenerating.
Jason Lee good tip thanks!
@@emilym155 a nice hack to getting nitrogen rich soil, look for stinging nettles. Also chop the stinging nettles up and boil in water to make tea. We can drink it for medicinal properties, or let it sit for 2-3 weeks and give it to your plants as compost tea. They're very high in nitrogen, they grow on nitrogen rich soil.
I am not completely through the vid (yet) but have noticed so far that you haven't talked about the possible "poisons" that some plastics can leech into the soil/plant.
I have just started a compost in a few buckets that I have and it was #1 for me to make sure the plastic used were food safe or whatever you call it.
I love your videos and have been watching constantly for the last 6 months or so. I'm so thrilled to see how things are really taking off for you!
We are in a time where your knowledge is so helpful and will literally be the difference between being able to grow food and eat OR go hungry...
I'm on your side brother! 😊
Thanks Mark. You are certainly an inspiration. G'day from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
This has been me. Not-so-great city block so I've been following your channel growing in pots with cheap soil and blood & bone. I've had some success and some failures over the last year, but I keep trying different things to see what works for me. Even small stuff like a bit of fresh spring onion chopped over dinner makes a big mental difference these days. Thanks for all your inspiration and advice! You're a life saver!
Noticing a trend on your videos. Back to basics! Im sure a lot of people will appreciate these
i have a condo in Montreal , and grow in pots on my patio. I grow herbs, strawberries , chili and jalapeno peppers, eggplants, tomatoes. My ornamental plants are grown from seeds, i love to grow citrus trees from seeds from the ones i buy. its fun and affordable. i;m teaching my 2 year old to grow from seeds , and in a few years we should have a property and i cant wait to have a huge garden,
Hi Mark!
Just a thank you....I'm learning a lot from your videos and they're not only knowledgeable but fun to watch too. Stay humble, stay positive and try not to consume your good energy on negative people (negative comments). Keep up the good work!🤘
thank you so much for this video - I am planning my garden and was getting so overwhelmed because my reading resource was limiting me to raised bed gardening. I knew I could do it another way and have it be more accessible for me considering my current limitations of living in a rental, dealing with chronic pain, being on a tight budget, etc. this video gives me so much hope and motivation - thank you so much!!!
My tips would be plant in potting mix, grow, enjoy and eat.
But your tips are much better :D
I hope after this situation many of new gardeners will continue to garden :)
Very welcome info. Thank you and stay healthy!!
Hi Mark, you have just taught me why I had such a disaster crop. I spent a small fortune (for me) buying seedlings and watering them all summer (water was so expensive) and got a lot of dead plants and hardly any veggies ( 1 zucchini for example). It turns out my use of too clay-heavy soil straight out of the garden did it....Anyway, I have just gone and bought a trailer load of vege mix soil and while I'm ready to go planting, there was not one single punnet of seedlings at the garden and soil shop! COVID-19 has improved finances for some industries at least..... so I'll be hunting seeds...So a big thanks from me in South Western Australia. Much appreciated. kind regards, J
Thank you very much Mark. As usual a user friendly guide of how to plant food in any type of containers one can get hold of. You are a very funny person and it makes the whole episode most enjoyable to watch...keep safe, in gratitude...
Im so glad I started my vege garden a year ago . Your advice helped me on my way 👍🌻
Congratulations on your receiving your Queenland Series Award. I love your videos
If you cant by leaf mulch just or wood chip in the autumn get some bags filled with wood and leaf mulch.in the summer when local councils will cut grass'bag it'.In the uk we get mole(rodent) hills that the moles dig deep below is rich soil.Of you have horse fields near you speak to the owner and ask if the can clear the field of manure which is better for the horses.
My 4 yr old master Gardener granddaughter and I have a booming spring with our crops. We got 6 yds of compost from a local hardwood mulcher. 1)3 each if organa grow, Biomix and mushroom mix. I need it up at planting further with even more microbes and life.
Good soil is the gold for a farmer.
Great info. I would recommend a leash for that shovel it almost got away twice. Thank you
Ty for all you do and share!! I know there is some sort of payment on RUclips, but the time, planning, and efforts will never fully compensate all the priceless wisdom you share
Great video. We produce a ton of fruit and veggies on a tiny, postage-stamp-sized urban yard. Since the soil is heavy clay with hard-pack eight inches down, we do a lot in containers, In fact, we grow all of our tomatoes and 90% of our salad greens in containers. And like you, our "soil garden" are raised beds. Ours are only about a foot high, framed with timber.
I'm happy to have started gardening on my patio in a container, even though I haven't even gotten to harvest much yet.
I do mainly container gardening, not for space but its my favorite way to grow. 5 gallon wicking buckets are my favorite. Watering is easy, and weeds are at a minimum.
Great videos. Live in Ireland and have a tiny tiny yard. Dug up the slabs, put in a pond and now have 5 buckets of spuds, then I've got chillies, grapes (which I've been successfully growing for a few years now) Rhubarb, parsley, sage, I killed my Thyme :S but got myself a compost tumbler and we're building up our soil. Love it. it's been a good year now, slowly taking shape. I'd love a big fat organic garden but I can make do with what we have here. These videos are just lovely, brings some light into times of isolation. :D Thanks!
You're videos are a welcomed inspirational diversion and a breath of fresh air during these difficult times. Thank you Mark from UK
I started with container gardens. Once we moved to some acreage I continued and think I always will. Love the versatility of it.
Good post Mark. Keep em coming. Lots of people trying to grow veggies for the first time with no space other than containers. Like you said, don’t forget to water. In my opinion the biggest challenge to container gardening. Side note: years ago you posted an artichoke video and I also live in a subtropical zone (9B south Louisiana) so against conventional wisdom last august (best guess for when because different hemisphere) I decided to try starting from seed. This morning I was walking my garden and voila! First artichoke appeared out of nowhere. Gardening not only provides food when otherwise hard to get, it gives a sense of mental well being in times of stress. An old man I know used to say, “If you want to get closer to God, put your hands in the dirt”.
You always lift my spirits!! We had snow, just a few days ago, but the seeds that were planted and covered with a row cover are coming up! Beets, lettuce, arugula are doing well. Still harvesting carrots, turnip greens and beets, from last summer, that where planted in raised beds next to our house.
Love your videos, I learned a lot! Started with gardening last spring, when lockdown was in place, and I'm loving it! Luckily, I have a yard, but since I live in the hills, the soil was pretty rough, a lots of clay! What I did was, I took the similar black container you used for tomatoes, and I went into woods, looking for old stumps! All around them, is pure humus, I just removed the leaves, ad packed the blackest soil I saw in my life! I made MANY trips, so I had enough for the whole garden! It worked great, the soil is now in between, not clay, but also not humus, and that's perfect, cause more clay-ish soil keep the water longer! And one more thing, I use a concretation of home-made fertilizer, I put nettle plant in the large container with water, and I left it there for 2 weeks.. The end result smells like hell, but I think that is a good sign :) I don't use it pure, I mixed it with water before watering, and I don't water leaves with that
Speaking of pecans.... the last year I lived in Texas where I picked up bushels of them in my yard, I boxed them to bring to Colorado where I now live and pecans don't grow. I put some out for the squirrels who had never had pecans before. VERY happy squirrels!
Luv that sifter, so practical. I remember as a kid helping to shake a flat screen sifter for miniscule amounts of soil. So much work for such little results !
I wonder if you've seen the Plant Abundance channel. He DIYed an industrial size rotating sifter out of a cement mixer. Too large for most home gardens but perfect for a food forest. 🌱🌱
hey mate... I introduce you as Russell crow to my friends and thanks to you my friend I have become self sufficient by growing heaps of vegetables in my back yard for last 3 years. Cant thank you enough. keep up the great work
Just started my own garden. Doing a combo of raised beds and containers. Love the vids!
Fantastic bit of advice for the city people!
This is the 3rd year I've been growing in containers. My containers are used chemical barrels. Easy to clean. Plus it's a good heavy duty plastic. I put my drainage holes a couple inches from the bottom. I do that so the bottom is saturated and it'll self wick. This year I'll be growing in 40 containers, all half barrels except 6. Those are totes cut in half. Some of the containers I'm having to make my soil. Those I added hay to the bottom and filled up with creek sand. I'll add worms to them as well. I'll get some potting soil to mix in the top few inches
I have 4 of the large square white totes cut in half I also cut the metal frame in half so they keep their shape
@@homesteadofpayne The ones I have didn't have the cages, so I got 1/2" PVC pipe and 90s to use to help keep them square
You sound pretty pro. Nice man keep it up!
@@lonelycloud9085 I only really starting gardening a few years ago. There was an assembly at my son's school and they planted some seeds to take home. I asked my son if he wanted to start a garden and I can show him a thing or two. Kids being kids, he didn't think that this 'old man' could do it. Well, needless to say, I showed him that this 'old man' knows a thing or two. My garden has gotten bigger and bigger each year, this year will be my biggest. I enjoy it, it keeps me busy. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, so moving around helps me as well
I"ve been watching you for years it seems... I just wanted to thank you for all you teach and your place is really beautiful like a paradise
I just sorted out my cucumber and tomato seedlings yesterday to bigger pots. 4th year in a row of balcony growing, this year the apartment building company might provide bigger containers in the yard too!
Cheers from Finland!
Hi there thanx for the videos i grow veggies in containers all the why from south africa
I really enjoyed the different ways you show people can grow. I also love that you are thinking of people that don’t have acres. Awesome video as always my friend . Prayers for you and your lovely family 😊
We've rush-planted a bunch of seeds in pots here. I had planned to finish the beds (building them out of rock) first, but I figure horses are faster than carts, so it'll catch up in due course. Really enjoying all the recent content! It's been a big help and motivator for myself, and I suspect quite a few others. Big thumbs up.
Hi Mark. Great video with really practical ideas. Just planted into 5 styro boxes and pots my new garden seeing its so nuts at present. Planted rocket, bok choy, radishes, perpetual lettuce, wasabi leaf, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and shallots. Just love the whole channel mate, content, humour, format, fails, Aussieisms, just Tops. From up the hill in Toowoomba!
Love your channel, buddy. Always a pleasure watching your videos. I live in a top floor apartment block in Scotland with no balcony, but for the past 4 years I've successfully managed to grow various different cherry tomatoes and chillies, and even a bell pepper by accident once. This year I've got Bhut Jolokia's and Habaneros and some other strains which all grow successfully on my window sills. They're just starting to flower now.
Great advice as always Mark. My containers are doing great thanks to taking your advice years ago. I just wanted to stop in and hang with one of my favorite people for a minute :)
You should see the soil we have here in Florida....It's mostly sand. no heavy clumping problem here! I enjoy your channel because we have similar growing seasons. Keep up the good work!!!!
I can't get over how educational and funny you are! Thank you so much for your content. :)
That pride visible on your face when you presented the pecan to the screen. That feeling of accomplishment when a plan comes together.
Started watching your videos as I've just bought my first place. Zero experience gardening and I've inherited a small sloping weed filled jungle, this weekend is clear out time but man alive your channel has given me some ideas with what to do with my place.
I so look forward to the day I can move to an apartment with a balcony! A yard isn't a realistic goal for many years yet, but I should be able to swing a balcony in maybe a year or so... 🤞
Maybe grow some microgreens near a window? Takes only an inch or two of soil and grows fast.🌱🌱
FaerieDust, are you any closer to your balcony dream?
@@roxyc5345 nothing yet, but getting closer! It'll be a while yet, but I expect to get something this year. I'm taking it slow, I expect to live in my next apartment for a good decade or so so I don't want to compromise on too much.
@@FaerieDust I am sure it will be perfect when you find it! If you ever remember please let us know - will be looking forward to reading about it 🌻🍎😊
Just started watching you as I got four hens last week. You are and absolute legend mark.
A valuable source of easily understood information, Congrats!
Hello from Canada. Here we need to start in containers because it'll be at least another 6 weeks before we can plant in the ground. Love your show.
I’m fairly new to growing my own food and really appreciate your tips. I clearly see the mistakes I’ve been making.
As a cityboy and longtime fan, thank you for this one
thanks for your tips Mark, been watching a lot of your videos lately. We don't have a commercially bought composer, so i dug a hole in the clay soil and we have been throwing our kitchen waste and plant prunings into it and layering it with soil as we go. Been doing it for three weeks now and no smells or anything, so assuming it is slowly composting down. In a few more weeks (unless any of the kitchen waste seeds start sprouting, then I'll just leave it to see how it goes) we'll turn the soil and have some good organic mix to use if we get locked down further and need additional growing medium for plants. Worst case, it will just be great soil for the grass to grow over the top of the pit once its full. like you say, just get out there and get stuck into it! even if it fails we've still reduced the waste going to the tip. We have also been collecting glass jars instead of recycling them, so if our other plants grow successfully, we can pickle some of them. Please keep up the fantastic work you do and we all really appreciate the effort and time you put into making your videos.
New subbie here. I love your channel, the content and your accent! 💕
Whoever disliked this needs to catch these hands
Hello mark, you the best gardener with experience in growing home plant , thanks for sharing to us such amazing video .
I just want to thank you for helping the world at times like these and doing your best, with coming out with all these videos. These videos gives us hope .
Thank you so much for these videos! I am a new gardener who kills every plant I come in contact with sadly, but I’m trying so hard and learning so much. ☮️💜🌱
My problem is the weather. I can't plant until after frost date. I have a 50 ft by 50 ft organic garden so I have plenty of room to grow veggies. Love all your tips! I've learned a lot!
Long time subscriber and container gardener here. Liked the video even before watching it ;)
Love your work Mark 💜👏🏽👏🏽
You've inspired me to try to find a tomato and a pepper start and try container gardening again. I'm in the SW Utah desert and think I'll try some mulch on top and getting the bottom of the pot off of the hot gravel of my yard. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Mark ...I'm from Guyana in South America...I enjoy your videos and I am trying your methods of planting vegetables...seeing some good results thus far
Appreciate you sharing all these videos especially in these times.huge help and service.
You really help others learn things!
Well done mate. So panic buying is all over the world. I fully enjoy your blogs. Keep going with it,🙂 we love it.🙂🙂
Thank you for sharing so much with us. I have small space so have been using small containers and some big pots for planting. I also turned a single bed base upside down and filled it up with soil for planting. So far so good.
I mixed my own potting soil from really cheap topsoil that's just composted sawdust and a compost manure blend. It drains really well and my plants are really happy. I used a handful of weeds in the bottom of the pots to keep the soil in should help keep the plants fed. It cost me about the same as buying the premium potting soil but I got three bags worth for the price of one bag of the premium
Thanks Mark for another inspiring video.