It's about to get heated! Hoss is gonna sweat! It's all about peppers tonight! What types of peppers are there, what is the science behind the heat, how should you grow and what should you avoid? Be sure to check out the podcast or video for ALL the hotness! Facts About Peppers Peppers contain only 20 calories per 100 grams, making them low-calorie and healthy. They are a great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B6. They also contain vitamin E, vitamin B2, vitamin K, folate, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. One pepper contains as much as 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C!  Spiciness measurement. There are the SHU scale or Scoville Heat Units. Which was named after American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, who first invented it in 1912. SHU varying from 0 for bell peppers to 3,200,000 SHU for some extremely hot peppers. Types of Peppers Capsicum annum: (AN-yoo-um) Most common, various shapes and flavors. Almost all sweet and have thicker walls.  Ideal for sauces. Bell, cayenne, jalapeno, banana, Poblano, pimento, Capsicum frutescens: (froo-TESS-enz) Often used as ornamental peppers, typically colorful, small, mid to intense heat levels. Tabasco Pepper: great for hot sauce or pepper sauce, 90 days Serrano Pepper: Slightly hotter than jalapeno Capsicum baccatum: (bah-COT-tum or bah-KAY-tum) Best for drying. Spicy, fruity flavor, generally disease resistant. Mad Hatter Pepper: Originating from Bolivia and Peru, the Mad Hatter has been widely adapted to grow easily throughout most of the U.S. and matures from green to bright red Capsicum chinense: (chi-NEN-see) Habanero-type, thin-walled. Fruity flavor, heat dispersed throughout pepper. Hottest species Ghost Pepper: One of world’s hottest peppers 1,000.000 Scoville units Helious habanero pepper: Hybrid, Intense heat with citrusy flavor Chocolate Habanero pepper: 425,000-577,000 Scoville heat with a hint of smoky flavor Habanero Orange Pepper:  chile pepper with a sweet fruity flavor that packs intense pungent heat. Capsicum pubescens: (pew-BES-enz) Most Unique, meaty, juicy apple-shaped fruit with black seeds. From South America Product of the Week: North Georgia Candy Roaster Mattadorres Roasting Pepper Mad Hatter Pepper Green Fingers Okra Seed Potatoes Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/CZ3DfS226KI

Row by Row Garden Show

Row by Row Episode 187: Gardening With Hot Ones – PEPPERS – How to Grow and What To Avoid

It's about that time! We've got most of the seed potato orders out, now it's time to get into the dirty details of seed potato planting! What type of potato should you plant, should you plant in-ground or in raised beds, does soil temperatures matter, and so much more! What Type of Potato Should You Plant? 7 types of potatoes: Russet, White, Red, Yellow, Blue/Purple, Fingerling, PetiteEarly Season (90 days or less), Midseason (100 plus days), Late Season (110 days or more)Determinate and Indeterminate Potatoes Spring Potato Planting Schedule By Zone Soil temperature and maturation timing are extremely important in growing your potatoes. Ideally, you want to get your seeds in the ground 2-4 weeks before the last frost of Spring. The warmer your climate, the sooner you'll need to plant. Preparing and Planting In-ground planting: Rowing spacing needs to be 3-4 feet apart. Plant spacing should be 6-12 inches and planting depth should be 3-6 inches. Raised bed planting: Row spacing needs to be 2 feet apart. You'll want to space your plants 6-12 inches apart (same as in-ground planting), and the depth should also be the same (3-6 inches deep). Hilling Your Potatoes As your plants grow, they will need special maintenance throughout the season. Every 1-2" that potatoes grow, they are going to need extra support by mounding up dirt loosely around the base. This process is called "hilling", it is very important in the growth cycle and the root development of your potatoes. Hilling also helps with weed suppression, plant support, and frost protection as well as keeping the potatoes out of the sunlight, which could cause them to turn green and become inedible. Indeterminate potatoes require more hilling due to their upward growth habit. Growing Potatoes in Containers Potatoes are very well suited to grow in containers and can make an excellent choice for small space gardening. While it is a very similar process as in-ground growing, there are a few differences in the process. Depending on the size of your container, you'll want to fill it with 4-6 inches of prepared soil and place it in full sun. Be sure to get the correct spacing because they will need a good bit of room to grow. For example, our 15-gallon root pouch can comfortably grow 4 potato plants and give the root structure plenty of room for a big harvest. You'll want to "layer" your soil the way you would "hill" with in-ground planting. Continually add soil to the top of the plant to cover the new stems at the bottom until the container is full of soil. Hoss University Be sure to check out the Potato Growing Guide on our website for lots more growing information! More on irrigation, fertilizer needs, disease protection and SO MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE! Product of the Week: Shelby Tomato Purple Ruffles Basil Seed Potatoes Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/YtjtaHaKI9g

Row by Row Episode 186: The Best Way To Plant Seed Potatoes

Let's talk about the tips & techniques of seed starting. Evaluating your seed starting method is extremely important, is it art or skill? Where should you start your seeds? Are you using the correct soil? Are you planting at the right depth for each variety? Let's discuss! Important Tips of Seed Starting Here's what you need to remember: Keep Records/Journal to record when seeds are sown, germination, success rate and date transplanted. Tracy (justdigitfarms) did excellent video last week.Purchase seed from a trusted source (high quality) (germination rates) check seed packet for specific directionsKeep seeds stored properly: Cool dark location with low humiditySelect the correct seed-staring mixPlant in correct container/seed starting tray (drainage holes) (plant markers)Plant proper depthKeep seed starting mix moistWarm locationFertilize when seedlings have true leavesThin if needed, step up as neededPest Control Evaluate Your Method Indoor Vs outdoor: Indoor: Got to have lights, Heat mats, more expensive, less fluctuation in temps, limited space. Temperatures of 65 to 75 to germinate (ambient temp). Don’t plant too early Outdoor, (in green house.) more fluctuation in temps got to run heaters, less expensive (Sort of) can start more seeds. Unpredictable weather Overall Problems in Seed Starting Germination: Humidity + tempDamping offLeggy seedlingsNutrition: begin once true leaves emerge Correct These Issues Have heat mat and some type of humidity Drainage! Airflow Light and light. Strat over if plants are leggy. Harden off if needed/acclimated to direct sunlight Product of the Week: Cog Hill Sunflower Collection Seed Starting Supplies Seed Potatoes Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/jBYhaO6LJBY

Row by Row Episode 185: Are you making these MISTAKES when starting your seeds?

Our friend, Craig Howell from Sakata sits down with us to discuss all things tomatoes. What's coming to the home gardener this season, what certain tomato terms mean, what makes a good tomato, and so much more! We also choose our new name for the Hoss tomato variety! Hoss' Most Popular Tomato Varieties Bella RosaRed SnapperRoadsterTachiSweet HeartsHossinator (STM2255) What Makes A Good Tomato Disease ResistanceSmoothnessHeat SetTaste What Varieties Is Hoss Trialing? This season we will be trialing 3 new varieties! RamblerThunderbirdShelby Little Known Fact Most organic growers use hybrid varieties as their #1 to grow! Product of the Week: Amarillo Gold Rudbeckia Hossinator Tomato Striped Carosello Cucumber Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/LXoE3t8mg1A

Row by Row Episode 184: Let’s Talk About Tomatoes

No matter how large or small your garden is, every grower wants to get the most out of their space. What if you only have a 20 x 20 space? Let's talk about small space gardening, what important factors to think of when planning your garden, and which varieties to plant. Garden Site Considerations Good SoilPlenty SunshineWater SourcePollinationPossibly Fence How To Select Varieties Choose Compact VarietiesGrow VerticallyCompanion PlantingSuccession PlantingCrop Rotation 20 x 20 Small Space Garden Layout We have taken a 20 x 20 garden and made a Spring Garden Plan to get the most out of every square foot of garden space. This plan utilizes thick planting methods, vertical gardening, and smaller 3.5’ raised beds with a well-producing pollinator breaking up the quadrants. Some of us picked our favorite varieties that we would plant in our space but encourage to try different varieties and see what works for you. Q1: Kentucky Pole Bean, National Pickling Cucumber, Lemon Boy, Golden Delight Zucchini Q2: Jambalaya Okra, Merlin Beet, Mini Bell Pepper Mix, Nadia Eggplant Q3: Elephant Garlic, French Breakfast Radishes, Yukon Gold, Warrior Bunching Onions Q4: Tarragon and Parsley, Cilantro and Dill, Thyme and Sage, Lemon Basil Product of the Week: Root Pouch Trellis Netting New Seeds For 2022 Seed Potatoes Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/1XiuTkONCA0

Row by Row Episode 183: Making The Most Out Of Your Small Space

Not everyone has a large enough space for in-ground planting, tonight we focus on container gardening and give you some ideas on what to grow this season! We are excited to introduce our newest collection, the Acre Homestead Container Collection was hand-curated by Becky at Acre Homestead. We have partnered with Becky to focus on small space and container gardening. More videos from @Acre Homestead to come! Container Gardening Container gardening is ideal for those with little or no garden space. Problems with soilborne diseases, nematodes, or poor soil conditions can be easily overcome by switching to a container garden. Being able to use different-sized containers can give you easy access to your fruits or vegetables. The Perfect Space Whether you have little to no yard, live in an apartment, or only have a driveway, there is still SO much potential! You can use your windowsill, your deck, patio, doorstep. Get creative with where you place your containers. Not only is it important to the size of your container for plant purposes but also for placement. Sizes It is very important to have the right size containers for certain plants. You will want to consider the size and shape of the plant's root system and how rapidly it grows. When you are picking your containers, make sure you keep in mind that light-colored containers keep the soil cooler than darker containers. Drainage holes are always essential with containers, if your containers don't have the proper drainage holes, you could risk root rot or other death to your plant. Container Material Clay or terracotta are attractive but breakable and easily damaged by freezing and thawing.Cast concrete long lasting, but can be heavy and hard to move.Plastic and fiberglass are lightweight, become brittle with cold or age.Wood: Choose a naturally rot- resistant wood.  Don’t use creosote (toxic to plants)Root Pouch Container Preparation You'll want to put in desired space before filling and planting. Put in appropriate shade/sun according to plant requirements. Plain garden soil is too dense.  Water Requirements The type of pot will determine water requirements as well as shade/sun placement. Clay pots dry out faster.   Product of the Week: Root Pouch Dr. Joe Fertilizing Tabs Arkansas Traveler Tomato Chiba Green Organic Edamame Red Dragon Lettuce Mingle Mix Tomato Green Tiger Lettuce Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/4JHHpHZs7_c

Row by Row Episode 182: What Vegetables To Grow In Containers

What zone are you in? What should you be doing in the garden now? Let's go over it! Be sure to check out Hoss University and the Growing Guides that we continue to put out, lots of great growing information. ZONE 10 Ya'll in Zone 10 are good to go and can plant most anything right now. ZONE 9 Now - Inventory seeds, supplies to be ready to start warm-season crops by end of January (lights, heat mats, soil). Start your cool-season Crops inside: Kale, lettuce Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel SproutsGet potato spot ready for planting end of February February - Plant English peas, carrots and start planning your garden out, remembering good rotation. ZONE 8 Now - Inventory seeds, supplies to be ready to start warm-season crops by end of January (lights, heat mats, soil). Start your cool-season Crops inside: Kale, lettuce Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts Get potato spot ready for planting the end of February February - Plant English peas, carrots and start planning your garden out, remembering good rotation. ZONE 7 Now: Inventory seeds, supplies to be ready (lights, heat mats, soil) End of January Start your cool season Crops inside: greenhouse or grow lights, Kale, lettuce Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts Soil Sample Grow microgreens and lettuce indoors.Start intermediate day onion seedsStart planning your garden out, remembering good rotation. ZONE 6 Now: Inventory seeds, supplies to be ready (lights, heat mats, soil) February: Start your cool season Crops inside greenhouse or grow lights, Kale, lettuce Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel SproutsSoil SampleGrow microgreens and lettuce indoors.Start planning your garden out, remembering good rotation Product of the Week: Potatoes New Seeds for 2022 Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/A7ENCgJGeLQ

Row by Row Episode 181: What You Should Be Doing In Your Garden Now (By Zone)

Want to expand your garden all throughout the year? We know having a garden in the spring and summer months is very popular but you can have a bountiful harvest in the fall & winter months too. Growing A Winter Garden We know the most popular garden to grow is in the spring and summer months but you can have a bountiful harvest in the winter as well, especially if you are in the warmer, southern states. Here is a list of some of our favorites from our winter garden! Cabbage Caribbean Queen Cabbage is a hybrid, tropical-style cabbage with a massive, flattened head. Easier to slice and process. Great for making wraps, slaw, soups, sauerkraut and more!  80 days to maturity. Cauliflower Graffiti Cauliflower is a hybrid variety that produces stunning, bright purple heads that are medium to large-sized. Performs well even in humid conditions. 80 days to maturity. Flame Star Cauliflower is a hybrid variety that produces beautiful, pastel orange heads with great flavor. Plants have high tolerance to heat and stress. 55 days to maturity. Twister Cauliflower is a hybrid with large, dense heads and outstanding wrapping ability. Outer leaves “twist” and protect the head for beautiful, uniform harvests of bright white heads.  75 days to maturity. Kale Lacinato Kale  is an Italian heirloom that is one of the most productive crops you can grow. Produces delicious, long, and slender leaves year-round. 65 days to maturity. Carrots Chantenay Royal is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety that works great in heavy or clay soils. This chantenay-type produces uniform carrots that are 4-5″ long with wide diameter. 75 days to maturity. Gold Nugget is a hybrid yellow variety with broad shoulders, blunt ends and little tapering from top to bottom. Strong, vigorous tops make it easy to harvest by hand. Great flavor and uniformity. 75 days to maturity. Beets Touchstone Gold Beet is the preferred variety of golden beet. Orange to gold skin with bright yellow flesh on the inside. Great flavor and retains color when cooked. 55 days to maturity.  Spinach FanTail Spinach is an extremely heat-tolerant spinach variety that is exceptionally resistant to downy mildew. Upright growing habit for easy and clean harvesting. Great for baby leaf or full leaf production. 45 days to maturity. Turnips All Top Turnips is the perfect variety for those who want to grow heavy-yields of delicious turnip greens. No turnip roots here — just thick, large leaves that can be cut multiple times. 50 days to maturity. Mustard Savannah Mustard is the fastest-growing and most tender mustard green we’ve found. Early-maturity. Grow as baby greens or harvest at full size. Cut-and-come again type crop.  20 days to maturity. Collards Flash Collards is a hybrid collard variety with heavy yields and superior heat-tolerance. Slowest-to-bolt of any variety we offer. Vates-type collard that grows on upright stalks. 55 days to maturity. Kohlrabi Quickstar Kohlrabi is a fast-growing hybrid that maintains texture and flavor at larger bulb sizes. Pale green bulbs with slightly flattened appearance. 35 days to maturity. Product of the Week: Premium Garden Seeds Pickling Pipe Lids Pickle Packer Jar Tamper Rust Proof Jar Bands Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/HE6mY_frJqo

Row by Row Episode 180: Why You Should Plant A Winter Garden

Gardening Questions & Answers Part 1 Can you plant potatoes without sprouting first? Yes, you can. If you don't pre-sprout them, they can take a little bit longer in the ground to come up but yes, it can be done. How do you calculate how much (or how concentrated) fertilizer to run through your drip? And with the variability of rates (like 1:100 needs x amount of fertilizer per x gallons of water concentrate) currently working towards getting good fertigation set up going with a dosatron I salvaged from our chicken houses, have a five-gallon bucket to mix my fertilizer in. Try not to make it too complicated. The water that you are using is only a carrier for the fertilizer, don't focus on how much water. You want to focus on how much fertilizer you're putting out into the area of your garden you are focusing on. It's very hard to give rates when we don't know your soil type, temperature, what you're planting and how big your garden is. Do you have a printed catalog? We don't. We stopped printing a catalog about 4 years ago. We are strictly online. www.hosstools.com What's the best pea variety to grow for having dried split peas to make soup with? I'll be honest, we haven't made split pea soup. Greg isn't a big fan of split pea soup but you can make it with any of our English pea varieties. Some people have been known to make it out of a yellow-type pea. How to keep the stink bugs off zucchini? How to kee green worms off cauliflower, kale, and cabbage? Great question, we keep our garden clean, start our plants early, and we don't wait to have a pest control plan. If you plant these in the springtime, it is often better than in the fall. They're easier to control when they are young. Try Neem Oil and Spinosad. Part 2 Do you have any brilliant ways to store all of the attachments for my single-wheel hoe? Right now, they are in various stages of organization. Some have hooks on the barn wall, and some are in a pile on the workbench or floor? Greg uses a lot of hooks in his barn. They are great to hang wheel hoes and attachments. We would love to see your photos of how you organize your garden tools. Send them to custserv@hosstools.com I'm planning to build a new strawberry-raised bed and want your advice on what soil type and amendments I should add. I have a compost pile I've been working for about 4 months and just added 14 bags of leaves and wondered if I should add some of this to the bottom or top of the bed when we fill it. These strawberry plants are coming from an existing area, in case that matters. Yes, you should add it. Add it to the top, the key to it is to incorporate it all in. Compost on the bottom and then add your leaves. What kind of watermelons do you plant and how do you plant them? Greg plants a lot of different varieties just to try them out. His all-time favorite is the Crimson Sweet Watermelon. He normally plants on drip irrigation with 3 to 4-foot row spacing. Would you recommend incorporating brassica leaves into raised beds after harvest, or throwing them away? Yes, incorporate them. Sheila would do a "chop and drop", you don't want them to rot on top. It will add a good source of nitrogen to your compost. I have sugar sand soil but has been improved. Which wheel hoe would be best suited for the loose sandy soil, single or double? Any of our wheel hoes will work great in sandy soils. Greg recommends basing it on the size of your garden. If you have a smaller garden, he recommends the single-wheel hoe. If you figure out later on that you made a mistake and needed a different one, we have conversion kits. Part 3 What type of nightshades are you growing there? Greg and Sheila grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. That would be Irish potatoes, not sweet potatoes. I've not had much luck with Roselle here in South Central Tennessee but just bought seeds to try again. What is the optimal pH, season,

Row by Row Episode 179: Gardening Questions & Answers

What should you do to "winterize" your garden? Tonight, we discuss exactly what you need to do in your garden this season. Based on your zone, you may need a more ardent strategy than some others in warmer climates. Winterizing Your Garden Be sure you bring tender plants inside, cover vulnerable plants (remember to take when the threat of frost passes so they do not overheat). Clean out annual vegetables and flowers. Some may harbor disease, pests and funguses. Many bacteria and pest eggs can overwinter in debris, and they will take over your healthy plants once spring arrives.Remove weeds. Like plants, weeds left in the garden through winter can host many pest eggs and pathogens. Soil Tests.Nutrients: Lime, Potassium, Phosphorus, and NitrogenAmend your soil for spring. Manure, compost, and organic fertilizers. Plant Cover Crops: Helps regulate soil erosion, break up compacted areas, increase levels or organic matter, and add nutrientsReplenish Mulch: Helps regulate soil temperatures and oisture, protect crops frm frost, added mulch breaks down and incorporates fresh organic material into soil.TarpClean and Sharpen ToolsShut off irrigation systems when freeze is indicated Product of the Week: Potatoes Gift Certificates Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/95XVp6_2xg0

Row by Row Episode 178: Winterize Your Garden

Tonight, we discuss the difference in seeds. With a lot of confusion on what Open-Pollinated, Heirloom, and Hybrid seeds are, we will break it down for you. Open-Pollinated (OP) Occurs in nature, naturally. As long as plants are separated from other varieties, will breed true to type.Advantages: Save seeds for next season, Superior flavorHave stable traits from one generation to the next. Heirloom Developed outside commercial plant tradePast down from generation to generationIdentified by how long the seed has been passed down. (50-100 years) Prior to 1940Heirloom seeds must be open pollinated, but not all open pollinated are heirloom seeds.Why Heirloom: Taste (No more pale tasteless tomatoes)Stability (Characteristics stable from one year to next, plant will be like parent plant)ExpenseHardinessSeed Saving Hybrid Often called F1 in seed catalogsA hybrid is created by crossing two different varieties of the same plant. Can result naturally if plants are not separated. Can also be intentional.  It is an attempt to tease out the best genetic traits of both parent plants and combine them in a hybrid seed. Seeds are unstable and can’t be used for saving as the will grow but likely will not be like parent plants. When a hybrid tomato (for example) produces its fruits, the seeds inside those fruits will carry genetics from both, or either parent plant. That means their traits will be less predictable. Must purchase new seeds every yearTend to grow better and have higher yields than open pollinated seeds.Offer higher disease resistance.Improved Flavor in some cases. Can you save Hybrid seeds? Plants that grow from seed saved from hybrid plants generally are less vigorous, more variable, and usually have smaller blossoms and yield less than their parents. Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Vs. Organic Seeds Organic seeds refer to a growing practice (most likely without pesticides.)  Product of the Week: Kitchen Garden Light Kit Hoss Stocking Stuffer Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/6sB-rp6mBE0

Row by Row Episode 177: Garden Seed Update

G-M-O. You probably know what it stands for: genetically modified organisms. I know there’s been a lot of controversy around it. You might think it’s unnatural, that’s it’s bad for your health. Others say that it’s actually a cool technique to make crop production more efficient. So, is it good or is it bad? GMO - How Are GMOs Made? “GMO” (genetically modified organism) has become the common term consumers and popular media use to describe foods that have been created through genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a process that involves: Identifying the genetic information—or “gene”—that gives an organism (plant, animal, or microorganism) a desired traitCopying that information from the organism that has the traitInserting that information into the DNA of another organismThen growing the new organism Eating Foods From GMO Crops Only a few types of GMO crops are grown in the United States, but some of these GMOs make up a large percentage of the crop grown (e.g., soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton). Most GMO plants are used to make ingredients that are then used in other food products, for example, cornstarch made from GMO corn or sugar made from GMO sugar beet. Farmers and GMO Crops Most of the GMO crops grown today were developed to help farmers prevent crop loss. The three most common traits found in GMO crops are: Resistance to insect damageTolerance to herbicidesResistance to plant virusesResistant to drought, easing the demand for water Not Just In Your Food Cotton can also be ‘GMO’d’, and as a result, a whole ton of other everyday items have GMO ingredients in them.5 Sheets, towels, clothes, you name it, if it’s cotton, GMO could be in there too. It doesn’t stop at cotton though. GMOs can be found in a bunch of other products. Alcohol can be made from GM corn and soy, so as a result GM can be found in toiletries, hand sanitizer, ink, gasoline - the list is as surprising and diverse as it comes. GMO VS. HYBRID One of the key points is that hybrid plants aren’t the same as GMOs. “Hybrid seeds come from pollen exchange within the same species, directed by human hands. GMO seeds are genetically engineered by modifying genes from unrelated species in a laboratory. Pros of GMO The pros of GMO crops are that they may contain more nutrients, are grown with fewer pesticides, and are usually cheaper than their non-GMO counterparts. Cons of GMO One of the major disadvantages of GMO corn is its potential to trigger allergies. First, genetic material from a potentially allergenic food may be transferred to corn, also transferring the allergenic properties. Secondly, genetic modification alters the actual DNA of the corn. This process introduces new proteins into the food supply that are not naturally present, opening the door for a new allergy to be developed. Who Can Buy GMO Seeds There are currently no genetically modified garden seeds available for sale to the general public. When farmers choose to purchase GM seed, they sign an agreement stating that they will use the seed solely for the planting of one commercial crop. Product of the Week: Garden Hod Hoe Dag Tool Kit Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/G_fD0cuMQC4

Row by Row Episode 176: GMO -Genetically Modified Organisms

You asked, Greg and Sheila answer! Many of our customers, followers, and Row By Row Group Members submitted their gardening questions and tonight, you will have them answered. Q & A - Part 1 "Have you ever had success growing asparagus?" - Yes, we've been growing asparagus for the last 7-8 years. We have several videos on our YouTube on how to be successful growing it. The key to it is after the 3rd year of growing it, you want to cut them back. You will develop weeds around the asparagus and that's normal. If you cut them back, you'll continue to get asparagus shoots. "What is the best way to get rid of grasshoppers? I'm surrounded by grassland and they're inundating my yard and garden." - There isn't much you can do for them organically. You need to hit them early on with a synthetic insecticide. You can rotate Bug Buster II and Neem Oil to treat them. "Concerning nitrogen fixers, do the nitrogen-fixing plants have to die or be pruned back to release the nitrogen for other plants to scavenge from the roots left behind?" - You can't intercrop a "live" legume with a crop and expect it to exchange the nitrogen. It needs to die back and break down into the soil before it is beneficial. "Will I get better germination on my edible hibiscus if I leave the pod on the plant longer? I don't want to leave it on too long since it could go bad but I need some tips on when is the right time to pull the seed pods." - Once it blooms and the bloom falls off, I normally wait about 5-7 days after the bloom falls off. "I've heard it said for a long time now, insects don't attack healthy plants. Can you demystify that? - There is some truth to that. Think about it like it was your body and your immune system is weak, you are more than likely to get sick. It is more likely for an insect to attack your plant if it does not have the proper fertilization, health, etc. Insects can also attack healthy plants but they tend to fight off insect infestation easier. Q & A - Part 2 "Can you tell me what fertilizer to use on onions and at what time?" - We recommend a well-balanced fertilizer, like 20-20-20, and alternate it with a nitrogen source like Ammonium Sulfate. Stop fertilizing 30 days before you harvest. "Does Mrs. Hoss succession plant or intercrop in her raised beds?" - I do succession planting a lot in the spring and summer. I don't do it in the fall because the broccoli, cauliflower, etc. take longer to grow. I will intercrop with flowers in the spring and summer, I do sometimes plant my garlic and onions in with my English peas. "What can I use next time to prevent my pumpkins from being destroyed by vine borers? I want to give it another try." - For vine borers, you want to make sure you plant earlier in the spring to get ahead of the outbreak of the vine borers. You want to spray them early on, have a good spray schedule. If they get into the vine, you're done. "I want to bring my peppers inside for the winter. What do they need to keep producing or at least not to die over the winter months." - If you bring them inside, you'll want to keep them wet (keep the moisture to them) but I wouldn't fertilize them. Once the springtime comes, you want to re-pot the plant and then start fertilizing. "Can you use your drip irrigation system in containers? If yes, can you show how?" - We actually have a container watering kit that is perfect for your needs. We will get a video done on it soon! Q & A - Part 3 "When you are starting a farm on raw land, what is the best cover crop to plan to help build better soil?" - Hairy Vetch and Winter Rye are great ones for the cool season. During the warm season, you would want to go with Sunn Hemp. "I have never been able to get bell peppers to grow to a respectable size. I am in Central North Carolina. Any ideas?" - Fertility, fertility, fertility. I struggled back in the day until I realized bell peppers LOVE fertilizer.

Row by Row Episode 175: We’re Talking Onions and More!

Tonight, Greg and Sheila talk about all things herbs and fruit orchards!! Expand your food supply! Start Small, Start Simple Herbs When growing outside, consider those herbs that are hardy and can handle changing of seasons/cold weather. Lavender and Rosemary. Consider how large they will grow when planting. If planting in a raised bed, keep larger plants to the back and small plants in the front. This will make harvesting easier. Don't plant herbs together that need different amounts of sunlight and water. You'll do well planting tarragon and basil together. They love full sun and like a bit of extra water. Put your rosemary, sage, and thyme together because they prefer drier and sandier soil. Cool Season Herbs Cilantro Chives Dill Parsley Warm Season Herbs Sage Thyme Oregano Mint Bay Leaves Fruit Orchards Augment your supply of homegrown food beyond the traditional food garden. Choose those that bear fruit at different times of the year to further extend your harvest. Preserve homegrown fruit for jams. You can dry, freeze and ferment your fruits, as well. Greg and Sheila grow fig trees, grapes, blackberries, blueberries, mulberries, peaches, apples, lemons, limes, oranges, and strawberries! Knowing your soil is vital. There are two important factors in determining if a particular tree or plant will grow well in your part of the country. First, you need to live within the recommended USDA Hardiness Zone and if you're planting a fruit or nut tree, you must determine if your area receives enough annual "chill hours". Where To Plant Look for an open spot in the yard. Fruit trees generally need at least six hours of full sunlight in order to grow strong and produce healthy fruit. Don't plant the trees where they will be shaded by your house or taller trees. Limes are excellent for those with limited space, they can be planted in larger containers and can be brought indoors for protection. Where to Buy Local nursery (carry trees that will grow well in your area), big-box centers, or online. Remember - bigger isn't always better, look for bulging tight pots, signs of pest or disease issues, good shape, structure, and generally healthy-looking plants. Shop Stark Brothers Fruit Trees - use coupon code ROWBYROW10 to receive a 10% off discount on your order. Products of the Week: Herb Collection Kitchen Garden Light Kit Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/g7lmB0jd1Vk

Row by Row Episode 174: How To Extend Your Food Source

Dr. Glen Harris with the University of Georgia is back!! Tonight, he and Greg get into the data behind cover crops, the importance of the organic matter, why you should be concerned with it, and much more! Research Project from UGA The study measures the biomass of four cover crops planted Nov. 1 and the nitrogen available to the following crop. https://www.farmprogress.com/cover-crops/measuring-mass-nitrogen-benefit-four-early-cover-crops Importance of Organic Matter in Soil Two of the biggest benefits of having the organic matter in your soil are to aid in holding water and nutrients, two of the things you need for plants to grow, besides sunlight. "If you can get your hands on good compost, man, get it in your garden", Greg says. If you don't have access to getting good compost, a good cover crop or a mixture of cover crops is the way to go. What is Cation Exchange Capacity in Soil? Cation exchange capacity is the total capacity of soil to hold exchangeable cations. Dr. Glen Harris states, "Soils have a net negative charge, the negative charges come from clay and organic matter. They hold a lot of the positive things in your soil. The more clay and organic matter you have, the better your soil will be at holding the cations." Cover Crops Rye is typically a cool-season cover crop is a great suppressor of weeds, adds organic matter into the soil, reduces erosion, and works to scavenge nitrogen. Clover cover crops improve nitrogen-fixation, a great ground cover, and the clovers make a great crop to have before planting vegetables. Tillage Radish is one of the best cover crops for improving soil quality and reducing soil pest pressure. Hairy Vetch is a cool-season cover crop that fixes a significant amount of nitrogen, in addition to reducing erosion and providing weed suppression for garden soils. Check out all of our Cover Crops here. Products of the Week: Cover Crops Vermiculite Watch the Complete Show on YouTube Below: https://youtu.be/bXyH9C4epE4

Row by Row Episode 173: What You Need To Know About Cover Crops

Greg and Travis from Hoss Tools talk all things vegetable gardening.

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Row by Row Garden Show

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