I love and agree to your top 5. A cute story is that 18 years ago, when our oldest was just 2, we were growing our little garden in the back yard. I was getting concerned when she wasn't eating dinner... so the next day, I watched her... she was 'Gardening' and 'Weeding' by going to the garden, picking every other bok choy and just ate them..... or radishes, or carrots and green onions. So I was not worried about it then. Then when I showed her that when they get to her hand sized bok choy, we would pick, rinse, dip them in Italian dressing and put them on the BBQ. To this day, she still loves garden to mouth! I appreciate all you do. Thank you so much. Hugs from Esquimalt!
Just had to comment finally. This channel has taken me from wanting to plant a few tomatoes to wanting to be as self sufficient as possible. I have kept chickens and ducks for a while but now that I'm building a new home on a little over 3 acres, I feel this will be the time to do it. Thank you for the videos. They are full of knowledge, humor, and a bit of inspiration. Keep up the great work and I will keep watching all the way from South Carolina USA. Btw, this was the first video of yours my wife has seen and she said, when you were laying on the ground with your face right next to the lettuce, that you were the "Steve Irwin of gardening". Couldn't agree more. Cheers
Congrats on the new home! Wishing you all the best with the self-sufficient lifestyle! Also, may I ask how you learned to build a home? I've gone down the road of self-sufficiency and as far as a few things I know about gardening Im a bit clueless on the rest lol. PS Im from NC myself!
Lol watching from my farm in NC!!!! From SC though!!! From the charleston area…. Never to go back as it is hard to be self sufficient in a congested area… keep moving more and more rural! Missing south cackalacki tho. Best to ya’ll.
@@sonofaquack6987 No it never gets annoying. I live with similar birds and you don't notice them. We have the noisiest kookaburra's at about 5 every morning and it is amazing watching people sleep through it!! They don't stir at all.
My husband is redesigning our garden with raised beds as I’m in a wheelchair and miss gardening greatly-growing in pots just doesn’t work with the heat where I am but the raised beds are awesome. Thanks for giving me itchy fingers!
In the last month I have bought over a dozen trees and plants. I came to RU-vid looking for some advice on tomatoes and now you have me putting ginger root into pots and going to buy seeds today. Great content and 15 minute videos are hard to watch on other channels but you are always moving, showing us the goods and I love that you will just eat carrot leaves lol. Subscribed!!
I am still thinking how to get a kangaroo in Middle of Europe :) (On the plus, I have a baby banana growing from seed so maybe a baby kangaroo would make it :) )
@@gabriellatoth1623 be careful what you wish for. Kangaroos, particularly males can hurt you bad. Even wombats will bite your ankles. Roos prosper in strayan conditions so come an visit them in the wild (when covid allows)
My husband and I bought lettuce and bok choy on a whim, while we were grocery shopping. Never thought I’d be so delighted in growing, harvesting, and eating them as Microgreens. So much more satisfying then picking up a head (or bag) of lettuce from the store only to find it forgotten in the back of the fridge.
We might forget but it’s God who blesses our land, makes the seeds grow and gives us the mind to choose to seek better answers, to observe and experiment using our 5 senses, our whole body, our mind and our spirit to learn and formulate hypothesis, theories and finally acknowledge the laws God made that govern he made for us to figure out. It’s all more simple than we think and then at the same time infinitely complex in the perfection of it all. We can equally sit in awe of the smack yourself obvious simple answers we finally get into our thick skulls as well as awe at how Satan would ever think he as a man or similar creation that has significant limits could just simply say “hey, I think I’m as good as God today”... l sit in awe of what logic anyone could be using to think they want the job of keeping up with what God does that isn’t just billions upon billions of his children here now and passed with him now, every thing that works with every other thing in perfect timing, to create life, allow death and show us that life is renewed, death has no hold over us in Christ even down to the fate of sparrows. One has to be completely insane thinking they could keep up in any way with what God covers without issue one. And isn’t God Great. Blessing in Christ to see us through all things and never to believe a lie.
I call bullshit I soaked a bunch of lettuce seed in a egg carton with some soil about a week ago and I have like five or more seeds in each spa and I'm not seeing one single Sprout this black seed lettuce is a bitch to grow
I absolutely love Mark, such a cool human being. I have learned more useful stuff from his vids than from school. So humble as well. Love the way he presents, I can literally spend hours upon hours watching his videos. Well, the hours that I don't spend in my gorgeous garden.
Sunflower sprouts are pretty easy to get a heap of while growing sunflower seeds if you just scatter them in the garden. They're full of the good stuff and once you have established sunflowers it's super easy to get a surplus of seeds and grow your own sproutlings in a take away container or something of the sort.
Hi Mark. With your personality and your knowledge, and just your general character, you make people feel welcome. My friend, you deserve a TV show. I know you would quite popular, given your style. I have watched several videos over and over. I never get tired of them. I learn something new every time. Thank you, Mark.
We've recently discovered your channel here in the UK and have been binge-watching you. My wife thinks you're great!! (not sure how I can compete). We only have a tiny garden, not much bigger than one of your raised beds but we're picking up some great tips (especially about the broken tomato plant). Keep them coming, we look forward to them, you are better than the professional gardeners on the boring old BBC! 👍
Wait, I can eat pea leaves AND carrot leaves? Always learning something new from you Mark. That would actually be a nice video, what parts of plants are edible that most people don't know about
Those beet leaves, too. The entire dandelion plant is edible. I take a little root when I cut them. The leave come off the root in little pairs and make a delicious leafy green salad with a few of the yellow flowers. I chuck the root, although you can make a tea from it. Treat the unopened flowers like a mushroom - I like to fry them in a little butter then add eggs and scramble. I generally chuck the long flower stem. You might have a little wild chive in your yard to cut off and throw in also. Several lawn weeds are actually edible and taste good.
@@robertsparling The long stem is actually pretty pleasant , and nourishing. I chop them in little rounds for the salad if they are not too fiberous. The stem is actually supposedly good for the macula of the eye (where your central focus is).
@@zenphotojourney There are different kinds of dandelion, the ones with the 'toothier' leaves are less bitter, and the ones with the broad end to the leaf are more bitter. The newer leaves tend to be less bitter than the old ones.
Just wanted to leave a comment saying thank you. Your videos are top quality, funny, informative, well-edited, and your enthusiasm for your craft comes through in each one. They've been extremely helpful for me not only to learn new tips and tricks, but to keep my my own interest in this hobby at a high level.
I am sure you will also enjoyed the sunflower sprouts. I grow them for the birds and eventually the seeds are scattered all over the gardens. To kind of control them, I pull them out when they are just coming out with 2-4 leaves. So nice and tender.
You are an amazing guy, Mark. I'm retired and beginning to plan my garden for spring. You dominate my saved videos with such great insights and simplicity. In my first garden as a 10 yr old I couldn't wait for the carrots to mature; I just pulled them up young, washed them with a hose and ate them as a snack. Sadly my spinach fed lots of bugs before they matured - holey spinach Batman!
Yeah, we don't have a lawn. So we're reduced to using a group of window box planters. But still we're really enjoying our little planter of fresh lettuce everyday!
i lived n an apt for awhile and grew alot of food pretty cheap. we had a square dining table. i put one of those kiddy pools underneath it. bought a cheap led light and screwed it to the underneath side of the table. and voile la, we grew food year round. hope this idea helps n ur situation.
Anyone who has a balcony: Try planting peas or pole beans in a 15 inch, or about 30 cm, pot and let them vine around the rails and rungs on your balcony. You will have to water every day, maybe even twice if temps get very warm or hot, but not only will it produce food but it will also help cool your balcony off a little. And beans can be planted every few weeks to replace vines which are dying back!
I let my carrots get bigger and they jam up pretty well as long as your compost has enough minerals. Then I thin them. And yeah, they don't make it to the house. Asparagus, I have purple, and it regrows every year, I put in dolomite and limestone so they have plenty of minerals. Garlic, I haven't seen you row garlic. That is the easiest. And ours grows through the winter snow.
Our asparagus has been alive probably longer than I have and it comes up each spring without us paying attention. It's not exactly the same deal as the other things in this video, but for our family it works as one of our first real vegetable crops.
Love him and his dramatization of the eating of pea leaves! 😂 Very informative and I always get a smile when watching. Can always use a smile if not free greens ♥️🌿 Ty
Hello Mark! I finally caught a fresh video, I'm so happy. I left some plants grow around my vegetables and strawberries and they are working very well together. I used Google Lens to identify these "weeds" and it turned out to be chickweed and buck wheat. They keep other weeds out, in some ways, so I let grow around everywhere. So far so good!
Chickweed is also an edible. You should look into wild edibles as well. You'd be surprised at the edible weeds you are pulling out of your garden. Society has labeled them as a weed but those weeds will save your ass if you're ever starving.
The best gardener on youtube. ....you make it real thanks for keeping it normal so we can all understand...best veggie garden because of you can't thank you enough
11:03 it is called a "Taboolla" in Egypt and "Taboolleh" in Lebanon (accents) So an Aussie saying "Tabooly" is just lovely and don't let anyone tell you anything different 😂
Slow-cooked and seasoned with bacon or ham, turnip greens have been a staple diet item here in the Deep South of America for hundreds of years. Same with collard greens. Another favorite microgreen is wild watercress.
Love your work Mark, You've been one of major people on youtube that has motivated me to really get into gardening and learn how to be more self sufficient when it comes to my food.
@DocRox LOL what's wrong with a wombat in a Crockpot? (Great imagery by the by) Does that makes it less wholesome? Besides you got a killer garden like that you gotta teach them wombats a lesson to stay out the goodies lol.
You are such a generous human being, Mark! Sharing your passion for gardening and, most importantly self sufficient way of providing food for ourselves, is inspiring. Thank you! Hope to learn from you for many, many years to come! God bless you, Mark!
Thank you for your videos!! My family and I enjoy the enthusiasm you have for your garden 🥰 My children love to eat vegetables of all sorts and because of your videos we’re starting our own garden!! LOL
Awesome info once again. Thanks! I know you mentioned lettuce, but just to add: I have rocket (Rucola) in my garden (in Switzerland). It popped up as a total surprise between the paving, now I have it everywhere in the garden and can eat it from April to November! The easiest and most prolific plant I have!
Really learned a lot today about over planting all kinds of baby greens and especially pea leaves. I was throwing them away all these years, and will know better -- and eat better from now on. My Kale didn't die Off over our Ohio Winter and I see now it's a perennial. It is delicious in Cole slaw , chopped finely. Gives your slaw a very fresh flavor, and young greens are great with young garlic & onion sprouts( boiled than fried With a bit of bacon) yum! I love what you do in the garden. Like me you enjoy watching everything grow. Thank you for sharing your trial & error knowledge with the masses of new andold gardeners. We really do Appreciate it. I live for mornings in the garden , with a cup of coffee to drink, and Bird songs. It is so peaceful In our cranky World of ingratitude, to be one with Nature God gives us in His Divine Mercy. People don't get it, because they just see "work". They are truly missing the joy of gardening. tms poet Ohio
As always, great content. Radishes are my go to quick crop, I often inter plant with slower plants like peppers, or collards. My new favorite is French breakfast, young it is like a Daikon, older it gets zesty. Lettuce, my favorites are Meriville des Quatre Saisons and Paris Island Cos. BTW- on a previous video you recommended Perpetual Spinach so I planted a row this year. LOVE IT! In a salad or sauteed with butter and garlic. CHEERS
Nic Werner same I just wan’t to say something that mark will recognise when I first realised that his name was mark I was like oh that’s my friends name it’s pretty funny but I just wan’t to say he is the best RU-vidR in the whole system
Where do you live? I am on the East Coast in USA I have never had luck getting cilantro to grow. I always do in little pots so I would know if it came up but it never has. How long does it take to germinate tossed in your yard? Do you scatch it in? Do you do anything to the seeds? Help me if you have any tips.
@@robynnbryar1977 I'm in Southern California, in Riverside county. It's very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Our weather is desert-like.
Mark, Thanks so much for being an inspiration! I have three garden beds now, and we have harvested corn,beans, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes and carrots! And the nasturtium are delicious! Waiting on the okra, but man, I couldn’t have done it without the virtual support. Thanks man! My mom, dad and I love ya!
I am learning so much. Now that we cannot afford to go to the grocery store I am working hard at growing our own garden. Learning about compost also. Have a small garden going but getting ready to do a big raised bed. Am so excited! Thank you Mark!! Love to you and your family.
RE: Pea leaves... "It tastes like a pea. Yah, Great... Great!" You just gotta love this guy! Makes my day :o) Always good content. God bless you and yours! I don't know why, but I enjoy watching your videos even more when I speed them up to 1.5 - even this quote has a different feel when you play it at 1.5 vs. normal. I saw the celebrity comparisons below (I hope they are flattering, and not otherwise), and note that at normal it's more like Bob Ross, at 1.5 more like Irwin - but always wonderfully you. :o)
Found your channel a month ago and I'm learning so much! I started container gardening this year a few months ago. Thanks for providing such helpful content. I enjoy watching you because of your enthusiasm and positivity as well as your knowledge. Keep up the good work!
G'day Lisa, thank you for your kind words and Super Thanks! All the best with your container garden. Even though we are on acreage, I still love growing in containers due to the control you have over the growing medium, nutrients, portability, and of course space savings. Thanks again and take care :)
This video - and his confession - is seriously a lifesaver for me right now! I have found myself with trays of lettuce and Swiss chard seedlings that are desperately over-crowded! I spent way too much time today trying to separate them and transplant them because I can’t bring myself to just “thin” them out! Now I’ll just bite the bullet and throw them in my salad instead! I’m definitely going to let my greens go to seed, too. I would love to have salad greens popping up like weeds 😋
From South Africa, we love you!!! Thank you for all the amazing tips and advice. I can't wait until we have our greenhouse up so we can start growing. We have a huge troop of monkeys that come through daily and destroy everything edible, so we have to make a covered space they can't get into and then we can begin our food journey. In the meantime, I'm learning all I can from you.
This is fantastic advice! My part of Canada is considered a "sub-polar" zone and the outdoor growing season really only lasts from June (May, if we're lucky) to September, so densely sowing crops which can be harvested early and/or left to mature will definitely help me maximize my balcony garden :)
Buddy let me tell you, I have been gardening since I was a kid, and watching youtube vids/hardcore learning indoor growing for years, and you are the ONLY channel or media where I bust out a note pad. Right now with the pandemic wrecking my city of residence Montreal, THIS video in particular is one I have looked for for ages but never seen anyone really focus on! Just got some serious grow space set up, gonna take everything on this video and apply it to mini aquaponics! I have eaten canned food for almost six months now!!!!!! Got cherry tomatoes, mint, ginger, peppers, and a huge bucket of potatoes going already! Love your videos, love your humour and insight and down to brass tacks approch! Keep up the good work!
I just found your channel today and I am in love! I started growing herbs in quarantine, and needless to say I think I've discovered a green thumb. I was watching your video earlier on mint, I had to move containers earlier because my 4 spearmints were getting so big. Thanks so much for making these videos! They are a great help.
Dude, you're awseome! Great videos! Greetings from Poland! I'd put radish on the list. It grows very fast and also in low temperatures so it can be seeded very early. Also radish sprouts are great for salads and sandwitches.
Cherokee Rose Sorrels are best eaten when new growth, same as spinach. I love the tart taste. We usually eat them as a side veggie just like cucumber slices with Asian beef or chicken salads.
I just love Mark I always end up with my face aching because I am smiling so much I could listen to him all day he has such a lovely way about him. I cannot wait to move to the South West get me a couple of big ugly dogs and start growing veggies, already buying pots containers seeds and even splashed out on a couple of vegepods!
@@AletaHinterlandMama Because I let the bed do its own thing, and left the swiss chard growing, with just a bit of extra wood chip mulch, it'll pop up a bit if we get a not-so-cold spell in the winter, and my little garden friends(wild bunnies) have a snack to keep them going in the colder months. They'll come and nibble it, while fertilizing the bed for me over the winter, and then, in the spring, the swiss chard bolts up again because it's had that nice little extra boost from the bunny droppings. The birds come and snag bits of the leaves, and I can still use the stalks sauteed with fresh new potatoes, garlic, summer squash, and root veg. I only fence in my bushes and trees over the winter to keep them from being nibbled to the roots, so the bunnies give the rest of the garden free fertilizer when I'm not actively working the beds because it's too cold. Then, I just pop out as needed when I want to harvest a few of my sunchokes for a midwinter snack.
This channel inspired me to start gardening (I've never been interested in it before... I've always had small plastic house plants). I only have a tiny balcony, but your tips on fast growing plants have given me the confidence to start. Now I have a few seedlings growing. The radishes and lettuce are going great, but my basil doesn't seem to be doing well. Even if I fail a little, it's still really fun. I hope I can have a real garden one day.
Pay no attention to the miniscule amount of haters. Greetings from the Gulf coast of Florida, in the states. Tried turning my father's yard into a butterfly garden about 15 years ago. For the past 13 years, 12 of those I traveled for work. Lost that job last fall, but count it as a blessing, as I was home just before, 2020 started. Rambling. Sorry. Been trying to learn how to be "self sufficient " food wise and stumbled across some great videos. Including yours. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Keep em coming
One of *best ever* :D My bock joy resprouted in a sand pile, grew strong with next to no water and minimal sun, now seeding for next season! First time it was in front yard now in back, I too let a lot of things go to seed, dug some parsley out of my front lawn for garden beds after accidentally mowing a couple times. There is a "perma culture" lesson here, stuff adapts or selects for our particular environment.
Agree!!! I literally did not have to buy lettuce from the store for 7 months!!!! Insanely good!!! Oh, and Mark- because of you I'm an "oversewer" too!!! With this panic buying at the stores I've oversewn!!! 🤪👍 Oh, and yes, it's tabouli(pronounced "tuhbooli."
Hey Vibls, random stranger here, good luck on your grow ops, we're getting into it in our household too this guy is great. I've not ever had a green thumb, always had livestock though so it's just a different kind of husbandry/land stewardship. Well wishes on all your future grows and any other endeavors.
Same, I had red romaine growing and for a few years it would just pop up randomly. Once I did harves the seeds before they got away so right now I have none popping up, but I still have the seeds so I can grow them. But I have to wait tillwinter, it's too hot here for lettuce except in winter.
@@tommytigert5993 Hi. I think taking a look at your growing space and seeing how the sun hits it each day and season helps as well as going online to see the real deal on what grows when in your area. The seed packets/recommendations are not accurate. Keep a journal of what works and when and from season to season you will "grow your green thumb." I've learned the hard way that the seed packet isn't correct for my area etc Jealous of your livestock!!! Wish I had this. Blessings on all your growing endeavors!!!
@@-desertpackrat yes, I hear you. I'm in zone 9 and the heat causes the lettuce to bolt and get bitter quickly. All in all I love growing my family's food. I'm glad I started last year on a more fill time basis as no one knows for sure if and when stores get food and the limiting that's going on......
I started growing pok choi in water from my kitchen window and within a few days it was blooming and started flowering after a week. I was amazed. I've now potted a couple of them and doing a few more in the coming week.
YES, over sow. They can always be transplanted, given to others, or at worse....composted. Mark, i discovered you tonight accidentally. Cannot wait to show these videos to mine boyfriend. Do you give personal tours to your garden? Willing to pay, yet cannot afford "Michelin" prices. He-he. Just a HUGE THANKS for the knowledge and entertainment you provided me tonight. You gave me sunshine during a bleak eve.
one of my all time favs is chicory. I live in a temperate zone in qld and oh boy, this stuff just takes off. The whole plant is edible, flower, tuber and leaves and its very healthy.. you can grind it up, the root part that is, and it can be used as a coffee substitute. It literally grows along the road side here.. i have it in my garden and will always have it because its just that tough
