Setting Goals and Planning for the Most Productive Garden in 2024 

Try planting dill, oregano & or (mint in a pot)with your zucchini. They really help with squash vine bores & squash bugs. Also stake your plant & prune the zucchini's lower stalks. I've had wonderful success with this. You still need to check plants for eggs & remove if found though.

Floridade is DEF a determinate- you should get 2 or 3 flushes out of them. I only grow OP and heirloom. German Johnson- plant it where it can have shade in the heat of the day. Before you plant anything. The weather should be your first checkmark on the list. To much rain/watering will water down your tomatoes, so keep that in mind. I have my own weather guy. I have learned to talk to him before I do anything, these days. I'm down here in Florida, and here is what I AM planning for. Wet, cooler ( more normal) spring rain and heat. Dry period mid June through July. Hang on to your britches, things "could" get ugly from there, with the weather. HINT to southern folks- on this down time- go ahead and check that hurricane list and if you could need something, get that out of the way. There is one tomato that I grow and LOVE it! It's called Caribe. It's a determinate, and if the weather is good, it can produce some huge tomatoes. It's an all purpose. Many moons ago, it was used by soup companies to make canned soup. Save the seeds, and carry on. It's one of those rare seeds that grows well in PA-S. Florida, as well as Rio Grande. I am growing determinate's this spring. I want them up, producing and done before the summer hits. The raised beds will be filled with blackeye's. I had to pop back in- I know this is LONG- Squash bugs if it is possible, especially if they are going to be in close proximity- Only do example 55 days at the same time, or 100 days at the same time. Squash bugs LOVE variety, and you are opening the door to DINNER! They lay their eggs at the base of the plants, and one they are there.. You know! I learned this the hard way. I'm down to 1 variety at a time! Otherwise they move from the squash to the tomatoes. Just don't invite them!

Hi Carter, I’m in northern middle TN. I grow spinach all winter long without any protection at all, it does really well. Those fresh greens in the middle of winter are a blessing.

A couple of tips put tin foil balls underneath the squash plants and it will keep the bugs away...we did this last year and did not have one squash bug ..we put it under our cantaloupe and cucumber also...with your peppers you can make Rotel just tomatoes and peppers. I use that as my salsa with added seasoning.

Carter - The Baker Creek North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash is wonderful! I've grown this for the past two years with great success. The winter squash is very prolific, super sweet and makes delicious pie filling. I love watching these torpedoes grow all summer long.

My favourite pepper is the sweet mini peppers all colors

Hi, I think your channel is the best one I ever found! Thank you for sharing exactly what lifestyle I agree with and follow! I also try to stay as low carb as possible, I guess especially people after 40 and so on can appreciate what you share, way to stay healthy! I'm almost 50 and still not on any meds thanks to keto!:) I also like to preserve food especially anything that I grow (my tomato sauce and salsa -cherry tomatoes and zucchini, are very much loved by whole family), I hope to raise my own chickens and rabbits son as well. I noticed that you use a store bought mayo often, and wanted to see maybe you would like to make your own, I have not bought a jar ever since I tried the recipe I list below, let me know what you think:) 1 egg, just under 1 cup pf avocado oi i f u do not want it too runny, 1 tbsp of mustard - I use what I have, abt 1.5 - 2 tsp vinegar, I use white (recipe calls for white wine, I think apple cider is too strong), 1/4 tsp of salt, 2 tsp lemon juice, I usually use bit less, so consistency is thicker. Place all in a jar, insert hand blender in all the way to bottom, start blending from bottom to top slowly raising the blender. and that's it:) my husband eats a lot of devilled eggs for breakfast and it goes fast!::) let me know what you think!:):)

HaHa! the gardeners paradigm-> seed excitement versus lack of space then harvest overload. Its par for the course, enjoy the ride I tell myself. Interesting to see what you can grow in your location versus my single crop season. I'm trying so many peppers this year and too much of everything, but the Long Keeper tomato is my hopes for fresh tomato eating well past frost. I'll check comments for squash bugs, they're awful here, as are flea beetles. Thanks for the inspiring video!

I am in northern NY state with a short growing season. I am always interested in trying out short season varieties of everything! Tomatoes and peppers are my favorites. That being said, I highly recommend Dr. Wyches yellow tomato. One of my favorite orange/yellow heirloom varieties. I tried Numex Joe Parker for the first time last season and they did well! Coral Bell sweet pepper is also great! Happy gardening!

Good Morning! I’m sowing seeds for my 2024 garden and watching your video. It’s tomato seed time. I keep microgreens in rotation all winter. I do indoor hydroponics as well. I’m inside gardening longer than outdoors here in Minnesota! Happy growing.

Bella Rosas are fantastic. They are beautiful 🍅 🍅 🍅. I have been canning with them for several years. Hope you enjoy this "mater" as much as I do!

Dr Wyche’s is my favorite. I’m in the PNW.

Oh, I like that functional way of planting, I might actually succeed with that large envelope system. Thank you for sharing!!!

I live in North Texas and we have bad squash bugs too. I find that I have much more success with starting my summer squash late summer and grow into the fall after the squash bugs life cycle is over. I grew cube of butter but didn't care for it because the skin was so thin and tender it was always cut up and looked awful by the time I got it in the house.

Yay! I can't wait to see how your garden turns out! You have motivated me.😊❤😊

My husband is the gardener of the family. I do the preservation. Despite this, I watched, learned, and enjoyed every bit of this video. Thank you for sharing so willingly with all of us.

Same on Sun Sugar in Virginia!

Do you have a video on how you start your seeds for the garden...love your videos

your micro greens are amazing! I've never done it but I have a bunch of old garden seeds of various greens so will throw them in dirt and see what comes up. I'm starting peppers (orange marmalade, orange blaze, marconi, serrano, cayenne) and onions right now. Lots to plant later.

It sounds like you are going to have a great garden. I love how you are organized with your seeds. Your right about the fact that it needs to work for you, not that it needs to look pretty.

Micro greens are planted...moving on to the cat grasses. 7 rescue cats in the barn. You gave me an idea about the freeze dryer and herbs. My cilantro is never in the right stage of growing when I need it and freeze drying it will make it work for me. the most prevalent item usually in my garden are all varieties of peppers..they are getting so expensive in the grocery stores that they are a good money maker for us in our roadside veggie stand.

I’m hoping that my green beans will do better this year. The last two years have not been good producing. If I have poor results, I may have to try a different variety. We love green beans. Other than that, I planted too many tomatoes last year, as I have inflammation if I eat too many. I don’t think I will be trying anything new this year as we planted five fruit trees this past fall. I will have to try growing flats of cilantro and parsley as you did. I never thought to do that. Thanks for the video. Take care.

I'll be getting ready to get my seeds started; I'm so excited! Wish I had a freeze dryer. I know I would go nuts freeze-drying everything I grow. :) Have a great day! Do you think you can do some ferment videos? I got a fermenting kit and really would love to ferment more veggies.

Hi Carter I am in Florida so I started most of my seeds at the beginning of January except my cucumbers , melons, and squash but will be starting soon for tomatoes I do paste tomatoes, cherry tomatoes sweet 100 and Everglades tomatoes. For peppers I grow sweet bell peppers, jalapeño, poblano, and Cuba elle peppers. For cucumbers l grow max pack. For zucchini I grow black beauty, for squash I grow butternut, Seminole pumpkins, and Long Island cheese pumpkin. I grow contender bush beans and sugar snap peas. For broccoli I grow monte, for cabbage I grow promise cabbage, I don’t know the type of Brussels sprouts, for kale I do curly and dinosaur kale. For spinach I grow giant winter spinach and then cantaloupe and strawberries, blueberries. I do a lot of herbs and flowers marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, borage, Mullen, camomile, oregano, lemon balm, dill, basil, parsley, sage. I grow lots of short day onions. For pole beans I grow Jacob cattle beans, black beans and cow peas

I had luffa vines covering the cattle panel arch from 4-6 vines. Should have just had one at each corner. The fruit comes one very late, August in my case, but I got almost 3 dozen in total.

Jet star tomatoes you should try ❤

This is the first year I am trying the German Johnson 😊 so now I'm more excited about it. And i have a bunch of traditional romas. Last year, i loved the sunrise sauce tomato, it's a golden paste. I have a couple isis candy started for the first time. My favorite cherry last year was the Indigo chocolate cherry. Thank you for sharing your garden plans with us 😊

I really love Early Girl for slicing. It’s what I call a classic old fashioned southern tomato. They are wonderfully acidic. Early Girl is indeterminate and grows well in Southeast TN. I also love the Butterbaby butternut squash. It’s delicious and the perfect size for 2 people.

I plan on doing mostly container gardening this year. Peppers, herbs and flowers.

Love your organizational creativity, I just have a small garden, so just need simple solutions. Thanks for sharing; will use some of your great ideas.. Blessings

Sounds like a great plan! Great idea for the loofah they are a beast of a plant so it's best to grow out of the way. 1 plant yields more than enough loofah for a family. I'd plant two then remove one just in case something goes wrong. I'm focusing on tomatoes, all the peppers and okra this year!!

You might want to powder some of your tomatoes, the powder is so versatile. I fire roast mine first, then put in blender and remove seeds with a food mill. Lots of work but so worth it.

I do not enjoy gardening but I loved this video and watched the whole thing. Good luck!

I pop all the peppers in pots. My goal is 52 qt Speggitt sauce 52 pt enchilada sauce. Speggitt and tacos each week really are our quick meals.

I going to try MIgardeners national pickle too this year

Gracious, Carter…did I enjoy this video! I have garden fever more this year than I care to admit. You have many varieties I have never grown but I truly enjoyed learning about a few I want to research. I’m zone 7B (we were 7A but the new map has changed us). I will share that I can, freeze, and eat fresh so I grow accordingly. You mentioned growing bush beans. I grow White Half-runners (Mountaineer White Half-runners) on a trellis. The vines easily grow 8+ feet and are so prolific. Please consider growing your bush beans on a support system as it makes for a higher yield and they are much easier to pick. As far as your potatoes, have you considered growing them vertically? I grow all of my potatoes in page wire fence “towers” that we make ourselves and place them around the perimeter of our garden. That method works great for me…so just a thought. Lastly, watch those loofahs because they grow like gangbusters. And I mean up a tree and up a telephone pole 😅 Thank you for sharing with us and I off to look up some of your selections now 🥰

Carter, it looks like you are going to be very very busy! I just took 11 lbs of sliced onions out of the freeze dryer. Cilantro parsley marjoram and more celery going in. I love freeze dried cilantro. Smells like fresh and very easy to crumble it up over Mexican dishes. Watching it rain again, my yard feels like quick sand, but if it's like last year we may have a very dry summer so I have catchment barrels near the gutters. I wish I could grow my herbs like you do, lol. I get very low yields,but I do have 9 cherry tomatoes on my aero garden I'm watching!

Carolina Gold did well for me in Indiana zone 6b. Delicious tomato!

Since you are only one eating green beans try pickling some I love them they are delicious.

Muncher cucumbers are the only thing I grow. When they're small, they are great b for pickling, and when they get bigger, they are not bitter. Followed by the beit Alpha. Migardener has them too. What zone are you in? I'm in North Georgia zone seven but I have so much rain tomatoes just rot on the vines.

I know nothing about microgreens. Could you do a video on what types there are, how to grow them, and how to harvest and use them?

I just started my tomatoes and peppers

Ohh you're going to have an amazing year with your garden + freeze drier. My brother also lives in TN & has not gotten a freeze drier. Ohh i know i shouldn't be but im so jealous 😂

If shoe boxes don't work out, get another photo box for flowers, herbs, misc.....savory is fantastic, especially in green beans!!

I did not like the isis candy. It was so late producing and took too long to ripen. But it was in a shadier area of the garden I will give it that it was very loaded with fruits

Would you remind me what zone you are in? I am in 6B - 7A, Eastern, Washington, lots of heat in the summer and very little rain. Everything has to be on water low humidity up this way, but I’m not sure how much humidity plays a role in plant choices? Thank you again for a very informative video!

How many pepper plants do you grow? Here in western Washington, we have such inconsistent weather. A couple of years ago, it rained daily in cold temperatures until July 8.

Can you tell me where you get your micro green supplies? Wondering if you have any advice or have done research on the best place to buy the seed packets?

Great video is the cilantro micro greens and what can I do if I don’t have a freeze dryer

Could those peppers the long ones be hungatian ones ?

❤

Hi, what are you using to freeze your individual pepper packs?

Carter, have you ever dry canned asparagus? I have done other veggies but I now have some asparagus that I want to can and not have mush? Can I WB it? Thank you for your help.

What is pekomidia ( spelled wrong). I cant find a recipe on that.

is it possible to dry can sweet potatoes? just wondering, thanks! Thornburgs terracotta and yellow pear are the ones I always grow, then i grow some red, and purple toms but not necessarily the same every year. and Dr Wyche's

Non acid or very low acid

What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes