12 Unexpected Things I've Learnt From Growing Vegetables | The Perpetual Journey Of Veg Gardening
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Growing food is a wonderful journey, that is filled with highs and lows and plenty of surprises! In this video, I wanted to highlight 12 of the most unexpected things I have learnt from growing food since I began at the age of 3. Make sure you take the opportunity to enter the competition to be in a chance of winning a signed copy of Grow Food for Free. Open worldwide. Simply comment the most unexpected thing you have learnt from growing food and then check out the pinned comment on next Saturday's video to see if you have won!
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The most unexpected benefit of growing food that I have found, is my mental health. Over the course of the last 12 years, after leaving Iraq, my PTSD has abated (and almost disappeared) purely because of the veg plot. Giving life to something, nurturing and caring for it has carried over into other aspects of my life, both work related and on a personal level. My relationship has grown stronger because of a shared interest, and I now employ more attention to detail in my work which has resulted in more pride and professionalism. It might not work for everyone, but for me, this is the best therapy.
This is a fabulous testimonial to the power of garden therapy! I agree wholeheartedly!
John, I totally agree! It’s a lovely form of therapy and watching things grow is a very precious thing.
This sounds amazing. So happy you found gardening therapy, and that it brings you such peace.
Thankful that you have been able to find peace through gardening. What a blessing.
I love this💕 I agree that gardening is the best therapy😌
The most unexpected self discovery I've learnt from growing food is how much I would enjoy watching CZcams videos of gardeners from around the world, like yourself, who generously and passionately share their knowledge and experience.
The most unexpected thing I have learned while gardening is how much I love when volunteer plants grow and thrive! 😍
I learned that pulling weeds is really enjoyable and therapeutic especially when I get all the roots!:)
Ivy K it is the same for me...
Me too!
Me too! I really don’t mind weeding.
Are you making FPJ??
Having had an allotment at 20 which I spent every evening after work at,when all my freinds were down the pub I found the magic of growing accompanied by my beautiful retriever Ruskin....who needed the pub!
As I grew older carpal tunnel became a huge problem and I gave up growing because of the digging and pain afterwards
Then came lockdown.....I needed the great outdoors and I managed to re dig a new allotment from the huge bramble and nettle patch in the back field....I am in the business of growing again...without too much pain and have now discovered no dig gardening ....life has begun again for me at 63 ...I’m so grateful for you, Charles and Liz’s videos ...thank you so so much 🥦🥕🌽🥒🥬
Me too Anthea!!!! Also 63 with painful joints, but isn't this fun!!!
check out robbie and gary gardening easy on youtube. she cold composts in place and gardens in tubs where you can grow lots of food while doing very little. i love that she does not have to regrow leafy greens at all; they are just there perennially.
I had carpal tunnel surgery which cured my pain. I know it can take a looong time for the NHS in Britain to approve elective surgeries but for me here in the U.S. I only had to wait around two weeks to have it done. A small warning: It's a painful surgery while the nerve is growing back. When the recuperation period is over, though, you'll find it was worth it.
I have a hard time squatting and bending over because I have MS. I can't kneel anymore. I sit on a chair while I'm planting and weeding which makes it lots easier for me. I have to be very careful to not turn or move quickly because I'll fall. I had a small brain bleed last year when I fell down in my yard and whacked my head hard on the ground. (Tripping over the laundry basket the next day didn't help the ol' brain either!)
I'm 67.
Sunshine and touching the earth are underrated health benefits, IMO. Glad you started gardening again and even better that you are using the no dig method. I am experimenting with no dig and also tossing the seeds around the plot to see where they want to grow. Combined with a good cover of mulch, I think that it will be far less work and provide a better crop. We are never too old to learn. Blessings, Anthea.
For me the no dig method, was also a great relive.
The time, space and patience needed to grow a precious piece of food is immense, I’ve learned how much we take our food for granted.
There are ways to lessen the amount of space you need. Like vertical gardening or tiered planting
It's easy to take your food for granted when you depend on others to provide it such as retailers and other food suppliers. Many people may have forgotten that the vegetables have been grown by farmers and that they didn't just turn up in the store's by chance.
Well said!
Every time a sprout appears, a little bit less tension in my life goes out of the door. I feel such a genuine motivation to plant on a daily basis because it promotes self-growth as well.
The art of trust. That you can only do so much and that you need to trust that plants will do their thing and grow food. It’s been eye opening and liberating
Hello Huw, the one thing I’ve learnt during lockdown in my garden is, how easy it is to make friends with a robin. Whenever I bring my shovel out of the shed, the robin is there, and he comes so close to where I’m digging I feel I could touch him. He has been the highlight of this last three months, along with all the salad crops, herbs and flowers that have fed me and the bees. Keep on inspiring all us gardeners, best wishes, Sharon.
I bought a vintage spade from a reclamation yard and my Robin came to sit on it.
I have a quail that sits on the top rail of our backyard fence. He sits there quietly and watches me. I love seeing his little topknot bob.
I'm commenting a lot but the comments I'm reading are so interesting I find myself wanting to have "conversations" with like-minded people. The people on gardening comment boards are always so nice and polite. I love them.
I have a hummingbird that likes to watch me work in the garden!
this is so so special
as a rancher from generations of ranchers...I remember a lesson taught me by my grandfather "never complain of rain; rain grows grass"
Love that comment!
The most unexpected thing I learned is that, having just started growing my own vegetables, I now welcome rainy days!
The most unexpected thing I learnt was that there is such a thing as ‘too much babying’ your plants, I was killing mine through what I thought was ‘kindness’. I now water less by using the cut and drop method of mulching...only taking thick stems or surplus leaves to my compost area and leaving the rest where I cut them from. I also now let nearly everything go to seed (if I don’t need the bed) and so much then self sows ! Plus this lets the bees have some beautiful flowers to get pollen from.
Oh and the latest unexpected thing I learnt was that slugs can be beneficial to help break down things in your compost bin, now instead of killing them I ‘relocate’ them and let them do their thing!
The thing that I have learned the most is how important it is that I pass this skill on to my children - food security is only possible by growing your own food
Kate Casey So true! I regret not paying more attention to my Grandad when helping him on his veg plot (back garden), or my Dad on his allotment, although my skills on fruit harvesting and preparation will always keep me in good stead. Now I have made my own raised beds :) & we have Huw, Charles and Liz to learn from :)
I'm only 13 and now thanks to you and the rest of the CZcams gardeners I have my own allotment and I've found out that it's so easy to get overwhelmed and to feel down when looking at others gardens and starting new projects .
Being overwhelmed is a useful tool to know when you're out of your skill zone. It's a sign to reel in your efforts so you're not doing too much too soon. Don't get down about others gardens. Everyone had to start somewhere, and most of them had only grass before they started. It takes time to get to what you see in videos and since you're starting early, you'll have the skills needed when the time comes to do big projects like them.
I m 40 and I feel the same.. what has helped me is reaching out to friends that also like gardening. I can visit their garden and get tips. Magazine and book pictures can look too idealistic and can demotivate me. Maybe find kids that do allotment gardening and form a group?
It's great you've discovered gardening aged 13.
I believe Huw has a video on how not to become overwhelmed by gardening tasks - you may want to check it out :)
I promise you're not the only one with gardening envy! This is a skill that has no final exam. You will always have something new to learn, and that means gardening never gets old. It also means that everyone else is still learning, too. Do what you can with what you have. Use what you have fully. It won't be perfect, because it's nature. And it's gym, and it's a class, and it's a refuge, even if I get impatient with myself, too. Good luck and dirty hands to you :)
when i get overwhelmed, i focus on the small, such as the 5 tiny strawberries i just picked. they were delicious! or the sprig of super spicy oregano i just ate: so spicy!! little things, such as plant one seed, start pne pot. walk around, see one sprout. it is enough.
Hi Huw. The most unexpected thing I have learned this year: At the tender age of 66 I’ve always enjoyed gardening in my relatively small garden. But never really grown edibles. Last year whilst recovering from heart surgery I decided to take up growing veg for all the health benefits of being outside, physical exercise and good food as a reward. Being a novice I took up reading lots of old “how to” books I’ve had for years, and loads of CZcams videos. Here’s the “two in one” thing I have learned...The directions on the packets from seed to harvest are at best guidelines, and the videos can give contradictory advice. I am learning that after reading and watching, I mainly need to understand my soil, my microclimate, the unpredictable weather in my location and take all the available advice as relative. For instance some crops have been ready weeks before suggested, others still not ready weeks later, and watering amounts required really are according to the same factors mentioned. Sorry, very wordy but summing up, I would say I have learned, listen to all the good honest advice shared but study my own produce and try to understand how things grow in my own garden. Most of all...never give up!
Hi Pat, I'm also 66 years young and this is my first year of growing edibles! x
czcams.com/video/v2Jp9bFFfsg/video.html
Hi Pat, happy for you! Thank for the wise words
How surprising to find that my daughter learned gardening by watching me..I didn't try to teach her directly. Now she is a much better gardener than I am and she's teaching her sister!
The most unexpected thing I learned is the feelings that I feel when I grow my food, I mean the peace and serenity that I feel when I'm cultivating my garden, that feeling of peace and harmony with the environment, its absoluty amazing. greetings from Costa Rica, I would like your book 🙏🏻✌🏼
czcams.com/video/v2Jp9bFFfsg/video.html
For me it was wonderful to discover how tolerant the plants were of my lack of knowledge and skills. Luckily they seem to know what they are meant to do when most of the time I do not!
Most remarkable thing I've experienced while gardening.
Although not directly related to a specific plant, my experience is related to plant health.
This spring my 'Claville Blanc' apple tree was infested with aphids. The first intervention was to put masking tape around the bark of the tree, sticky side out to block the stampede of ants. About 20 mins later I climbed up the tree to remove the infested leaves and branches and was met by a surprising incident. Hundreds of ants were carrying aphids between their mandibles in an attempt to bring them to 'safety'. As I moved to brush them off many ants literally just jumped off.
Great experience!
Peace, Love and Plants.
My most unexpected learning moment came this year! I learned that out of season doesn't mean that it won't grow if conditions are right! I have kale and collards, planted last September, that is still producing in late June because the weather has been so mild! I always thought that the season was over as soon as the calendar said it was!
The most surprising thing I've learned is how social a relatively solo activity can be. It's a great connecting line with my 8 year old grandson as well as many people I don't have much in common with but find myself talking to and trading seeds and starters.
What I learned is that you never cover seedling trays with plastic cover... who knew you could steam seeds? I also hated mowing the lawn or picking up leaves and pruning trees, now I see treasure for making compost and saving so much! Last but not least how the garden can make you love your partner, by them helping or enjoying the fruits of your labour. Thanks Huw for all the organic and simple low cost tools and skills shared.
Oh my I did the same thing with pinto beans this spring :( LOL
The most unexpected thing I’ve discovered during my few years of gardening is the importance of good soil. Good soil, happy plants.
Good biology!
The most unexpected thing I learned in the last year is succession planting. So simple but if you plan ahead you can get so much more out of your garden in the season.
It was unexpected that that would fall in love with gardening and that I would become a forever student of nature.
I found out, still find out and will forever find more and more out that everything in nature is connected.
And understanding these complex connections is the holy grail in gardening (for me)
I've realised how satisfying it is to watch something I've sown growing, i can't wait to taste the finished products!
My surprise in getting into growing veg has been the absolute absorption of it. Building beds, compost bins and the hundred and one wee jobs to be done.
Eating the fruits and veg on a daily basis and learning new recipes, feeding friends it kind of adds a whole new perspective on life I’m loving it !
I have learned that gardening doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. The more relaxed I got about it the better my garden grew.
This comment deserves to win the prize.
This is so true.
so true!
Hi Huw, the most unexpected thing I have learned is that everyone can learn something and has something to pass on. I love the community spirit here and the feeling that everyone is rooting for me and my garden. ♥️
So true! Love this 💗
The most unexpected thing I have learned is how beautiful things are when they go to "bolt." I enjoy learning about the full life cycle of the plant.
Also learning about all the different kinds of insects drawn to specific kinds of plants.
Thank you, Huw! I live in the south central city part of Los Angeles, me mum is from Ireland and instilled a love of gardening in me since I was knee-high. Since COVID-19 and "Stay-at-Home" orders went into effect, I converted my 45' x 10' bocce ball court into a U-shaped raised bed for growing veggies. I left the oyster shell, decomposed granite floor in place, even with the weed cloth barrier and dumped truckloads of manure and organic raised bed soil into it and I was back in business! All my joy of gardening returned and I found staying at home wasn't so bad. My son, age 8, learned how to drill holes in 4x4 redwood and sledgehammer rebar pins in place and connect drip lines. I am teaching him about soil pH and other things from bugs to powdery mildew. I decided to Homeschool him moving forward and the garden teaches science like nothing else for this age! My daughter with Down syndrome/autism (12yo) helped me install the wires one day as I had her remove the price tags, pass me j-hooks and eye-bolts and turned a few into posts with the help of a screwdriver. It was the first time I saw a future apprentice in her! :-) My big discoveries in simply rediscovering gardening again were many, but here are my top five: 1.) a handwritten journal is best not an excel spreadsheet (Hahahaha) 2.) there is so much joy in sharing cherry tomatoes with the neighbors --especially the children 3.) vertical gardening on a horizontal wire trellis takes time and attention, but it is valuable for conserving on space 4.) I had forgotten how healing it is to garden. I have a stressful life and the old Irish adage still holds true: "If you are at odds with the world, put your hands in the soil." and last but not least, 5.) Margaritas taste better in the old beach chair when sitting in the setting sun staring at your pole beans climbing bamboo poles. PS: Me 87yo mum found your channel and told me about growing lazy potatoes, which she is trying out in SF. I've subscribed and am getting notifications. Looking forward to getting caught up on your previous videos and watching new ones! All the best to you!
I like the self-sustainability that growing food gives you.
Thank you so much for watching! COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW ENTRIES? Congratulations to Tina Wiman
, Mayra Kitroser
and Rob Sycamore for winning!
Hi Huw, The most unexpected thing I’ve learned from growing food is just how few bees and pollinators there are these days compared to when I was a child. Hand pollinating is now a normal part of my daily gardening routine, but was unheard of back then in my Mom and Dad’s garden.
One of the most unexpected things that I've learned from growing food is that I can use chickens for gardening and they respect my garden. Another is that grass/weeds is not always bad: some provide nutrients, some are good to attract pollinators and good bugs/insects, some are protectors, all helps to provide shadow and let the earth fresh ( so plants don't dry out). I've also learned that you can make an easy garden for free if you don't have a piece of land or good soil, just with recycling so that you get all you need in short time (pot/raised bed, terra preta, kompost, seeds, plants...)
The most unexpected thing happened to me this spring. Last year one of my salads produced seeds, wich I took and used them this year. All of a sudden many little salads appeared in the beds somewhere, where I didn't put a seed. I'd never expected, that even salads grow without doing anything.
As I said, please don't reply to this comment as it won't count :)
I've learnt (as you mentioned) that it's great therapy in dealing with the day to day pressures of life and using something you've grown yourself in your cooking is really rewarding. When ever it comes up in conversation I thank the family member that brought me a mixed box of seeds as Christmas present 5 or 6 years ago. Keep up the great work, thank you
Unexpected thing for me is how precious rainwater is. I used to just rely on tap water but now every rain shower is precious to me and I try to store as much rainwater as possible.
Starting a vegetable garden at home really puts things into perspective, it can show you the perks of not living in a large urban area and the path to an healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
The most amazing thing I've learned is how integrated all living things are. Everyday I notice something and try to help out on my end if possible to help keep a balance where possible.
One of the most unexpected thing I learnt from growing food is how much faster a plant grows with rainwater than with tap water. Time for me to put in a water butt or two. Thank you for your videos. I learn a lot.
It's because rainwater has a lot more oxygen dissolved in it, if i recall correctly.
And at least in the U.S., no chlorine. Thanks for the reminder!
What I had learned from my garden is that even 'ugly' vegetables are perfect. Do not matter that they are not ideal shape, colour or size. They taste amazing, smell wonderful and are so much richer in vitamins then anything that you can get from the shop.
Huw, the most unexpected thing that I have learned is how grounded I feel when being in the garden. Just going in the back and looking at it brings peace and well being. As well, I have been introduced to Flea beetles, then I introduced them to diatomaceous earth. Slowed them down quite a bit.
When I started gardening I learned that sometimes your plants die, and to not be disheartened but learn from mistakes... I'm sure I've killed more plants than I've been able to keep, and my garden has never looked better!
Yes! I think people who say they do not have a green thumb get too distressed over plants dying. If a plant dies, I say it wasn't worthy to be in my garden.
@@TheDenisedrake lol
The most unexpected thing I learned is that seeds started inside may not be strong enough to take the sun's inensity and will wilt/die BUT seeds started in the sun grow just fine
I didnt expect that my garden would serve as a magnet for my children and our relationships.
Thanks for the tip!
It's probably because you didn't "harden off" your seedlings first. You need to put your seedlings outside in a shady spot for a few hours each day and then gradually increase the hours until you can leave them outside all day and night. You then gradually move them to a sunnier spot for a longer time each day until they're in full sunlight. The plants keep growing daily so you're not losing any time.
If nighttime temperatures go down under the mid 40s F you should bring your young plants inside and then take them outside again in the morning when it's warmed up. You must keep the soil in your pots or flats evenly moist but not soggy or they'll either dry out or rot.
This process takes about two weeks before you can safely plant your veggies in the garden. It's a bit of work but you won't lose your seedlings.
I do this every spring--for 20 years now.
Another tip: lightly brush your tomato seedlings with your hand to mimic a light breeze. This makes the stems sturdier. Also, rotate your seedlings (of all types) daily so the plants grow straight.
@@happydays1336 thanks for the help
use a strong grow light with high PPFD values plus a fan, transplant outside when the plants reach 15 -20cm. To minimize transplant shock, transplant the plant on cloudy days or put then in shade for few days.
The most unexpected thing for me was to find how satisfying it is to build up and make your own compost
Yes! It’s really amazing, isn’t it?
It's weird getting excited about compost but I do!
czcams.com/video/v2Jp9bFFfsg/video.html
This is fantastic and thank you for the service
The most interesting thing I’ve learned gardening is how much more I appreciate any little thing that is grown right here in my yard than if I’d I bought it. This includes organic produce. When I grow it, it gets eaten almost without exception. To me, homegrown produce really feeds both body and spirit. Thank you for your wonderful videos. I’m 59 yo and LOVE to see the wisdom of the young gardening generation. You are creating a positive movement and helping our planet. 💚
You'd be surprised how many different crops you can grow in small-medium sized pots on an apartment patio/balcony. I have over 130 gallons of growing space filled with food production and pollinators intercropped.
The most unexpected thing I've learned about gardening is that I can do it. The satisfaction of seeing a seed I've planted sprout and then grow on to harvest is so addictive that I'm now totally hooked.
That's actually what hooked me at 9 years old.
Meeed tooooo I can't stop thinking about it.
When I first got into growing after moving to a house with a large garden, I went full on with vegetables without even considering any flowers. I had issues with pests and pollination (particularly on cucumbers and courgettes). Having a look in the bargain section at the garden centre one day I picked up a tray of beat up nasturtium for 50p as had seen you can eat the flowers. They went to seed and dropped their pods and ever since I have had volunteers in the beds I put them in. I also added some marigolds a couple of years back, and sine then I rarely get more than a few aphids and no rotten cucumbers or courgettes, and it's so good to see lots of bees and hover flies busy around the garden. Planning a small bed of wildflowers next year to encourage even more insect life in.
The most unexpected things I learnt was how brilliant perennials and self-seeders are for keeping the food coming
Treesa Green . That is permaculture.
The most surprising thing I have learned, having grown up inner city, is just how much food you can grow for your family in a small area. I have been gardening for 6 years now, and I am still in awe every day when I go out to wander in the garden.
That you can use urine as compost. Ever since my husband found out he loves adding it lol 🤣
Yeah, my wife still things I am nuts for peeing on the woodchips for C:N balance
I’m just 14 and I watch every video you make. I love your vids and I never realised the amount of great you tubers on the platform. Thank you so much 🙏🙏
I didn't realise just how friendly gardening communities are! It's my first time trying to grow for food, I have lettuce, cucumber, green beans and tomato plants, all have been given to me by friendly local Facebook groups! Such amazing knowledge and kindness 💙
I’ve learned all of my neighbors names ❤️ is a great ice breaker. They stop and chat while I’m out in the garden, and I love to pop by with the extra food as I can to share and visit. It’s great! 🌱 ☀️
The most amazing thing about gardening I learnt is that the food you can make yourself taste the best for 100% thanks!
The most unexpected thing I have learned in my garden is how much effort it takes and how much satisfaction you receive to actually produce a single piece of food. I no longer take food for granted.
The most unexpected thing I’ve learned from gardening is that there can something growing even if you presume it’s dead. Just a accidental watering can bring out spontaneous joy.
Love your videos
My biggest lesson has been how vegetable gardening has connected me to my neighbours. On a small suburban lot I swap crops with two different neighbours and we help each other with our successes and failures. Building great relationships with passionate gardeners
I love this too - building community💕
What I’ve discovered is how good it makes you feel just being out in the garden... sooooo relaxing!! Thanks for your high quality videos!!
I’ve learnt that you really can never stop learning, and mistakes are not a bad thing when gardening as these help you grow as a gardener :)
Great video Huw!
I am 13 years old, and the most unexpected thing for me, is how satisfying it is to look into my garden plot and see all those yummy vegetables that are growing there, the other most unexpected thing for me, was how much we rely on rain to water our plants, i actually look forward to it raining now so that my water butt will fill up.
How much my 2 year old son and I enjoy growing veg together - we love being outside and checking on our progress every day 💕
The most unexpected thing I've learned is to not give up on a plant even when it's been pee'd on, sat on and showered in dirt multiple times by multiple dogs.
The total joy and childlike excitement seeing seeds germinate and plants grow
One of the most unexpected things for me is the connection worldwide with other gardeners - the shared love of growing plants, for food and for beauty, sharing the excitement when a gardener talks about his or her garden and shares new ideas and tips. I grew up with gardeners, and the first thing my Mum would do when visiting a relative or friend, would be to visit the garden. And so I do this too but I never expected to be able to do this with gardeners all over the globe via You Tube, from my home in New Zealand. Its a joyfull thing!!!
The unexpected thing I have learned from gardening is how resilient seeds are. My tomatoes from last year self seeded all over my plot. And the birds moved around some of my seeds, I have carrots coming up on the other side of the garden from where I planted them.
I have never, in the 35 years I've been living on this quarter acre garden, grown calendula, but my neighbor about 300 yards away down the street has. This year I have a calendula growing in my driveway along with a couple of snapdragons that look nothing like the ones I had in the flower pots last year. Just gotta love those volunteers popping up all over.
I've learnt that having a dog companion while working in the garden makes it so much more enjoyable. :D
I’m always surprised at how quickly a stranger becomes a friend through gardening! We gardeners are a weird and wonderful family!
Yes we are.
The aerial view gives a great perspective of the beds arrangement.
My most unexpected thing is the fact that I want others to grow their own food.
Since I started gardening, I focused on growing food for myselfe to eat and that's it. This year is my first year of gardening without pots and so my search began with "how can I get compost in less time... 😂". Because of Covid I wasn't able to buy one. So I looked up video after video and so my focus shifted to other stuff like Permaculture, Worm Towers, saveing our soil, community gardens and so far and so on. So thanks to this Pandemic. Without it, I would have bought some compost instead of helping this small part of world I call my garden and maybe some other gardens as well. Hopefully a lot of other people had had a chance like me to grow their minds and plants in compost. Thanks.
One thing I’ve learned from gardening is how much your interaction can impact the garden. From uprooting a couple weeds, using certain fertilizers and soils for certain plants, killing bugs you know are bad for the plants, watering with a sprinkler and changing to a hose in certain garden beds, I can see my actions going to work in my garden.
I've learned to love imperfection. The "perfect" vetgetables in the stores are almost cartoon-like; what we want them to look like. But not all tomato's or paprika's are perfectly shaped, and the one's you grow yourself taste way better too! 🌱
I'm a 61 year old swedish woman and I really enjoy watching your videos , they learn me lots about growing
One of the unexpected things I've learnt is that seeds saved from my garden will grow to become plants that are more adapted to my soil type. Why didn't I think of that before? It makes complete sense, now.
The most unexpected thing I’ve learnt in my first year of growing veg is that things you try will fail but you can learn from those failures.
The most unexpected thing I've learned from growing vegetables is how *healing* the whole process is, from handling the soil, to taking care of seeds and seedlings, to making sure the soil is adequate to plant and transplant. Watching your food grow day by day is an amazing experience and the ultimate joy of witnessing the final product, harvesting and eating something you nurtured and grew yourself is an incredible experience.
Hi Huw
The most unexpected thing I have learnt about gardening is how closely connected gardening is to my mental health. I have gardened for many years but it wasn't until we in Australia suffered severe bush fires and a lengthy drought that I realised just initricably connected they are. As the days turned into weeks and months I began to realise that I had to let the garden go as it was negatively impacting my mental health. We live on tank water and I couldn't justify the water usage and no matter how much water I put into the garden, it dried up within hours due to the constant heat. I got through it as I adjusted my strategies and focussed on what I could grow. I am looking forward to another spring in September and I know that I am all the wiser for it.
The most unexpected thing I've discovered from growing is how damaging the wind can be! 🍃
If you are in an exposed site, you have to consider using wind breaks and fleece. Think about how the wind flows (usually mainly from the west) and where you can put bushes to break the flow before it gets to your crops.
I didn't expect that caring about my plant babies would bring me so much joy.
The best unexpected thing I have learned while gardening is joy of finding volunteer plants growing and how strong they are! I used to try to move them to fit my idea of my garden but they didn’t always do as well as the ones that I left where they started. Now I leave them where they grow and I get amazing fruits and plants. Nature knows best!
Hi there
The most unexpected thing for me it was almost everything. We moved 3 year's ago from Greece to East Sussex (Eastbourne). I love gardening 😍. So my journey begins with study. Study for the weather,the plants ( varieties). U see in Greece the weather is much warmer than here,so is much easier to grow some kinds of vegs like any variety of peppers, sweet corn, watermelon, aubergines. These are some of my favourite vegs/fruits, which still today I am struggling to grow :( .But after all i love to grow my vegs from seeds. Is like my babies. I know everything about them from the very first day. First time i grow vegetables from seeds was here 2 year's ago.So no only you saving money but you get know your plants better. U understand their needs. Maybe is sounds crazy but is the way I feel about it. Happy gardening everyone and congrats for your videos!!
The most unexpected thing I have learn from gardening is patience...the concept of delayed gratification. Living in a fast paced world, gardening has helped me slow down and now to nature and its course.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have learned so much from watching your videos ❤
I've been gardening for 50 years or so in Australia and I only found out, about 4 weeks ago, that tomatoes can be grown from cuttings. I've taken cuttings from an indeterminate red cherry tomato and planted in a pot. They're growing well!
I did not expect the stress level reduction I feel from gardening. I just want to be in the garden these days!
How much I wish my grandfather was here (he was head gardener for an estate) and how much I wished I had listened. I have a young daughter who is interested in helping me when we finally get the allotment we have been waiting for.
One thing i learned was that i can use grass clippings from a non-sprayed lawn to mulch my veggies. This provides a multiple benefit of keeping in moisture, smothering weeds and when broken down it feeds the soil and subsequently your veggies. Thanks Hue for the videos on growing your own food.
I have learned that gardening is a great stress reliever. It has become my happy place.
The most surprising thing I myself have found with growing my own vegetables, is the amount of mental strength it gives me. Adapting and overcoming problems. I'm diasbled and watching you and Charles Dearden has given me new ideas on how to make the most from my plot. My granddaughter loves helping me plant and pick my precious produce. I could not live without my garden.
Sorry should read Charles Dowding . No dig. Blooming Autocorrect. Lol
The most unexpected thing I've learned from growing food is the relief and pride I feel each time I eat or can, freeze, dehydrate, or otherwise preserve food that I have grown. Knowing that I have much more control over not only what I eat, but that I have food to eat without going to the grocery, without depending on someone else for my food. I will be 68 July 6. I am amazed that I have been able to take our sodded back yard and turn in into a 2400 sq ft productive garden in a matter of a few months. Being more self-sufficient is marvelous! Thank you, Huw, for being an inspiration to me and so many others to take control of our food sources. The answer is in our hands. God bless you in your work.
I am so surprised how much care I have put into my first vegetable garden. I feel so much pride and satisfaction
After not being able to have a garden for 30 years, we moved to a new home on 1/2 acre with three raised beds, established strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry plants. Now, I am a gardener!! I tended the established plants and planted the three beds and developed another plot for corn and squash. We built a compost bin. Your videos have been a great help. What I have learned is how rewarding, relaxing and enjoyable gardening is. I reward myself with a daily garden tour after my inside chores are done and each day I can believe how things have grown and changed. Sometimes the beauty of it all brings tears to my eyes. Gardening has truly become a passion for me at this later stage of my life. Thank you Huw for all the information you are passing on through your channel.
I'm surprised and how much joy and interest gardening food has added to my life and the life of others who've shared my garden.
How elated I feel when my vegetables really start to take off, a great feeling of accomplishment.
The unexpected thing I have learned is how much happiness can come from just watching the plants grow, but also how I enjoy the hard work and dirty hands and knees and how satisfiying the whole process can be, no matter the results;-)
Every “failure” is still a success because of the learning experience.
I learned how satisfying it is to see things grow. Plus it's bonus to watch my 10year old neice harvest.
A favorite unexpected thing I have learned is that my kids always say yes to more veggies when they are straight off the plant.
For me, it's been learning about the ecosystem of soil and insects and plants and how it can all balance out on its own with the right encouragement from the gardener.
Hi Huw. The most unexpected thing that I've learned from gardening is how much a well equipped indoor garden can improve your mental health during the depths of winter, with several feet of snow on the ground.
Home grown food tastes so much nicer than shop bought veg. My family don’t like supermarket veg and tomatoes anymore, so my gardening has become more respected and essential to our family. Thank you for all your advice and videos
The most unexpected thing I’ve learnt is how you don’t need to be able to afford the best seeds in order for them to grow a bountiful Crop. During lockdown I was panicking about insufficient food, so I took the seeds out of chilli and tomato from the supermarket, and now I have 4 chilli plants thriving, and 8 tomato plants that are now 2 metres tall and have already started growing 8 tomatoes! (Not yet ripe) Also, I took a marrow fat pea and grew it to pea shoot length, then I planted it outside against a stick and it is crawling up the stick, producing pea pods
I took on an allotment in February with zero knowledge of growing. It’s now bursting into life and I’m harvesting a lot already. These CZcams channels have been extremely helpful. Thank you and all the best.