Hi Rady! Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. Thank you for the very kind and encouraging words. That means so much to me. Rady, you have a wonderful day! Best, -Mark
I do the deep dig for planting tomatoes , at least 8 inches of stem buried. Use ground cover between rows and some times mulch around plants. As not as busy as you I do not mind picking a few weeds if they come. Do permaculture, raised beds, hoop houses, greenhouse and old fashioned standard garden beds. The permaculture gives me controlled wild woodland esthetics and the rest year round food. I am no longer as fixated on esthetics as food production due to rapid changes of the grand solar minimum. Your directions on gardening processes are right on target. the more folks take a hand in trying to garden the better we will all be.
Hey John! That's awesome! Yes, there are so many styles and philosophies out there... I am looking forward to starting my food forest some day! I want to condition a large area with woodchips first. You should check out Ben Falk if you haven't already... He gives some pretty cool lectures on permaculture and Farm Resiliency... I want to get a copy of his book. Thank you for watching my videos and for commenting! -Mark
Hey man. I'm from north east Pennsylvania. Luck with the channel, Your tomato harvest video caught my eye. Very impressive setup. Keep on pumping out videos and you'll be making it in no time. I'll 32 and self taught/youtube schooled in gardening. Have done a garden for the last 11 years.The lady and our 2 boys have been elbow deep with me the whole time. Any info we can soak in is appreciated, stay awesome folks.
Hi! What part of PA? I started on that garden in the fall of 2019 and there is a lot of hours in putting that together. I still want to install drip irrigation and pop up sprinklers in the grass when I get a chance, but you know how that goes! lol Thanks for the encouraging words! I guess time will tell if I get anywhere with youtube. Spread the word around about my channel if you would. Word of mouth is always best! You'll have to send me some pic. of your garden to my website Marksgardenlife.com this summer when your garden matures. I'd love to see it! Well, thanks for watching, commenting and looking forward to hearing back! -Mark
Hi Richard! Thank you! I enjoy sharing my experiences and this beautiful property I call home. I'm glad you checked out my video and hope you continue to watch in the future. Richard, thanks for watching and commenting too! -Mark
Watching Again lol Going back and watching your tomato videos trying to figure out where I went wrong. I plant my tomatoes in black plastic w/drip irrigation, three 16' cattle panels (17 plants per row). My plants looks spindly compared to your full grown plants. I use mushroom compost in the Spring before laying plastic, fertilize with garden tone (includes bio-tone). I also do a monthly feeding (injector) using Plant Marvel vegetable fertilizer. One mistake I think I made was planting in the same spot as last year.
Hi Cyrus Glad you like them! Thanks for watching and also for taking the time to comment as well. I can use lots of help, so spread the word of my channel if you would like! Thank you! -Mark
ok, i am envious. here in the high desert, i watch trees in abandoned backyards die with no water. this is the only zone i have lived where i can actually kill trees, by placing them in the sun lol. so envious of your water. many people here water their gardens multiple times a day. i have gotten mine down to once a day when the weather is hot. in cooler weather, i check each plant and water as needed.
Great video Mark! I'm using a scythe and havesting grass for mulch and works so well. I also let my grass dry a little so it doesn't get smelly and slimy. Happy to see your channel growing!
Hi Roy! Glad you like them and I really appreciate the kind words as well. Thanks for watching too! Keep an eye out for the bees video coming out today. Thanks again! -Mark
Mark you are spot on with tips on watering less to make roots seek out water. Worms love the grass clippings. You have a great channel and love those cages!
That's a beast of a tiller! Great information on grass mulch. I missed the point on keeping mulch away from the base of the plant in other videos and reading material. The way you explained why you should move it back from around the base nailed the problem I have had in the past. Thanks for all the little details. I have a large batch of tomatoes growing in the high tunnel but have much more to plant in the ground. Just waiting on all the rain to go away. This might be the trick I was looking for. Thanks again
Hey! lol It is a manly tiller alright! Keeping the grass away from the plant stem is critical, so I hope everyone picked up me mentioning that. I should try the high tunnel next year. The farm sits in a valley and we had a frost on May 12th last year, so I have to plant when I'm sure the chance of frost has past. Thank you for watching, commenting too! Have a great weekend! -Mark
Good evening Mark,lots of valuable information and found it very interesting listening to you talk about the root system.Thankyou very very much for sharing all the very best 🌱🌱🌱🇬🇧UK
Yay tomatoes, VA Sweet is one I'm growing too, looking forward to tasting them! I planted mine a few weeks ago here in VA and whenever I go look at them I get startled by the cicada shells hanging all over them...at least they are not a pest.
Hi Jessika! Virginia Sweets is one tasty tomato! I hope you like it as much as I do. It was used in a lot of BLT's last summer and even some fried green tomatoes! We haven't seen the cicadas yet up here at the farm. What part of VA are you located? Jessika, as always, thanks for watching, commenting and let me know when you taste that 1st Virginia Sweets how you like it if you would. -Mark
Hey 👋 mark Great video very helpful information, I have had some trouble growing tomatoes in the past and this will help me out when I come to plant them later in the year. I think this channel has great potential and I can’t wait to see the results of this season crop in your farm, and I have watched your other tomato video from last season and I was sooo impressed with the crop size and quality, so I will try your technique and hope to get the same or close to it results thank you for this helpful video looking forward to lots more 😃 Gabriel
Hi Denise! Email me on my website, Marksgardenlife.com and I can email you my grow list from 2020 with my favorites notated. Denise, thanks for watching my video and for the comments as well! -Mark
Thanks so much the video, it was super helpful, exactly what I was looking for! Would love to see what you do throughout the season as far as pest and disease management as well as any additional fertilizing. :)
Hi Victoria! It's my pleasure! I'm glad it was of some help as well. Typically, I really do not have to much disease and I do not fertilize at all. I like the soil to "feed the plants" by preparing the soil a head of planting. Victoria, thank you for watching and commenting too! -Mark
Love your videos and your farm looks amazing. Hopefully I can make it out there some day and buy a few plants. Do you prune your tomatoes or just let em go natural?
Hi! Thank you! If you ever make it out, please ask for me. I have probably 80 varieties of tomatoes for sale right now in the retail greenhouses. I know it's extremely difficult in at least our area to find a diverse tomato selection, so I grow them for my customers so they have a very large choice. Prunning......Only when I first plant them and that's it. Thanks for watching and sending your comments too! -Mark
Hi, great videos. Can't wait to watch them all. Curious what soil amendments you are using for your tomatoe plants? I saw the other tomatoe variety video you did and your tomatoes are huge! Are you using compost, worm casting or a combination of these or other soil amendments like compost tea? Thanks for the great videos. Sorry, I just found your video about soil. Thanks
Hi Michael! I'm glad you like my videos. I'm still learning! The soil.....No problem. lol I was going to suggest to you to watch that video until I see you found it! Thanks for watching, commenting! -Mark
Thank you! Yes, I will do another "Mid Season Tomato tutorial" In which I'll describe some of the cultural processes I practice and why... Thanks for watching and commenting! Best, -Mark
Do you worry about excess nitrogen from the decomposing grass clippings? I had a friend who always complained that he never got tomatoes but his plants were beautiful. I went over to look at them and they were on a downward slope of a golf course LOL
Mike Lowe have you ever seen Jim Kovaleskis work? He using all grass and never waters in Maine with fair award winning veggies. I used partially dried grass and works the bomb!
Hi! I soak the plants good right before planting, immediately after planting and than I may water them a few times as necessary in the early stages until they establish themselves. Now, I will water this weekend again because of the 95 degree weather coming up in our area this weekend. If we get into a drought which is rare in my area, of course I probably will have to water as needed. Last year, it was the opposite. We had several periods of rain and some were over 5" in rainfall! Thanks for watching! I appreciate that very much! Love getting the comments too! -Mark
Hi! lol Holly was sitting off camera chewing on a bone yesterday. Otherwise, she would have been pulling tomato plants out as I put them in! Thanks for watching! -Mark
@@marksgardenlife5971 i find it amazing how your barely watering, but i guess with the size of your bed, the big spacing, once you soak in really deep once and mulch. It really will keep the moisture in long enough for it to rain. Its really impressive.
Hi Voughn! I really enjoy trying new varieties out every year. I keep a detailed notebook of each variety I grow for future reference. Voughn, thanks for watching as always and of course commenting as well. -Mark
So many tomatoes, what on earth do you do with all?? I just tilled up my first garden in decades. I bought 4 tomatoes, and I can't imagine what I'm going to do with them all, lol. But I am growing a ton of horseradish. :-)
Hi Forrest! I give them to people who help out here on the farm, friends, customers and I donate to the local food pantries too. I'm glad to hear you made a garden after many years! Congrads! Forrest, thanks for watching and commenting too! -Mark
Hi Andy! I haven't yet. I have really great air circulation in my garden and I raise all my own plants in the greenhouses and you have to keep them clean also or the tomatoes can acquire a virus in the growing environment as well. I'm sure different parts of the country have much more susceptibility for that particular problem. Andy, thanks for watching! -Mark
Hi Joyce! That's really ashamed! I guess due to your high amount of rainfall? Joyce, thanks for watching and it's great getting comments from GB! -Mark
Hi Max! I wish I could have done that earlier in the season, but we have had a very cool spring here with later frost. Today and tomorrow a high of 53F! Thanks for watching & commenting too! -Mark
lol That came from a auction during the late winter a few years back. It maybe had been used once or twice if that and I'd hate to tell you what it was gotten for! It was over $5K new. I think most likely the people who had bought it originally found out it was just to large to handle and it is a huge and very powerful beast. Extremely well made. It works great for the smaller jobs, than there are 4' and 7' rear tillers for the large tractors for the large jobs. The 7 foot is a very heavy and powerful beast, but takes a very large tractor that can handle it. Thanks for watching! -Mark
Hi Ann Marie! lol Everyone always thinks I lift weights, etc., but I do nothing at all as far as that type thing except just my everyday working around the farm routine. I can't help it, it is what it is and genetics can take the credit, not me! lol Skinny waist, big upper body, big arms, big legs. The shirt......it's just a lot cooler when working outdoors on a sunny warm day and not to show off anything. To be honest, I don't even think about it until someone mentions something to me about it either on here or in person and that seems to happen fairly often, so I'm used to it and think it's sort of funny to be honest that people like looking. I don't get it, but if it makes them happy, I'm happy that they seem to get some pleasure from it. We need more happiness in this world! Take care! -Mark
I'm a simple girl. I see a new video from Mark, I click and like. lol.
Hi Brittany!
Thank you very much!
-Mark
There are so many great, uncommon and useful expert tips in this one very excellent video!!!
Hi Lonnie!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you as well! Thanks for watching and commenting too. Lonnie, look for the one on bees coming out today.
-Mark
I'll be sure to rewatch this video, again, early next season before planting my tomatoes. Great information: thank you!
Thank you!
My second favorite series “ Mark’s 🍅 series” right after Marvel series 😉.
lol Thanks Amin!
I enjoy gardening and happy to see your videos. Very imformative and more. Hope to see more videos of you and wish you a great success....
Hi Rady!
Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. Thank you for the very kind and encouraging words. That means so much to me.
Rady, you have a wonderful day!
Best, -Mark
I do the deep dig for planting tomatoes , at least 8 inches of stem buried. Use ground cover between rows and some times mulch around plants. As not as busy as you I do not mind picking a few weeds if they come. Do permaculture, raised beds, hoop houses, greenhouse and old fashioned standard garden beds. The permaculture gives me controlled wild woodland esthetics and the rest year round food. I am no longer as fixated on esthetics as food production due to rapid changes of the grand solar minimum. Your directions on gardening processes are right on target. the more folks take a hand in trying to garden the better we will all be.
Hey John!
That's awesome!
Yes, there are so many styles and philosophies out there...
I am looking forward to starting my food forest some day!
I want to condition a large area with woodchips first.
You should check out Ben Falk if you haven't already... He gives some pretty cool lectures on permaculture and Farm Resiliency...
I want to get a copy of his book.
Thank you for watching my videos and for commenting!
-Mark
great content, I think your channel has a ton of potential! your knowledge is appreciated!
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching and for the kind words as well. If you like my videos and would be willing, spread the word!
Thank you!
-Mark
I agree 100%.
Hey man.
I'm from north east Pennsylvania.
Luck with the channel, Your tomato harvest video caught my eye.
Very impressive setup.
Keep on pumping out videos and you'll be making it in no time.
I'll 32 and self taught/youtube schooled in gardening. Have done a garden for the last 11 years.The lady and our 2 boys have been elbow deep with me the whole time.
Any info we can soak in is appreciated, stay awesome folks.
Hi!
What part of PA? I started on that garden in the fall of 2019 and there is a lot of hours in putting that together. I still want to install drip irrigation and pop up sprinklers in the grass when I get a chance, but you know how that goes! lol Thanks for the encouraging words! I guess time will tell if I get anywhere with youtube. Spread the word around about my channel if you would. Word of mouth is always best! You'll have to send me some pic. of your garden to my website Marksgardenlife.com this summer when your garden matures. I'd love to see it! Well, thanks for watching, commenting and looking forward to hearing back!
-Mark
Just had your channel pop up as recommended. Looks very promising. 🌞 Thank you for having this channel for the public to watch.
Hi Richard!
Thank you! I enjoy sharing my experiences and this beautiful property I call home. I'm glad you checked out my video and hope you continue to watch in the future. Richard, thanks for watching and commenting too!
-Mark
Watching Again lol Going back and watching your tomato videos trying to figure out where I went wrong. I plant my tomatoes in black plastic w/drip irrigation, three 16' cattle panels (17 plants per row). My plants looks spindly compared to your full grown plants. I use mushroom compost in the Spring before laying plastic, fertilize with garden tone (includes bio-tone). I also do a monthly feeding (injector) using Plant Marvel vegetable fertilizer. One mistake I think I made was planting in the same spot as last year.
A pleasure to watch your videos. Always good content. Thanks.
Hi Cyrus
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching and also for taking the time to comment as well. I can use lots of help, so spread the word of my channel if you would like!
Thank you!
-Mark
Thank u Mark grass clipping land straw is a awesome idea thank u.
Hi Laurel!
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching/commenting!
Best,
-Mark
ok, i am envious. here in the high desert, i watch trees in abandoned backyards die with no water. this is the only zone i have lived where i can actually kill trees, by placing them in the sun lol. so envious of your water. many people here water their gardens multiple times a day. i have gotten mine down to once a day when the weather is hot. in cooler weather, i check each plant and water as needed.
Thanks Mark! High quality video and informative; keep it up! Looking forward to seeing how the tomatoes turn out this year
Hi Tim!
Glad you liked it! Hopefully, they turn out as well as last year! Tim, thanks for watching and for commenting as well.
-Mark
Thank you for the valuable information. Do you incorporate this year's mulch into next year soil in the bed?
Great video Mark! I'm using a scythe and havesting grass for mulch and works so well. I also let my grass dry a little so it doesn't get smelly and slimy. Happy to see your channel growing!
Thanks CP! I let mine dry some also. Thanks for watching!
-Mark
Your videos are the so informative, great job!!!
Hi Roy!
Glad you like them and I really appreciate the kind words as well. Thanks for watching too! Keep an eye out for the bees video coming out today.
Thanks again!
-Mark
Mark you are spot on with tips on watering less to make roots seek out water. Worms love the grass clippings. You have a great channel and love those cages!
Thanks! Thanks for watching too!
-Mark
That's a beast of a tiller! Great information on grass mulch. I missed the point on keeping mulch away from the base of the plant in other videos and reading material. The way you explained why you should move it back from around the base nailed the problem I have had in the past. Thanks for all the little details. I have a large batch of tomatoes growing in the high tunnel but have much more to plant in the ground. Just waiting on all the rain to go away. This might be the trick I was looking for. Thanks again
Hey!
lol It is a manly tiller alright! Keeping the grass away from the plant stem is critical, so I hope everyone picked up me mentioning that. I should try the high tunnel next year. The farm sits in a valley and we had a frost on May 12th last year, so I have to plant when I'm sure the chance of frost has past. Thank you for watching, commenting too!
Have a great weekend!
-Mark
Good evening Mark,lots of valuable information and found it very interesting listening to you talk about the root system.Thankyou very very much for sharing all the very best 🌱🌱🌱🇬🇧UK
Hi Joyce!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching too!
Yay tomatoes, VA Sweet is one I'm growing too, looking forward to tasting them! I planted mine a few weeks ago here in VA and whenever I go look at them I get startled by the cicada shells hanging all over them...at least they are not a pest.
Hi Jessika!
Virginia Sweets is one tasty tomato! I hope you like it as much as I do. It was used in a lot of BLT's last summer and even some fried green tomatoes! We haven't seen the cicadas yet up here at the farm. What part of VA are you located? Jessika, as always, thanks for watching, commenting and let me know when you taste that 1st Virginia Sweets how you like it if you would.
-Mark
Really great videos mate, nice and informative. Keep it up handsome!
I'm glad you liked them! Thanks for the kind words and for watching too!
-Mark
Hey 👋 mark Great video very helpful information, I have had some trouble growing tomatoes in the past and this will help me out when I come to plant them later in the year.
I think this channel has great potential and I can’t wait to see the results of this season crop in your farm, and I have watched your other tomato video from last season and I was sooo impressed with the crop size and quality, so I will try your technique and hope to get the same or close to it results thank you for this helpful video looking forward to lots more 😃
Gabriel
Hey Garbiel!
Thanks for the kind words and your very welcome! Thanks for watching!
-Mark
Looking forward to your video on the tomato varieties. I have access to a number of seedling varieties and may want to try out your recommendations.
Hi Denise!
Email me on my website, Marksgardenlife.com and I can email you my grow list from 2020 with my favorites notated. Denise, thanks for watching my video and for the comments as well!
-Mark
Thanks so much the video, it was super helpful, exactly what I was looking for! Would love to see what you do throughout the season as far as pest and disease management as well as any additional fertilizing. :)
Hi Victoria!
It's my pleasure! I'm glad it was of some help as well. Typically, I really do not have to much disease and I do not fertilize at all. I like the soil to "feed the plants" by preparing the soil a head of planting. Victoria, thank you for watching and commenting too!
-Mark
Thank you peace and Love
How kind! Thank you and the same to you as well. Thanks for watching/commenting!
You have a great week!
Take care, -Mark
Love your videos and your farm looks amazing. Hopefully I can make it out there some day and buy a few plants. Do you prune your tomatoes or just let em go natural?
Hi!
Thank you! If you ever make it out, please ask for me. I have probably 80 varieties of tomatoes for sale right now in the retail greenhouses. I know it's extremely difficult in at least our area to find a diverse tomato selection, so I grow them for my customers so they have a very large choice. Prunning......Only when I first plant them and that's it. Thanks for watching and sending your comments too!
-Mark
Hi, great videos. Can't wait to watch them all. Curious what soil amendments you are using for your tomatoe plants? I saw the other tomatoe variety video you did and your tomatoes are huge! Are you using compost, worm casting or a combination of these or other soil amendments like compost tea? Thanks for the great videos. Sorry, I just found your video about soil. Thanks
Hi Michael!
I'm glad you like my videos. I'm still learning! The soil.....No problem. lol I was going to suggest to you to watch that video until I see you found it! Thanks for watching, commenting!
-Mark
Cant wait to see there growth..
Hi Rajish!
I can't either! It's always nice watching everything you plant get to harvesting stage. As always, thanks for watching & commenting!
-Mark
Great info / tips. Please can you do follow up video on tomato diseases / prevention?
Thank you!
Yes, I will do another "Mid Season Tomato tutorial" In which I'll describe some of the cultural processes I practice and why...
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Best,
-Mark
@@marksgardenlife5971 what are the dimensions of your raised beds?
Great video!
Thank you so much! Thanks for watching!
-Mark
looking good!
Do you worry about excess nitrogen from the decomposing grass clippings? I had a friend who always complained that he never got tomatoes but his plants were beautiful. I went over to look at them and they were on a downward slope of a golf course LOL
Mike Lowe have you ever seen Jim Kovaleskis work? He using all grass and never waters in Maine with fair award winning veggies. I used partially dried grass and works the bomb!
Good stuff! You don't water them at all, even right after transplant?
Hi!
I soak the plants good right before planting, immediately after planting and than I may water them a few times as necessary in the early stages until they establish themselves. Now, I will water this weekend again because of the 95 degree weather coming up in our area this weekend. If we get into a drought which is rare in my area, of course I probably will have to water as needed. Last year, it was the opposite. We had several periods of rain and some were over 5" in rainfall! Thanks for watching! I appreciate that very much! Love getting the comments too!
-Mark
No dogs taking your zip ties this time!
Hi!
lol Holly was sitting off camera chewing on a bone yesterday. Otherwise, she would have been pulling tomato plants out as I put them in! Thanks for watching!
-Mark
Awesome
Hi Rob!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed too! Thanks for watching, commenting.
-Mark
@@marksgardenlife5971 i find it amazing how your barely watering, but i guess with the size of your bed, the big spacing, once you soak in really deep once and mulch. It really will keep the moisture in long enough for it to rain. Its really impressive.
My dream is to have a lots of tomato varieties🍅💚
Hi Voughn!
I really enjoy trying new varieties out every year. I keep a detailed notebook of each variety I grow for future reference. Voughn, thanks for watching as always and of course commenting as well.
-Mark
So many tomatoes, what on earth do you do with all??
I just tilled up my first garden in decades. I bought 4 tomatoes, and I can't imagine what I'm going to do with them all, lol. But I am growing a ton of horseradish. :-)
Hi Forrest!
I give them to people who help out here on the farm, friends, customers and I donate to the local food pantries too. I'm glad to hear you made a garden after many years! Congrads! Forrest, thanks for watching and commenting too!
-Mark
Hey Mark do you get problem's with blight growing tomatoes outside?
Hi Andy!
I haven't yet. I have really great air circulation in my garden and I raise all my own plants in the greenhouses and you have to keep them clean also or the tomatoes can acquire a virus in the growing environment as well. I'm sure different parts of the country have much more susceptibility for that particular problem. Andy, thanks for watching!
-Mark
We don't or very rarely plant tomatoes outsider as the dreaded blight gets them almost every year ....its a real problem hear in the 🇬🇧
Hi Joyce!
That's really ashamed! I guess due to your high amount of rainfall? Joyce, thanks for watching and it's great getting comments from GB!
-Mark
What is your gardening zone?
Hi Richard!
6B
Why do I always find these types of videos the day AFTER I do whatever the subject of the video is!! 🤦🏼♀️ lol
Hi Max!
I wish I could have done that earlier in the season, but we have had a very cool spring here with later frost. Today and tomorrow a high of 53F! Thanks for watching & commenting too!
-Mark
Dude... I need your tiller! let's trade. My electric tiller from Amazon for your beast mode gas tiller?
lol That came from a auction during the late winter a few years back. It maybe had been used once or twice if that and I'd hate to tell you what it was gotten for! It was over $5K new. I think most likely the people who had bought it originally found out it was just to large to handle and it is a huge and very powerful beast. Extremely well made. It works great for the smaller jobs, than there are 4' and 7' rear tillers for the large tractors for the large jobs. The 7 foot is a very heavy and powerful beast, but takes a very large tractor that can handle it. Thanks for watching!
-Mark
Omg, that t shirt is hysterical. Muscle ego?
Hi Ann Marie!
lol Everyone always thinks I lift weights, etc., but I do nothing at all as far as that type thing except just my everyday working around the farm routine. I can't help it, it is what it is and genetics can take the credit, not me! lol Skinny waist, big upper body, big arms, big legs. The shirt......it's just a lot cooler when working outdoors on a sunny warm day and not to show off anything. To be honest, I don't even think about it until someone mentions something to me about it either on here or in person and that seems to happen fairly often, so I'm used to it and think it's sort of funny to be honest that people like looking. I don't get it, but if it makes them happy, I'm happy that they seem to get some pleasure from it. We need more happiness in this world!
Take care!
-Mark