My Garden Has Never Looked Better... | FULL Spring 2022 Garden Tour

Epic Gardening

26 May 202234:36

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRJoin the host of Epic Gardening for an extensive tour of his San Diego garden, transformed over the past 18 months into a thriving ecosystem. The video showcases a variety of planting strategies, including the use of raised beds for corn, tomatoes, and beans, and the incorporation of beneficial plants like alyssum. The host shares his excitement for the garden's growth, including the successful harvest of mini Kisaku 50 cabbages and the challenges faced with pest control. He also highlights the garden's vertical growing systems, the establishment of a self-watering pond ecosystem, and the construction of an outdoor sink for produce processing. The tour concludes with a visit to the Epic Coop, where the chickens are provided with a secure and automated feeding and watering system. This comprehensive overview serves as an inspiration for viewers to enhance their own gardening practices towards self-sufficiency.

Takeaways

🌱 The garden has undergone significant changes in the last 18 months, including the rebuilding and restaining of gates and the creation of a sealed garden pathway.
🏡 The pop-in raised bed front yard garden features a variety of plants, including mini Kisaku 50 cabbage, calendulas for pollinators, and greens for sun placement considerations.
🌽 The urban short round bed with corten steel siding contains Blue Jade sweet corn, planted in a circular block to facilitate wind pollination.
🍅 In the raised bed garden, determinate bush tomatoes are grown alongside basil and alyssum, which help to attract beneficial insects and deter tomato hornworms.
🥬 A lettuce and beans bed showcases the symbiotic relationship between these plants, as beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting the leafy greens.
🍓 The strawberry bed is designed to accommodate the plant's natural growth habit, allowing for the propagation of new plants through runners.
🌿 The garden includes a mint bed, which is pruned and shaped regularly, and a variety of herbs that are propagated and reset for continuous growth.
🌼 The use of alyssum as a ground cover not only adds visual appeal but also serves as a beneficial insect attractant.
🌳 The orchard and tree nursery area features a mix of fruit trees, including pomegranate, citrus, and apple varieties, with plans for a hedgerow of citrus for privacy and fruit production.
🐔 The Epic Coop, built by Carolina Coops, includes modifications for predator protection and automated feeding and watering systems for the chickens.
🌿 The garden's design emphasizes self-sufficiency and food production, with a focus on sustainable practices like greywater irrigation and vertical gardening solutions for small spaces.

Q & A

What significant change has the speaker made to the gates since purchasing the house?
-The speaker has completely rebuilt and restained the gates since purchasing the house in May 2020.
What is the speaker standing on that represents a major project?
-The speaker is standing on a proper garden pathway that has been sealed off, which leads to the raised bed garden and the backyard.
What type of cabbage did the speaker harvest from the front yard garden?
-The speaker harvested a mini Kisaku 50 cabbage, which is a Chinese Napa style cabbage.
What is the purpose of planting calendula flowers at the front of the raised bed?
-Calendula flowers are planted at the front of the raised bed to attract pollinators and add visual beauty to the mostly green bed.
Why is it a smart idea to plant tall growing plants in low beds and low growing plants in tall beds?
-It is a smart idea to plant tall growing plants in low beds and low growing plants in tall beds to optimize space and sunlight exposure, ensuring that taller plants do not overshadow shorter ones.
What is the reason for planting corn in a block?
-Corn is a wind-pollinated plant, and planting it in a block helps to facilitate pollination as the wind blows the pollen from the tassels to the silks on neighboring plants.
What type of tomato did the speaker plant in the urban short round bed?
-The speaker planted a determinate bush tomato in the urban short round bed.
Why did the speaker have to resow the beans in the garden?
-The speaker had to resow the beans because a skunk or raccoon had come in and decimated the area, digging up the seeds and disrupting their growth.
What is the benefit of planting alyssum with tomatoes?
-Alyssum is beneficial to plant with tomatoes because it attracts a type of beneficial insect that lays eggs in tomato hornworms, which can help control pests.
Why does the speaker suggest removing flowers from newly planted strawberries?
-The speaker suggests removing flowers from newly planted strawberries to focus on the foliage growth initially, allowing the plants to establish a strong root system before they start to flower and fruit.
What is the purpose of the outdoor sink in the backyard?
-The outdoor sink serves as a wash station to process harvested produce, removing dirt and grime before the produce is brought into the kitchen.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Garden Tour and Updates

The host provides a comprehensive tour of the garden, highlighting the changes and developments over the past 18 months since moving to San Diego. The garden features a rebuilt and restained gate, a new sealed garden pathway, and a pop-in raised bed front yard garden. The host also discusses the importance of sun placement for different plants and the inclusion of calendula flowers for visual appeal and to attract pollinators.

05:01

🌽 Urban Gardening Strategies

The host explains the concept of planting tall growing plants in low beds and vice versa for aesthetic and practical reasons. The urban short round bed with Blue Jade sweet corn is featured, emphasizing the importance of block planting for wind-pollinated plants. The determinate bush tomato bed is also discussed, along with the benefits of planting alyssum to attract beneficial insects.

10:02

🌱 Garden Challenges and Solutions

The host shares the struggles faced in the garden, including issues with skunks and raccoons damaging the bean bed. The lettuce and beans bed is highlighted as a successful combination, with the host discussing the benefits of nitrogen-fixing beans for leafy greens. The center cut squash bed is also featured, with advice on distinguishing between natural silvering on squash leaves and powdery mildew.

15:04

🌿 Vertical Gardening and Plant Variety

The host showcases the vertical gardening systems, including the five and seven-tier leaf systems, suitable for small spaces. The benefits of growing lettuce, beans, and tomatoes in these systems are discussed. The laundry water artichoke patch is introduced as a sustainable watering solution, and the dragon fruit patch is highlighted as a promising feature for the season.

20:06

🍅 Orchard and Tree Nursery

The host takes the viewer through the orchard and tree nursery, discussing the various fruit trees and plants. Techniques for stabilizing and growing fig trees are shared, and the host expresses excitement about the first dragon fruit flower of the season. The citrus row and apple tree thinning process are also covered, emphasizing the importance of managing the growth of fruit trees.

25:07

🌳 Backyard Transformation and Pond Ecosystem

The host describes the transformation of the backyard, which was once an empty space, into a thriving garden with an outdoor shower and the Epic Pond. The pond's ecosystem, including the underwater reservoir and plants like watercress and dwarf papyrus, is detailed. The host also discusses the propagation of various plants and the herb bed reset using aeroponic methods.

30:07

🌻 In-Ground Plots and Crop Diversity

The host walks through the in-ground plots, discussing the cultivation of cucumbers, squash, peppers, and the process of growing popcorn as a fun and different crop. The challenges of growing brassicas in the local climate are mentioned, along with the success of the allium family, particularly garlic and leeks. The host also shows off the bulbing onions and the newly reset tomato bed.

🐔 Chicken Coop and Predator Protection

The host introduces the Epic Coop, built by Carolina Coops, and discusses the modifications made for the chickens' comfort and safety. The addition of a CoopWorx feeder and a water bar is highlighted, along with the predator apron installed to prevent raccoons from digging under the coop. The host shares the current state of the chickens and their diet, and the anticipation of future egg production.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening is a horticultural technique where plants are grown in elevated beds, usually filled with soil or another medium. This method allows for better drainage, increased soil temperature, and the ability to control soil conditions more easily. In the video, the host discusses the construction of a proper garden pathway and a pop-in raised bed front yard garden, emphasizing their role in the overall garden design and productivity.

💡Calendula

Calendula is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the daisy family known for their bright, often orange or yellow flowers. They are used both for their ornamental value and for their potential benefits in herbal medicine. In the script, calendulas are mentioned as a way to attract pollinators and add visual beauty to the garden, particularly in the front of the raised bed where they contrast with the greens.

💡Deadheading

Deadheading is the practice of removing spent flowers from plants to encourage further blooming or to maintain a neat appearance. It can also prevent the plant from wasting energy on producing seeds. The host of the video explains the importance of deadheading calendula flowers to keep the garden looking nice and to promote new growth.

💡Wind-Pollinated Plant

Wind-pollinated plants are those that rely on the wind to transfer their pollen from the male to the female parts of the plant for fertilization. This is in contrast to insect-pollinated plants that rely on animals. The video discusses the importance of planting corn, a wind-pollinated plant, in a block to facilitate effective pollination by maximizing the wind's ability to distribute pollen within the planting.

💡Determinate Bush Tomato

A determinate bush tomato is a variety of tomato plant that grows to a certain size and then stops, producing a set number of fruits. This is different from indeterminate varieties, which continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season. In the video, the host mentions planting determinate bush tomatoes because they stay within a manageable size and do not grow too tall, which is practical for the garden's layout.

💡Alyssum

Alyssum is a genus of small flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, often used as a ground cover due to its quick-spreading habit and attractive flowers. It is appreciated for its ability to attract beneficial insects. The host in the video highlights alyssum's role in the garden for both aesthetic appeal and its ecological benefits, such as attracting hover flies that can help control tomato hornworms.

💡Nitrogen Fixers

Nitrogen fixers are plants that have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use as a nutrient. This process enriches the soil with nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth, especially for leafy greens. The video mentions beans as nitrogen fixers and discusses how allowing them to grow for an extended period can improve soil fertility.

💡Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common plant disease caused by certain fungi that appear as a white or gray powdery growth on leaves or stems. It can reduce the plant's ability to photosynthesize and can lead to reduced yields or distorted growth. The host reassures viewers that some squash leaves have a natural silvery appearance and cautions that true powdery mildew appears as puffs of white substance on the underside of leaves.

💡Trellising

Trellising is the practice of training plants to grow on a support structure such as a lattice, fence, or stakes. This technique can maximize space, improve air circulation, and make it easier to manage and harvest crops. In the video, the host talks about the flexibility of trellising, noting that plants can be supported at a later stage, allowing for initial growth without an immediate need for a complete trellis system.

💡Tomatillo

Tomatillo, or Physalis, is a plant of the nightshade family and its fruit is used in Mexican cuisine. It is enclosed by a papery husk that gives it a distinctive appearance. The host in the video mentions tomatillo among the diverse plants grown in the garden, highlighting its growth and the upcoming information on tomatoes, indicating the plant's importance in the culinary context of the garden.

💡Nasturtium

Nasturtium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Tropaeolaceae. They are often grown for their vibrant, shield-shaped leaves and flowers, which are also edible and have a peppery taste. The host of the video praises nasturtiums for their visual appeal and their utility as a trap crop that can attract pests away from other, more desirable plants.

Highlights

Epic Gardening has undergone a complete transformation in the last 18 months since moving to San Diego.

Gates have been completely rebuilt and restained, enhancing the garden's entryway.

A proper sealed garden pathway has been created, leading to a raised bed garden and backyard.

Mini Kisaku 50 cabbage is recommended for pickling and is ideal for fall planting.

The front yard features a pop-in raised bed garden with a row of calendulas to attract pollinators and add visual appeal.

Urban short round bed with corten steel siding is utilized for planting tall growing crops like Blue Jade sweet corn.

The concept of planting tall crops in low beds and vice versa for optimal growth and accessibility is emphasized.

Determinate bush tomatoes are used in a raised bed to control height and facilitate easier harvesting.

Alyssum is planted alongside tomatoes to attract beneficial insects that prey on tomato hornworms.

Struggles with wildlife, such as skunks and raccoons, have led to the loss of some crops, highlighting the challenges of gardening.

Lettuce and beans are grown together, taking advantage of beans' nitrogen-fixing properties to benefit the lettuce.

Center cut squash is thriving, and the gardener advises not to mistake its natural silvery leaf interior for powdery mildew.

A cucumber bed has been partially replanted after being disturbed by a skunk, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the garden.

Tomatillos, dark opal basil, and borage are combined in a bed for a mix of culinary and aesthetic benefits.

Nasturtiums are used as a ground cover that attracts beneficial insects and can also act as a trap crop for pests.

A unique broccoli and sunflower combination is planted in an unusual bed, showcasing experimental gardening techniques.

A strawberry bed designed to maximize yield through the planting of bare root strawberries and利用runners（利用匍匐茎）for propagation.

An arch is decorated with Cecile Brunner roses, creating a fragrant and visually appealing passageway in the garden.

Mint madness bed showcases various mint varieties and the practice of sculpting and pruning for both harvest and aesthetics.

Green stock vertical gardening systems are highlighted as space-efficient solutions for small-space gardening.

A laundry water artichoke patch demonstrates innovative use of greywater for irrigation, reducing water waste.

Dragon fruit plants are grown in large terracotta pots with a trellis, indicating a move towards a more tropical and exotic home gardening.

An orchard and tree nursery area are being developed with a focus on diverse fruit trees for long-term productivity.

Citrus hedge concept aims to create a visually appealing and productive barrier using different varieties of citrus trees.

A Dorsett Golden apple tree requires careful thinning to ensure the health and productivity of the tree.

The backyard has been entirely redeveloped from a barren state to a lush, productive space with an outdoor shower and an Epic Pond.

Watercress is used in the pond for both nutritional value and as part of the pond's ecosystem, contributing to a productive edible landscape.

An outdoor sink is installed for processing produce, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness before kitchen preparation.

Herb bed reset using propagation techniques allows for the renewal of herbs, maintaining a productive and fragrant garden area.

In-ground plots are used for growing a variety of vegetables, including cucumbers, squash, peppers, and eggplants.

The introduction of popcorn plants for home-popping demonstrates the gardener's willingness to experiment with different crops.

Summer loose head cauliflower is chosen for its heat tolerance and loose head formation, suitable for the gardener's climate zone.

Allium family, particularly leeks and garlic, have been highly productive, with leeks potentially becoming a new favorite crop.

The gardener's success with bulbing onions, both red and white varieties, indicates effective crop rotation and soil management.

Tomatoes are strategically planted considering sun orientation to ensure both visual appeal and optimal sun exposure for growth.

The Epic Coop, built by Carolina Coops, includes modifications like a predator apron and a CoopWorx feeder for efficient chicken management.

The introduction of a water bar in the coop demonstrates innovation in providing water to the chickens, ensuring their health and well-being.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

How to Start Your First Garden (COMPLETE GUIDE)

1 Year of Growing Food - A whole season of vegetable gardening

9 Crops You'd be Foolish Not to Plant in March!

Gardeners React to Best & WORST Garden Hacks

TEXAS CATTLE LOSSES | It's MUCH worse than reported...

We Grew Melons 2 Ways, What Method is Best?