Row By Row Garden Show

Tonight, we discuss the difference in seeds. With a lot of confusion on what Open-Pollinated, Heirloom, and Hybrid seeds are, we will break it down for you. Open-Pollinated (OP) Occurs in nature, naturally. As long as plants are separated from other varieties, will breed true to type.Advantages: Save seeds for next season, Superior flavorHave stable traits from one generation to the next. Heirloom Developed outside commercial plant tradePast down from generation to generationIdentified by how long the seed has been passed down. (50-100 years) Prior to 1940Heirloom seeds must be open pollinated, but not all open pollinated are heirloom seeds.Why Heirloom: Taste (No more pale tasteless tomatoes)Stability (Characteristics stable from one year to next, plant will be like parent plant)ExpenseHardinessSeed Saving Hybrid Often called F1 in seed catalogsA hybrid is created by crossing two different varieties of the same plant. Can result naturally if plants are not separated. Can also be intentiona

G-M-O. You probably know what it stands for: genetically modified organisms. I know there’s been a lot of controversy around it. You might think it’s unnatural, that’s it’s bad for your health. Others say that it’s actually a cool technique to make crop production more efficient. So, is it good or is it bad? GMO - How Are GMOs Made? “GMO” (genetically modified organism) has become the common term consumers and popular media use to describe foods that have been created through genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a process that involves: Identifying the genetic information—or “gene”—that gives an organism (plant, animal, or microorganism) a desired traitCopying that information from the organism that has the traitInserting that information into the DNA of another organismThen growing the new organism Eating Foods From GMO Crops Only a few types of GMO crops are grown in the United States, but some of these GMOs make up a large percentage of the crop grown (e.g., soybeans, corn, sugar beet

You asked, Greg and Sheila answer! Many of our customers, followers, and Row By Row Group Members submitted their gardening questions and tonight, you will have them answered. Q & A - Part 1 "Have you ever had success growing asparagus?" - Yes, we've been growing asparagus for the last 7-8 years. We have several videos on our YouTube on how to be successful growing it. The key to it is after the 3rd year of growing it, you want to cut them back. You will develop weeds around the asparagus and that's normal. If you cut them back, you'll continue to get asparagus shoots. "What is the best way to get rid of grasshoppers? I'm surrounded by grassland and they're inundating my yard and garden." - There isn't much you can do for them organically. You need to hit them early on with a synthetic insecticide. You can rotate Bug Buster II and Neem Oil to treat them. "Concerning nitrogen fixers, do the nitrogen-fixing plants have to die or be pruned back to release the nitrogen for other plants to scavenge fr

Tonight, Greg and Sheila talk about all things herbs and fruit orchards!! Expand your food supply! Start Small, Start Simple Herbs When growing outside, consider those herbs that are hardy and can handle changing of seasons/cold weather. Lavender and Rosemary. Consider how large they will grow when planting. If planting in a raised bed, keep larger plants to the back and small plants in the front. This will make harvesting easier. Don't plant herbs together that need different amounts of sunlight and water. You'll do well planting tarragon and basil together. They love full sun and like a bit of extra water. Put your rosemary, sage, and thyme together because they prefer drier and sandier soil. Cool Season Herbs Cilantro Chives Dill Parsley Warm Season Herbs Sage Thyme Oregano Mint Bay Leaves Fruit Orchards Augment your supply of homegrown food beyond the traditional food garden. Choose those that bear fruit at different times of the year to further ex

Dr. Glen Harris with the University of Georgia is back!! Tonight, he and Greg get into the data behind cover crops, the importance of the organic matter, why you should be concerned with it, and much more! Research Project from UGA The study measures the biomass of four cover crops planted Nov. 1 and the nitrogen available to the following crop. https://www.farmprogress.com/cover-crops/measuring-mass-nitrogen-benefit-four-early-cover-crops Importance of Organic Matter in Soil Two of the biggest benefits of having the organic matter in your soil are to aid in holding water and nutrients, two of the things you need for plants to grow, besides sunlight. "If you can get your hands on good compost, man, get it in your garden", Greg says. If you don't have access to getting good compost, a good cover crop or a mixture of cover crops is the way to go. What is Cation Exchange Capacity in Soil? Cation exchange capacity is the total capacity of soil to hold exchangeable cations. Dr. Glen Harris s

It's all about garlic!! A deep dive into the types of garlic, how to plant, best practices for growing, fertilizing, and more! Growing Garlic Nutrition and Health Benefits Garlic contains allicin, a sulfur compound with many health benefits: an ancient plant used for flavor, health, and medicine for 5,000 years with only a small number of calories. Studies have shown that the properties of garlic can help lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart disease, and boost your immune system. It also contains antioxidants that may help people avoid Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Types of Garlic There are over 600 named varieties, grouped into three types. Hard-Neck (ophioscorodon) (German White) Fewer but larger clovesEasier to grow in cold weatherStronger FlavorDoesn't store as wellHarder to braid Soft-Neck (sativum) (most grocery store bought is soft-neck) Stores the longestMild in flavorLarger bulbs and more clovesGrows best inr egions with mild wintersBest for braiding El

Tonight, Greg and Sheila do a deep dive into everything onions! When to plant, how to fertilize, and so much more! The Right Kind of Onions Short Day Short-Day varieties will form bulbs with 10-12 hours of daylight and only need mild winter climates (Zones 7 and warmer). These should be planted in the fall for maturity in late spring. Intermediate Day Intermediate-Day varieties will form bulbs with 12-14 hours of daylight, normally grown in zones 5-7, and should be planted in the fall. Long Day Long-Day varieties will form bulbs with 14-16 hours of daylight, typically grown in northern regions (Zones 6 and colder), and planted in late winter/early spring.  Types of Onions Bulbing Onions Spring/Bunching OnionsMultiplying Fertilizing Bulbing Onions Two important tips to remember, plant the right type of onion for your area and plant them at the right time. (Refer above) In-Ground Planting for Zone 8 - make sure your soil PH is between 6.0 - 6.5, about 1 week before you plant

Tonight, Greg and Sheila discuss their experiences at the Homesteaders of America Conference in Virginia this past weekend. Met with lots of affiliates, YouTubers, fans of Hoss Tools, and so much more! What's Up in the Veg and Flower Garden: Out in the main garden, Greg has lots of Sun Sugar tomatoes growing, along with his delicata squash. Sheila is still harvesting Jambalaya Okra and has finally started seeing blooms on her Roselle Hibiscus after many months of waiting. Homesteaders of America Greg and Sheila both agreed that it was a truly magical and heartwarming experience to be able to meet and see everyone at the Homesteaders of America Conference. "We were surrounded by so many great, knowledgable people - from YouTubers, Affiliates, and Hoss Tools Family, we are truly blessed.", Greg Says. "It was so heartwarming to be able to hug, shake hands, share stories, and finally meet a lot of these people we've known for years face to face and also add to our Hoss Tools family.", Sheila added. W

Tonight, it is Sheila's turn to answer the gardening questions. She speaks on preserving, raised beds, and so much more! Even how she "puts up with Greg". Ask a Gardening Expert Q & A What tips can you share for someone just getting started with canning and preserving their harvest? Find a mentor with experienceUse fresh produce in good conditionHave all the proper equipment/ingredients before you startSet aside the time, once you start you have to finishFollow directions/recipe ingredients exactly What are things you can every single year? SoupTomatoes (stweed, Italian, Juice, Cherry)Green BeansPickles Can you recommend some books on canning that would have information on what to look for in a pressure canner and recipes? Sheila uses the "Ball, Blue Book - guide to preserving". It has a lot of information on the different types of pressure canners, as well as recipes. How is irrigation systems set up in raised beds? Currently, Sheila is using a water hose, watering can, and som

We have a very special guest on the show, Dr. Glen Harris of the University of Georgia. Glen specializes in Environmental Soil & Fertilizers. Tonight, Greg and Glen do a deep dive into what exactly is in fertilizers. It's time to plant cool weather cover crops and short maturing greens (Mustard, Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Spinach). What's In Fertilizer? Fertilizer Labels A generic label in most garden centers uses 13-13-13. With any and all labels, the first number you see on a fertilizer label is for Nitrogen, the second number is phosphorous, and the third is Potassium. (N, P, K) Glen states that the numbers on these labels are all the same around the world! For it to be a "complete fertilizer" it will need to also include micronutrients as the secondary, such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and iron (to name a few). Nitrogen Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N) is nitrogen derived from ammonia. One form of nitrogen that your plants regularly use. Most commonly found in the soil is ammonium. It is natur

Tonight, Jennifer with Fancy Girl Farms joins Greg in a discussion into flower farming and how you and your children can enjoy the growing beautiful flowers all year long and make a little extra cash doing it! What's Up in the Veg and Flower Garden: In the recent weeks here in southwest Georgia, there has been a lot of rain, which has put so many farmers and gardeners behind on their fall planting. With too much rain, the ground is too saturated to plant. Greg is planning on starting his turnips and mustards in the next couple of weeks. In winter cover crops, in Zone 8 you want to go ahead and start thinking about getting your cover crops in the ground between October 1st through October 15th. Greg's favorite cover crop has always been clover. Jennifer stated that she planted red clover last year and that it did great but the white dutch clover was an issue for her. Greg suggests that Hairy Vtech and Winter Rye is the "GO-TO" mix for beginners and for those who do not know which cover crop they need to

We are excited to have Tracy Lee from Sakata Seeds back at Hoss HQ. With over 25 years of experience in the seed industry, Tracey has a wealth of knowledge of seed varieties of which she and Greg will discuss tonight! Insights on Varieties for Fall Planting: What are Brassicas? Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, among many others, are just a few in the brassica family. Broccoli Tracy says " If you are hesitant at first, once you know what variety to purchase and what to look for then you will want to continue to grow broccoli. Broccoli is a very popular and big commercial crop, if you are growing or eating broccoli, there is a 75% chance it came from Sakata Seeds. "Green Magic Broccoli is one of the best varieties to start with if you are a beginner or wanting to have great success in your harvesting. This variety (unlike many varieties) isn't "too" specific, meaning it can be grown almost anywhere and in any climate. It is wildly adapted. It will be your best bet.", Tra

Tonight, Greg and Sheila do a rapid-fire Q & A session. We asked our followers and members of the Row By Row Facebook group to send in gardening questions that they may have for Greg to answer. Questions & Answers Part 1: Thoughts on using Round-Up Weed Kill around the edge of the garden? I'm in Zone 8 a/b and hybrid Bermuda grass runners are hard to keep out. "There is a lot of controversy out there regarding using "round-up" but I use it around the edge of my garden. It is ideal to use for the grass runners but ultimately it is a personal preference. I do not use it in my vegetable garden but I have been known to edge my garden with it", Greg states. Will there ever be a clear dome made for the Heavy-Duty Bottom Trays? I don't have a greenhouse and it would be helpful for us in germinating our seeds in the house. "Probably not, the heavy-duty bottom tray is a catch basin for overflow of water for the 162 cell and 338 cell seed starting trays. There are no domes currently out there that are USA-ma

Tonight Greg and special guest, Jeremy Kichler from the University of Georgia Corporative Extension discuss all the dirty details on soil sample basics. Jeremy is the Colquitt County agent and has been helping commercial farmers, gardeners, and new homeowners for 21 years with researched-based information. BASIC SOIL SAMPLING Soil sample bags are available at most county extension offices. Soil samples routinely check the PH, Sulfur, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and so much more! If you are testing a large amount of area, you may need more than one soil sample if the soil has a lot of variation, you should take more than one sample. Collecting Soil Sample Most county extension offices will lend you a soil probe to collect your soil samples, you can also use a shovel. In gardening, get 6"-8" deep (around the root zone), for a lawn sample you want to go 4" deep and for orchards 8"-10". It all depends on what you are wanting to test and how deep-rooted it is. A good way to make sure you have a good t

Challenges of Growing Fall Garden: Temperature For gardeners in late summer months, it can be tough. The heat in the southern states can become a big challenge with your spring/summer crops winding down and starting to die off. Temperature plays a big factor in wanting to get out and be in the garden. August and September normally are months of transition, starting to plan your fall garden, getting your seeds started and figuring out when to direct seed or transplant is a big factor in fall gardening. Time Management is important, garden in the early morning and late evening. Weather Unpredictable weather is another big factor in the southern states. A lot of rain can cause many issues in the gardening including diseased plants, such as powdery mildew, and blight. It can also stunt your crop and prevent pollinators from being able to work affecting the blossoming of fruits and vegetables. Dry weather also plays a big factor during the transition period. Drip Irrigation is a garden saver when it

What To Plant Now In Your Zone Zone 9 Now: Continue planting flowers and cover crops, fall corn can be planted until the end of August, get ready for fall planting of Brassicas (Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage) - make a plan September 15th - September 30th - Plant onion seeds (short-day varieties) Zone 8 Now: Plant sweet corn, start first planting of Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts in trays. September 1st - get ready to plant Brassicas (Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage) You can still plant zinnias and sunflowers, and some cover crops. Plant short-term cover crops such as Buckwheat, Sorghum Sudangrass, and Kodiak Brown; Sunn Hemp may be too late to plant at this time to get the full benefits. Plant short-day onion varieties between September 1st - September 15th. Zone 7 Now: Start first planting of Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts in trays now. Start planning Brassicas (Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower) on September 1st. Similar to Z

With over 22 years in the growing business, Logan McLean of Cool Springs Nursery joins Greg on the Row By Row Show tonight to discuss and break down the different types of seed starting mix (potting soil). Garden Update August is Greg's least favorite month in the garden. With it being so hot in south Georgia, he is using this time to prepare for his fall garden with his silage tarps. Tarping, bed prep for the fall sweet corn crop. His first crop of cabbage and broccoli started in the greenhouse. Greg recommends starting varieties in the Brassica family (Broccoli) inside, if you plant start them in the greenhouse and have temperatures that reach in the 100s, you could have problems; he also states that there is still time to plant cover crops and flowers! Potting Soil Ingredients Most of the consumer mixes that you buy in the big box store are mostly made up of Peat, which is a very common ingredient in potting soil. There are different grades of peat; the best peat to use is peat that comes fr

CLEAN EATING Throughout the last couple of years, Greg and Sheila have started trying to focus more on clean eating and sustainable living within themselves and their family, recently they have found that Microgreens is a way to benefit them all in many ways. Benefits: Food Safety - you know exactly what has been put on your food. You do not have to worry about such things as an overdose of fertility, and certain pesticides. Sustainability - knowing that you are not dependant on the stores or supply chain is something that creates a huge peace of mind. Health - you won't have digestive issues due to nitrates being sprayed on the foliage of your greens like you do with industrial farming. Being Sustainable There are many ways to be sustainable, outdoors and indoors. Canning and preserving fruits and vegetables is always a great way to be more sustainable from your outdoor gardens. Indoor gardens are growing rapidly in popularity, more young adults are growing in their homes and apartments.