Most Popular Seed Varieties

The guys discuss the 15 most popular seed varieties that were chosen by customers as bestsellers. All of these seed varieties are excellent for growing in the vegetable garden and offer some of the best production and flavor profiles throughout the growing season.

Jambalaya Okra

The most popular seed variety that we have available at Hoss Tools is the Jambalaya Okra. As the most productive okra crop, this variety has heavy yields of green pods with excellent flavor profiles. We recommend transplanting in okra in early spring to get a jump start on the growing season.

Red Burgundy Okra

Not the most productive okra variety that we have available the Red Burgundy Okra is one of the best pickling varieties according to Greg. This okra variety produces deep red pods that will remain tender at even longer pod lengths.

Tiger Collard

Once we sell out of the Tiger Collards variety it will soon be replaced with the Top Bunch 2.0 collards. The Top Bunch 2.0 is the newest generation in the Top Bunch collard line. This is a hybrid variety that is great for early-maturing and will grow fast in the vegetable garden.

Bella Rosa Tomato

The Bella Rosa is an heirloom variety that performs best in hot and humid climates. Out of all the popular seed varieties, the Bella Rosa is the top performer for continuing to set fruits once temperatures become warmer in early summer.

Brickyard Tomato

As the most comprehensive disease-resistant package the Brickyard Tomatoes do best when planted in seed starting trays. Tomatoes can produce heavy fruits and will require some form of trellising system to support the plants throughout the growing season.

Goldprize Squash

As a highly productive squash, the Goldprize variety is a straightneck that offers excellent flavor profiles, texture, and storage potential. Throughout the growing season, squash is a crop that will require multiple harvests within the garden area.

Stonewall Cucumber

The Stonewall Cucumber is a hybrid slicer variety that offers improved yields, great disease-resistance, and exceptional consistency. It does best when direct seeded in the garden area and is a vining plant that will need a strong trellising system in place as it grows throughout the season.

Green Magic Broccoli

Out of all the popular seed varieties, the Green Magic Broccoli is one of the most popular broccoli varieties. This heat-tolerant broccoli can be grown in spring and earlier in the fall than other varieties. We recommend transplanting broccoli to ensure you get maximum production and better plants.

Calypso Cucumber

Another popular cucumber variety is the Calypso cucumber which is gynoecious meaning it produces all-female flowers for increased productivity and higher yields. This hybrid variety offers a strong disease package and early production within the vegetable garden.

Jimmy Red Corn

If you are looking for a variety of corn to grind for making grits and corn mill the Jimmy Red is the ideal variety for just that. We recommend planting corn using a walk-behind planter like our garden seeder that makes planting easy and allows you to customize your planting to meet your exact needs.

Rattlesnake Pole Beans

A very popular variety of beans to grow in the vegetable garden is the Rattlesnake Pole Beans. This heirloom variety has vigorous plants that grow up to 10 inches when trellised and produce around 6 to 7-inch pods that can be harvested frequently throughout the growing season.

Spineless Beauty Zucchini

The Spineless Beauty Zucchini is another hybrid variety that provides an exceptional production, increased storage, and disease package in the garden. The variety has spineless petioles which mean there is no itching sensation during and after harvesting zucchini.

Benary Giant Zinnia Mix

Along with growing vegetables in the garden,

Transplanting Crops vs. Direct Seeding

When comes to transplanting crops and which are best for direct seeding it can vary depending on the several different plant varieties. For transplanting crops like beets you can either transplant or direct seed in the garden. Travis mentions in order to get consistently sized beets you must thin them and he prefers to do this in the greenhouse rather than on his knees inside the vegetable garden. The three other transplanting crops that are without a doubt better transplanted are broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage plants. Another crop that can be transplanted or direct seeded is cantaloupes and it is beneficial to transplant if you like in a climate where the warm growing season isn't as long. When it comes to collards you can direct seed or transplant depending on how and what variety you are planting in the garden. Another crop that can be transplanted or direct seeded is okra because it does not like cooler soils you are able to get a head start on growing if you transplant okra. When direct seeding crops such as beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, greens, peanuts, radishes, etc all do better direct seeded in the vegetable garden. The advantage of transplanting crops is you will get a head start on planting which is really effective for areas that experience really high disease or insect pressures. Another advantage of transplanting is you get a head start on the weed pressure, especially with slower germinating crops.

Transplant Crops

Brocolli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Eggplant

Kohlrabi

Leeks

Onions

Peppers

Tomatoes

Watermelon

Direct Seed

Beans

Carrots

Corn

Cucumbers

Greens

Peanuts

Field Peas

Radishes

Spinach

Summer Squash

Direct Seed + Transplant

Beets

Cantaloupes

Collards

Gourds

English Peas

Kale

Lettuce

Okra

Pumpkins

Rutabaga

Winter Squash

Swiss Chard

Turnips

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has grown some of the Mr. Big English Pea variety for the first time in the garden. The guys address the comments about the egg in the hole feedback on last week's garden show video. Greg shows off some of his Cheers and Jersey Wakefield cabbage from the vegetable garden. Greg also has his ghost pepper seeds in the freezer so he will get a better stratification process and quicker germination when he gets ready to plant them. The guys give an update on potatoes and hope to get them in and ready to ship next week.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about rotating in a small garden, advice for growing watermelons, and amending pH for every crop. Travis mentions that can be more difficult to manage crop rotation in one small garden, however, you just have to be more mindful of what crops you are planting in the area year after year. He also mentions that it is really beneficial if you are utilizing cover crops that will help with incorporating nutrients back into the soils. Greg gives three tips for growing watermelons which is to give them plenty of room, use drip irrigation, and attract natural pollinators to the area. Greg mentions the ideal way to control your pH for planting is to plant new seeds in a new spot every year and work it into your rotation.

Product of the Week

Cherokee Lettuce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpaX3Lp7lgM

Crop Rotation Strategies

If you fail to incorporate effective crop rotation strategies in the vegetable garden, you can experience recurring pests and disease problems that will become greater year after year. It is crucial to establish the right crop rotation strategies to eliminate these problems. Our goal is to not plant the same family of crops in the same spot in consecutive years.

Crops in the Same Family

Travis shows a comprehensive list of vegetables and their respective families. The first family of crops is Solanaceae, commonly known as the nightshades. This family includes popular vegetable crops like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. Most folks don't realize that potatoes are closely related to the other crops in the nightshade family. As a result, you wouldn't want to plant tomatoes, peppers or eggplant in the same spot as potatoes in a given year. If you are not careful to rotate these crops, you will almost certainly experience some blight issues that will intensify over time.

The next family is Cucurbitaceae, also known as the Cucurbits. This family includes crops like summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, and gourds. All of the crops in the Cucurbit family can have issues with powdery mildew and downy mildew, so rotating these crops ensures those disease problems will not increase year after year. Cucurbits also tend to have high insect pressure with pests like squash bugs, squash vine borers and pickle worms.

The next family is the Brassicas, which is one of the most popular families of crops grown in the vegetable garden. The brassica family includes mustards, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, bok choy, rutabagas, turnips, and radishes. Brassicas can have recurring pest issues if not rotated properly, especially with worms that will chew and eat the plant leaves.

Below is a list of all the important crop families for a vegetable garden:

Nightshades:

Tomatoes

Eggplants

Peppers

Potatoes

Cucurbits:

Summer Squash

Winter Squash

Pumpkins

Cucumbers

Watermelon

Cantaloupes

Gourds

Brassicas:

Mustard

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Turnips

Kohlrabi

Radish

Rutabagas

Boy Choy

Alliums:

Onions

Shallots

Leeks

Garlic

Scallions

Chives

Legumes:

Beans

English Peas

Winter Peas

Field Peas

Peanuts

Clover

Sunn Hemp

Hairy Vetch

Umbellifers:

Carrots

Cilantro

Celery

Parsley

Dill

Parsnips

Amaranth:

Beets

Chard

Spinach

Pigweed

Grasses:

Corn

Wheat

Barley

Sorghum Sudangrass

Mallow:

Okra

Cotton

Hibiscus

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys sample a few varieties of raw greens including Tatsoi, Arugula, and Savanna Mustard. Greg provides an update on his multiplying onions and guinea nest onions from the garden. He also discusses the Ghost Peppers that are now available. He mentions they are limited and will sell quickly. The guys also mention that 20 more seed varieties will be added by the end of January.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about seed starting schedules, cleaning seed trays, favorite tomato varieties, and moving plants from the greenhouse. Travis mentions that his ideal seed starting schedule is to plant early spring crops such as lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., now. And he'll start planting peppers in late January or ear...

Guide to Seed Starting

During the seed starting process, there are many aspects that can control the success or failure of growing quality vegetable transplants. The first thing that people sometimes question is why can't they simply dig up soil out of the yard and place it in seed starting trays. Greg explains you can do this but it's not going to work out well and is highly not recommended. Therefore, we recommend using a Pro-Mix Seed Starting Mix to ensure you get the needed amount of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite when growing transplants. While applying the mix it also needs plenty of water initially to get the seeds wet in the tray cells. The guys recommend using a Dramm wand which is included in our Premium Seed Starting Kit. After the mix is nice and moist, you can start to prepare the tray for planting seeds. When using your fingers to create indentions they should be in the middle of the cell to improve seed planting. When it comes to planting depth it is ideal if you plant on average twice as deep as the diameter of your seed. If you live in an area similar to us in the South and you are growing crops such as beets or radishes you will not have to worry about using a heating mat underneath the trays because those crops will germinate in coolish type conditions. However, for summer crops like peppers or tomatoes, it's important to provide a heat mat underneath the trays to help with the temperatures. When growing indoors the trick to providing the ideal amount of light is to get led shop lights with a natural daylight bulb color and place them over the plant you are trying to grow. The guys also recommend watering at least 2 to 3 times a day until the roots reach the bottom of the cells. Once the plants start to get their true leaves or second set of leaves become more prominent that is the ideal time to start spoon feeding at least 1 to 2 times a week with fertilizer. There are several different ways to add fertilizer to the growing plants, but Travis recommends using 20-20-20 in a watering can and sprinkling along the top of the plants. However, the plants are really delicate so you have to be sure and not over-fertilize them which can cause them to burn.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, the guys discuss the weather conditions that are currently happening in the garden and how it can affect some vegetables and fruit trees. Travis also announces that he will be attending Deep South Homestead Gathering on March 21st in Perkinston, Mississippi, so be sure to stop by and see him.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about ball zucchini, treating cut potato pieces, and the recommend amount of 20-20-20 that is equivalent to 10-10-10. We currently have one variety of ball zucchini known as Eight Ball Squash which contains a darker green exterior with excellent texture and flavor profile. Greg mentions that in the past he has used fir bark dust as a fungicide on potato seed pieces, but he cannot see any difference from when he does and doesn't use it in the garden. Greg mentions when using 20-20-20 you would want to use half as much as you would 10-10-10 because it is twice the strength. However, if you are using a water-soluble liquid or granular form it can change the recommended amount.

Product of the Week

338 Seed Starting Trays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o048L65ufaQ

Garden Seeder vs. Seeder Attachment

The major difference that sets the seeder attachment apart from the garden seeder is it can attach to the Single Wheel Hoe and Double Wheel Hoe, while the garden seeder is a stand-alone unit that is used strictly for garden planting. However, both seeders have the same innovative seed plate design, hopper, and brush assembly. Having a customizable seed plate allows you to match your seed size and your desired seed spacing when planting in the vegetable garden.

Garden Seeder

The Hoss Garden Seeder is the most durable and versatile planter mechanism that ensures accurate planting in the vegetable garden. It contains a rolling disk as a furrow opener that rolls along the soil and leaves an opening for dropping a seed which makes it more forgiving in a wide variety of planting situations. This seeder is constructed with Amish-crafted hardwood handles and 15-inch steel wheels with a powder-coated steel frame that can last a lifetime.

Seeder Attachment

When it comes to planting with the Seeder Attachment it attaches to the wheel hoes to easily plant in the vegetable garden without wasting seed or over-planting along the rows. It contains a furrow opener that consists of a solid plate of metal known as the shoe that helps push through the soil and open it up when going along the garden rows. This seeder attachment is design to work in firmer, clay-like soils or non-tilled seedbeds.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis harvested some nice big Tehama Lettuce from the vegetable garden. He also shared some tips for what not to do when harvesting the different lettuce varieties. Currently, Greg has a test garden of onions where he has planted many different onion varieties to compare and contrast. When comparing the Warrior Bunching Onion and the Natsuguro Bunching Onion it seems that the Natsuguro variety has a little bigger bulb size than the Warrior variety. However, the Warrior variety seems to be more consistent in size compared to the Natsuguro variety. The guys also discuss several varieties such as English peas, Fordhook Lima Beans, and Savanna Mustard.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about planting in previous 10-foot walkways, growing under cover, planting sampler packs of potatoes, and determining pH in the soil. Travis mentions that normally if it was previously grass in the walkways, then it will grow back in the area. The guys also mention that they keep the walkways mowed in the garden as well. Travis highly recommends not adding wood chips to the walkways because they tend to make a mess and will require maintenance every day. Greg mentions that when growing under a hoop house it can be really beneficial if you live up North. However, we do not experience harsh cooler temperatures, so he recommends reading the Four-Season Harvest book by Eliot Coleman which can provide plenty of advice for growing up North. Travis mentions that we offer two sampler packs of potatoes which are the Homestead and Gourmet potato packs. He recommends a 30 to 40-foot row for planting a 10lb, sampler pack of potatoes. However, it's important to consider the different types of potato varieties and their maturity dates when planting in the vegetable garden. Greg explains the best way to determine the pH of your soil is by sending a soil sample off to a university that will in return send back a detailed report that tells you everything you need to know about your soil conditions.

Product of the Week

Lacy Phacelia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W82zXCnJZLU

New Year Resolutions of 2019

Since it is officially a new year that means it is time to go over the 2019 resolutions and see what was achieved and what did not do well throughout this past year. One of Greg's 2019 resolutions was to do a better job maintaining soil health and use more cover crops in the garden. He mentions that he did a lot better with growing more cover crops and reduced his tillage drastically over this past year. However, Greg did not do well in adding in compost or chicken manure during pre-plant on a couple of occasions and he saw first hand how it impacted his vegetable garden compared to other gardens around his homestead. One of Travis's resolutions for 2019 was to create his dream vegetable garden which he did achieve on his homestead. Greg's second resolution for 2019 was to do better at succession planting which means being ready to plant the next crop once one crop is done maturing in the garden. He mentions that he has done extremely well with succession planting this past year and reminds gardeners of the importance of doing this succession planning throughout the growing seasons. When it comes to Travis growing more cover crops this past year, the cover crop that did extremely well for him during the warm season was the Sorghum Sudangrass and mowing it every couple of weeks. Another resolution that Travis had was to plant more multi-harvest crops and plant more winter squash in the spring. He mentions that he did plant more winter squash during the early stages of growth in his dream garden but they were not as productive as he hoped in the area. He also states that he did well with growing more multi-harvest crops, just wants to fine-tune it a little bit and stick to growing what crops work best for his soil type and weather conditions.

New Year Resolutions for 2020

After going over their 2019 resolutions it is time for the guys to discuss their New Year Resolutions for 2020. The first resolution that Travis mentions is to eat more from the garden. Greg agrees with Travis and he wants to make a conscious effort to just eat vegetables a couple of nights a week instead of having meat at every meal. Travis's second resolution is to grow more beans especially the newer varieties in the vegetable garden. Greg's second new year resolution is to allow some garden area to rest and instead of growing vegetables, he is going to plant cover crops to add more benefits back into the soil.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has a purple Cauliflower known as Graffiti which he demonstrates how he likes to cook it. He has also grown the biggest Snow Bowl Cauliflower ever in the garden weighing in at five and a half pounds. Greg has a dual purpose cover crop of mustard greens and daikon radish that has done extremely well in the vegetable garden. It's also that time of the year for all the winter crops to be mature and ready for harvest. Travis has harvested a huge Cheers Cabbage that weighed around seven and a half pounds from the garden. The guys discuss a couple of new seed varieties that they have started growing in the greenhouse as well.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about mustard gases in the soil, planting pumpkins, and recommend plants to start now in zone 8b. Travis mentions that the gases in mustard are converted to what is known as isothiocyanates which is a natural fungicide and natural nematicide which helps kill harmful funguses and nematodes when incorporated into the soil quickly. In the South, Greg mentions that the best time to plant pumpkins is within a week to two weeks after Easter and growing it off in the springtime. For zone 8b, Travis recommends planting cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, beets, and lettuce.

Product of the Week

New 2021 Seed Varieties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPrITkp7eFc

New Seed Varieties for Cool Weather

The guys discuss a few of their favorite seed vegetables that do best in the cool weather conditions. Some of these new seed varieties include tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon, broccoli, and cauliflower. The first new seed variety Travis mentions is the Red Snapper Tomato that is resistant to the spotted wilt virus and the tomato yellow leaf curl virus which both cause very dangerous issues in the vegetable garden. In the South, if you have failed at growing tomatoes in the past, you definitely need to try a virus-resistant tomato variety instead. The second new tomato seed is known as Tachi which is another spotted wilt virus-resistant variety, but also a nematode-resistant variety. Next, Greg talks about the Sugar Baby Watermelon which is an older variety that produces smaller personal sized watermelons. The fourth cool weather vegetable mentioned is a winter squash known as the Sweet Dumpling variety. This variety is the top of the line when it comes to flavor profile in winter squash. Another excellent broccoli variety is the Emerald Crown which is a hybrid that is grown more during the cool weather season. The fifth top cool weather vegetable is the Godzilla Broccolli variety that grows large heads at the top of the plant, making it easier to harvest. Next, is a traditional Early Crookneck Squash variety that has been around forever that produces golden-yellow fruits in the garden. Then, we have a new Twister Cauliflower variety available that produces upper leaves that actually twist and wrap around the plant to protect the cauliflower throughout the growing season. The guys explain a little tip about growing beans and talk about the new Gold Wax Bean, Royal Burgundy, Scarlet Emperor, and White Emergo varieties.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis has all kinds of vegetables maturing in the garden. He has a Matejko Leek variety that had a few problems when it came to planting them deep enough in the soil. Greg and Travis show off a variety of beets, rutabagas, and Feng Qing cabbage. The guys also discuss a few varieties that will become available in the next year.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about a squash variety known as North Georgia Candy Rooster, where to get a Kohlrabi slicer, the spacing of pole beans on a trellis, seed longevity, fertility storage, and green magic broccoli heads. Travis mentions that they do not currently carry North Georgia Candy Rooster because it has been difficult to find a seed producer that has them, but he will continue to look until he finds some. Greg has had his Kohlrabi slicer for years, his particular brand is known as a King Kutter. Travis mentions that when planting pole beans vertically he likes to plant them tight such as 3 inches apart and on a double row. However, this planting method will take a little longer to harvest because of the dense foliage, the reward will be getting maximum productivity of pole beans. Greg explains that proper seed storage is to place them in an area where temperatures remain the same this ensures that they will remain stable. When it comes to fertilizer storage, as long as it does not get heavy amounts of moisture that cause it to start melting it should be fine. If the fertilizer starts to melt and get mushy, then it should be discarded. Travis has harvested some Green Magic Broccoli that produced heads weighing about a pound on average.

Product of the Week

Premium Garden Seeds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSLTT7939Tw

Top Ten Gift Ideas:

These gift ideas are the ideal perfect gifts for all types of gardeners whether you are a beginner or advanced vegetable gardener. As well as, they all are reasonably priced under $100, made in the USA, and quality products that will last you a lifetime.

1. Hoe Dag Tool Kit

This tool kit has everything you need to plant, weed, and cultivate your raised garden beds. The Hoe Dag Tool Kit includes a hoe dag, hand shovel, and hand rank that are all made with high carbon steel blades. Each tool has a riveted-socket design that attaches the implement to the handle to ensure it will remain attached through the toughest soil debris.

2. Seed Collections

There are three different themed seed collections that are excellent gift ideas that we have available which are the Pollinator Garden Collection, Heirloom Garden Collection, Fresh Salad Garden Collection, and Cool Season Garden Collection. With each collection, you get a variety of seeds that are all perfect for growing throughout the vegetable garden.

3. Garden Fertilizer

Another gift that you wouldn't ever think about giving is 20-20-20 garden fertilizer. However, anybody, that loves to grow a garden would need this fertilizer in their next growing season. It has a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is great for fertilizing plants at all growing stages in the garden.

4. Complete Fermentation Kit

If you are shopping for someone that loves to preserve food from the vegetable garden the Complete Fermentation Kit is the perfect gift. This kit includes a pickle packer jar tamper, pickle pipe fermentation lids, pickle pebble fermentation weights, and an instructional booklet which is everything you need to start fermenting vegetables expect the jar.

5. Small Garden Tool Kit

Another great set of tools is our Small Garden Toolkit which contains three of our most popular hand-made tools for maintaining your garden bed. This kit comes with a garden trowel, crows foot cultivator, and batwing hoe that ensures you get maximum planting in the soil of your raised garden bed.

6. Micro-Boost

A product that has received multiple good reviews from customers is our Micro-Boost. It contains all the micronutrients that the plant could possibly need to grow throughout the season. It also works great in our EZ-Flo Injector to accurately fertilizer where plants need to uptake the most.

7. Harvesting Bucket

A long-time product of ours that has been an all-time favorite is our Over-the-Shoulder Harvesting Bucket. This garden tool is ideal for harvesting all types of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, okra, etc. Even fruit varieties such as apples, muscadines, figs, and berries.

8. Garden Gloves

The most comfortable gloves around is our Hoss Garden Gloves. For working all around the homestead these garden gloves remain durable and allow for maximum dexterity no matter what job you are doing. Some of the features it contains is padded palm cushion, stretchy nylon material, and extra reinforcement on fingertips for more durability.

9. Garden Hod

Another product that has been around for a long time that has been a favorite by many is our Garden Hod. This is a multifunctional harvesting bucket that allows you to harvest your vegetables and simply rinse them off all in the same container.

10. Pruning Shears

Our pruning shears have a lifetime warranty that contains a heavy-duty Savoy steel blade that provides the most high-quality pruners. The blades are very tough and are guaranteed to hold an edge that will last better than other shears at your local hardware store.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis show different ways to prepare and cook the strange-looking vegetable known as Kohlrabi. Greg has grown kohlrabi for around 5 to 6 years and loves to grow it because it is insect resistant,

Growing Your Own Transplants

The major benefit of growing your own transplants is you are able to get a jumpstart on the growing season. This means you will have plants ready to go in the ground as soon as the weather conditions and soil temperatures are just right in the vegetable garden. Another benefit is you are able to grow a wider variety of vegetables because you aren't limited to just the plants that are at the big box stores. Growing your own transplants can also be a much more affordable solution in the long run because you aren't buying new plants from the store every growing season and hoping they make it once you establish them in your personal vegetable garden.

New Seeding Starting Kits

With the three new seed starting kits, the main difference is the size and overall components of each. The first seed starting kit that the guys discuss is the 24-Cell Seed Starting Kit. This kit includes two 12-cell trays, bottom trays, domes, pro-mix seed starting mix, complete organic fertilizer, and garden labels. With two 12-cell trays, you can grow up to 24 plants of any kind of vegetables. Next, is the 48-Cell Seed Starting Kit, which is basically double what you get with the 24-cell kit. The 48-cell kit includes two 24-cell trays, bottom trays, domes, two bags of pro-mix seed starting mix, two bags of complete organic fertilizer, and garden labels. The last new kit they discuss is the Deluxe Seed Starting Kit which includes two 24-cell trays, larger bottom tray, dome, 16-quart pro-mix seed starting, and the garden labels. They also discuss the Premium Seed Starting Kit which has been out for a while but is the ultimate seed starting kit to grow the most vegetable transplants. The Premium kit includes our 162-cell tray, the heavy-duty bottom tray, pro-mix seed starting mix, a Dramm rain wand, garden labels, and four premium garden seeds such as Arcadia Broccoli, Tiger Collard, Parris Island Romaine Lettuce, and Lacinato Kale. Depending on how many vegetables you want to grow and need that can help determine which seed starting kit would be the best fit for you.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Travis and Greg have several different fig varieties to show, discuss, and taste test. They give a small update on the new studio and adjustments that are continuing to be made. Greg talks about what plants are quickly growing in his vegetable gardens such as collards, onions, Brussel sprouts, and mustard greens. The guys also discuss the two common mistakes that people make in the fall and winter garden which includes not watering plants and adding enough fertilizer to the plants.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about wearing sunglasses on the video last week and their opinions on adding charcoal or biochar to the garden. Travis mentions that he does apologize for wearing his sunglasses in last week's video it is just a healthy precaution to protect his eyes from the new studio lights. Greg mentions that biochar is a carbon product that makes this charred organic matter that looks like ground-up charcoal. It has been primarily used to help take away contaminants such as pesticides from the garden soil. If you are experiencing contaminated soil then biochar is the best option. Another factor of using biochar is it can be used as a sponge to basically hold nutrients in the soil. However, Greg believes that adding good quality compost is a more economical way of adding nutrients to the soil.

Products of the Week

Seed Starting Supplies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5p4JNf4JVw

Wheel Hoe Comparisons

This week, Greg and Travis discuss a popular question they get from customers that are wanting to buy a wheel hoe but don't know which one to choose. When comparing the Single and Double Wheel Hoe the main comparison is the toolbar is identical on both models. However, on the Double, the arms are flipped and it has a longer axle with an extra wheel. With these two models, you can convert from Double to Single and Single to Double because all the components are the same. While the High Arch is a completely different piece of equipment compared to the Single and Double. That being said you cannot convert the Single and Double to the High Arch and vice versa.

Single Wheel Hoe

The first model that we made available was the Single Wheel Hoe, which was based on the old Planet Jr. Wheel Hoes that have been around for over 100 years. If you're a beginner gardener and have a small garden that's around 30x40 or 30x50 in size, the Single is the perfect tool for you. It also comes with a set of three cultivator teeth that can be moved around the toolbar and up to five teeth can be used at once. With cool weather crops like lettuce, the Single Wheel Hoe allows for a narrower footprint when planting in the garden.

Double Wheel Hoe

There are a couple of advantages when it comes to choosing the Double Wheel Hoe over the Single Wheel Hoe. The first advantage is you are able to straddle smaller plants between the two wheels. This works great for planting potatoes because you are able to straddle the seed potatoes and cover them up using the plow set in the hilling position. Another big advantage of the Double is every attachment that we carry at Hoss Tools works on this Wheel Hoe.

High Arch Wheel Hoe

Similar in concept to the Double, the High Arch Wheel Hoe allows you to straddle plants as well, but much taller plants like corn and potatoes. It also contains adjustable wheel spacing meaning the wheels can move in or out depending on your desired spacing in the garden. So basically you have three different settings on the wheel spacing which includes the innermost being 4 inches apart, the middle being 6 inches apart, and the farthest being 8 inches apart. Another difference is the High Arch has two toolbars instead of just one, which provides many more possibilities for planting within the garden.

Show and Tell Segment

On the show and tell segment, Greg and Travis introduce the brand new studio for the Row by Row Garden Show. The guy's show off the new bottom trays that fit our 162 cell seed starting trays for growing better transplants indoors. Travis has some Lacinato Kale that he harvested from the vegetable garden. They also discuss different varieties of figs and flavor profiles of each type.

Viewer Questions Segment

On the question and answer segment this week, the guys answer questions about extending carrot life after harvest, tips for growing giant pumpkins, and direct sowing in the winter after harvest. Travis mentions when harvesting carrots, he normally either pulls them with the tops on them or pulls them and twist off the tops. Then, he rinses them off, lets them naturally dry off, and places them in a grocery bag to put in the refrigerator. Greg has some experience trying to grow giant pumpkins in the past. Greg created a little teepee to keep the sun off of them but the pumpkins ended up not doing well and exploding on him. However, Greg has some advice that he learned from his failure at growing giant pumpkins which includes applying drip irrigation, spoon feed them fertilizer, shade them out, and watch your downy and powdery mildew. Travis mentions that when direct sowing in the winter the best vegetables to grow include turnips, radishes, mustard, and spinach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOl7jZj5QEo