Luke I received my book you signed. I cried, no one ever has called me their hero. I told you that I suffered 4 strokes just over a year ago. Recovery has been hard, but as I said I didn't grow anything this past year, but what I will say I'm growing in containers and I'm excited about it. I ordered and received my seeds and now collecting containers. I can't wait! By God's grace I survived and I went home. Now I hope to grow big this coming season. Thanks! 😊
Luke, I’ve always felt you were transparent and good hearted. I shop here before I shop anywhere else and have bought seeds from you for a few years now. So happy to watch you (and your family) grow your dreams and encourage others.
In 2021 I grew tomatillos from a seed packet I bought in 2012 (9 years). Then this last summer a bunch of tomatillos came back as volunteers from 2021’s fallen fruit! Total win.
@@tinkertailorgardenermagpie Seeds kept in their packets and put with uncooked rice and stored in the fridge can last 15+ years easily. Always worth storing if they're heirloom genetics.
I found you a few years ago. I was hurt, out of work, depressed. I started a garden and struggled but I started listening to your tips and it's improved the last 2 years. 2023 will be even better. I container garden in my apartment patio. Thank you so much
I tell my husband I MUST have seeds ❤️ all seeds. I I must add we live in a one bedroom apartment. The owner of the apartment complex gave my husband and me the side yard for our plants. We r lucky
Luke, I ordered seeds from you last year and already this year, and I really appreciate the way you handle your business. $2.00 a pack and no shipping with orders over $12. Awesome! This year, I ordered some varieties I want to try but wouldn't have paid $4 a pack for them somewhere else. I can't wait to see what a Black Krim tomato tastes like, or a Kellogg's Breakfast or an Armenian cucumber. Thank you so much for your excellent business model! Great tips in your video, but zones do matter with onions! Short day, intermediate day, long day. I'm in zone 8a (short day) but right on the edge of the intermediate zone, so I can grow either. Much success to you! You've worked hard for it!
I appreciate the fact that you caution about over buying seeds. I always want to buy three times as much as what I can actually use. I went ahead and bought my MI 2023 seeds so I can get started on some of the leafy things now. (which I usually forget to buy until things are mostly sold out. lol)
My daughter and I both put in seed orders on your 2023 season opening day. We both wanted self-blanching cauliflower, but neither of us needed 300 seeds (even though I use seeds for several years) so I bought that, and we'll split it. She bought something else with a high seed count that we'll split, but I don't remember what it is right now.
My mom and I buy one of us pays for the order and the other pays them Bain cash for half. When they come in we split them. If she wants one I don’t want any of the. I add a pack of something only I want to even it out
Our local garden club runs a seed library. Basically people donate their unused excess seeds so other people can have free seeds. Having been a recipient of free seeds from a generous garden many years ago. I am thrilled to be able to share the wealth.
You’re totally spot on talking about only buying seeds of things we KNOW we’re going to eat if we grow them. Making it more of a habit as the years go on. Good reminder for all of us.
Really good advice, Luke. I moved to a new state and could not find a community garden with a fence (welcome deer, elk, and neighbors). I started late in the season and in a 4 foot wide row, that I rented, I grew as much as I could vertically to allow sun to hit my other plants. I obtained sticks, twine, cages and anything I could find to grow melons and squash vertically. I even saved onion bags and knee high nylon hose to support the weight of the fruit when growing vertically. Some of the immigrants to the USA taught me a lot about using innovative ways to conserve water and use tree branches. What a wonderful learning curve on innovation and my garden is thriving. Every year I learn something new. This year I started succession planting.
Love the tips! Especially number five. If you don’t like it, don’t grow it. Thank you for being honest! Love the seeds I get from you. High quality, great packaging and the website is easy to navigate. Keep up the great work. It is appreciated.
Hi! Luke and Sindy and the team, thank you again for my seeds that I ordered months ago. I had been ordering seeds from Mi gardener fow a while, and I have to tell you that I am fully satisfied with all the seeds I purchased from you. All the seeds I have sown few years ago and lately this year are Awesome/ healthy seedlings and produced plenty either for salad or fruits vegetables. And I will order again in the future. Happy gardening every one January is coming very soon.
Before I found you on TH-cam years ago, I had no idea there were so many varieties of seeds! I just bought the same old, same old seeds at Wally World. I didn't know about starting seeds ahead of time indoors, in cold climates (I'm in MN). Your taught me almost everything I know about gardening. As far as over-buying seeds shhhhhhh don't ruin my fun ;)
Really good advice Luke. Thank you for what you have done for gardening! It must be incredibly satisfying knowing you are educating so many people on how to live healthier! I know I have learned a lot. Well done 🤠
I recently ordered $60 of seeds from you and I want to sincerely thank you for keeping the prices as reasonable as you do. I was able to get a diverse variety that I am really looking forward to growing this summer. THANK YOU!
I decided to take a break from sorting out all of my Migardener seed collection when I found this video! I am seeing what percentage of Migardener seeds are of my total seed collection. Certainly at least a third, possibly more! Thanks for all of the wonderful variety and special sales. Lol! Also enjoying the dad jokes on Facebook!
I mainly do container gardening. Mostly 5 gallon bucket and 27 gallon tote sip's. Watermelons do well in sip containers. You just have to have the right variety, Sugar Baby, which also do well on trellises.
Great advice & knowledge! Thanks for sharing! Growing zones are tricky when you have some sheltered areas & some where the wind exposure is cooler, too. I’m in Alberta, Canada, fairly close to the Rocky Mountains & our season is short. But my daughter has huge greenhouses now, so the heat loving crops thrive in them. Blessings to your family 🤗💗🇨🇦
Wonderful recommendations! "Growing zone" might actually apply, e.g., gardeners in Florida can't grow cool-weather loving plants for most of the year, and can't grow some plants at all. The same holds true for plants in far northern states: can't grow citrus out of doors in Maine, for instance. Plants have much narrower temperature tolerances than humans when it comes to reproduction, meaning making blossoms and setting fruit/going to seed: peppers and tomatoes are heat lovers, but if the weather is too hot for them they just hang on, without making any fruit. And if the gardener is unlucky, then in that gardening year the too-hot weather might last late enough in the year that no peppers or tomatoes get harvested by that gardener. The "Zone" most people are talking about when they ask if they can grow tomatoes in, say, 6a or 8b, is their Cold Hardiness Zone which as you rightly observe is intended to tell the gardener or homeowner-landscaper whether that flowering crabapple tree will survive the average coldest temperature of the winter in that specific location.
I make room in my garden for 2 new varieties. Last year I got one eggplant from a neighbor I didn't think I liked them but it was free. It was my third most productive and my family loved it.
Thanks for your kindness ! On the topic of garden space, I have a tip for those who have more, like, lawn space, but which they don't exactly want or feel able to turn into a dedicated garden space just yet : U can grow squashes/pumpkins there, anyway, probably ! As long as you're ok with making a hole in the ground for the plant. Add some compost to it, mulch around the plant with cardboard and mulch, like grass clippings, hay, whatever. Leave the lawn in between as-is and carefully move aside vines to mow as long as you can, or put down black plastic or some sort of mulch, either quite deep or with paper or cardboard under it. Helps to mow grass twice in 2 days, to weaken, along with shorten, it 1st. Obviously, doing this means you're killing your lawn-grass, but if the reason u were otherwise limiting your garden space to what u had, thinking you didn't have enough resources to enlarge it or begin another one. To begin this way, needing only a little compost and hopefully free or low cost mulches, and possibly not fencing,(depending on your deer), this could help ! May have to put chicken wire/wire rabbit fencing protection ( maybe even a plastic jug with top cut off & some air holes punched into sides after weather gets hot) around each squash plant until they're far enough along the rabbits leave them alone. Anyways, this could help u keep your main garden space all available for other things. This idea also can be similarly used in planting on the edge of your garden, letting the vining plants sprawl onto lawn, and on the garden side, into your potatoes or anything else they won't bother much or be in the way ( I dig my potatoes at end of season).
My chickens are good at leaving behind seeds from veggies left overs and these seeds almost always turn into plants. I’ve grown an eye for keeping on the lookout for squash, cucumber, zucchini, etc. seedlings while mowing because they pop up all the time. I mow around them, mulch with compost and let the chickens take care of the squash bugs
When my son was 10 he left the seeds & 'guts' spilling out of his Jack o' Lantern's garish open mouth, which then was placed on the front porch. The following May we were Absolutely GOBSMACKED to discover 2 rouge seeds had managed to move around, overwinter & grow in our front yard flower bed! They were decent sized Big Max, Especially after surviving a Colorado Winter & Cold Spring! We've been intentionally planting a few out there ever since. 😁 The neighborhood has grown to expect it and we've had Many great conversations with folks stopping to ask about the huge trailing vines in the yard, or kids monitoring the P'kins growth thru the Fall as they walk by, all because of the happy 'accident.' Then we carve the pumpkins while they're still on the vine which look Amazingly Cool when lit up. 😊
I start my peppers and indy tomatoes mid October. Works great for me here in Charlotte, NC. It gives me a 5 MONTH head start. Look, if you overwinter your pepper plants, start the seeds then too! Duh! Those giant crimson seeds I got from you are doing amazing! 100% germination. 8" tall already! Can't wait to share them with an herb society I speak to a few times a year.
Excellent advice. If I haven’t grown something before I will only get one packet of that kind of seeds. If I like them, I can save seeds or get more seeds for next year.
I am newer to your channel and gardening…there are many reasons I purchased seeds from you in November…and I made mistake 1&2 in this video but I’m happy to have supported your business because of the integrity you continue to show (one of the reasons I wanted to buy from you). Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us
With GREAT respect to MRS. MIGardener...(and my own gorgeous and wonderful husband)😜 Luke, I am positively swooning over your wealth of knowledge and your sharing it all these years with us in your videos. This one couldn't come at a better time. I am working on what seeds to purchase for my spring garden here in North Florida. For anyone reading this, I first purchased some of family MIGardener seeds for my fall garden this year. Not a dang one disappointed. Every seed I planted germinated (and I bought several)! Also, I love their packaging. Several reasons include: size, much more compact than ones I've purchased from other companies so saves space in my seed organizer and in my opinion helps with less environmental waste. The beautiful photographs, the textured matte (non-glossy) finish, and the clear growing info. on the back. I am one of those people who tends to jump ALL IN on my hobbies (my husband can attest to this). I have an extremely hard time deciding on what flower/veggie seeds to purchase (and yes, sometimes because of the beautiful pictures😂). Mainly though because there are sooo many plants and varieties of those plants that i've never even heard of but want to try once I've seen them. This comes from my Dad because as a kid we planted (just the basics) some tomatoes, okra, peas, marigolds, beans and radishes in our small backyard garden. When you have tasted FRESH veg that you have grown yourself, particularly tomatoes, there is no better on the planet. Ya'll, i used to take a salt shaker out with me, dust off a tomato on my shirt and eat that thing like an apple with an occasional shake of the salt, or eat peas and beans straight off the vine as well. Sadly, my Dad passed many years ago but a couple years ago I had a life change where I HAD to start taking time for myself and I remembered how much I loved gardening with my Dad and wanted to do it even more now. For nostalgia, for peace, and for helping to feed my own family. So you can see how I don't think of budgeting FIRST. Thanks Luke for reminding me I don't have all the money in the world, 🤣 God Bless you and the entire hard working MIGardener crew/family and the folks here online. May we all have a wonderful and prosperous garden in the new year! GROW BIG!
Thanks for the first advice. I spent around $500 to construct a 10ft x 10ft crop cage to grow around 25 cabbages that you can buy at the supermarket for less than $2 each.
But just think now you have this amazing space to grow something you can't get in a grocery store. Some of my favorites are: Cucumelons (cucumber taste that looks like a watermelon, Kids LOVE them), Cherokee Purple tomatoes (oh my goodness at that smokey flavor), Barry's Crazy cherries (the most prolific yellow cherry tomato, EVER!), lemon balm and bee balm, holy basil and purple opal basil, orange thyme, giant red mustard (spicy when small, perfect for a salad or let them get a little bigger and saute them in olive oil with garlic and add lemon right at the end, delicious!), Zinnias (pollinator need food too, they also look amazing on your table), nasturtium (oh my goodness...the hummingbirds love these but you know what is better than that? The entire plant is edible!! The leaves are spicy like wasabi, the blooms are so beautiful in a salad, there's a little spice but a little nectar too! Seeds can be pickled as a substitute for capers), ox heart tomatoes (delicious, meaty tomato), asparagus beans (a cattle panel trellis in the shape of an arch with these bean's hanging down inside the arch... beautiful and edible, try the red one's and a couple of green variety too for a really neat effect), teddy bear sunflower's (not like any kind of sunflower I've ever seen, also dwarf size so they are not taking up your entire garden), home grown cucumbers are SO tasty, home grown carrots will make you never want another grocery store orange carrot again... purple, yellow, carrot's that are red on the outside then orange on the inside then yellow inside the orange...those will win everyone over with their beauty and taste... I'm sorry, I could just keep telling you my favorites. I live in a rental so I can only grow in kiddie pools or pots until this year. This year I get to have a 12x13 piece of land and honey I'm going all MI Gardner on it...plants close, no weeds, Grow Big or Go Home!! I have seeds from different sources but for the price you really can't beat MI Gardner. Good luck! Happy growing! Temperature was 5°F on Christmas Eve it's 48°F today, the 27th, and will be 75°F this Saturday New Year's Eve!! Got to love living in the south!! Can't wait for spring!!
Some really great advice. Thank you. We will be going into our 4th year of gardening since moving here. One thing we do have is the luxury of space, but are still amending and building up the soil, so we're expanding every year. We're at a stage right now where we're buying and trying a lot of varieties to see what will grow best here, and which we like the most. We also like to try new things we don't find in grocery store, just to see what they taste like. If we find we don't like them, we just won't grow them again. When we were still in the city and growing on our balcony, we didn't have that luxury!
I’ve been gardening for 20+ yrs and I’ve never learned the distinction of growing zones applying only to perennials! Brilliant light bulb moment! Btw I’m having my behind handed to me here in Tx. I grew up growing in Ca and it’s EASY but here west of Fort Worth….nope starting all over like a newbie. Thanks for the great info!
Luke I've been watching your vids for years now. You're as enthusiastic as ever & have grown your passion into a wonderful business. Looking forward to learning & growing more thru you. 😊
Thank you for making seeds affordable! I checked many other websites and they were all double the price of yours. They came quickly and everything was correct. Great job over there!
I love your seeds. The germination rate on them are Fantastic. Thank you for offering seeds that are not only affordable but that give us shipping that we can afford..free:))
Hi Luke! I noticed several gardeners on TH-cam sharing seeds they purchased from your seed store. I will be checking out your website. And thanks for sharing the do's and don't on purchasing seeds. Very helpful info.
Thanks Luke, been there, done that, literally turning over a new leaf! Great information and love your very genuine heart for gardening and fellow gardeners! 💚😉
Hi Luke, I'm not sure when exactly I started to follow your channel . But I has been a very good experience. After my third year of gardening in 2022, I opened a second bed . It'll be my first year with garlic and can't wait to see the result. Your comment about cost of plants vs seed Is a very good one . Although I still lack a bit bit of confidence in starting from seed I will watch a few videos that you posted on the subject . If you can recommend one that would be awesome . BTW I prefer bush beans as well 🙂. Thank you
I've never spent so much time looking at produce but your site and produce is so beautifully laid out it was hard not to,I hate not having space as these would just be lovely to grow.Good job 👍
I am 57 yrs old and have dabbled in gardening since I was a girl. I never fully understood that info until TODAY. Glad I tuned in. I'm in MN... growing season: too darn SHORT!!
I have a small backyard so my neighbors don't know it yet but I'm expanding to their yards. Lol!! They'll be excited and on board cause they get to keep the food.
You should ask first, even if it's from a kind heart. A persons property isn't something to mess with. If you tend it you may have claim to it later on, and they might see it that way.
How are you expanding like that? You must be really good friends with your neighbors. I want my one neighbor's backyard so badly. I have a couple trees in my yard and the other neighbor's yard limiting my grow space. My neighbor with the awesome back yard has a quarter acre that gets sun from dawn to dusk. It's not fair!!!!
@@did_I_hurt_you_feefees Yes we are. They're all related and we look out for each other. This year I kept them supplied with food and I told them to get ready cause it's on!!
Great video, 👍 I appreciate the run down on zones vs season windows, I was sweating the timing on some of the things I want to grow. Very helpful, and I will check out your seed selection !! ✌️ ☮️ 🕊
Your honesty is refreshing. Thank you for the tips and your more then fair pricing of your seeds. Your business is thriving because of you, your wife and all of your employees. Thank you everyone.🌱🍆🍅🥬🌶🫑🧅🥕🌽🧄🥒🌻🌼🌷🌹🌱
NAILED IT!!! Thanks Luke!!! I'm sad to say Ive made all of those mistakes!!!! 😂 Especially those about confined spaces! But one thing you left out in the spaces where people can grow is completely indoors which is where I grow and I grow in Canada 365 days a year. Sure I can’t grow everything at least I’ve not been successful growing watermelons yet but I’ve grown several sweet peppers on one plant and I’ve grown several plants but not all at once. I’m still limited by my space but with growing hydroponics with nutrients and grow lights it is very possible. I do have a lot of natural sunlight coming through the windows(I don’t know how much it effects my plants or if the grow lights have a bigger impact?) but I know I can grow cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli, spaghetti squash, zucchini, carrots, beets, radishes and more lettuce varieties then I even knew existed, tat-soi, and all kinds of herbs. The main thing that I’d really like to grow that I’ve had limited success with is strawberries which I find to be pretty funny since a lot of people say it’s one of the easiest plants to grow hydroponically. Anyway just wanted to promote hydroponics to regular gardeners that may be older and can no longer get in the garden anymore but they could have a successful small indoor growing space. I’d love to help anyone that needs any assistance in starting. I did a lot of research and I’ve spent the past five years growing indoors exclusively and I absolutely love it and think everyone should know how to do it. Especially with the price of grocery store items. 🥰❤️🙏🏻🇨🇦
I just placed my first order with you while watching!! Super excited. Been watching you for a few years but took a break from gardening last year and I’m ready!! Even container gardening from seed is so much work. Can’t wait to try the Ananas Noire Tomato.
These are the best tips. I bought a good variety of your seeds, and what I didn't need to use, I have taken them to the library where I work for people to "borrow " and people have loved being able to take what they need. We also have copies of your book next to them so they can learn more. You have the best seed pricing out there, and I appreciate that you are mainly doing this to help people, and not really in it for the money, but I want as many people as possible to know about you and learn from your abundance of knowledge!
Seeds are my ❤. I watch for your 50% sale every autumn and take a chance on some seeds I wouldn't normally buy. I tried sunflowers for the first time this past spring. They were gorgeous! 🌻 The bees loved them! Doing 3 varieties this coming spring.
Thanks sir, so glad I saw this video. I was gifted a new set of grow bags for Christmas, which means I have double the garden space I thought I’d have next year, which means…seed shopping! So glad I watched this before placing my order because you just saved me more than 8 bucks ;) and I always love supporting the channels I watch on TH-cam and there isn’t always a tangible way of doing that. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2023!
Hi! We have been watching your channel for years. It's one of the best and particularly for us in Michigan. Last fall we built a greenhouse to supplement our gardens and allows us to start seeds this year instead of buying plants. So looking for seed advice I came to your channel and realized for the first time, you are only an hour away from us. We are out in the hills of Hadley/Metamora and will be in to see you soon for our seeds this year! I know I can trust your advice on what seeds will work best for our area. Thanks!
Last year I got a late start on starting my seeds, so today I've started my germination testing. That will give me enough time to order more seeds if needed, especially the tomatoes, which I seem to be a bit light on at the moment. So I'll probably be visiting your store in a couple weeks.
I just bought seeds from you today online and I’m glad to know I have this video for future purchases but I love your videos there so informative and very welcoming.
Thank you so much for the information!!! I found out about your company through Becky from Acre Homestead and I am so glad I did. I love that you are based in MI, like myself so a lot of your advice applies to my own environment. I am a very new gardener and this year I took the plunge to start in containers to try and make it easier on myself to learn, and boy have I had an excellent learning curve this year 😀. I look forward in learning and growing more in the coming growing years to come!!
Great tips for newbies! I received an iDOO hydroponics system for Christmas and thought I would love to grow tomatoes and a berry (maybe strawberries or blueberries). My criteria was not only space (wide), but space as in height. I never thought I could have a small garden in my tiny apartment! I found you from doing a search on hydroponics and just subscribed.
Luke totally enjoyed your book, I found it to be very informative and unlike any other gardening book I’ve read! I’m enjoying this video about seed mistakes one can make when buying seeds especially at this time of year when one is inundated with catalogs. Although I’m a seasoned gardener I’ve found your TH-cam channel informative and surprisingly I’ve learned quite a bit. Thanks for all you do. Good luck with the growth of MIgardener and a very happy new year to you and yours.
Luke I received my book you signed. I cried, no one ever has called me their hero. I told you that I suffered 4 strokes just over a year ago. Recovery has been hard, but as I said I didn't grow anything this past year, but what I will say I'm growing in containers and I'm excited about it. I ordered and received my seeds and now collecting containers. I can't wait! By God's grace I survived and I went home. Now I hope to grow big this coming season. Thanks! 😊
Praying for an abundant harvest and joy for your growing season!
I am like very excited about the coming spring. I also had a Stoke earlier this month. Mine was minor. I now have vertigo.
You will be suprised how much you can grow in your containers
🙏
@@Alexis_9339 I've done the same! May God bless your garden, Karen.
I recognize that I’m a seed collector. It’s an obsession. At least it’s not teacups.
I love growing my food every year.
Yes less dust 😂
I feel a little called out as i have a teapot collection lol. Seeds are probably easier to store.
Every gardener heard you say, "...you can't fit everything..." and every gardener thought to themselves, "Challenge, Accepted!"
Right??? LOL
Pretty much. Hahaha
Or maybe they thought what I did: SO WHAT?!? LOL
I'll buy more grow bags & get more grass plowed up. No problem. 😂
@@goatkidmom See? easy peasy!
I have no self control when it comes to buying or acquiring seeds. It's a weakness I don't think I want to overcome 😪 😅
I have the same sickness. I just can't seem to help myself
So, you're saying our (mine too) seed stash is Iike Luke's?! 😂😅
Wait!
Is that a bad thing?😄
@@trishthehomesteader9873 Nope I think it's a great illness to have. I plan to grow everything I possibly can.
Same here it's like going to Macy's I can't stop. 😂
@@trishthehomesteader9873 😂😂😂 not a bad thing!
Luke, I’ve always felt you were transparent and good hearted. I shop here before I shop anywhere else and have bought seeds from you for a few years now. So happy to watch you (and your family) grow your dreams and encourage others.
In 2021 I grew tomatillos from a seed packet I bought in 2012 (9 years). Then this last summer a bunch of tomatillos came back as volunteers from 2021’s fallen fruit! Total win.
In 2020/21 grow seasons I grew carrots from seeds packaged in 2003.
Ugh. You guys make me realize I wasted a fistful of seed packets from years ago, thinking they must be dead! Shoulda just tried em out 😣
@@tinkertailorgardenermagpie Seeds kept in their packets and put with uncooked rice and stored in the fridge can last 15+ years easily. Always worth storing if they're heirloom genetics.
@@tinkertailorgardenermagpie the germination rate drops, but most seed packets will still produce some plants for quite a while if stored properly.
Yep. I threw a half a packet of cauliflower seeds into a seed tray last spring. They ALL germinated. The seed was from 2009. (I squeeze goats too 😊)
I found you a few years ago. I was hurt, out of work, depressed. I started a garden and struggled but I started listening to your tips and it's improved the last 2 years. 2023 will be even better. I container garden in my apartment patio. Thank you so much
He seems genuinely encouraging and excited about gardening.
Only buying what you eat is a lesson I learned many, many years ago!!
I tell my husband I MUST have seeds ❤️ all seeds. I I must add we live in a one bedroom apartment. The owner of the apartment complex gave my husband and me the side yard for our plants. We r lucky
It might be a good idea to have the soil tested for possible contaminants or grow in containers if in an urban area.
I use containers. We are thinking of raised bed. Thanks for the idea about soil testing.
Hi. My name is Ke Le and I'm a seed-a-holic! I don't have too many seeds, I just don't have enough land!
Luke, I ordered seeds from you last year and already this year, and I really appreciate the way you handle your business. $2.00 a pack and no shipping with orders over $12. Awesome! This year, I ordered some varieties I want to try but wouldn't have paid $4 a pack for them somewhere else. I can't wait to see what a Black Krim tomato tastes like, or a Kellogg's Breakfast or an Armenian cucumber. Thank you so much for your excellent business model!
Great tips in your video, but zones do matter with onions! Short day, intermediate day, long day. I'm in zone 8a (short day) but right on the edge of the intermediate zone, so I can grow either.
Much success to you! You've worked hard for it!
I appreciate the fact that you caution about over buying seeds. I always want to buy three times as much as what I can actually use. I went ahead and bought my MI 2023 seeds so I can get started on some of the leafy things now. (which I usually forget to buy until things are mostly sold out. lol)
My daughter and I both put in seed orders on your 2023 season opening day. We both wanted self-blanching cauliflower, but neither of us needed 300 seeds (even though I use seeds for several years) so I bought that, and we'll split it. She bought something else with a high seed count that we'll split, but I don't remember what it is right now.
My mom and I buy one of us pays for the order and the other pays them Bain cash for half. When they come in we split them. If she wants one I don’t want any of the. I add a pack of something only I want to even it out
Our local garden club runs a seed library. Basically people donate their unused excess seeds so other people can have free seeds. Having been a recipient of free seeds from a generous garden many years ago. I am thrilled to be able to share the wealth.
Luke it’s so nice of you to be honest with us instead of just trying to sell your seeds. Great ideas on this video!
You’re totally spot on talking about only buying seeds of things we KNOW we’re going to eat if we grow them. Making it more of a habit as the years go on. Good reminder for all of us.
Really good advice, Luke. I moved to a new state and could not find a community garden with a fence (welcome deer, elk, and neighbors). I started late in the season and in a 4 foot wide row, that I rented, I grew as much as I could vertically to allow sun to hit my other plants. I obtained sticks, twine, cages and anything I could find to grow melons and squash vertically. I even saved onion bags and knee high nylon hose to support the weight of the fruit when growing vertically. Some of the immigrants to the USA taught me a lot about using innovative ways to conserve water and use tree branches. What a wonderful learning curve on innovation and my garden is thriving. Every year I learn something new. This year I started succession planting.
Love the tips! Especially number five. If you don’t like it, don’t grow it. Thank you for being honest! Love the seeds I get from you. High quality, great packaging and the website is easy to navigate. Keep up the great work. It is appreciated.
I just ordered seeds from you, just enough to fill in the gaps in my seed box. :) Gonna see what the wild Oklahoma weather kills this year!
I just placed my first seed order with you guys! I grew up gardening with my pappaw and am so excited to have one of my own now
Thank you Luke!🙂
Now that it's out of the teens (°), I'm getting the itch for more seeds! HappyDance!
Blessings! 💚
Excellent advice. Everyone should watch this before ordering seeds.
Your seeds are starting to show up in the FB Gardening groups in the Philippines. People are so excited to see varieties they have never seen!
Oh sharing this with the hubs. My addictive shopping is power tools his is seeds.
Hi! Luke and Sindy and the team, thank you again for my seeds that I ordered months ago. I had been ordering seeds from Mi gardener fow a while, and I have to tell you that I am fully satisfied with all the seeds I purchased from you. All the seeds I have sown few years ago and lately this year are Awesome/ healthy seedlings and produced plenty either for salad or fruits vegetables. And I will order again in the future. Happy gardening every one January is coming very soon.
Thank you for your seed store. The prices are great and shipping reasonable!! Very refreshing!! Just placed an order!!❤️
Before I found you on TH-cam years ago, I had no idea there were so many varieties of seeds! I just bought the same old, same old seeds at Wally World. I didn't know about starting seeds ahead of time indoors, in cold climates (I'm in MN).
Your taught me almost everything I know about gardening. As far as over-buying seeds shhhhhhh don't ruin my fun ;)
I just placed my first order. I'm excited to get started. I'll plant my peppers and tomatoes inside in starter pots on February 2nd here in Arizona.
Really good advice Luke. Thank you for what you have done for gardening! It must be incredibly satisfying knowing you are educating so many people on how to live healthier! I know I have learned a lot. Well done 🤠
I recently ordered $60 of seeds from you and I want to sincerely thank you for keeping the prices as reasonable as you do. I was able to get a diverse variety that I am really looking forward to growing this summer. THANK YOU!
I had 7 kids swimming pools and it grew the best carrot s and beets. I canned carrots and beets. i am 80 so enjoy
I decided to take a break from sorting out all of my Migardener seed collection when I found this video! I am seeing what percentage of Migardener seeds are of my total seed collection. Certainly at least a third, possibly more! Thanks for all of the wonderful variety and special sales.
Lol! Also enjoying the dad jokes on Facebook!
I mainly do container gardening. Mostly 5 gallon bucket and 27 gallon tote sip's. Watermelons do well in sip containers. You just have to have the right variety, Sugar Baby, which also do well on trellises.
I used my extra seeds as a Christmas present for my niece. I also share seeds with my sister in law.
Another useful video. How about one on which of your seeds do well in containers and which seeds can be stored the longest?
Storage info would be interesting!
Love the new store...watching your channel for a long time.
Thank you for keeping these seeds affordable and sharing on how to grow food. My garden has really pulled us through these food insecurity days.
My favorite store for seeds and one of my top 3 channels
Thank you for your help and video I’ll check for the old tomatoe that you have
Great info for newbies 👍
Great advice & knowledge! Thanks for sharing! Growing zones are tricky when you have some sheltered areas & some where the wind exposure is cooler, too. I’m in Alberta, Canada, fairly close to the Rocky Mountains & our season is short. But my daughter has huge greenhouses now, so the heat loving crops thrive in them. Blessings to your family 🤗💗🇨🇦
Wonderful recommendations!
"Growing zone" might actually apply, e.g., gardeners in Florida can't grow cool-weather loving plants for most of the year, and can't grow some plants at all. The same holds true for plants in far northern states: can't grow citrus out of doors in Maine, for instance.
Plants have much narrower temperature tolerances than humans when it comes to reproduction, meaning making blossoms and setting fruit/going to seed: peppers and tomatoes are heat lovers, but if the weather is too hot for them they just hang on, without making any fruit. And if the gardener is unlucky, then in that gardening year the too-hot weather might last late enough in the year that no peppers or tomatoes get harvested by that gardener.
The "Zone" most people are talking about when they ask if they can grow tomatoes in, say, 6a or 8b, is their Cold Hardiness Zone which as you rightly observe is intended to tell the gardener or homeowner-landscaper whether that flowering crabapple tree will survive the average coldest temperature of the winter in that specific location.
I make room in my garden for 2 new varieties. Last year I got one eggplant from a neighbor I didn't think I liked them but it was free. It was my third most productive and my family loved it.
Thanks for your kindness ! On the topic of garden space, I have a tip for those who have more, like, lawn space, but which they don't exactly want or feel able to turn into a dedicated garden space just yet : U can grow squashes/pumpkins there, anyway, probably ! As long as you're ok with making a hole in the ground for the plant. Add some compost to it, mulch around the plant with cardboard and mulch, like grass clippings, hay, whatever. Leave the lawn in between as-is and carefully move aside vines to mow as long as you can, or put down black plastic or some sort of mulch, either quite deep or with paper or cardboard under it. Helps to mow grass twice in 2 days, to weaken, along with shorten, it 1st. Obviously, doing this means you're killing your lawn-grass, but if the reason u were otherwise limiting your garden space to what u had, thinking you didn't have enough resources to enlarge it or begin another one. To begin this way, needing only a little compost and hopefully free or low cost mulches, and possibly not fencing,(depending on your deer), this could help ! May have to put chicken wire/wire rabbit fencing protection ( maybe even a plastic jug with top cut off & some air holes punched into sides after weather gets hot) around each squash plant until they're far enough along the rabbits leave them alone. Anyways, this could help u keep your main garden space all available for other things. This idea also can be similarly used in planting on the edge of your garden, letting the vining plants sprawl onto lawn, and on the garden side, into your potatoes or anything else they won't bother much or be in the way ( I dig my potatoes at end of season).
My chickens are good at leaving behind seeds from veggies left overs and these seeds almost always turn into plants. I’ve grown an eye for keeping on the lookout for squash, cucumber, zucchini, etc. seedlings while mowing because they pop up all the time. I mow around them, mulch with compost and let the chickens take care of the squash bugs
Love this! Good idea, that is me... slowly expanding and not sure which direction etc. Thanks for the tip
Very smart!!
When my son was 10 he left the seeds & 'guts' spilling out of his Jack o' Lantern's garish open mouth, which then was placed on the front porch. The following May we were Absolutely GOBSMACKED to discover 2 rouge seeds had managed to move around, overwinter & grow in our front yard flower bed! They were decent sized Big Max, Especially after surviving a Colorado Winter & Cold Spring! We've been intentionally planting a few out there ever since. 😁
The neighborhood has grown to expect it and we've had Many great conversations with folks stopping to ask about the huge trailing vines in the yard, or kids monitoring the P'kins growth thru the Fall as they walk by, all because of the happy 'accident.' Then we carve the pumpkins while they're still on the vine which look Amazingly Cool when lit up. 😊
such good information
I start my peppers and indy tomatoes mid October. Works great for me here in Charlotte, NC. It gives me a 5 MONTH head start. Look, if you overwinter your pepper plants, start the seeds then too! Duh!
Those giant crimson seeds I got from you are doing amazing! 100% germination. 8" tall already! Can't wait to share them with an herb society I speak to a few times a year.
Is this the introductory video to the "Seed Buyers Anonymous" group? 😉 Just joking. Great tips!
Excellent advice. If I haven’t grown something before I will only get one packet of that kind of seeds. If I like them, I can save seeds or get more seeds for next year.
I am newer to your channel and gardening…there are many reasons I purchased seeds from you in November…and I made mistake 1&2 in this video but I’m happy to have supported your business because of the integrity you continue to show (one of the reasons I wanted to buy from you). Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us
With GREAT respect to MRS. MIGardener...(and my own gorgeous and wonderful husband)😜 Luke, I am positively swooning over your wealth of knowledge and your sharing it all these years with us in your videos. This one couldn't come at a better time. I am working on what seeds to purchase for my spring garden here in North Florida. For anyone reading this, I first purchased some of family MIGardener seeds for my fall garden this year. Not a dang one disappointed. Every seed I planted germinated (and I bought several)! Also, I love their packaging. Several reasons include: size, much more compact than ones I've purchased from other companies so saves space in my seed organizer and in my opinion helps with less environmental waste. The beautiful photographs, the textured matte (non-glossy) finish, and the clear growing info. on the back. I am one of those people who tends to jump ALL IN on my hobbies (my husband can attest to this). I have an extremely hard time deciding on what flower/veggie seeds to purchase (and yes, sometimes because of the beautiful pictures😂). Mainly though because there are sooo many plants and varieties of those plants that i've never even heard of but want to try once I've seen them. This comes from my Dad because as a kid we planted (just the basics) some tomatoes, okra, peas, marigolds, beans and radishes in our small backyard garden. When you have tasted FRESH veg that you have grown yourself, particularly tomatoes, there is no better on the planet. Ya'll, i used to take a salt shaker out with me, dust off a tomato on my shirt and eat that thing like an apple with an occasional shake of the salt, or eat peas and beans straight off the vine as well. Sadly, my Dad passed many years ago but a couple years ago I had a life change where I HAD to start taking time for myself and I remembered how much I loved gardening with my Dad and wanted to do it even more now. For nostalgia, for peace, and for helping to feed my own family. So you can see how I don't think of budgeting FIRST. Thanks Luke for reminding me I don't have all the money in the world, 🤣 God Bless you and the entire hard working MIGardener crew/family and the folks here online. May we all have a wonderful and prosperous garden in the new year! GROW BIG!
Oh, Luke! You are reminding me of all of the seeds I still want to get! Asparagus, and, and, and! lol
Started a garden this year, have appreciated all the information in your videos, plan on ordering my seeds from you for the spring. 👍
I really appreciate your approach to gardening & your desire to do right by your viewers.
Thank you for remaining so down-to-earth all these years.
Excellent! Know which seeds last for a a few years and how to store them. I am growing tomatoes from seeds I bout 7 years ago.
Don't forget about the excellent storage conditions discovered with Abe Lincoln tomatoes, lol.
What you said about growing zones and growing seasons- glad you differentiated between the two. Very helpful information ☺️
Thanks for the first advice. I spent around $500 to construct a 10ft x 10ft crop cage to grow around 25 cabbages that you can buy at the supermarket for less than $2 each.
But just think now you have this amazing space to grow something you can't get in a grocery store. Some of my favorites are: Cucumelons (cucumber taste that looks like a watermelon, Kids LOVE them), Cherokee Purple tomatoes (oh my goodness at that smokey flavor), Barry's Crazy cherries (the most prolific yellow cherry tomato, EVER!), lemon balm and bee balm, holy basil and purple opal basil, orange thyme, giant red mustard (spicy when small, perfect for a salad or let them get a little bigger and saute them in olive oil with garlic and add lemon right at the end, delicious!), Zinnias (pollinator need food too, they also look amazing on your table), nasturtium (oh my goodness...the hummingbirds love these but you know what is better than that? The entire plant is edible!! The leaves are spicy like wasabi, the blooms are so beautiful in a salad, there's a little spice but a little nectar too! Seeds can be pickled as a substitute for capers), ox heart tomatoes (delicious, meaty tomato), asparagus beans (a cattle panel trellis in the shape of an arch with these bean's hanging down inside the arch... beautiful and edible, try the red one's and a couple of green variety too for a really neat effect), teddy bear sunflower's (not like any kind of sunflower I've ever seen, also dwarf size so they are not taking up your entire garden), home grown cucumbers are SO tasty, home grown carrots will make you never want another grocery store orange carrot again... purple, yellow, carrot's that are red on the outside then orange on the inside then yellow inside the orange...those will win everyone over with their beauty and taste... I'm sorry, I could just keep telling you my favorites. I live in a rental so I can only grow in kiddie pools or pots until this year. This year I get to have a 12x13 piece of land and honey I'm going all MI Gardner on it...plants close, no weeds, Grow Big or Go Home!! I have seeds from different sources but for the price you really can't beat MI Gardner. Good luck! Happy growing! Temperature was 5°F on Christmas Eve it's 48°F today, the 27th, and will be 75°F this Saturday New Year's Eve!! Got to love living in the south!! Can't wait for spring!!
@@donnacochran3335 I love your enthusiasm!
Some really great advice. Thank you.
We will be going into our 4th year of gardening since moving here. One thing we do have is the luxury of space, but are still amending and building up the soil, so we're expanding every year. We're at a stage right now where we're buying and trying a lot of varieties to see what will grow best here, and which we like the most. We also like to try new things we don't find in grocery store, just to see what they taste like. If we find we don't like them, we just won't grow them again. When we were still in the city and growing on our balcony, we didn't have that luxury!
I’ve been gardening for 20+ yrs and I’ve never learned the distinction of growing zones applying only to perennials! Brilliant light bulb moment! Btw I’m having my behind handed to me here in Tx. I grew up growing in Ca and it’s EASY but here west of Fort Worth….nope starting all over like a newbie. Thanks for the great info!
Luke I've been watching your vids for years now. You're as enthusiastic as ever & have grown your passion into a wonderful business. Looking forward to learning & growing more thru you. 😊
Thank you for making seeds affordable! I checked many other websites and they were all double the price of yours. They came quickly and everything was correct. Great job over there!
I love your seeds. The germination rate on them are Fantastic. Thank you for offering seeds that are not only affordable but that give us shipping that we can afford..free:))
Hi Luke! I noticed several gardeners on TH-cam sharing seeds they purchased from your seed store. I will be checking out your website. And thanks for sharing the do's and don't on purchasing seeds. Very helpful info.
Thanks Luke, been there, done that, literally turning over a new leaf! Great information and love your very genuine heart for gardening and fellow gardeners! 💚😉
Hi Luke, I'm not sure when exactly I started to follow your channel . But I has been a very good experience. After my third year of gardening in 2022, I opened a second bed . It'll be my first year with garlic and can't wait to see the result. Your comment about cost of plants vs seed Is a very good one . Although I still lack a bit bit of confidence in starting from seed I will watch a few videos that you posted on the subject . If you can recommend one that would be awesome . BTW I prefer bush beans as well 🙂. Thank you
Thank you, Luke, for all these great tips. You inspired me to garden 4 years ago! 😊 Blessings to you and your family.
I've never spent so much time looking at produce but your site and produce is so beautifully laid out it was hard not to,I hate not having space as these would just be lovely to grow.Good job 👍
thanks for the info on zones, never used them before and didn't understand them. I don't usually grow perrenials, so they won't apply to me.
I am 57 yrs old and have dabbled in gardening since I was a girl. I never fully understood that info until TODAY. Glad I tuned in. I'm in MN... growing season: too darn SHORT!!
Just ordered my 2023 seeds. Can’t wait.
I have a small backyard so my neighbors don't know it yet but I'm expanding to their yards. Lol!! They'll be excited and on board cause they get to keep the food.
You should ask first, even if it's from a kind heart. A persons property isn't something to mess with. If you tend it you may have claim to it later on, and they might see it that way.
How are you expanding like that? You must be really good friends with your neighbors. I want my one neighbor's backyard so badly. I have a couple trees in my yard and the other neighbor's yard limiting my grow space. My neighbor with the awesome back yard has a quarter acre that gets sun from dawn to dusk. It's not fair!!!!
We garden within our boundaries.
@@rg-mi5hh Not Mesha B...they're gardening within their neighbor's boundaries LOL
@@did_I_hurt_you_feefees Yes we are. They're all related and we look out for each other. This year I kept them supplied with food and I told them to get ready cause it's on!!
Great video, 👍 I appreciate the run down on zones vs season windows, I was sweating the timing on some of the things I want to grow. Very helpful, and I will check out your seed selection !! ✌️ ☮️ 🕊
This year in Kalamazoo, 2022, we had a super late first frost. I had tomatoes until November or later.
Nice video. I'll check out your store. Thanks.
Your honesty is refreshing. Thank you for the tips and your more then fair pricing of your seeds. Your business is thriving because of you, your wife and all of your employees. Thank you everyone.🌱🍆🍅🥬🌶🫑🧅🥕🌽🧄🥒🌻🌼🌷🌹🌱
Growing season vs. Growing zone. Thanks Luke. Knowledge is power!
I bought seeds from you this year after finding your YT channel. Whoop whoop!
Love your channel! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
So many great info, I actually have to watch in increments and go think about what you just said and go try it! Thanks for sharing.
Love MIGardener seeds! I just got a big package of seeds, including the Giant Crimson Tomato!
NAILED IT!!! Thanks Luke!!! I'm sad to say Ive made all of those mistakes!!!! 😂 Especially those about confined spaces! But one thing you left out in the spaces where people can grow is completely indoors which is where I grow and I grow in Canada 365 days a year. Sure I can’t grow everything at least I’ve not been successful growing watermelons yet but I’ve grown several sweet peppers on one plant and I’ve grown several plants but not all at once. I’m still limited by my space but with growing hydroponics with nutrients and grow lights it is very possible. I do have a lot of natural sunlight coming through the windows(I don’t know how much it effects my plants or if the grow lights have a bigger impact?) but I know I can grow cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli, spaghetti squash, zucchini, carrots, beets, radishes and more lettuce varieties then I even knew existed, tat-soi, and all kinds of herbs. The main thing that I’d really like to grow that I’ve had limited success with is strawberries which I find to be pretty funny since a lot of people say it’s one of the easiest plants to grow hydroponically. Anyway just wanted to promote hydroponics to regular gardeners that may be older and can no longer get in the garden anymore but they could have a successful small indoor growing space. I’d love to help anyone that needs any assistance in starting. I did a lot of research and I’ve spent the past five years growing indoors exclusively and I absolutely love it and think everyone should know how to do it. Especially with the price of grocery store items. 🥰❤️🙏🏻🇨🇦
I just placed my first order with you while watching!! Super excited. Been watching you for a few years but took a break from gardening last year and I’m ready!! Even container gardening from seed is so much work. Can’t wait to try the Ananas Noire Tomato.
Love your business and honesty and passion.
These are the best tips. I bought a good variety of your seeds, and what I didn't need to use, I have taken them to the library where I work for people to "borrow " and people have loved being able to take what they need. We also have copies of your book next to them so they can learn more. You have the best seed pricing out there, and I appreciate that you are mainly doing this to help people, and not really in it for the money, but I want as many people as possible to know about you and learn from your abundance of knowledge!
Really enjoyed this video. One thought for new gardeners, your seeds are not your biggest expense. Your garden amendments and additional soil are.
Just bought some seeds from your site - thanks for the variety and authenticity.
i'm new to gardening and i cannot stop thinking abt what seeds to buy. i know i dont have room for everything but god ill try
Seeds are my ❤. I watch for your 50% sale every autumn and take a chance on some seeds I wouldn't normally buy. I tried sunflowers for the first time this past spring. They were gorgeous! 🌻 The bees loved them! Doing 3 varieties this coming spring.
Thanks sir, so glad I saw this video. I was gifted a new set of grow bags for Christmas, which means I have double the garden space I thought I’d have next year, which means…seed shopping! So glad I watched this before placing my order because you just saved me more than 8 bucks ;) and I always love supporting the channels I watch on TH-cam and there isn’t always a tangible way of doing that. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2023!
Good video! Thank you for pointing out the benefits of a garden club. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA - 12/30/2022.
Hi! We have been watching your channel for years. It's one of the best and particularly for us in Michigan. Last fall we built a greenhouse to supplement our gardens and allows us to start seeds this year instead of buying plants. So looking for seed advice I came to your channel and realized for the first time, you are only an hour away from us. We are out in the hills of Hadley/Metamora and will be in to see you soon for our seeds this year! I know I can trust your advice on what seeds will work best for our area. Thanks!
Great video, I always need to be reminded, Not to go over board. Thanks
Last year I got a late start on starting my seeds, so today I've started my germination testing. That will give me enough time to order more seeds if needed, especially the tomatoes, which I seem to be a bit light on at the moment.
So I'll probably be visiting your store in a couple weeks.
Thanks Luke! You’re info is always great. I ordered my new seeds from MI Gardner can’t wait for them to get to my home.
I just bought seeds from you today online and I’m glad to know I have this video for future purchases but I love your videos there so informative and very welcoming.
Awesome video! I love the idea of seed shopping with a friend!
Love the money tree in the back ground. I have one in my house and it's huge. Not sure what I'm going to do with it lol
I would like to thank Veronica for packing my seeds she done a wonderful job and thank you for keeping the price down so I could buy more variety
Veronica is an angel. 😊 happy gardening!
Thank you so much for the information!!! I found out about your company through Becky from Acre Homestead and I am so glad I did. I love that you are based in MI, like myself so a lot of your advice applies to my own environment. I am a very new gardener and this year I took the plunge to start in containers to try and make it easier on myself to learn, and boy have I had an excellent learning curve this year 😀. I look forward in learning and growing more in the coming growing years to come!!
Don't tell me how to spend my money!!! I feel so attacked lol. I think I hit every single "don't do this" you said.
This was very helpful. I'd love to see even more videos like this. Thanks for parsing it out for us. ~ Lisa
Great tips for newbies! I received an iDOO hydroponics system for Christmas and thought I would love to grow tomatoes and a berry (maybe strawberries or blueberries). My criteria was not only space (wide), but space as in height. I never thought I could have a small garden in my tiny apartment! I found you from doing a search on hydroponics and just subscribed.
Luke totally enjoyed your book, I found it to be very informative and unlike any other gardening book I’ve read! I’m enjoying this video about seed mistakes one can make when buying seeds especially at this time of year when one is inundated with catalogs. Although I’m a seasoned gardener I’ve found your TH-cam channel informative and surprisingly I’ve learned quite a bit. Thanks for all you do. Good luck with the growth of MIgardener and a very happy new year to you and yours.