Author: realfarmerjeff
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Soil vs. Dirt: Understanding the Difference and How to Make Your Own Soil
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned grower, understanding the foundation of plant health—soil—is crucial. Many people use the terms soil and dirt interchangeably, but in gardening and agriculture, they are very different things. Let’s break it down and then explore how to create your own nutrient-rich soil… Read more
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Why Pollination Matters in Your Garden + How to Attract Bees
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. One of the essential ways to maximize yields in your garden is to have a high pollination percentage on the plants you are already growing. It’s common practice to plant flowers specifically to bring in the pollinators and promote pollination. Since bees are the main pollinators, I’ve always thought… Read more
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The Benefits of Hügelkultur Raised Beds for Gardening
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. As you may know, my garden has two tall steel raised beds. In fact, my raised beds are almost three feet tall and would have needed a massive amount of soil to fill–but I used an alternative method that I’ll share below. You may have heard of people filling… Read more
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How to Up-Pot Plants: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. In my time gardening, I have found that potting-up my plants once before planting outside is ideal for maximum harvests. I’ll touch on why exactly in this blog post! I especially love doing this with my tomato plants because tomatoes are rare in that if you plant the stem,… Read more
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Protecting Your Garden from Wildlife: Deer, Squirrels, and More
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. As an avid gardener, the number one question that I get is how I keep all the critters out. The truth is, I am very lucky to have very little animals coming into my garden. My biggest adversary is my neighbor’s cats that like to use my garden beds… Read more
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Six Ways to Protect Your Garden from the Frost
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. Protecting my garden from freezing temperatures is a constant battle during the spring. I live in a part of Utah (Zone 7A) that is a sub desert, and so even though the days often get warm, the nighttime temperatures can drop by over 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this,… Read more
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My Experience with Vego’s Elevated Garden Bed
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. This last weekend I put together my new elevated garden bed from Vego. I thought it may be helpful to share my experience and list some tips that I learned along the way. First off, here are some of its key features listed on its website: Alright, let’s get… Read more
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Building a Four-Square Ft. Potato Box for Maximum Harvest
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. Here’s the background to this project of building a potato box for maximum harvest: My friend sent me the graphic below of how to grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 square feet, and I knew I needed to try it out! Since my townhouse backyard is only about… Read more
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Watering Seedlings: Best Techniques & How Often to Water
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. Caring for little seedings sometimes feels like taking care of a baby because they can also be fragile and hard to read. Too much water can drown the seedling’s roots or cause disease, while too little can stunt their growth or cause wilting. It is crucial that you learn… Read more
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Garden Patch Grow Box: Benefits, Tips, and How to Maximize Your Space
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. Before I begin, keep in mind that this blog post is not sponsored! I have used this product for years and love it so much. The Garden Patch Grow Box is hands down my favorite garden product! If you find yourself struggling with overwatering or underwatering your plants, this… Read more