Increasing Tomato Yield: How To Pollinate Your Tomatoes by Hand
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you’ve ever struggled to get a good tomato harvest (especially during hot, dry summers) hand-pollination might be the secret weapon you’ve been missing. Even though hand-pollination goes above and beyond what the average gardener...
Hand Watering vs. Soaker Hoses vs. Drip Irrigation: Which Method Is Best?
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I recently did a poll on my Instagram to learn how you water your garden. With over 1,000 votes, I learned that two-thirds of you mostly hand water! Honestly, I understand why. Hand watering can be peaceful, relaxing, and one of the best...
Should You Remove Flowers From Tomato Plants?
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.You may have seen gardeners pinching flowers off their tomato plants and wondered why they would remove something that eventually becomes a tomato.The reason is simple: when a tomato plant starts producing fruit, it diverts energy away...
Welcome to Jeff’s Garden Shed
Step into Real Farmer Jeff’s Garden Shed—where small-space gardening meets big harvests. From tomatoes to turnips, I share urban farming tips, seasonal growing guides, and everything you need to turn your balcony, backyard, or patch of dirt into something delicious. I’m glad you’re here!
Homemade Kimchi Recipe
Kimchi is a common traditional Korean and Japanese side dish that consists of fermented cabbage and other vegetables that are seasoned with Korean chili flakes (known as gochugaru).Think of it like the Asian version of sauerkraut - but in my opinion, way better....
My New Favorite Versatile Garden Bed
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.One of the most common questions I get as a gardener is: “What garden bed should I buy?” In this blog post, I’m sharing the raised garden bed I personally use and love.Before I dive in, I want to mention that this blog post is not...
Which Plants to Directly Sow Instead of Transplanting
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Not all vegetable transplants are worth buying. Some crops don’t tolerate root disturbance, while others grow so quickly from seed that buying starts adds very little benefit.Here are the types of crops that are usually better planted...
How to Build a Gutter Garden on a Fence
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As many of you know, figuring out new ways to maximize garden space is my favorite way to make the most of my backyard. This is how I learned about gutter gardening. Gutter gardening is a simple way to turn unused vertical space, like a...
5 Ways to Plant Tomatoes
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomatoes are unique because they can grow roots directly from their stems. If you look closely at a tomato stem, you’ll often notice tiny fuzzy hairs or bumps. Those are actually potential root sites.When part of the stem is buried, the...
How to Build the Tomato Trellis that I Use in My Garden
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.The main reason I got into gardening is because I love homegrown tomatoes. One of the first major projects I took on was DIYing a sturdy, two-row tomato trellis that could support 20 plants. After 5 years of growing 100+ pounds of...
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Soil Health + Composting
Seed Starting + Transplanting
Containers + Raised Beds
DIY + Garden Prep
All About Tomatoes
Gardening Products I Love
The Tomato Zone
5 Ways to Plant Tomatoes
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomatoes are unique because they can grow roots directly from their stems. If you look closely at a tomato stem, you’ll often notice tiny fuzzy hairs or bumps. Those are actually potential root sites.When part of the stem is buried, the...
How to Build My Favorite Tomato Trellis
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As many of you know, my favorite garden vegetable/fruit to grow are tomatoes.I’m sure many of you have used the classic cone-shaped wire trellises. Unfortunately, they don’t work that well for tomatoes. There are several types of...
Starting Seeds vs. Buying Transplants
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Starting your own garden is an exciting adventure, but before you start, you will need to do some planning. One of the main reasons many gardening efforts fall short is due to lack of proper planning. In this article, I will help you...
Fried Green Tomatoes
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Fried green tomatoes are made from firm, unripe tomatoes that are sliced, coated in a seasoned cornmeal or flour mixture, and fried until golden and crispy. They’re tangy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, often served as a...
My Top 6 Tomato Varieties of 2025
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you've been around a while, you know that tomatoes are my favorite crop to grow. In fact, each year I go a little overboard and grow about 30 tomato plants. This is so that I can grow not only my favorite varieties, but also...
How to Save Tomato Seeds
Saving seeds from your garden is one of the most rewarding ways to bring gardening full circle. It allows you to preserve your favorite varieties, save money, and grow plants that are better adapted to your local growing conditions. That being said, saving your own...
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The Benefits of Fabric Grow Bags in Gardening
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Fabric grow bags are one of my favorite garden containers that I would highly recommend to anyone!Apart from being incredibly versatile, grow backs perhaps give the most cost effective harvest of any garden containers.In this post I will...
My 7 Tips for a Small-Space Garden
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As many of you know, my garden is only about ~15 x 15 ft. However, I do my best to maximize yields as much as possible because it’s fun to grow TONS of food! One of my most frequently asked questions from friends (as well as you guys...
My Top Essential Garden Products
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. My goal for this blog post is to save you money by explaining need-to-have's vs. nice-to-have's for gardening products so that you are prepared to create your own successful, luscious garden this year. Let's do this!These are all...
How to Build a Homemade Trellis Using Cattle Panel
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.This season, I built homemade trellises made from cattle panel! I have the perfect corner in my garden to put them that is currently unused. They're a great way to support climbing plants like cucumbers, beans, peas, and even melons...
The 3 Best Garden Containers for Every Gardener
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.In this blog post I will share the 3 main types of garden containers that I use and recommend. Note that I use many types of containers, but these are my favorite ones!I will also list out the pros and cons of each so that you can...
Comparing Grow Boxes: Garden Patch Grow Box vs. EarthBox
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I love grow boxes and have used them heavily for years! My grandparents were the first ones to introduce them to me many years ago. They're especially valuable for beginner gardeners, small space gardeners, people growing on decks or...
Jeff has a deep passion for gardening. Each year, he cultivates hundreds of pounds of vegetables—along with the occasional fruit—turning his garden into a thriving and productive space. Combined with Kyrié’s cooking, together, they create exciting meals using Jeff’s harvest.
