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Catnip is in the mint family. Contain it or it will take over your garden. It is also a huge self seeder so you will find it next year in other parts of the garden

Invasive note: Shiso is also called Beafsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens). Here in the east it is considered invasive. It was all over the forest floor in WV where I did my graduate research. If you do grow it, I recommend controlling seed production and cutting them down or removing the heads before seed set. The flavor Kevin describes I think is kind of an “umami” or savory-ness quality, hence the English name, too. An interesting species, for sure.

I used to grow catnip. I had a friend who had 2 cats. I'd go over there & put the fresh catnip in my pockets. Those cats were so excited when they say me. Then they would go crazy trying to sniff where the catnip was that day. I'd finally pull it out & give it to them. They would roll around the living room enjoying the catnip. Eventually, they would tire out & just sprawl out on their backs. It was like they were so high. We had so much fun and so did they.

Hey epic gardening, I’m 14 and really look up to you. I started growing plants last year and when I found this channel it took that love to a whole new level. I just have one question, how did you get the money to start homesteading? I would really appreciate a response and I love what you do

I grew the Burgundy Broccoli for the first time this past season and it's still hanging on in my Ohio garden in January! Since I'm the only one in the house that eats it, it's nice to have those smaller sprouts instead of a large head. I've enjoyed the leaves too.

I'm growing many things from BI, but I noticed the Marigold 'Lemon & Tangerine Gems' @ 12:14 actually have a citrusy smell when the leaves are messed with. They grew on my porch and anytime the wind blew, or something brushed against them the whole area would waft with citrus. Still have seed packets from BI before Kevin bought it! 😂

I’m glad to start gardening this year, the only thing that grew well for me last year was crushing debt.

Re: Sweet pea in Zones 9 and 10. Yes - *succession planting* is one of the keys. But equally important is the *varieties* used for succession planting. Sweet pea needs a certain amount of daylight to bloom. The exact amount depends on the varieties. The varieties needing the least daylight are referred to as "daylight neutral" or "winter" varieties. In my experience (zone 9a) they can bloom with between 10 and 11 hours of daylight. The next varieties to bloom are the "early" varieties, such as Elegance. They start blooming at around 11 hours of daylight. (My experience is that Mammoth Blend and Early Multiflora bloom next and should be considered a reliable "early" variety.) The downside of the aforesaid varieties is that they are not as fragrant as later-blooming varieties. In my experience, the "winter" varieties have little to no fragrance, while the early varieties have a lighter fragrance than those that can be grown in milder zones. So why are the varieties so important? Because heat is a killer for sweet pea. In Zone 9 and above, the heat can be enough to kill some varieties (or stop their blooming) before the vernal equinox (i.e., March 21st, more or less). In Zone 9a on the east coast of the U.S. (think Florida), it can hit 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit by March 1st. Meaning that by the time you get enough light, you often have too much heat. Growing sweet pea on the *east side*of a structure (to protect from afternoon heat) helps, but there is only so much that shade can do when it is 90+ outside. If you are fortunate enough to live where the winter temperatures will not drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, you can begin your succession sowing out of doors (but protect them from the bird - some find the spouts a treat) as soon as it gets cool enough, as early as October. If you are somewhere that can stay hot (85 to 90 or more) into November and/or can drop into the low 20s at night (like Florida 9a), then starting seedling indoors and then transplanting beginning in December is the way to go. If you are fortunate enough to have a relatively slow heating trend in the spring, you can add more fragrant varieties into your succession schedule, such as High Scent, which can take over as the "early" varieties fade. Some varieties are also known to be more "heat tolerant" (e.g., Zinfandel, Cupani or Painted Lady), and can be used to end your succession schedule. (Of course, more tolerant to heat does not mean totally tolerant to heat - Florida's 9a will kill off Zinfandel before May is over. (Since Beaujolais is reputed to sometimes bloom into the fall, this might also be considered a relatively "heat tolerant" variety.) Last year (2023) I had flowers from early February to late May (a really good run for Florida 9a, on a porch). This year I am trying to add some of the more highly scented varieties into my succession planting to learn if I can get blooms before the killer heat gets them. (Wish me luck folks!) Another key: *cut the flowers* often (do not let the plant start to produce seed - this can be an every-other-day process at peak blooming times, as they produce seed quickly). This really does increase your total blooms.

Try the Alpha Beit cucumber: it's a classic small Persian-style pickler but unlike most cucumbers it is generally gynoecious (producing mostly female flowers)! Many fewer male flowers means a more productive plant. Also, your sweet peas MUST be dead-headed. If you do that every few weeks the vine will last for months, and don't be afraid to top it if it gets taller than your support...it will branch out.

I love Jaque' laugh when Kev says "persian muncher." Just a nice friendship type moment. You guys are amazing and this is actually my favourite gardening/homesteading channel

You should grow summer savory, it's such a good herb, especially dried. It's really popular here in eastern Canada, it goes great in potato dishes, soups and stews. Honestly it's my favorite dried herb.

Omg! You just brought out a deep memory from my childhood lol there was a sensitive plant featured at the Wild Animal Park (now called Safari Park) and I was INFATUATED with it!! My mom had no idea what I was talking about when we got home and I was so upset... She didnt believe me when i said it moved and gaslighted me into thinking it was the venus fly trap 🤦🏽‍♀️ Cant wait to grow this 🙌

Catnip is a blessing here. I put a bed tucked in with a pink sedum close to my house. It attracts the neighbor's cats and they rid the field mice and rats that come in from the corn and soybean fields.

We requested out catalog a few days ago and can't wait to receive it.

The sensitive plant grows wild in Florida. I thought my husband was pulling my leg when he told me about it. But we found some and...it does fold up when you touch it. Very cool for a plant geek like me.

Shiso is an invasive plant in several states, so watch out. Linaria is a lovely little plant, grows in the wild in Florida with tiny little blue flowers. I didnt know they were cultivated!

Can’t wait to grow my black cat pumpkins! I’ve seen some carved and the bright orange flesh contrasts against the black so well. Perfect for Halloween!

Vegetable and flower seeds are in the 99 cents store for 4 packages for $1 Spring 🌼 is here !!!!

I've grown white marigolds this year and they are freaking beautiful. I've always loved African Marigolds, tried the Kilimanjaros from seed and they didnt do well, got a couple flowers, bought some seedlings named Vanilla African Marigolds and they look insane. They look more yellow in photos than they do in real life though. Have a medium sized wine barrel pot full of them covered in flowers at the moment

I wish the seed packages had a picture of what the seedlings look like after the first set of true leaves, as a low experience gardener sometimes its so hard to know if what is growing is what you planted or a stray, specially with flowers or lesser known plants.

I love the idea of the mini versions of fruit, like the cantaloupe, melon, pumpkin, and broccoli side shoots. As a single person, it's so handy to produce the smaller versions. Easier to process, and less waste!

I loved how Jaque couldn't stop laughing 😂

The mimosa pudica is known as picka (or timarie) in Trinidad and Tobago because it is a weed that grows in the grass and would often prick you with its thorns when running barefoot. Gardening across different climates is so interesting!

Those mimosas are called “touch me not” where I was growing up and get really invasive as they spread really fast through seed. They will even seed rapidly in a lawn full of Bermuda grass! So careful with those!

As always I'm pushing for lupins. Beautiful legume that attract pollinators, with L. succulentus being a useful annual that will self-seed readily.

Pelleted carrot seeds for my earthway seeder. It’s a game changer.

We had the classic Old Fashioned drink, where the glass was lined with shiso leaves. It was awesome!

My mom grew catnip for 25 years and seeing how it behaves, I will never grow it in my garden. As much as the bees love it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of. It’s in the mint family, but I honestly think that it’s worse than mint. Even if you simply grow it in a container, the seeds will spread very quickly and prolificly. My parents had an acre and a quarter of land and after planting it one time, it spread throughout their entire yard. Any neighborhood cats will love it though ☺️

Those white tomatoes make a gorgeous salsa with green chiles and jalapeños. I’ve almost got my order ready to hit that button. I just love you two together. I feel like God blessed as even more with you two than he did you with each other. Soul seed brothers. lol.

I am so so so excited for you two and the greater Eco System of Botanical Interests.... I am a die-hard Botanical Interests grower -- just planted up a bunch of seeds for my spring '24 garden... ... I love IG and sharing my successes as a home grower... So happy to see you both succeeding !!!

Check out any seed swap events in your local cities. It's a fantastic way to meet other gardeners, get seeds and even donate seeds to your community

Reason the mimosa folds is so that the rain falls under it. I have the regular mimosa (silk tree) for bonsai

Sensitive plant also does well indoors in California. My mom had one for years in the house and we used to mess with it all of the time. Lol.... until the cat killed it. Love in a mist is glorious and the seed pods can be used in place of nutmeg. Catnip is a nerve calming mint relative. Great for those who suffer anxiety, have trouble sleeping, or love cats. Shiso is one of my favorite herbs for a number of reasons: it has that flavor that you aptly described as indescribable and it is excellent for medicine. The red shiso is great for coloring foods and drinks and is used in Japan to boost the immune system with its antioxidants. It also makes a wonderful summer drink! Green shiso is used to help prevent and treat food poisoning or stomach upset. That's part of why it is so commonly served with seafood. The best way i can describe the flavor is perhaps to say it has a fruity sweetness with a rose floral note and a candy tartness.

I keep a rotation of sweet peas plus a honeysuckle, two varieties of wallflowers and an angel's trumpet outside my bedroom window. In the CA Central Coast I can keep the windows open at night and the scents are heavenly!!!

Yeeeeeeeessssss, Persian cucumbers!!! I am so down for planting that and mini eggplants 😊

That black pumpkin!!! So cool. I picked up some weird ones this year too. Coffee, dragon fruit, pink celery, yard long beans, sugar beet. Yeah im excited. My goal is to make 100% homegrown everything bagel spice mix. Poppy seed, garlic, onion, black and white sesame. Wish me luck!

Last year I grew the "Minnesota Midget" cantaloupe and pumpkins for the first time. The cantaloupe was the most flavorful melon I've ever tasted in my life and the Howden pumpkins were absolutely beautiful. This year we're going big with pumpkins, literally. We've got the "State Fair Winner" and a more modest size "Musquee De Provence" pumpkin. I also got into drying peppers last year, I dried a ton of Aji Charapita and Chile De Arbol for spice blends. This year one of the 18 kinds of peppers I'm growing for the first time is the Pasilla Bajio. Really loving how similar our seed choices are.

Love the green RivianFlower in the background ;)

Highly Recommend the Cream Sausage Bush Tomato. It's probably one of my highest producing tomatoes in the garden! I end up having so much that I freeze them and use them in soups over the winter time. Two Thumbs Up!

Your seed starting videos with Jaques is my all time favorite format. You always make it fun and I love the banter between you two.

Minnesota Midgets are awesome!! I had great success with them even as a second year gardener last year! You got this, Jacques!

I purchased “botanical interest“ seeds from my local nursery. Glad to see them here. 💕

OMG you two make me want to grow more vegetables! I already have way too many seeds to start this "off season". Now, I think I'm going to order a few of these you mentioned. You two are THE best gardeners on YT. 💚

I grow catnip for the strays I feed and my neighbors cat. Super easy to grow, I keep in a container so it doesn't take over. Ive grown the kalibos cabbage, its beautiful, I found the heads to be loose.

This comment is for Jacques- I have never liked cantaloupe, but the Minnesota midget is GARDEN CANDY! Wish you the very best of luck growing this amazing variety! I cannot not grow it

I love how giggly you guys are it’s contagious

I’m growing Pride of Gibraltar, Bunnytail Grass, Pampas Grass, Stock and liatris for first time. Will also do for edible Sunflowers, blue pumpkin, chickpeas, fava bean, purple gem corn, and red Brussels sprout!

Fyi - the shiso/perilla is considered invasive in many areas of the country so I’d recommend container growing it as it will easily take over. Delicious but definitely invasive.

Parilla grows wild on my property here in Georgia, and I've cultivated a little plot of it in my garden. Its a gorgeous plant. Used frequently in Korean cuisine (kkaenip), as well. It smells really good, and looks beautiful when its in bloom. Self-seeds really well, and will come back every year. These seeds all look fun and interesting!

That white marigold grows about 3-4 feet tall! It’s amazing! Excited to see the new seeds and still excited you own BI now!

Mimosa pudica has bite. Maybe caution parents about supervision, the thorns are very needle-like not like roses but more like a thistle.

Thanks so much for the Botanical Interests seed catalog. I received it in the mail and immediately went and curled up with it and read it front to back. Gorgeous pictures, awesome descriptions. It really evoked memories from childhood where I would read my grandparents Burpee seed catalog.

OOOoooooh Lordy! I already have seeds for at least 15 different kinds of basil and now I'm going to have to add another one, Cardinal basil. Almost the same with nasturtiums but only 5-6 varieties so, hey, what's one more? I NEED that Purple Emperor!! The Emerald Delight summer squash has been one of my FAVORITE zucchini to grow because it's so compact yet still a great producer. Unfortunately, mine developed mosaic virus but I still grew it for a number of years since it didn't really affect the taste, just the looks. A tip about Fairy Bouquet Linaria... don't give up on it if you think the seeds aren't going to sprout. I winter sowed some and while most everything else sprouted and got planted I thought these didn't come up. So, I gave up and tossed the soil into other pots and then was surprised when they popped up much later in those pots with other things I planted!!

Years ago, I had a mimosa "forest" in a 6" pot that I grew from seeds. They not only will close up when you touch the leaves, they will also do so when they get near certain other plants. Mine did not like being close to my purple passion, but had no problem being next to my other plants. I don't know if the passion has an "aura" the mimosa didn't like or what, but the little forest (that's what the full pot looked like... a little forest) stayed closed for 3 days until I moved it away from the passion.

The sensitive plant has sharp thorns! keep an eye on smaller kids around it if they’re touching it.

That Sensitive Plant is so cute!

Cream sausage tomatoes are great! They are pretty mild and pasty so you can add them to sauces to add to the depth of flavour!

Here in Houston I found a shop that sell your seeds luckily great selection and quality -Also thank you for the great planting tips

That Mimosa pudica is a weed in Puerto Rico, where I live. It has spines. We call it mori-viví, which roughly translates to died-lived.

We had touch-me-not's in the yard growing up all over. Loved just rubbing my foot across them and watching them all close up at once!

Fun fact for you Eric: Red Shiso (or perilla) leaves are what they use--traditionally--in Japan to turn the pickled ginger you find along side your rice etc, pink as well as helping umeboshi turn more purple/pink as well! The green leaves are used for eating (tempura battered, wrapped in meat, etc). I'm growing a Japanese food garden in one of my raised beds this year with Shishito peppers, shiso leaves, Japanese cucumbers, edamame (from seeds I grew last year), mizuna, buckwheat, and a Japanese lettuce as well! Bees LOVED the takane ruby buckwheat I grew last year and it definitely gave them easy food, I think! :) I can't wait to see how your garden turns out this year too!

Love the sensitive plant seeds!! They grow on the side of the Road to Hana, in Hawaii!! Super stoked to be able to grow these at home!!

The Cream Sausage Bush Tomato is awesome, more heat tolerant than expected (Houston Texas here).

I grew the Black Cat this year and it was so fun! I got it in late and still got a decent yield and carved one for Halloween. It’s going to be the one I grow every year!

That "tickle me plant" in the mimosa family grows wild in Missouri. Some think it a weed.

I just picked up a packet of that catnip yesterday! So excited to have some fresh for my kitties.

I would describe the orange wonder snap dragon color as rainbow sherbet. I've been studying my B. I. catalog since I received it! ❤ - Rhonda

About Mimosa The movement are termed Thigmonasty or Seismonasty, non-directional response to touch or vibration. They also have Nyctinasty, which is circadian rhythm-based response. also a caution when touching them, the can have thorns on some stalks

Just started my channel going to be staring my natural garden here today! Hopefully have some updates uploaded soon! Finally in our home and it is time

I just got my catalog the other day. Very helpful tips in it.

Ol' dirty Uncle Kev was having a real hard time holding back on a cream sausage joke.

The Sensitive Plant grows wild here in South Central Texas.

I can't wait for my catalog to arrive. I am so hoping to get a much better garden this year. Thank you!!

Great how much fun you guys are having! Just received my order for this year, excited about my flat red onions and the striped sweet pepper.

Congratulations! Love you guys and your KZfaq channel and that you’ve taken the helm at botanical interests. Very excited about the new trailing nasturtium seeds, and to start planting come spring!!

Birdhouse gourds are one of the best to grow for little ones. Growing your own bird house. Curing and painting is such fun!

Wow! What an awesome Catalog! Good job!!

I would love a catalog! It seems everyone has gotten theirs except me! And I have requested one months ago.....but still have not received one. So today, I get a text from BI to request a catalog! I'm really trying to stay hopeful here....😂

Didn’t expect to learn so much in this video! Took a few notes for the future. Excited to get my catalog and put in my first order :)

I had no idea there were seed catalogs! Hell I didn’t know ppl even used catalogs anymore since the internet lol!!! I had no idea until getting into gardening the past year with y’all that there were so many different varieties of seeds. Like I thought zuchinni was just zuchinni, cabbage was just cabbage lol, I’m so excited to grow different vegetables in the future when I get good at it!

Yay, I ordered a bunch of these during your December sales. Can't wait to grow the same varieties as you guys!!

Looking forward to getting my catalog in the mail. I also just got my seeds over the holiday. I ordered way more than I can plant but let’s see what happens. Looking forward to spring. Happy new year.

I love your selection of seeds that you will be sowing at the start of the year. We do have a lot of sensitive plants where I live in Trinidad.

I grew the Minnesota Midget for the first time last year zone 6a CO and had 4 successful and delicious vines! (planted 4) first time growing any kind of melon. Also the Linaria has been a garden STAPLE for several years bringing early GORGEOUS color that lasts (I move them to a more shaded area during summer).

hi kevin and jacques 🤗 im waiting for my catalog now. excited to see what you're planting, as i may pick up a few of the same seeds as well. tfs

I love the company! My local nursery introduced me to the beautiful seed packets years ago and I was hooked.

Others might have already pointed out but sweet pea you've really got to deadhead, If you make sure and get a decent proportion of the pods / dead heads you can keep it going for ages. My batch last year (in Scotland 8b) were in flower from about June all the way to the end of October

You two are so much fun!

As a kid, the sensitive plant was one of the most fun plants to find at the conservatory & play with. Krohn is probably the reason I love gardening

Love in a mist is one of my favourites, and after it makes this alien looking ball to keep the seeds! Looks super cute in a floral arrangement.

I’ve grown Muncher cucumbers for years and it’s one of my favorites and always grows well for me. I thought I had most of the seeds I needed for the upcoming season, but now my list is longer 😂😂😂

Fantastic selection! Definitely looking to get those White marigolds for some color variety. You two are hilarious. Keep up the fantastic work with the videos. Transitions are 🔥🔥🔥🔥👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

I bought my first two Greenstalks , so excited, and would love to see a video of what you think would work well in them. Can’t wait to get my catalog and start ordering!

Kevin, it would be so awesome if you could do a collaboration with Garden Answer. I believe she’s used Botanical Interest seeds previously. they’ve just acquired 4 more acres and Laura has lots of new ideas. 😂

Sensitive plant sounds fun! Trying eggplant in containers on a balcony 🤞. Oooh and Purple Emperor trailing nasturtiums.

Hi Kevin and Jacque!! Love watching all you do! I actually purchased and planted the Kilimanjaro White Marigold seed from Botanical Interest. They germinated really well, grew two feet tall, the flowers are large and amazing but not really white. They're a light light lemon yellow and age towards white at the end. Though not perfectly white they sure look terrific mixed in with the tomatoes and I love this marigold! It will have a place in my garden always. The Love In A Mist and the Linaria are included in the seeding of the alley behind the house and part of the Alley Pollinator Corridor program I've started here in AZ. I think they will look terrific up against the wall with all the natural wildflowers in front. Also included your hollyhocks in this program too! Thanks so much for the fun and the info you give. Cheers, Susan

Trying Cream Sausage too. Looking forward to the new gardening year. Cheers 🎉 (thanks for the reminder to start my sweet peas-😬 same kind, too!)

Can’t wait to grow some of these varieties! Thanks for sharing! The sensitive plant is a weed here on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is fun for kids but not so fun under the feet, it’s thorny!

That's awesome! We went to Thailand and I showed my husband the sensitive plants that grow like weeds and he thinks it's the coolest thing!