Holler at Your Hudson: Volume 2

Hi, I’m back. Let’s get right to it, because I know you can’t wait to hear my answers. Please leave any questions you have in the comment section.

If you want to see my previous Q&A, click here for Volume 1.

What types of animals or bugs do you like to see in the garden?

Darren, Alaska, NC

I like to see a bunny rabbit (cute) or a ladybug because they eat aphids. I like worms because they eat the dirt but when they poop it is nutritious to the soil and plants around in that soil. I also like bats. These nocturnal creatures are one of the only mammals that fly, and they eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes a night.

How do you harvest your fruits\veggies?

Kevin, New York, NY

Well, we like to get messy when we harvest the potatoes and sweet potatoes. We pull the beets and radishes out of the ground and into our mouths. We pluck the lettuce and peas. and we love digging every year for the horseradish in the ground. But they all taste organic and super.

Do you like owning a garden?

Chantal Chihuahua, Mexico

Yes,I love the idea of going out at any time in the day to go get a free snack. Also, I love watching plants grow up and then eat it is the best. But there are a lot of responsibilities to owning a garden. There is pulling weeds, planting, watering, etc. But, owning a garden is very fun.

Do you like to grow fruits/veggies or flowers better?

Craig Milwaukee, WI

Well Craig, I like to grow veggies, because I can eat them and they are delicious. Fruit are also good for you and I love eating so that is more of my style. But I know tons of people who would choose flowers over veggies.

Alright, I can’t get to all the questions today – they’re pouring in from all over the globe – but I’m looking forward to diving in next time. I hope you all have a great day!

Holler at Your Hudson: Volume 1

Hi. I’m Hudson. I love plants and outdoor activities.  Today, I am going to answer your garden questions. Maybe you’ll get lucky, and it will be stuff you’re curious about. If not, leave a question in the comment section, and I’ll try to answer it next time around.  Sound good?

Why do you grow horseradish?

      Tom from Charles Bum Tortilino (small city just south of New York)

We started growing horseradish for Passover. It is ready to harvest in April every year which is perfect. We grind it up and prepare it for the Seder. Also, you could use it on lots of things like on your sandwiches or even dressings, cocktail sauce, etc.  It lasts a very long in your fridge. We use it all the time.

What is your favorite thing to grow?

Sara, Richmond

Hi Sara. Great question. I like to grow vegetables. My favorite type of vegetable to grow is a carrot because they are fun to eat right from the ground. Also, I’m looking forward to growing peanuts and ground cherry’s. I also like flowers – a zinnia is my favorite flower🌹. My moms favorite vegetable to grow is a beet. She loves them. Dad’s favorite thing to grow is probably a pea pod, and my brothers favorite is probably peppers because he can eat them straight from the garden. And, we all like flowers. But there are types of climates food can and can’t grow in. Like a cactus can’t grow in Antarctica and corn can’t grow in Alaska. But peppers can grow here in Richmond Virginia. So there you have it, Sara, have I answered your question?

What is something we are not growing that we wish we were?

Ethan L., Richmond

Hi Ethan, thank you for your question!  Well, my favorite thing that I am not growing are apples. I want an apple tree in our backyard, so in the mornings I can go out and pick an apple🍎. My mom wishes we could grow lemons. Because she uses so much citrus, it would be nice to go out and pluck one. Abel’s favorite is an avocado, because they are one of his favorite foods. My dad’s favorite is also an avocado because we eat a lot of avocados. So it would be fun to grow them.

How do you play in your backyard without tearing up the garden.

Kelly, Dallas, TX

Well, most times we don’t hurt anything. But every now and again we will hit and ruin a plant or garden box when we are playing football or baseball :). We sometimes narrowly miss it and keep right on playing. But we usually just avoid the garden box[es]. But we aren’t always good about it, but that’s another story.

How do like to eat your spring veggies like radishes, beets and peas.

Henry, Charlottesville VA

I like to eat my beets pickled i’m obsessed with pickled and sour stuff. I also like my radishes on toppings or pickled on a taco with maybe some fresh radish greens and organic lettuce. I like my peas in a pea puree for something like scallops or any vegetable.

Alright, that’s all for me. I hope you learned a little more about me and our garden. I look forward to answering more of your questions in the future. Have a great day!

Sprout Correspondent: What makes Meems tick?

Gardening is more than just growing fruits and vegetables. It’s also about learning from your surroundings. So, Sprout and Share sent our most dogged, inquisitive reporter (Hudson) to interview a pillar in the Central Virginia gardening community – Meems. Our hope is that you’ll gather information and inspiration one 1-word answer at a time.

Full disclosure: Meems has familial ties to at least one blog owner.

Q. What is your favorite vegetable to grow in the garden? A. Tomatoes


Q. When did you start gardening? A. 5 years ago


Q. What is your favorite flower? A. Hydrangeas


Q. Do you like to grow flowers or vegetables? A. Flowers

Meems Garden


Q. Do you like to bake\cook with your fruit\vegetables? A. YES!


Q. Do you like to eat food straight from the garden?  A. Sometimes (Ed. note: we think Meems prefers freshly washed veg/fruit. We opted not to pursue any follow up questions)


Q. How did you start your flower business? A. I was doing flowers for a wedding with my friend, and we talked about opening a shop. The rest was history.


Q. What is a tip that you think helps to grow a garden? A. Good soil is a must. Having an easy water source also makes success more likely.


Q. When did you start your flower business? A. 1990


Q Do you think your flower shop was a success? A. Yes.

If you’re asking yourself how you’ve lived <Insert Age> years on this Earth without previously knowing this information, I don’t blame you. Hudson has a knack for delivering mind-blowing truth with ruthless efficiency.

If you think there are other stories out there that need to be told, please let us know in the comments. Hudson is always ready to hunt down the next gem.