A Maryland backyard garden became the backdrop for a family moment on TikTok, as a mom and her young son worked through a wide variety of produce.
Their harvest included everything from cantaloupe and cucumbers to jalapeños and ground cherries.
Here's what to know
The Maryland gardener, who goes by the name VeryGoodGardening on TikTok, shared a stunning harvest walkthrough that quickly went viral.
@verygoodgardening This #harvest with my son includes melon, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers, raspberries, spicy peppers, tomatillos, and ground cherries from my #backyardgarden How lucky am I to have children that want to grow food with me? ❤️ #growyourownfood #maryland ♬ original sound - VeryGoodGardening
The video showcases a bountiful harvest of melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, several kinds of peppers, raspberries, tomatillos, and ground cherries.
As they move through the garden, the pair collect peppers and berries, look over several tomato varieties, and pull a ripe, fragrant cantaloupe from the vine. At one point, the mom tells her son, "I'm really glad to have you as a helper today. I don't know what I would have done without you."
The post doubled as a quick gardening explainer, with the creator warning about poison ivy by the tomatoes, describing the lines on jalapeños as "corking," and saying that red jalapeños are usually spicier.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Viewers were especially intrigued by one lesser-known crop. "Can you open the ground cherry? I have never seen those before," one commenter asked.
More background
A harvest that includes fresh produce can help households trim grocery bills, especially when staples such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are in season.
Fruits and vegetables picked at peak ripeness often have better flavor than produce shipped long distances and stored before sale. Plus, homegrown produce can mean less packaging waste and fewer trips to the store, making it a good option for both the household budget and the planet.
But gardeners can also make the experience more rewarding by involving kids or other family members in simple tasks such as watering, picking ripe fruit, or sorting harvests. That can turn gardening from a chore into a shared routine.
Gardening can benefit people in other ways, too. It provides built-in physical activity for kids and adults alike through digging, lifting, watering, and harvesting, while time outside can support mental well-being and reduce stress.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
