How to grow tomatoes
March 26, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Vegetable
One of the tastiest pleasures for gardeners is a ripe tomato, picked at the height of flavor. Eaten by itself with a touch of salt or pepper, added to a garden fresh salad, or placed between layers of bacon and fresh bread in a BLT, this versatile favorite is one of the true delights of summer. There are dozens of tasty varieties to try, and all of them need just about the same requirements. Growing delicious, nutritious tomatoes isn’t all that hard if you follow these basic guidelines.
First of all, choose a growing spot that features plenty of sun. When it comes to tomatoes, the more sun the better. Unless you live in a climate in which summer temps regularly climb into the 90’s, you tomato plants will do just fine if you keep them well watered. On the other end of the spectrum, if you spring and summer temperatures are on the cool side, consider surrounding the plants with black plastic that will concentrate heat and enhance growth. Perforate the material so water can flow through into the soil. Another option is to plant the tomatoes alongside a brick wall that faces the sun. It will absorb lots of heat and radiate it out to the plants long after the sun has bid adieu. 
Secondly, the dirt on tomatoes is that they can thrive at any middle of the road pH level soil as long as the soil is nutrient-rich. Therefore, adding a 3-4 inch layer of compost around your plants, and watering through this layer, is essential to healthy plants. Only mix the compost into the top layer of soil if it is rocky or excessively sandy. Otherwise, spreading it on top is the right method.
Thirdly, give your tomato plants proper spacing, which depends on your planting style. Staked plants should have 2 to 3 feet of space between and around them. The distances for un-staked plants should be 4-5 feet on all sides. It is also recommended that plants of the same variety tomato NOT be planted side by side, so that if disease occurs or pests infest, there is less likelihood the problems will spread.
Beyond these basics, keep these tips in mind as you grow juicy tomatoes:
• Warm the soil ahead of time by covering the ground with black plastic for 2 weeks before setting out your tomato plants. Giving them a start in warm soil will get root development off to a great beginning.
• When you put in the tomatoes, plant them deep enough so that the first ring of leaves is buried. For most plants, this would be a bad idea, but tomatoes have the ability to grow roots out of their stems, and planting with this method gives them the chance to develop a healthier root structure that can absorb more water and nutrients. When coupled with sun, this spells more and larger fruits!
• Wait to mulch until the air temperatures warm up, if at all. Mulching cools the soil because it locks in moisture. You want warm soil for optimal growth, so only mulch if you live in a region where air temperatures hit high 80’s F or above. Otherwise, plan to water more often, and put up with the inconvenience by envisioning a tasty slab of tomato on a soon-to-be-enjoyed sandwich!
• Prune and pinch suckers that develop, especially in the crotch of two stems. Also, pinch off one out of every six branches. The results will be more plant energy invested in producing big, juicy tomatoes, and less spent on simply adding more stems and branches.
• Plant a good mix of determinate and indeterminate type varieties. Determinate varieties tend to produce a large amount of tomatoes that ripen at once. This is perfect when you plan to can them or make a large batch of sauce or salsa. Indeterminate varieties produce fruits that ripen a few at a time, which is great when you want to have newly fresh tomatoes for the longest period of time.
Tomatoes growing products, seeds, books & more on Amazon
Felknor Ventures TT021112 Topsy Turvy Tomato & Herb Planter
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Grow the Best Tomatoes: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-189 (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-189)
Beefsteak Tomato Heirloom Certified Organic Seeds
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3 Tomato Planter Bags for Decks, Patios and Balconies
Miracle-Gro 100042 Tomato Plant Food 1.5 lb.
How to Have an Organic Garden
February 17, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Organic
Gardening sites are filled with articles about organic gardens. At the grocery store we see foods advertised as being grown organically. Just what does the term “organic” mean in this context? Very simply and succinctly, organic gardening is that which is done without the use of synthetic fertilizer. Organic gardening was the only way to garden and farm for thousands of years, before the advent of the modern chemical era. The practice was never lost entirely, of course, and has made a wonderful comeback in the last few years as gardeners are concerned about the affects of synthetic fertilizers on ground water, animals that might roam the garden, and the quality of the food produced. Organic gardening extends beyond fertilizer use, and encompasses all the processes necessary to grow healthy vegetables, flowers, and other garden plants without the use of artificial agents.
Chief among these processes is the practice of adding compost to the soil. This process contributes vital nutrients, helps to hold moisture, and creates a healthy pH balance in the garden. Compost is produced from decaying leaves, plant waste such as grass clippings or pruned stems and branches, and even fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen. A compost pile or compost bin is easy to start, and will be the source of rich, organic fertilizer for your flowers and vegetables. The best compost starts with a combination of brown materials. like dead leaves, and green materials like grass clippings, in a ratio in which browns outnumber greens 10 or 20 to 1. The browns add essential carbon to the mixture, and the greens are the source for needed nitrogen. When they are combined in a bin or pile they begin to break down into compost, a soil-like material that packs a nutritious boost for plants. For the best compost, add enough water to make it moist without being soggy. In addition, turn it every 2-4 weeks in order to allow needed oxygen to permeate the mixture and expedite the contents being transformed into compost.
When the original components have lost their individual identity, the compost is ready. It should smell earthy, like a forest floor – where, by the way, natural composting is happening continuously. If it has a rotten smell, it should be turned again and left for another week before being rechecked. Using composting material before it is ready will not hurt your garden plants, but it also will not have the full range or levels of nutrients that completely composted matter will. Patiently waiting for the compost to be dully ready will produce more beautiful flowers, healthier shrubs and trees, and more robust vegetables!
Organic gardens also employ limited amounts of farm manure, which can either be added to the compost mixture, or spread straight onto the garden in the fall, before covering it for the year, or first thing in the spring. Horse, cow, rabbit, and chicken manure work best.
Organic gardening offers the reward of naturally healthy plants. It is also fulfilling for many gardeners to know that their efforts are adding to the fitness of the environment, rather than threatening its wellbeing. Each flower can then be enjoyed more fully, each vegetable eaten with greater confidence and pleasure.
Vegetable Gardening
If you want to save money and have fresh vegetables to eat, consider starting your own vegetable garden. It’s not as hard as most people think. Depending on what vegetables you are planning on growing, some extra care might be needed. As for vegetables in general, all they need is a water, fertile soil, and plenty of sun lights.
When choosing vegetables to grow, choose one that you will actually eat or have some kind of use for them. There are some people who like to grow many different vegetables, just for the look. If you have a small yard for gardening, you may want to limit just to the vegetables you will eat.
Most vegetables will require at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Some vegetables grows quicker than others. If you have a slow growing plant, it is best to group them up with each other so none will outgrow one another. Doing so will ensure each one will receive the needed sunlight that they require.
During the growing season carefully watch for insects and other pests. If you discover insects are feeding on the vegetables, you will need to take care of it quickly. One way is to use pesticides, but this can make your vegetables taste not at its best and worse, destroy the environment. Instead, use organic pesticides which can be found in stores or even made yourself. All you need is organic soap and water. Once you mix them together, put it in a bottle and spray it all over your vegetables. You may need to spray the vegetables after each rainfall.
Having a vegetable garden will ensure you have fresh vegetables to eat every time. Best part of all, you will definitely saves a lot of money in the long run.
