Growing Tomatoes
Friday, September 12th, 2008
When your tomatoes turn red they are ripe.A lot of time bugs and birds feast on your tomatoes just before they are ripe leaving you with a tomato rotting on the vine.
It is best to leave your tomatoes on the vine as long as possible. Vine ripened tomatoes have the best flavor, with lots of extra vitamins and nutrients.
If you are losing the battle with the hungry bugs and birds in your garden and your tomatoes are getting damaged and rotting on the vine then pick them. Put your tomatoes in a paper bag or set them out on the counter to finish ripening on your back porch or in your kitchen window.
Planting Potatoes
Saturday, September 6th, 2008Potatoes will grow in a lot of soil types as long as the soil has been well prepared. Potatoes like a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.
Preparation is important for growing potatoes. In the fall, November to December mix in large amount of compost or bonemeal into the soil and allow it to break down over the winter.
It is important for the compost to decompose. Compost can cause the potatoes to be scabby if the potatoes are maturing in decomposing compost. You want the potatoes to grow in nice loamy soil and allow the roots to feed off of the compost.
Make sure your growing your potatoes in full sun. Rotate your crops don’t allow all of the potatoes to grow in the same area of your garden two years in a row. Also make sure they don’t follow tomatoes. Tomatoes are of the same family and disease can be transmitted from one crop to another.
One week before you’re ready to start planting set your seed potatoes in a well lit area with the temperature between 60 to 70°. This will encourage the seed to start sprouting. It’s the sprouts are white they’re not getting enough light.
The day before you plant cut your seed potatoes with a sharp clean knife into 1 1/2″ to 2″ chunks. Make sure that you have one to two eyes on each piece. If the seed potatoes are small you can use the whole potato.
By allowing the seed to set overnight before planting the wounds will callous over, this help prevent them from rotting in the soil.
The average planting time in the United States is mid-March. This can vary depending on where you’re located. In some areas you can start planting as early as the first of February. The main thing is protect your early plants from frost damage.
Tips for planting potatoes earlier in the season is to lay black plastic on an area you’re going to plant. Cut a crisscross in the plastic and plant the seed six to 8 inches below the surface. This can allow you to harvest up to two weeks earlier.
Potatoes can be planted in a container as long as they have a foot to foot and a half of soil below the plant. You can use potting soil and grow them in a container on your patio.
You can start digging new potatoes at about 60 to 65 days after planting. The mature crop will be ready at approximately 100 days. Use any starter damaged potatoes first, they won’t keep. Allow your potatoes to dry before you put them in storage. Damp potatoes will rot.
I didn’t even get to talk about growing potatoes in straw.
Lawn Care Tips 02 - aeration
Friday, August 29th, 2008Aerating your lawn is very beneficial for your turf. It allows air and water to soak in to the soil for future use and keep the roots healthy. These are good reasons to air a your lawn every euro or two depending on location type of grass and health of grass.
There are many methods of aerating your lawn. You can purchase a pair of long spiked shoes from your local garden shop or hardware store. Another method of aeration is using a two-pronged waterjet that you would hook to your garden hose and inject water into the soil, while opening holes that would help air to reach the roots.
These are great for small lawns and areas that you can’t get larger equipment into.
In the next episode we will cover solutions for larger lawns.
