If you massed your plantings in one large container, I found this cool tool at Gardener’s Supply Company that I think would work especially well for separating the individual plants for transplanting into their new outdoor homes.

The serrated edges allow you to easily cut through roots and the wide, curved, spoon-shaped scoop makes easy work of moving seedlings into their new individual homes.

Your seedlings have been transplanted into single pots for the last few weeks and have been hardened off slowly. Now you are ready to set them out into the garden. Handle them carefully being gentle with the tiny leaves and the stems. Tomatoes can be planted down as far as the first set of leaves. Firm the soil around and water with a transplanting solution if you wish. Little seedlings grow well when the temperatures are not too hot. Because it has been such a cool spring, however, you may need to provide protection. You can use good old-fashioned tomato cages wrapped with plastic for any seedlings until the weather warms, or you can check out some high-tech gardening accessories like Red Tomato Teepees or Kozy Coats.

I’ve always liked the looks of those Victorian cloches and even have a couple for fun, but they’re not very practical for a real garden. Long ago, we used old clay tiles - they protected seedlings from the wind and absorbed heat to warm them as well. They are a little hard to find nowadays.

If it’s too complicated to plan out your vegetable garden keeping the companions together and the ememies apart, stick in some of these hard-working herbs. They seem to improve the growth and flavour of nearby crops. Their scents and blooms attract and feed beneficial bees and butterflies. On top of that, they repel harmful insects such as spider mites, ants, root maggots, borers, aphids, snails, slugs, squash bugs, many beetles, cabbage and tomato worms. They even deter apple scab and black spot.

Plant some catnip, lavender, rue and thyme in the flowerbeds to encourage pollination and deter many harmful insects.

Herbs are just the best! I can’t resist sneaking them into all the gardens and even into pots here and there. Like other herb lovers I have trouble passing by without touching a leaf or a flower. They are so good for your body and your soul.

Maybe it’s just folklore, but whether it’s true or not, many gardeners plan their vegetable plot carefully to have friendly plants close to one another and enemies far away. Friendly plants are thought to repel harmful insects such as aphids, borers and maggots. They might also attract pollinators with their scent or color. Some are credited with aiding growth and flavour. Unfriendly plants may actually stunt growth.

If you already have a system that works for you, by all means, continue with it, however this is a natural approach and is certainly worth a try.

These are some of the vegetable garden companions that I have experimented with over the years. Most lists I have found are similar.
continue reading "Vegetable Garden Companion Planting"

Visiting a garden center is not just about buying plants, trees and shrubs. It’s a place for gathering inspiration and seeing what’s new. Occasionally you spot something rather unique.

Tray after tray of annuals all lined up and ready for transplanting into larger cell packs. Mom hit the nail on the head by saying they resembled farmers’ fields when viewed from an airplane.

Another file box find courtesy of my mom. I know, I know, it’s after March 15th (sorry Mom), but better a little late than never!.

Starting Peppers from Seed

Germination: 14 days
Optimal Temperature: 70-80 degrees
Seed Planting Time: March 15 indoors

-cover seeds lightly with vermiculite

-germinate under clear plastic with bright lights if possible

-remove plastic as soon as seeds germinate

-re-pot before seedlings become potbound

-transplant when danger of frost is past

Additional Pepper Growing Tips

-sprinkle dry milk powder in transplant holes

-sprinkle a bit of sulphur or several burned matches in each transplant hole

My garden file box includes this information for growing tomatoes. Your garden journal might include similar details and space for adding helpful tips as well. Don’t forget to record results, good or bad for next time.

continue reading "Starting Tomatoes From Seed"

Mid-March is the start of the spring “planting season” for those who like to propagate garden plants indoors.

Containers

Plastic trays with small pots that fit inside are a common choice for seed starting. Most trays come with clear plastic lids to conserve moisture. I thought these small paper pots were an interesting alternative to the plastic pots. They are no longer available through Gardener’s Supply Co., but if you’d like to make your own paper pots, watch this instructional video at Dave’s Garden. Another option would be to use a collection of plastic yogurt cups or margerine tubs that can be recycled after your seedlings have been transplanted outdoors. Punch holes in the bottoms to allow excess water to drain, cover the drainage holes with a bit of newspaper or a coffee filter so you don’t lose your soil, and set them on a plastic tray. Covering with a plastic bag will create a greenhouse effect. Whichever pots you use, make sure they are very clean. Scrub thoroughly with a solution of 1 part liquid household bleach to 9 parts water.

continue reading "Indoor Seed Starting / Plant Propagation"

If you are short on space and still want to grow tomatoes, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck with Sweet Million or another of the small fruited tomato varieties. Start the seed indoors in March and set out the little plants when threat of frost is past. They will need to be staked as they grow and once they start producing, you’ll be rewarded by clusters of sweet fruit. Often they keep right on growing until fall. A plant or two can be easily covered to protect from early frost and you can enjoy these tasty little tomatoes after the others have died off. This is another plant option that is quite suitable for container gardening.

The Sweet Million variety can be purchased online at Stokes Seeds.

Are you busily poring over those seed catalogs searching for the perfect vegetable seed varieties to plant this year? For several years the “perfect” cucumber in my garden has been Orient Express. I don’t like those cucumbers that get bitter and seedy when they grow large. These ones taste more like the English-type cucumbers and keep their mild flavor even when quite a size. I have used them for all kinds of pickles too - sweet pickles, bread and butter pickles, dill pickles and relish. The best thing about them though is the fact that the plants themselves are very compact and are well suited to container gardening. They adapt well to climbing on a support, too. Just the thing for those of us gardening in small spaces!