Saturday, April 19, 2008


Supposed to be part of the last post.

Tomatoes!


Although several people have told me that tomatoes shouldn't get set out until Mother's Day, my garden books say it's safe once the last frost has passed. My seedlings still have a bit of growing to do before transplanting but I wanted to get the tomato bed set up. Therefore, I took a trip to Home Depot today and along with tomato supplies, wound up with 4 tomato plants to transplant.

Since I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to spend tending the garden this summer, I'm trying to plan ahead as well as I can to prevent weeds, and in the tomatoes' case, to stake the plants well from the very beginning. Tomatoes need to be staked because otherwise they will just form a heap of vine on the ground.

Normal wire tomato cages are said to be flimsy. The plants fall over and break and the tomatoes get mushy on the ground. One alternative would be to make your own tomato cages from concrete reinforcing wire. Apparently this is the cheapest and best alternative but sounds like a lot of work. Luckily, Home Depot had a slightly higher quality, triangular tomato cage for sale.

Here's my setup.
- Black plastic, to raise the soil temperature, prevent weeds, retain moisture in the soil, and prevent migration of certain fungi present in soil from transmitting to the plant (this would happen during a rain storm if the soil is exposed). I understand red plastic would be better.
- Tomato plant, planted deeply. Remove lower branches and plant it so just the top sticks out. This helps tomatoes grow strong root systems.
- Cage around each plant.
- Marigolds interplanted. In addition to being pretty, they are said to prevent pests.
- Basil interplanted. This is said to improve the flavor of tomatoes, and is convenient to harvest together for cooking.
- Plastic bottle cloches, to keep the plant warm. One of the tomatoes was too big for a cloche so it will try to survive uncovered. If it dies I will just try again.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Around the Garden- April 12, 2008

Garlic well on its way (planted 10/07)

New onion sets taking root

Someone's been eating the simposi (an Asian green) even though it's been covered with row covers.

Overwintered lettuce and spinach seedlings are becoming full plants. I already thinned them out a bit.


"White Russian Kale"- a spring transplant

Strawberry transplants perking up

Up next- more preparation against weeds, which are poking through any un-covered pathways.

Which are my plantings, which are weeds?

As a new gardener the hardest part about growing from seeds is distinguishing your plants from all the other weed sprouts in the dirt.

Spinach looks like blades of grass at first, then gets wider, thicker leaves.


















Kale has a jaggedy third leaf.









Lettuce starts out with soft pale green leaves from the start.

I wish I could tell you what carrots and peas look like!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Ag Weather Forecast

Full Weekly Update

This one includes some general comments about the winter that just passed, and implications for the upcoming growing season, including
"WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES DURING THE WINTER THE OVER WINTERING
OF MANY PESTS IS LIKELY TO BE HIGH AND THEREFORE THE PRESSURE FROM
THEIR ASSOCIATED DISEASES IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH."

Soil Moisture: a little too high, should dry somewhat over next few days.
Low temperature last week was 25 degrees. Soil temperature has
increased to 47 degrees.

The bugs and weeds are out.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Using Plastic Bottles in the Garden

I've mentioned the usefulness of plastic bottle-cloches before. Another neat & cheap trick for a used plastic bottle is as a sprinkling watering can. I looked at Home Depot for a watering can that I could use on delicate plants such as my new seedlings. No luck. So after finishing off a quart of Gatorade I realized that I was holding my new, free watering can. Here's how to do it (it's easy).

1) get a medium sized durable plastic bottle with wide mouthed plastic lid.


2) punch holes in the cap( I used a hammer & nail to do it).

3) fill the bottle, put on the cap and squeeze.







To make plastic bottle-cloches, first you need someone's empty water jugs(stolen from the recycle bin). Cut the jug around the middle, just beneath the handle. Use a utility knife, and be careful.



To vent the half that doesn't have an opening, cut X's into the plastic, then cut little triangles out of the X's. It's easier to cut holes this way because you're cutting straight lines instead of circles.

What I like most is that these garden supplies are free, and they don't create additional waste when you're done with them. They can go back in the recycling bin.


You can use lots of different containers for cloches.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Just a short video of the new seedling box on the fire escape. It's a crisper drawer from an old refrigerator. After the squirrel's visit this morning it has been covered to protect the baby seedlings.

New Jersey squirrels are afraid of nothing.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Weather Wrap-Up, Week ending 3/31

From the Rutgers Weather Center Agricultural Forecast:

Temps have averaged 5 degrees below normal for the past week in New Brunswick. Soil moisture capacity is at 97% for Central NJ (good).
Soil temperatures still only 42 degrees.

It will be below freezing tonight but there has been a definite shift towards spring the last few days. I don't see any more frosts in the next 10 day forecast.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

My garden loves cool misty weather

I had to stop at the garden this morning to see how my transplants were doing. They are very happy, getting constant watering from the off and on rain the last few days. To the right are collard greens next to some overwintered cabbage. I put in some new cabbage, too, at the back.

Even the strawberries are happy in their new grass mulch.


Check out this cucumber, seeded exactly 1 week ago. It literally sprang up overnight.

This overwintered lettuce is ready to be eaten.