July 10, 2010

tomato supports – where to tie the twine

I’m not really sure where the bottom of the string is tied in this type of tomato support, which I am using for the second year. Last year I tied to stem of the plant. This year, I tied the twine to a pole weighted down by a brick. Works well so far. Does anyone recommend another method? My plants are tiny this year. 🙁 Not enough sun. I won’t grow tomatoes in these beds again – until a tree or two comes down.

May 24, 2010

tomato supports

There are several good options for supporting tomatoes. If you have lots of space, want to minimize your work, and aren’t too worried about the fungal pests that will come if we have another wet summer, you probably want to use the standard round metal tomato supports. With these, you don’t need to do any work – just push them in around the plants and let the vines grow how they will. These will keep the plants off the ground so you can walk around them and pick the fruits…

May 8, 2010

what’s growing in my cold frame

I can’t get over how fantastic this big cold frame is!! Its overflowing now with green. I didn’t plant seeds any earlier this year than previous years, but things never grew this fast before. (If you click on the top photo and mouse over, there are notes to show whats growing where.) This weekend, I’ll transplant half of the little tomatoes, eggplants and pepper seedlings into larger pots to give away. I’m planning to plant mine out into the garden early next week under hoops. The squashes, melons and cucumber…

April 6, 2010

full cold frame

My cold frame is more like a hot house this week – the temperature has been going up over 90*F when I forget to open the panels. The plants seem quite happy. I’ve moved all my seedlings into it. Its easier to have then outside so I can water with a hose.

March 29, 2010

the old blue chair

March 27, 2010

pea trellis??

I checked on my peas yesterday and they’re not up yet. I should put up a trellis soon. It works best to put it up when you plant the peas or very soon after sprouting. I haven’t decided what to use yet. After using 10 or 12 different trellis solutions, I have yet to find one that I really like. I have 3 types planted so far: 2 ft, 2 1/2 ft, and 3 ft vines. Any suggestions?

March 27, 2010

cold frame

My cold frame (planted with cold weather greens) is getting 10-20*F above outside temperature on sunny days, but falls to outside temperature without sun. Last night was very chilly – 29*. We covered it with a plastic tarp that covers up some of the open hinges where air can flow in and gives it an extra layer of insulation. At 30* outside right now, its 46* inside! The plants look cozy. I read that a cold frame is a good place for hardening off seedlings. I’ll give this a try…

March 24, 2010

old new chair for my plot

I made a great find yesterday. (How I love trash day!!) Someone left a beaten up old Adirondack chair at their curbside. It needs a new board here and nail there. And a fresh coat of paint. (I’m thinking green.) It’ll be perfect in my plot. Its so comfortable! And nothing like the flat arms of an Adirondack chair to hold clippers, seed packages, camera and beverages! I look forward to sitting in it and watching my plants grow.

March 22, 2010

magazine photos

A few of my garden photos will be in the upcoming issue issue of GROW, a the vegetable gardening issue of Fine Gardening Magazine. I am really excited to see how they look in print. I don’t think the issue is out yet, but I’m watching for it.

March 22, 2010

finished cold frame

I’ve never used a cold frame before. I planted it today with cold weather greens that should be OK down to about 30*F. Our weather is so balmy right now, but it will drop during this week. The frame is in a very sunny placation, so a few days of of sunlight should warm up the soil well. I’m hoping it will be full of salad greens soon. Seedlings transplanted into the cold frame:ParsleyLettuce, Rouge d’hiver and Black seeded SimpsonEscarole, broadleafKale, Tuscan, Winterbor and wild mixBroccoli, Blue wind and Marathon

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30