If you already know tomatoes, you might want to shred this booklet and use it as mulch. If you’re new to growing tomatoes, but don’t want to be bothered, we can keep it simple for you: plant deeply in a sunny patch of good soil that is well-watered, and come back in two months. If you want to invest a […]
Tomato Basics: Ripeness, Storage Flavor – Heirloom Tomato
Get ready for a delightful treat! Unlike the uniform and hard tomatoes you find at grocery stores, homegrown tomatoes come in a wide range of shapes and offer much better flavors. Let’s dive in and learn more! Ripeness & Storage: While fried green tomatoes are delicious, it’s generally best to pick tomatoes when they are fully ripe. Tomatoes may change […]
Tomato Growing Problems
As a gardener, it’s important to recognize that you have a cooperative relationship with Nature. This ongoing connection involves learning how to effectively manage the various conditions and variables that arise in your garden. Acceptance is a valuable aspect of my gardening journey. I’ve faced significant challenges such as disease outbreaks, infestations, and weather-related issues that have resulted in the […]
How to Grow Good Tomatoes in the Garden and Greenhouse
The Tomato is highly esteemed as a delicious food when cooked or eaten raw and as a source of juice. It is known to be a source of health protective vitamins and because of the ease with which it can be cultivated, it is one of the most popular of home vegetable-garden crops as well as a commercial crop of […]
Growing Tomato Plants
Managing Plant Growth: To ensure optimal growth, your seedlings require specific conditions. Keep the temperature around 65°F (18°C) and provide gentle air circulation and ample light. Research has shown that lowering the night-time temperature of seedlings to 55-60°F and lightly brushing your hands over the tops of the seedlings for a couple of minutes each day can contribute to stronger […]
Greenhouse Climate Guide for Fruits & Vegetables
Great greenhouse tips and useful information to keep your greenhouse running efficiently. Ventilation Use a ventilation system to automatically protect your greenhouse plants from withering heat build-up. No need to daily open and close vents, trying to out-guess the weatherman! Let a thermostatically controlled system do all the work. The thermostat turns the system on at the temperature you select. […]
Privacy Garden Designs for the home garden, Landscaping designs
If your property has more exposure to traffic, neighbors, or passersby than you like, you can create a living fence using a mixture of tall ornamental Grasses, flowering shrubs, and large, colorful perennials. Although the diagram indicates a corner location, the recommended plantings could be reconfigured to fit a long border or any other situation. One of the most attractive […]
Growing Tomato Seeds
Purchase and Prepare Your Tomato Seed Because your garden soil compacts too easily and can harbor organisms that may cause diseases it’s a better choice to purchase a prepared seed starting mix. A good commercial seed starting mix is often a blend of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. I like to thoroughly combine the seed starting mix with warm water […]
How to grow tomatoes – Heirloom Tomato
SEED QUALITYOnly the highest-quality seed, purchased from a reputable source, should be sown. It will probably have been prepared by acid extraction, to reduce the chances of spreading any seed-borne diseases. Most seedsmen supply their seeds in sealed laminated-foil packets, to prevent moisture absorption and loss of vitality. Seed stored in these sealed packets retains its germinating power for several […]
Heirloom Tomato Plant Terms
The following is a list of tomato terms I assembled to provide you useful information while you shop for the most suitable varieties of tomatoes for your garden. Beefsteak – A type of tomato rather than a variety (although there really is a particular variety named ‘Beefsteak.’) Usually considered a large, irregular shaped tomato with solid flesh.Cotyledons – The first […]