An Experiment

I came across this posting (http://www.growbetterveggies.com/growbetterveggies/2008/05/how-i-plant-a-t.html) about two years ago and was quite intrigued. The testimonials on the the website swear that this method produces five-feet tomato plants and loads of tomatoes. So, this year, I decided that I will try out this method (or at least come close to it).

In the past, I've tried to start my tomato plants early by planting my tomato seeds in little containers indoors, but I wasn't too successful with that method. I'm a bad gardener because I sometimes I forget to water consistently and they wilt and die. So, the method I've found to be successful (at least for me), is to plant the tomato seeds in my garden and to move the plants once they have sprouted. This method works for me because the plants are exposed to a harsher environment and becomes much more hardy. Furthermore, the plant actually survives if I don't water it every day. At the same time, the moving of the plants helps me with my dilemma of wanting to keep as many of the sprouts as possible. See, I often feel bad when I have to thin out the seedlings that have grown too close (it's worked so hard to germinate and grow), so it's great if I can replant the seedling elsewhere.

This year, I decided that I would try the "everything but the kitchen sink" tomato planting method, as described in the website mentioned above. First, I had most of the stuff mentioned, but not all. I did have the fish heads (fish tails and guts are also acceptable), the aspirin, the bone meal, broken eggshells, some compost (no worm castings), and the fertilizer (although it may not be a time-release fertilizer). I felt that I had most of what was needed, so why not attempt something new, right?

Today was a cloudy overcast day, with a slight drizzle. In other words, a perfect day for transplanting plants (I really don't mind the very light rain). I always recommend that if you intend to transplant any plants into or around your garden, may it be from another part of your garden or from a pot or a start-up kit, do it early in the morning or on an overcast day. The plants are already stressed from the transplant and shouldn't be stressed any further by the sun or its heat.

I dug up the hole and threw in the fish head, aspirin, bone meal, crushed eggshells, compost and fertilizer. I then dug up the tomato plant. In the picture above, there are two tomato plants. Yes, you are seeing a paper towel/toilet paper cardboard tube. I read in a blog (sorry, don't remember which one) that you can cut up the tube into smaller pieces and place it around a plant/seed. This helps you to remember that you already planted something in the spot, to see the plant in the garden (so you don't accidentally step on it), and also may help you to identify that the plant is not a weed. So far, I found this tip to be very helpful.

Anyhow, as I was saying, I then dug up the tomato plant. Now, the method I use involves a hand trowel and digging about an inch or two away from the plant. I dig in and lift up, digging up the dirt along with the plant, trying to keep as much dirt as possible close to the plant. I believe that this helps minimize the stress on the plant and keeps as much of the plant's roots in tact.

I then put the tomato plant into the hole and fill up the hole with dirt. I also cover the stem of the tomato plant, up to the leaves, with dirt. Apparently, the little hairs on the stem will become roots. This is important because the extra roots will provide more support for the plant, ensuring a better chance for the plant to support itself as it matures. Well, I'll keep you posted as to how successful this experiment will be.

May Blooms

With the impending end of May, I decided that I should share pictures of what's going around my garden. Seriously, this time last year I only had little seedlings in the ground and had barely just planted seeds several weeks before. This year is a big difference compared to last year.

Here are pictures of my blueberries. This past winter the rabbits didn't get a chance to eat my blueberry bushes down to the ground; therefore, this year I have lots of blueberries (remember that blueberries grow on second year old and older branches). I can't wait for the blueberries to ripen.


As I previously posted, I have lots of strawberries. I believe that my strawberries are June-bearing plants, meaning that the plants produce strawberries in June. However, with this early spring, my strawberries are already here and ripening at an early pace.


Next, I have pictures of my little vegetable garden. In the foreground of the above picture, you see the loose leaf lettuce, then the tops of my radishes, then more lettuce. Right behind the lettuce, standing tall, are my green onions. To the left behind the green onions, are my raspberry plants.


I had to share this picture of a HUGE parsley plant. In summers' past, my parsley often died in the fall and in the spring I had to replant from seed (bought from the store). For some odd reason, this past winter, my parsley plants did not die. Instead, when spring came around, they were alive and well, and they grew. I've been trying to eat as much parsley as possible, but I think that I will let this parsley flower and develop seeds (so I don't have to purchase the seeds from the store). This will be the first time I may actually harvest my own parsley seeds. How exciting. Oh and that little plant right behind the parsley is an arugula plant.


Lastly, I had to share a picture (yes, somewhat badly taken) of my cherry tree. Can you see the many cherries growing on the tree? You can also see the poppies growing behind the tree. I have orange and salmon colored poppies. I've missed out on the blooming irises, but hopefully I'll be able to post some next year. What's blooming in your life?

The Three Hs: Hot, Hot and Humid

Today was HOT, HOT, and HUMID. The benefits of an early spring may be an early summer. Today is indicative that we may be may on the cusp of a sweltering summer. And I mean, S-s-s weltering. Today's high was about 93 degrees Fahrenheit, although I could swear that it was hotter. My walk from my work place to the court house left me sweating buckets (at 8:30 a.m.). My gosh, I am not looking forward to summer if it's going to be this hot.

Enough about sweating buckets, I also wanted to share pictures of things growing in my garden. Not only are my poppies blooming, but so are my strawberries. I even had a bite of an almost ripe strawberry and it was delicious. It probably would've been even more delicious had I waited an extra day to pick it, but I couldn't help it. It was still delicious and oh so yummy.

Radishes

Crab Apple Trees

Happy Earth Day

It's Earth Day and today was a wonderful day in my neck of the woods. The sun was out and there were very light breezes.

I got an early jumpstart on Earth Day over the weekend because my beau and I volunteered to pick up trash around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. It was a very organized event and it's my understanding that many people participated in picking up trash around the lakes in the Twin Cities and around the Mississippi River. My beau and I shared one bag, but we sure filled it up quickly. Considering that there were many other participants also picking up trash around Lake Harriet, boy-oh-boy, there was A LOT of trash.

Today I wanted to share pictures of the lake (yes, it's poor quality and very poorly taken) and of the apricot blossoms blooming in my yard (yes, I just learned late last month that I have an apricot tree in my yard). Do you notice the different coloring in the apricot blossoms (as compared to the cherry blossoms)?

Cherry Blossoms

Blooming Blossoms

In my May 4, 2009 blog entry I noted that my cherry blossoms were beginning to bloom. Lo-and-behold, this morning I noticed that my cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom (and it’s only the middle of April). I also noticed that I had a strawberry blossom too. Despite it being cloudy and windy outside (conditions making outside a bit cooler), I still can't believe that spring has sprung.

Rain

After weeks of prediction that it will rain every other day when in actuality it was just a sunny and windy day, or cloudy and overcast sky (sometimes with a very light drizzle), the first rain storm came down early early this morning in the Metro area. The lightening and thunder were so fierce that it kept me up for most of the early morning.

I’m so glad that there is rain. I’m hoping for more rain because our spring has started so early and I really don’t want a drought this summer. Of course I don’t care too much for my grass and I can easily water my little garden from a hose. Really, I’m more concerned about the lakes and other wildlife in Minnesota that are dependent on the snow and rain. I remember last summer was pretty bad because many of the lakes receded to the point where it became a pond.

The sun is coming out behind the clouds late this afternoon, but the sky is still overcast. I hope that more rain is on its way.

Really, I Can Garden?

I still can't believe that spring has come so early to the Twin Cities. I've been hesitating in preparing my garden beds, afraid that a frost will come in and kill what I've planted. However, today was a beautiful day and it made me feel a bit silly for waiting. It has been semi-warm the last several weeks and I've come to the conclusion that if there's a frost, then there's a frost and that I'll take my chances. It also gave me a reason to wear and test out my dusty blue garden boots.

So, this afternoon I decided that I was going to start my garden. With the help of my brother we weeded and cleared out the little plot I had in my backyard. We made little rows and I planted the following fruits and vegetables: watermelon (one whole row was dedicated to just growing watermelons), jalapeno, red hot cherry pepper, cilantro, onions, two types of lettuce, radish, and cabbage. We'll see if anything comes up.

What's so cool is that some onions (you can see it to the left and right of the metal pole) and parsley are flourishing in the little plot. These were plants that were left over from last summer and I'm very glad that the plants survived.