"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Mother's Day Sale!
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'One must have sunshine, freedom,
and a little flower.'
Hans Christian Andersen
TOMATO GROWING TIPS
The average growing season in the Spokane area is 150 days.
Days to mature fruit is counted from the time you plant the plants in the garden, not from when the seeds are planted.
There are 2 types of tomato plants; determinate and indeterminate. The first means it will only grow to a certain height, around 3 or 4 feet. And all the fruit grows and ripens in a short time; about 2 weeks. These plants are good for smaller areas and when you want fruit all at once for making sauce, etc.
Indeterminate plants continue to grow all season and grow and ripen fruit accordingly till frost kills the plant.
For best results, plant tomato seeds 6 weeks earlier inside.
Before planting outside, work aged, completed compost into the soil. This gives nutrients and beneficial micro organisms to the soil plus gives the soil more texture while helping with retaining moisture and drainage. This is especially important in less than ideal soil like sandy or clay types.
The soil will also benefit from an addition of blood meal, bone meal, and greensand. These comprise the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium all plants require.
Place a layer of red or black plastic over the planting area to really warm that soil up. Tomatoes will not thrive in cold soil.
Make a planting hole or trench and add a spoonful of tomato food (5-10-10). Then cover with soil so the fertilizer won’t touch the plant roots. Then add some crushed eggshells for calcium. This helps prevent blossom rot.
Plant deeply; up to a few top leaves. You can also plant sideways. The plant will grow up straight and reach for the sun. This makes the plant very strong and sturdy as roots will develop all along the buried stem, plus helps them take up more nutrients. This latter method is best for us as this way we do not dig and plant in the cooler deeper soil. Remove most of the leaves that will be underground; this will help prevent decay and disease.
Give plants a good 6 hours of sunlight. They need this to grow the plant and the fruit; however sunlight is not needed for ripening the fruit. Sun will actually scald the fruit so the leaves are vital for shade.
Water a good 1 inch a week and never let soil around plant dry out completely. This causes uneven growth, and blossom rot. But too much water can cause an excess of leaf growth and blossom drop. When the fruit is developed you can lessen the amount of water used but not so much as to cause the plant to wilt or the fruit to drop.
Mulch can be very important to keep moisture consistent, and to help prevent disease by minimizing the splashing of water on the leaves and stem. However, do not mulch too early in the season as this will keep the soil too cool. For best results, mulch around the first of July.
Fertilize with a food made specifically for tomatoes. Young plants need phosphate and very little nitrogen. Follow label directions. Compost tea is also very good sprayed directly on the leaves and the surrounding soil. Using weekly helps prevent fungal diseases.
Pruning is up to the individual. You can remove the very bottom leaves when the plants are about 3 feet tall. These leaves are the first to develop fungal problems and to turn yellow from lack of sun. You can also prune the leaves that grow at the crotch of two branches. These won’t grow any fruit and will take energy from the plant. In early summer you can pinch off the tops of indeterminate plants so the plant will put its energy into fruit ripening faster.
Your best defense against tomato problems are to rotate crops from year to year and don’t plant too closely together to help air circulation. Try to water the soil around the plants instead of overhead, and don’t water late in the day. Avoid working around or touching plants when they are wet.
HORSERADISH
Plant in spring as soon as soil can be worked.
Plants like soil which is loose, deeply dug and amended with organic matter.
Plant 18-24” apart in shallow trenches, with the top slightly elevated.
Cover with a 4-5” deep mound of soil.
Plants grow 2-21/2’ tall and the roots grow the most during the cooling fall weather.
Water thoroughly if plants wilt during hot weather, especially in late summer and early fall.
Harvest roots as needed anytime from late fall, after a hard frost, until growth starts in the spring.
Production is better if divided and planted yearly, but plants will thrive without any care.
Small pencil-sized roots may be saved from harvest and replanted in the spring.
Hardy zones 2-7
RHUBARB
Plant the hardy perennial in full sun in early spring, as soon as soil can be worked.
Prepare the soil ahead of time and incorporate organic matter so it is nice and loose, to a depth of 10-12”.
Also make sure the soil drains well.
Place the crown bud 2” below soil surface.
Space plants 36-48” apart with rows 3-4’ apart.
Keep watered during periods of drought and mulch to keep weeds down and to conserve moisture.
Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer in June.
Do not harvest the first year after planting.
Harvest sparingly the second year and by the third year a full harvest may be enjoyed.
To harvest, pull the leafstalks from the plant and trim off leaf blades. Do not eat the leaves as they contain large amounts of oxalic acid. Remove only 1/3 of the leafstalks from a plant at any one time.
Remove flower stems during the spring and summer to extend the harvesting season.
Once they flower, do not harvest until the following year.
This is a perennial plant. Hardy zones 3-8
