2015 Steve's Garden 7
East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 7 I started a tray of tomato plants. It took only about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. Amazing! Conditions? Organic, low impact and non-GMO is how we roll. Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants from Whole Foods, Home depot and other corporate retailers you should really try to grow your own. Send me an S.A.S.E. and I'll mail you a bunch of cool seed FREE! On May 1 I'll plant delicious Vorlon Russian, Solar Flair, Armenian, Pomadoro, Ten Fingers Of Naples, Black Icicle, Paul Roebson, Striped Roman, Black Cherry, Sungold Cherry, Big Rainbow, Black Mauri, Roman Candle, Azoychka, Hillbilly Flame, Mortgage Lifter, Amana Orange, two types of Romanian tomatoes given to me by my gardening buddy neighbor, San Marzano Lungo and Aunt Ginny's Purple. Starting in July we'll have plenty of fresh heirloom tomatoes for the table and for our neighbors. The garden will abide.
2015 Steve's Garden 7
East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 7 I started a tray of tomato plants. It took only about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. Amazing! Conditions? Organic, low impact and non-GMO is how we roll. Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants from Whole Foods, Home depot and other corporate retailers you should really try to grow your own. Send me an S.A.S.E. and I'll mail you a bunch of cool seed FREE! On May 1 I'll plant delicious Vorlon Russian, Solar Flair, Armenian, Pomadoro, Ten Fingers Of Naples, Black Icicle, Paul Roebson, Striped Roman, Black Cherry, Sungold Cherry, Big Rainbow, Black Mauri, Roman Candle, Azoychka, Hillbilly Flame, Mortgage Lifter, Amana Orange, two types of Romanian tomatoes given to me by my gardening buddy neighbor, San Marzano Lungo and Aunt Ginny's Purple. Starting in July we'll have plenty of fresh heirloom tomatoes for the table and for our neighbors. The garden will abide.