2015 Steve's Garden 8
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 about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. 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 plant I take the trays upstairs to a cooler darker location every evening. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants you should try to grow your own. 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.
2015 Steve's Garden 8
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 about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. 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 plant I take the trays upstairs to a cooler darker location every evening. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants you should try to grow your own. 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.