Page 5 - Monthly Archives: August 2020

Tomatoes With Character
Some Tomatoes are glamorous like Elizabeth Taylor--lush, perfect, refined. Brandywines are glamorous like Melina Mercouri or Anna Magnani. Though their flavor is extraordinary, they do not always form perfect circles when sliced. Sometimes the fruits are lumpy, contorted, or deeply cleft, and you end up cutting them into free form chunks. They are perfect tossed with bread in an Italian panzanella salad, where flavor is more important than form. Or in salsa. Or in sandwiches with lots of mayo. Or try this one: toss some chunks of brie in hot, drained pasta, then add oddly shaped pieces of Brandywine Tomatoes. Ah, summer.

Tomato Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:36”
Plant Spacing:24”-30”
Days to Germination: 6-15 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

It’s best to raise Tomatoes as transplants. Sow Tomato seeds in sterile seed mix 6 to 8 weeks before the danger of frost has passed, water lightly and provide bottom heat. Grow seedlings at 60°

Salsify Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”-3/4”
Row Spacing:4”-5”
Seed Spacing:1”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:45°-85°F

Tragopogon porrifolius, the Oyster Plant. Salsify can be slow to sprout, so order fresh seed each year. As soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, soak the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water to assist germination. Sow directly into a well-draining, deeply dug bed in full to partial sunlight. Sow thickly and evenly, cover well and tamp down firmly. Keep the seed bed evenly moist until germination. Once the seedlings are 2" tall, thin them out to 4" apart. Mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Salsify produces flat, narrow green leaves and pale-skinned thin roots, often forked, with scraggly little rootlets. After the first hard frost, gently work them free of the soil and store in a cool, dry spot until use. You may also leave them in the ground to harvest up until the ground freezes, or overwinter them for an early

Melon Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”-1”
Row Spacing:5’
Hill Spacing:2’-3’
Days to Germination: 5-10 days
Germination Temperature: 70°-80°F

Direct-sow at least 2 weeks after the danger of frost has passed and both the weather and soil are reliably warm. Melons are heavy feeders: amend soil with fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. Plant 3 seeds per hill, with hills 2' to 3' apart in full sunlight. Thin to the strongest seedlings. The preferred planting method is to grow as transplants: sow seed singly in pots in sterile starter mix, 4 to 6 weeks before planting out. Grow in a warm greenhouse or under grow lights. Gradually accustom seedlings to sunlight before the third leaf has fully matured and plant in the garden after the last frost date. (If seedlings are kept in pots too long, it stunts their growth.)Water regularly, fertilizing as needed with kelp or fish emulsion. As Melons reach maturity, gradually withhold water and then cease watering to prevent rind splitting.

Chile Pepper Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:18”-24”
Plant Spacing:18”
Days to Germination: 8-18 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

Start Peppers 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date in your area. Sow 3 to 5 seeds per individual pot of starter mix or singly in peat pots. Provide light, even moisture and ventilation. Bottom warmth hastens germination. Seedlings prefer 70° to 85°F during the day with slightly cooler temperatures at night. Individually transplant the strongest seedlings to 4" pots and fertilize weekly. Do not allow seedlings to become root-bound. Amend a well-draining, sunny site with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. When night temperatures are reliably above 55°F, expose the Pepper plants to sun gradually over 1 week, then transplant. Water well and fertilize as needed with manure tea, kelp or fish emulsion. Mulch soil around Peppers if soil dries out too quickly. Harvest carefully, using a sharp blade, leaving 1⁄2"

Gardening Tips: Tomato Disease Codes
We have listed the diseases to which select hybrids have been bred to be resistant~one of the true benefits of improved hybrids.
V: Verticilium Wilt
F: Fusarium Wilt
F1: Fusarium Wilt Race 1
F2: Fusarium Wilt Race 2
N: Nematode
A: Alternaria alternata
L: Septoria leafspot
ST: Stemphylium
TMV: Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Tomato Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:36”
Plant Spacing:24”-30”
Days to Germination: 6-15 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

It’s best to raise Tomatoes as transplants. Sow Tomato seeds in sterile seed mix 6 to 8 weeks before the danger of frost has passed, water lightly and provide bottom heat. Grow seedlings at 60° to 75°F in a brightly lit, well-ventilated area. (Windowsills are not bright enough; the plant will get leggy and flop over.) Fertilize lightly as needed, increasing the pot size as needed. After the last spring frost, place outdoors for a week to harden off and to introduce to stronger sunlight. Prepare

Gardening Tips: Tomato Disease Codes
We have listed the diseases to which select hybrids have been bred to be resistant~one of the true benefits of improved hybrids.
V: Verticilium Wilt
F: Fusarium Wilt
F1: Fusarium Wilt Race 1
F2: Fusarium Wilt Race 2
N: Nematode
A: Alternaria alternata
L: Septoria leafspot
ST: Stemphylium
TMV: Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Tomato Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:36”
Plant Spacing:24”-30”
Days to Germination: 6-15 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

It’s best to raise Tomatoes as transplants. Sow Tomato seeds in sterile seed mix 6 to 8 weeks before the danger of frost has passed, water lightly and provide bottom heat. Grow seedlings at 60° to 75°F in a brightly lit, well-ventilated area. (Windowsills are not bright enough; the plant will get leggy and flop over.) Fertilize lightly as needed, increasing the pot size as needed. After the last spring frost, place outdoors for a week to harden off and to introduce to stronger sunlight. Prepare

Winter Squash Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Row Spacing:5’
Hill Spacing:5’-6’
Days to Germination: 5-10 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Winter Squash needs space to ramble as well as a hot growing site in full sunlight. They may be started after the last frost when the temperature is a reliable 60°F. Direct-sow 3 to 5 seeds per hill, then thin to the 2 strongest seedlings. To start indoors for transplanting, sow singly in pots 3 to 4 weeks before the transplant date. Provide seedlings with good ventilation, strong light and even moisture. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date. Enrich soil with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. Cover seedlings with cloches if it gets cool, water regularly and feed as needed with kelp or fish emulsion. Powdery mildew on leaves won’t affect the squash. Harvest with a sharp knife when skin is hard and fruits are fully colored. As long as there is no danger of frost, you may cure squash outdoors in the sun for

Pumpkin Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Row Spacing:5’
Hill Spacing:5’-6’
Days to Germination: 5-10 days
Germination Temperature: 65°-75°F

Pumpkins need space to ramble, as well as a hot growing site in full sunlight. They may be started outdoors shortly after the last frost. Direct-sow 3 to 5 seeds per hill, then thin to the 2 strongest seedlings. To start seedlings indoors, sow singly in pots 3 to 4 weeks before transplant date. Provide seedlings with good ventilation, strong light and even moisture. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date. Enrich soil with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well rotted manure. Cover seedlings with cloches if it gets cool, water regularly and feed as needed with kelp or fish emulsion. (Powdery mildew on leaves won’t affect the pumpkins.) Harvest when mature with a sharp knife, leaving 2" of stem at the top. To cure Pumpkins, if there is no danger of frost, leave outdoors in the sun for 10 days or place in a warm, dry room for 5 to 7 days.

Pepper Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:18”-24”
Plant Spacing:18”
Days to Germination: 8-18 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

Start Peppers 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date in your area. Sow 3 to 5 seeds per individual pot of starter mix or singly in peat pots. Provide light, even moisture and ventilation. Bottom warmth hastens germination. Seedlings prefer 70° to 85°F during the day with slightly cooler temperatures at night. Individually transplant the strongest seedlings to 4" pots and fertilize weekly. Do not allow seedlings to become root-bound. Amend a well-draining, sunny site with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. When night temperatures are reliably above 55°F, expose the Pepper plants to sun gradually over 1 week, then transplant. Water well and fertilize as needed with manure tea, kelp or fish emulsion. Mulch soil around Peppers if soil dries out too quickly. Harvest carefully, using a sharp blade, leaving 1⁄2" of

Basil Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”-1/4”
Row Spacing:12”
Plant Spacing:10”-12”
Days to Germination: 5-10 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

We know you’re itching to plant these, but . . . wait! Basil originated in the tropics and cannot thrive in cold weather. Direct-sow after all danger of frost has passed, spacing seed 1⁄2" to 1" apart in well-draining soil. To start as transplants, sow the Basil seed in seed starter mix 6 weeks before the last frost date. Provide heat, bright sunlight and good ventilation. Keep the growing medium barely moist, almost dry. Transplant the Basil seedlings outdoors after the last frost in a sunny spot with moderately fertile soil. Thin or space the plants in the garden 10" to 12" apart for proper growing conditions. Pinch back tops and flower buds to extend leaf production. Harvest the largest leaves from the top and sides to help create a bushier plant. Feed occasionally as needed with kelp or fish emulsion. Herbs dislike chemical fertilizers

Sweet Peas Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:6”-8”
Days to Germination:10-21 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F

Lathyrus odoratus. Wonderfully scented, Sweet Peas prefer cool, moist growing conditions. Soak the seeds for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Sow in well-draining soil that is fertile and rich in organic matter as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Work in compost and/or well-rotted manure as needed. They can also be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting outside. In areas with milder winters, Sweet Peas may also be started in the late fall for early spring blossoms. Once the seedlings reach 2" tall, thin to a spacing of 6" to 8" apart. Water well and mulch to keep roots cool and moist. Sweet Peas will need a solid support from a trellis, fence or netting to support their vines and profuse flowers. Cut the flowers often for sweet bouquets and keep up with dead-heading to increase flower production.

Days of Vines

Foxglove Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Digitalis purpurea. These classic cottage flowers thrive in partial shade. It is best to start them indoors 10 to 12 weeks before setting out. Sow seed thinly and shallowly, as light aids germination. Keep moist and provide warmth and strong light. Transplant to larger, deeper pots so their root systems can develop fully once the seedlings are about 2" tall. When the plants reach 5" to 6" tall, “harden them off” by gradually exposing the plants to the outdoors for 7 to 10 days. Transplant them outside up to 2 weeks before last frost date. Plant in rich, well-draining soil. Keep watered and mulched; do not let them dry out. If you want to cut them for bouquets, wait until the bottom third of the flowers on the spike have opened. Cutting them back and deadheading them will encourage side shoots and second blooms to develop. Height: 4' to