The first photo is an image of Rutger Tomatoes. Billy’ prefers this variety. However, upon closer inspection notice the thin and spindly nature of each plant.

By comparison, on the right you will see the Cherokee Purples. If you read my blog regularly, these are the seedlings planted in a plastic shoe box and kept warm with Christmas-tree-lights. If you missed that post, click here to read. Tomatoes need hours and hours, and then a few more…hours of sunlight every day. Both the Rutgers and the Purples were planted at the same time. Both in my home, same care. I wanted a side-by-side comparison with the hopes of swaying Billy (and you) into growing only Botanical Interests seeds, instead of those “other companies.”

Rutger Tomatoes, One of Billy’s favorites

Cherokee Purple Seedlings. Planted same time. Notice thickness of stalk

Here is an image of the same plants today.

As you see in the image below, the Rutgers are still the same size. They have barely grown, while the Botanical Interest’s Cherokee Purples have sprouted new leaves. Considering the dreary weather, and frigid temperatures, I’m pleased with my Purples.

Please consider trying Botanical Interest’s Seeds.  In Georgia, seeds are available in Pike’s. Also, ask for them at Harry’s Supermarket. It’s time to start those seedlings. Happy gardening and remember to keep those hands dirty.

Update March 29, 2013 at 10:55 am. WOW. After receiving a comment that I had the same images, I have inserted another image today (difficult to hold one box over the other while holding the camera, and trying to snap the photo; but, I am quite offended that someone would think I am not honest. I guess the next allegation is photoshop). As you can see, side-by-side. I can’t zoom in (no extra hand), but you can see very little growth on the left, explosive growth on the heritage seeds. If you want to purchase genetically altered seeds, by all means, please do so. My goal has, and always will remain, teaching people living in urban areas how to grow food.  I have given away seeds and helped people plant gardens (all without compensation). Unless you are actively, hands on- trying to help people grow their own food, and until you take the time to personally get to know me, please toss negative comments toward someone else. What do I have to gain by manipulating anything?

Please, only sunshine and tomato seedlings here. 

The seedlings. Side by Side.

Renea Winchester is the award-winning author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes. In 2012 she released Stress-Free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. 2014 will see the release of In the Kitchen with Billy: Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches. She is currently working on her first novel. She would love to hear from you. Visit her at www.reneawinchester.com

It lies.

The wind is howling and without the sun, it feels like thirty. This means today is the perfect day to start seeds indoors. Regular visitors and followers of my blog know that I like to try new tricks that expedite the germination process. Sowing seeds indoors is a fast, easy way to get a jump on spring planting. Today’s tip falls in the “must-try” category.

TIP: Soaking seeds in Nelson’s Grow Best Plant food is the best way to give seeds a head start.

Soaking seeds in Nelson’s Grow Best for five minutes is an excellent way to start your indoor seeds.

Georgia residents can buy Nelson’s Grow Best from Home Depot using this link. Non-Georgia residents, purchase it here. This concentrated fertilizer is the best I’ve ever tried. One only needs to soak the seeds a few minutes to give them an added boost.

TIP Two: The fastest way to germinate seedlings is to heat the soil and then maintain a continual temperature. Seeds are smart. They won’t germinate in cold soil which is why you can trick them by warming up the dirt. Using a disposable pie plate (or pan like you cook the Thanksgiving turkey in) heat potting soil in the oven. Bake the soil for 5 minutes.

Yes Virginia, bake the soil . . . just not in your mom’s favorite casserole dish.

Pour dirt into a plastic box that you have lined with shredded newspaper.

TIP Three:

Shred newspaper (black and white only…no color). Then add enough water to moisten.

Shredded newspaper (that is moistened) provides necessary moisture and encourages a strong root system. After adding warm soil on top of the newspaper, sprinkle seeds on top of the soil then, using your finger, press the seed firmly into the dirt. (no deeper than ½ inch).

Super Cheater TIP Four: Now this is a big one. Did you know the best way to maintain soil temperature (and trick your seeds into thinking it’s spring) is to place Christmas Tree lights on top of the soil? Don’t y’all go stealing this and blogging about it like you thought this up. This little Redneck idea is all mine.

After planting the seeds and making certain the soil is warm and toasty, I located a string of lights that only partially worked. I placed it on top of the dirt, covered the container with the lid and coiled the remaining lights in another container. 

The lights generate a small amount of heat. When combined with the moisture from the newspaper I turn a recycled ice cream bucket into a mini-greenhouse. Since I didn’t have a lid for this bucket, I fabricated a lid using plastic wrap and secured it with a rubber band. Since the containers share one strand of lights I placed the bucket on top of the box. Once seedlings emerge I will remove the lids.

All together now let’s sing. “I keep my Christmas Lights on….”

Stay tuned to this blog, or better yet, subscribe. I’ll keep you posted on the seedlings. Until then, visit the Botanical Interests online Seed Catalog and place your order. And remember to visit the website for your fertilizer.

Renea Winchester is the award-winning author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love * Tomatoes. In 2012 she released Stress-Free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. 2014 will see the release of In the Kitchen with Billy: Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches. She is currently working on her first novel. She would love to hear from you. Visit her at www.reneawinchester.com

Veteran gardeners have noticed a change in pre-bagged potting soil. Regardless of the brand or monetary investment one makes, most garden soils look like this. 

Touching the “soil” one immediately recognizes two things: peat and ground-up bark. These do not make soil (well, technically they do, just not quickly).

Always on the hunt for a quick way to add organic matter, I take to the shredder and grind up as many newspapers as I can get.

Note: this process works best when rain is imminent.

Also Note: You can dig a trench and bury the newspaper.

The nest step: Adding Straw. After placing these shreds of paper directly on top of the soil, I add straw on top of the newspaper. I acquired the straw for FREE.  I stopped at a church after Thanksgiving while their “fall display” was still out and before their Christmas Trees went on display. The church was happy to give away the straw (they were going to throw it out).

Shredded newspaper and straw break down rapidly, especially in rainy weather.

Newspapers: also free. If you don’t subscribe, ask someone who does to save their papers for you.

After both the paper and straw are in place I sprinkle a liberal amount of fertilizer on top. The fertilizer, when mixed with rain, hastens decomposition. Either commercial or organic fertilizer is sufficient.

Sprinkle in a little fertilizer to expedite decomposition

Now, for those who follow my blog often this organic fertilizer (see below image of bag)  is the best one can buy. You can use regular fertilizer (picture on right), but this particular organic brand is my favorite. You must ask for Top Organic from a “real” hardware store (not Lowes or Home Depot). You might need to purchase in bulk (go in with your neighbors, split the cost). This organic fertilizer breaks down in a matter of hours, transforming your soil into a rich, lush planting ground.

WARNING: “Top Organic Fertilizer”  is desiccated chicken manure. It smells…badly. Wear old clothes. Use when rain is imminent. Trust me on that one. This fertilizer is a wonderful additive to the lawn as well.

Top Organic Fertilizer. Find it, use it, but be warned, it smells !

Incorporating these additives will give your plants and flowers the boost they need. When you have finished your garden will look like this for a while. If you wish, you can sprinkle a bag of potting soil on top to cover the straw. 

As always, I love hearing from you. Feel free to comment or contact me through my website

www.reneawinchester.com

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes, and Stress-free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. Look for the release of  In the Kitchen with Billy: Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches in 2014.

This week I thought I’d spread a little joy. I asked readers to comment, or subscribe to my post. Those who participated were entered in a drawing for a Botanical Interests gift certificate.

First, thank you all for reading my blog and my book, In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes, which is available on Kindle here and through my website.

I am thrilled to announce that Patty is the winner!

Patty, keep an eye out for this lovely gift from me, to you.

And for those who didn’t win. Don’t despair. 2013 will bring another contest, or two, as well as the release of In the Kitchen with Billy: Farming, Fords & Fried Bologna Sandwiches. Merry Christmas to all.

Renea Winchester is an award winning author. In 2012, Make Your Mark Publishing released her book,  Stress-free Marketing Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author available on Kindle and paperback. In the Garden with Billy earned her a SIBA and GAYA nomination. She is currently working on her first novel.

Doesn’t anyone realize how long an employees must work just to purchase a head of lettuce?

Panic accurately describes my feelings. I am also depressed. Apples are $ 1.99 a pound, same for nectarines and plums. It seems the only place in Atlanta offering affordable vegetables is the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. Alas, how many people have the time, or can afford the gas to drive that far? It is becoming impossible to feed our children-and ourselves-healthy food.

And then there was my daughter’s math assignment, complete with recipe. Total cost for ingredients: $ 20.00. Don’t get me started on that little surprise grocery store trip.

It is time-today-to plant some lettuce. Time to plant spinach, kale, collards and anything else green you can think of. All these “winter greens” will thrive in southern fall gardens. Most of these plants will last through the winter until temperatures rise in the summer.

For those trapped in a subdivision, empty a plastic storage container, plunk in a bag of dirt, and shake in a packet of Botanical Interests seeds. I have provided a link for many tried-and-true varieties here.

Do you like snow peas? Plant ‘em my friend, plant them today. While you’re at it, plant garlic too. It is a tasty winter crop.

We’ve got to do something. Soon and very soon, growing our own food will become a necessity. I am trying to remain calm, but the reality is this: consumers have little control over pricing.

Enter my red-neck lettuce bed. I took this photo from the side to show the simplicity of this project. The container is a plastic drawer. When the wheel of the cabinet broke, I converted it into a tiny lettuce garden.

It is easy to convert clear plastic containers into lettuce beds.

How? I purchased one bag of potting soil (with fertilizer in the bag). Drove the bag home. Opened the bag. Poured two inches of dirt into the container. Because the container will remain on the porch, and away from winter rains, drainage holes are not necessary. I sprinkled a package of Botanical Interests Buttercrunch Lettuce seeds. Added a thin layer of dirt,  and then said a prayer of thanksgiving as I lightly patted everything into place.

Lettuce does not transplant well. Neither will any of the previously mentioned “greens.” Determine where you want the plants to live, even if it is alongside the Gardenia outside your front door. Grow spinach in a fancy container, lettuce in the terra-cotta alongside the garage, in a plastic container, greens do not care. They are not persnickety.

Be not proud, my friend, and try not to panic. Keep calm and plant some lettuce, kale, and perhaps a packet of spinach.

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author. Order copies of her books through her website www.reneawinchester.com. She is currently writing, In the Kitchen with Billy: Friends, Fords, and Friend Bologna Sandwiches.

Here in Atlanta folk aren’t enthusiastic about berry picking. Especially since these berries are situated along a busy road. For me, picking is therapeutic. Place me in a field and I won’t leave until every single thing is harvested.

Lord, please protect me from snakes, bees and biting ants, I think while stepping into a field abundant with Queen Anne’s Lace. Oh and please, no chiggers. I add.

Where I grew up Queen Anne’s Lace is called the “Chigger Plant.”

My thoughts raced as fast as the rushing cars. Allow me to share them with you.

My mom would like a cobbler. I should take her some. She has chemo this Friday and I am always trying to think of something special for her.

I am so thankful my husband has a job. We-like many-have seen our share of job loss and financial worries.

The peaches will be ready soon. Oh how my Dad loves peaches. I should take him some as a Father’s Day gift.

Protect my daughter from the school bully. She witnessed one student threaten another yesterday…something she will not tolerate.

Thank you for Kelle. My fellow picker. Help Doe as she travels. She suffers from flight-anxiety. Be with my friends who are struggling on many levels.

Thank you for giving Courtney the gift of healing. I feel so much better. Courtney is a healing massage therapist who recently unkinked my very painful back ailment.

As the bucket fills the light strikes the berries in a way that causes my eyes to well with tears. Oh. How precious is my life. How I take it for granted. How rapid the years are slipping away.

With the bucket full, I walk home. As my muscles protest beneath the weight I think, what am I going to do with all these berries?. Almost immediately an elderly lady approaches. I know. I will give some away. I will give some to a stranger.

“Good morning. How are you today?” I ask wearing a smile and juice-stained fingertips. She grunts a response. Again another lesson in how our actions affect our life. She will not receive any berries.

I’ll call Miss Mary. She’ll appreciate them. I think as I turn into my driveway.

Renea Winchester is the author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes. She is an award-winning author who was recently named the Author of the Year by the National Pen Women Association, Atlanta Chapter. The 100^th subscriber to her blog will receive a $ 10.00 Gift Certificate to Botanical Interests, a family owned company whose products Renea adores.

Translation: “I need help.”

After clearing my schedule, I grabbed seeds and the tomatoes I had sprouted, then drove to his “little strip of land.”

For those planting seeds directly into the earth, please know that seeds will sprout (on average) two days sooner if you soak them before planting. While Billy cranked the tiller and made a row, I poured seeds into a cup of water knowing that the added moisture aids germination. Some seeds seem to require soaking: okra, beans, and peas for example.

Soaking beans is not necessary, just a gardening hint.

Sprouting Seeds: I am also still sprouting seeds indoors. If you haven’t visited the website of Botanical Interests and purchased seeds for your garden, there is still time. I highly recommend Cherokee Purple and Black Krimm tomatoes.

Don’t let me find you in a big box store with a basket full of seeds. Trust me, please. Do the right thing and plant seeds from a family-owned company.

Regular readers know that I adore watching plants grow and develop. Some also know that I love cucumber sandwiches (almost as much as fried bologna). For that reason, I stagger the growing season and purpose to grow cukes up until the first breath of frost. Sprouting seeds is not rocket science. Remember the secret: a heating pad.

I have found clear plastic containers more effective than the leftover flamingo party cups pictured here. I think this is because heat distributes evenly and sunlight permeates clear containers. Add potting soil, push seeds into the soil, water lightly, cover with a piece of glass (or plastic wrap) then wait. Placing the container on a heating pad (set on high) warms the soil and triggers an awakening.

Because cukes germinate speedy quick, (the pic is of a plant two days old), I will plant these seeds immediately. Whether you are a veteran gardener or first-time clod buster enjoy your time in the garden and remember to keep those hands dirty.

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes. The book is traditionally published and available from independent bookstores and online as well as personally autographed (by author and Billy) through Renea’s website.  Follow Billy’s farm on Facebook.

Most of us have plastic containers lying around the house that look like this container. One only need to add a layer of shredded newspaper, (that is damp enough to be soggy), then add a layer of potting soil.

Containers of this nature become “instant greenhouses.” Placing them on a heating pad for a couple days will heat the soil enough to expedite germination. If you don’t have a heating pad, you can “cook” your soil in the oven. While the soil will not retain heat, it will be warm enough to stimulate germination.

Please. Step away from peat pellets and those seed starter cups one finds in the store. They will not work.

Pass on these peat pellets, and other implements that simply aren't worth the money.

Here’s why: either the seeds will germinate and take off like a rocket, (which results in a weak plant), or the seeds will be so strong they will  become root bound in the container, which means damaged roots upon transferral to the real garden.

Either plant directly into the ground and cover with plastic, or use this “red neck” greenhouse I suggest.

Also: the following plants will never transplant well: carrot, corn, okra, lettuce, kale, and any other “greens.”  Plant them directly into the soil where they will spend the summer.

Those that do transplant well include: beans, peas, peppers and tomatoes.

Back to the redneck greenhouse. In this photo notice how I  have placed newspaper into the bottom of the container.

Notice a layer of soggy newspaper in the bottom?

There are NO drainage holes. That is because the top of the container has a gap wide enough to allow air curculation. I chose this container because I can easily remove the lid and allow air inside.

Newspaper provides much-needed moisture beneath the seed. This is important because as the seed germinates it will seek moisture. Moisture beneath the seed encourages a strong root. Moisture above the seed encourages the root to grow up (meaning upside down).

The container is sitting on a heating pad. Notice how moisture is already condensing on the side of the container. This is heaven to a seedling.  Once seeds emerge water by using a spray bottle (a recycled cleaning bottle will work). Do not pour heavy water on delicate plants, they will break.

Now here is the tricky part, when it is time to transplant into the seedling’s permanent home, one might be forced to remove the bottom of the container in order to protect delicate plants.

How many seasoned gardeners have broken plants trying to remove them from containers? How many seasoned gardeners have killed their plants by pouring water on top of them?

This is why, if at all possible, it is best to plant directly in the garden. Nothing is more frustrating that investing time nourishing delicate seedlings only to kill them when removing them from containers. Happy gardening and remember to keep those hands dirty.

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author of the book In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes. Visit her at www.reneawinchester.com

A heavy incorporation of chicken manure helped also. Looking at the photo, one might imagine this bed large.

However, looking again, you will see this bed is a little bigger than a yard stick ! This is “fall lettuce” which was planted around January. Lettuce likes cooler temperatures. Soon I will have to either shade the area, or pull up the lettuce.

It hurts me to pull up any plant.

Also in this tiny space, is a row of spinach. Beside the spinach is a row of carrots planted just yesterday. (Because Mr. Coleman’s bunnies love carrots). This raised bed will use every single ounce of space.

Don’t be afraid to turn a small space in your yard into a “big” garden. Upcoming plans call for the incorporation of another “bed” for onions and garlic. Ideally, you can grow lettuce in the same area. Since garlic and onions “die back” in the summer heat they can both share the same gardening space as lettuce and other greens. Effective managing space and seeking every ounce of sunlight is something I am forced to do in my limited area.

Tiny raised bed=BIG harvest

Renea Winchester is the author of the book, In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes. Her book is traditionally published and available in independent bookstores and online. Visit her at www.reneawinchester.com. Follow the happenings at Billy’s by liking the In the Garden with Billy Facebook page.

And remember, keep those hands dirty.

Seeds have emerged and begin to turn toward the sun.

Seeds respond by erupting from the soil, unfurling delicate, pale leaves and then – in some cases – collapsing in a weak pile of death. That, my friend, happens because tender stalks cannot support the weight of new growth. Simply put, in order to urge seedlings along we must “toughen up” or “harden off” these delicate sprouts.

The easiest way to do this is with a common heater most of us keep beneath our desk in the office. Some heaters are equipped with fans that blow cool air. If yours isn’t, set the temperature on the coolest level possible.

In the photo below, notice the humidifier behind the seedlings. The addition of steam or moisture (if a cold water humidifier is used) increases humidity levels in the room. Reflective paper ensures that not one single ray of sunlight is wasted. These two tricks make plants happy.

Position the fan so that it blows directly on the plants, then turn it to the lowest setting. While the plants sway and move beneath the force of circulated air, they will not break. In fact, the base of the plants will thicken.

Seedlings placed near a window, versus those grown beneath direct (overhead) light, require daily rotation as each plant automatically seeks the sun. At the end of each day, give the container a quick quarter turn and allow the fan to blow on the plants for a half hour.

Soon your babies will be ready to face the outside world.

Renea Winchester is the author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes. Like the page on Facebook (HERE) for up-to-date happenings on Billy’s little strip of land.