Tomato Seedlings

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, and since there are many who -like me- still hold firm to the old ways and require a bit of a nudge, I submit the following images of tomato seedlings. I too was a loyal shopper, purchasing seeds from “those companies” you know them, I don’t need to list them. I used to grab seeds here, order them there, and wonder why in the world my plants didn’t produce.

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

 

Time to Make Some Dirt

Here in zone 7b (otherwise known as Atlanta), spring is partially here. Tree buds have unfurled, daffodils erupted and spring fever is at a pitch. We have been blessed (yes blessed) with rain and for the first time in ages, the meteorologist reports that we are (almost) out of our drought. In a few weeks we will be planting, planting, planting which is why now it is time to make some dirt.

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.

 

 

The Blackberry Winter of 2012

Blackberry Winter: 2012

Laugh if you must, but the facts cannot be denied. Blackberries are in bloom, This week temperatures are predicted to hover near the foliage-killing frost-line. Folk from my hometown of Bryson City, NC know this as “Blackberry Winter.”

Blackberry Winter is a sudden drop in temperatures and the threat of frost. This weather event happens, without fail, every single year approximately one week after Dogwood blooms fade. 

Dear ones, it is time to break out the Mickey Mouse sheets, milk-jugs, newspaper and everything else we can find to protect delicate seedlings. ‘Cause you know we planted them when our heart of hearts whispered that it was way too early.

Yes we did.

We couldn’t help ourselves. What was a gardener to do? Temperatures were in the mid 80’s for Pete’s sake! Who has time for annoying indoor spring-cleaning when the garden beckons?

This year, Blackberry Winter threatens more than the vegetable garden. All fruit trees in the Atlanta Metro area have already bloomed. Delicate fruit is at risk. I am praying for the peaches at Grier Orchard in Cornelia, Georgia. It might be a selfish prayer. God knows I adore peaches. He also knows the Grier family feeds a community of folk. I wonder if I should drive up there Wednesday night and offer to hold a blowdrier on the trees to keep them warm?

May flowers such as iris and columbine are in full bloom and tiny flowers are forming on the hydrangea. This week, as nighttime temperatures fall, you will find me draping sheets over the shrubbery. Those “trashy” empty pots my husband abhors will serve a purpose, to protect peonies.

A few months ago, Caldwell Tree Care visited my home for much-needed maintenance. My friend, Rachael Male, suggested I use discarded Crape Myrtle limbs and construct a fence. What a lovely idea. We chatted about this fence, a rustic, romantic creation that (I believed) would spiffy up my current not-so-spiffy-garden. The downside: I needed to complete the task in 24 hours, while the limbs were still pliable.

Y’all know how that turned out.

Instead of a rustic romantic fence around the perimeter of the garden, the end result was a “fence” that is actually something for my Botanical Interests green beans to climb. Today, my previous shortcoming leaves me smiling. All I’ll need here is a couple old sheets and the beans will weather the cold snap without trouble.

My vegetable garden might not be “lovely,” but it serves me well. It is a hodgepodge of stakes, sticks, and recycled home-security signs (which, by the way, make perfect plant markers). Whatever you use this week, find something to cover your tender babies. It might not frost, but then again, it might.

Remember, keep those hands dirty, and please share my blog with a friend.

Renea Winchester is the author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes. She is currently writing In the Kitchen with Billy.

 

Small Garden, Big Results

It is said that good things come in small packages. That saying rings true when it comes to raised beds. I am just now discovering the glory of gardening using raised beds. If y’all will remember only last year this area with a disaster: filled with roots, honeysuckle and vinca. Today, thanks to multiple applications of mushy shredded newspaper, worms have come and transformed the soil into a thing of beauty.

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.

 

Tomato Seed Giveaway !!!

Each Friday, during the month of April and May,  I will offer ONE packet (seed variety and winner chosen at random) of these beautiful seeds.

Every Friday Ill Give Away One Pack Of Seeds

Botanical Interests: known as THE place to buy certified organic seeds of every imaginable variety, has graciously agreed to sponsor this contest.  Thank you very much. I am so excited !

Truly, the packets are beautiful. Even if you don’t plant a vegetable garden, these make adorable collectible items.

Here are the particulars: Comment on ANY blog posting except this one. Once a comment is left, you are entered to win. Obviously I want to people to read other posts, and what I’m writing about the farm and gardening. Everyone who comments is entered to win a packet of seeds.

It’s that EASY !

Feel free to subscribe to the blog if you wish. My plan is to grow each variety seen above on Billy’s “little strip of ground” and document their growth, our success or failure.

The following varieties are available in this offer: San Marzano, Black Krim, Beefsteak, Cherokee Purple, Sugar Sweetie, Brandywine (typed in no particular order because they will be awarded in no particular order).

Disclaimer and legal ease:

First: Again thank you so  much to Botanical Interests for their generous support. They are in no way, responsible for any part of this contest. However, they are a wonderful company who offer beautiful high-quality seeds. Please, support them by visiting their website at www.botanicalinterests.com to learn more about this fantastic company.

Winners will be notified via email, so please make sure you include an accurate email when commenting on my blog.

Tell your friends about the contest. Unless they are luckier than you. If they are, strike a deal that the friend who wins shares plants !

Winners agree that by submitting a comment their name will be posted on my Facebook page.  Winners are encouraged to document their own progress, and submit photos to Renea who may be reached through her website at www.reneawinchester.com . Winners are encouraged to post photos to the In The Garden Facebook Page. 

Author Photo: All Rights Reserved

If you want to increase the chance of winning to 100% visit my website at www.reneawinchester.com place an order for my book In The Garden With Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes, and I will include a packet of seeds (again selected randomly) with the shipment. If supplies last I will make them available when I visit The Northwest Georgia Conference in Calhoun Georgia on  May 14, 2011; The Blue Ridge Book Fest in North Carolina May 21st; and The Book Exchange on May 23, 2011.

Oh, and friends, neighbors, even family can enter. My brilliant number-crunching husband is having the computer choose the winner. Can’t get much fairer than that.

Good luck and remember, keep those hands dirty.

Renea Winchester is an Award-Winning author. She was born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina and currently resides in Atlanta where she’s converting every inch of ground into flower and vegetable gardens. She is the author of the book In The Garden With Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes which has been nominated for the prestigious GAYA and SIBA award.

 

 

Poison Ivy

Just mention the words poison ivy and poison oak and my skin begins to itch.

In a past life, I boasted “I never get poison ivy. I could roll around in it and never be bothered.”

Oh the innocent boasting of youth.

It appears that as we age, and our skin thins, and even I have become susceptible to this curse that crawls upon the earth and covers trees with evil, evil greenery.

This I discovered, (when blotches appeared on my face) three short days after my latest daffodil rescue mission. I couldn’t help myself. The house was charred, a meth-house, I reasoned. A place where the daffodils were at risk of certain death should they remain at their current location. Grabbing my partner in crime, who coincidentally was clawing at her own patch of poison on her hand, we arrived at the “rescue field” where we commenced Phase I (the initial dig of bulbs).

The problem with spring-time digging, planting, and of course, rescuing is that poison ivy looks like a leafless stick. There are no “leaves of three” for us to “let be.”

There was also no warning sign hinting of hidden danger. Because I assure you– as I try to type, and not claw–had I caught a three-leaf-glimpse I would most certainly let it be.

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of poison ivy (other than complete avoidance) is to clean tools and gloves properly. Washing garden gloves, especially leather ones can be disastrous. However, replacing gloves after use is costly. Perhaps this is best done by soaking gloves in a bucket of warm soapy water. Or perhaps it is best to don latex gloves then dispose of them immediately. Either way, what is done is done and I’m left trying to ignore the itch that I swear is working its way up my face!

Spray shovels handles with a kitchen cleaner that has bleach in it, then place the tool (handle down) in a bucket for a few hours.

Since it is the oil that irritates the skin, it is wise to keep a bottle of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in the shower. Place clothes in the wash then scrub your skin immediately after exposure to remove any residual oil. Next try, oh how hard it is to try, not to claw at the face when the burdensome blisters appear.

I welcome your “home remedy” suggestions. What have you tried that works?

 

“Setting Eggs” and Breaking New Ground: By Renea Winchester

“Setting Eggs” and Breaking New Ground: By Renea Winchester

It only takes one or two days of sunshine to catapult winter-weary gardeners into a feverous pitch that can only be defined as mania. It’s been a frigid winter and most of the country has at one time or another, been blanketed in either snow or ice (or both)!

As a result, the moment the sun breaks through, birds gather to shout their praises and sun lovers abandon the couch in search of spring.

However, before we start getting all crazy and start setting eggs, planting seeds, and plunging our hands in the dirt, we need to refer to the “good book” for guidance.

Almanac... aka "Farmer's Bible"

I’m talking about the almanac…Grier’s 205th Annual issue to be exact.

Last week, I presented Billy with his copy of the almanac. Under his training, I’ve quickly learned that he takes the advice written on these pages quite seriously. He plants crops and “sets hens” only when approved by Mr. Grier himself. According to page 6 of the 205th edition, we should: “Set eggs to hatch in a fruitful sign. The chicks will mature faster and be better layers.”

Billy snatched the calendar off the wall as I delved into the newsprint pages eager to determine when we were going to “break the new ground.” As an aside, he likes to plant something, usually potatoes on Good Friday.

This year, Grier’s predicts a wet February which is not good, considering the rice-field debacle we mucked through last February in his garden.

Undeterred by the gloomy prediction Billy asked, “When does it say I can set some ‘aigs?’ The hens are getting restless.”

Photo by Billy's other Farmhand, Kelle McEntegart

According to Billy, he has been “breaking up hen parties left and right.” He is a firm believer health chicks comes from following these stringent, albeit mysterious, “signs.”

I licked my finger and turned the page. “It says we should set eggs on the 13, 14, or 15th of February; then on the 22 or 23rd of February.”

I placed a sharpie in his weathered hand. Billy opened the cap and circled the date; then he replaced the cap and said with a nod, “We’ll set those hens on Valentine’s day.”

I can think of no better way to celebrate our love of gardening…can you?

Soon, we’ll be listening to baby chicks say, “peep, peep” and enjoying the magic that spring brings.

Little Momma, the best "Mother Hen" ever !

 

Until my next post, remember keep those hands dirty.

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author whose

book, In The Garden With Billy: Lessons About Life,

Love & Tomatoes is available in bookstores everywhere and online. Visit her website at

www.reneawinchester.com to learn more.

 

Come Spring, Come

By Renea Winchester

Today, the sun teased us with the promise of spring. Just when we think we can’t take one more day of freezing weather, or one more drippy and depressing day of heavy gray clouds, hope streams through the window, whispering the word, “spring.”

The birds become more active, daring to entice the sun’s favor as they spread their wings and call out, “yes…come!”

 Come, fill the air with the fragrance of daffodils, and the promise of primrose blooms bedecking the windowsill. Come, lengthen the days with your warm embrace. Come, as everything that has breath is renewed and begins to live again. Come spring, come. We have waited so long!