I always love this time of year in Houston--the deliciously cool mornings and comfortable afternoons, the gentle breeze...and one of the great times to get out and garden before the summer slows us down with heat and humidity.
The students have been hard at work planting their tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cantaloupe, tri-color bush beans, corn, watermelon, squash, and basil. I encourage you to plant by seed or transplant so you can enjoy the same delicious harvests.
If you're in Houston, you still have time to put tomato and pepper starts in the ground, but hurry before the heat gets too extreme.
Here are the simple instructions:
1. Find a location with at least 6 hours of sun and good soil. Dig a hole the depth of the container, and then a few inches deeper.
2. For tomatoes, pinch off the lowest "sucker" leaves. New roots will grow from the same place the suckers were, and allow needed nutrients to travel to the rest of the plant.
3. Mix in a handful of organic fertilizer or compost into the hole.
4. Gently squeeze the container to loosen the plant. Make an "L" with your left hand and place it gently around the tomato stem. Carefully turn the plant upside down, and remove the container. You should see the roots of the tomato. (Kids love this part.)
5. "Tickle" the roots with your fingers to loosen them for the soil.
6. Turn the tomato right-side up and place in the hole. The places where you pinched off the suckers should be underground too.
7. Cover the roots with soil, and water in well. Place a tomato cage around the plant now so that it can grow into it's new home with support.
8. Water when needed, and try to avoid getting the leaves wet.
9. Plant basil and marigolds around the tomato to improve flavor and keep pests at bay--and keep the stink bugs away!
10. Around June, enjoy your delectable home-grown tomatoes.
Happy Gardening,
Sharon
The students have been hard at work planting their tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cantaloupe, tri-color bush beans, corn, watermelon, squash, and basil. I encourage you to plant by seed or transplant so you can enjoy the same delicious harvests.
If you're in Houston, you still have time to put tomato and pepper starts in the ground, but hurry before the heat gets too extreme.
Here are the simple instructions:
1. Find a location with at least 6 hours of sun and good soil. Dig a hole the depth of the container, and then a few inches deeper.
2. For tomatoes, pinch off the lowest "sucker" leaves. New roots will grow from the same place the suckers were, and allow needed nutrients to travel to the rest of the plant.
3. Mix in a handful of organic fertilizer or compost into the hole.
4. Gently squeeze the container to loosen the plant. Make an "L" with your left hand and place it gently around the tomato stem. Carefully turn the plant upside down, and remove the container. You should see the roots of the tomato. (Kids love this part.)
5. "Tickle" the roots with your fingers to loosen them for the soil.
6. Turn the tomato right-side up and place in the hole. The places where you pinched off the suckers should be underground too.
7. Cover the roots with soil, and water in well. Place a tomato cage around the plant now so that it can grow into it's new home with support.
8. Water when needed, and try to avoid getting the leaves wet.
9. Plant basil and marigolds around the tomato to improve flavor and keep pests at bay--and keep the stink bugs away!
10. Around June, enjoy your delectable home-grown tomatoes.
Happy Gardening,
Sharon
Have a question?