By Vanessa Richins

Many people are looking for natural ways that they can boost the production and nutrition of their plants.

In Finland, scientists have been studying the effects of using human urine on tomato plants.

Before you worry too much right off the bat about the possibility of diseases, I learned years ago in my microbiology studies that urine itself is naturally sterile, and no microorganisms are usually growing there unless fecal matter has been introduced.

Another benefit is that urine comes complete with the ingredients that are the basis of your standard fertilizers - N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus) and K (Potassium).

When they tested three different groups - a control with no fertilizer, one with standard fertilizer, and one with a mixture of urine and wood ash - they found that both methods of fertilizing made the plants produce 4.2 times as well as the tomatoes grown with no fertilizer.

As Popular Science explains, Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

I’ve sometimes cringed a little when I hear about the big tomato fight events, like La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain.

I know it’s tradition and people enjoy it thoroughly, but I also think about how many people those tomatoes could feed.

I was at least a bit happier when I learned about a recent such event in Reno, Nevada.

They wanted to recreate the famous Spanish tomato fight in their own city, with a twist.

Participants paid $10 on August 29th, 2009 to join in the tomato chucking fun. If they wanted to aim their weapons at the mayors of Reno or Sparks, they paid $50. All money went to the American Cancer Society.

Forty thousand pounds of tomatoes were donated by Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

I was out running errands yesterday and stopped by someone’s house to pick up things from Freecycle.

As I went back to my car, I noticed that there was a small nursery across the street.

I told myself I didn’t have any money to spend, but the thought of walking among plants won out and I strolled over to browse.

I had been thinking that I wanted to plant something in my new Earthbox, so after visiting the annuals, perennials and herbs, I finally discovered where the vegetables were hiding. Unfortunately, it’s been pretty hot here in Utah and it showed. Many of the plants were in sad shape, wilting and yellow.

I must admit I have a soft heart for plants in trouble. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kira Hamman

Let’s get this cleared up right now: the late blight is not the fault of the tomatoes, heirloom or hybrid.

Nor is it the fault of the home gardeners who are trying to distance themselves, even just a little, from the corporate food grid.

It’s not the fault of potatoes, or the recession, or Michelle Obama.

And it’s only kind of the fault of the big box plant brokers who sold the infected plants.

No, the bulk of the blame for the epidemic of late blight this growing season belongs squarely where the blame for epidemics nearly always belongs: Mama Nature. We had a cool, wet spring and early summer, and the blight just loved it. Hey, it happens.

It’s all part of a little process Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

There’s a fascinating new development in Ontario, Canada.

Great Northern Hydroponics is now harnessing green energy from a tri-generation power plant to grow tomato plants.

The new energy is allowing Great Northern Hydroponics to stay competitive with Mexico and the United States.

Previously, it had been difficult since it took much more energy to heat up the greenhouses than in those warmer countries. With the new energy system, they can heat the greenhouses more efficiently and lower costs.

David Stoyka, a senior account representative from Marx Layne & Co, which works with Great Northern Hydroponics, explains how Tri-generation power works. “As a Tri-generation power facility, GNH {has a} simultaneous production of three forms of energy — electricity, heating and cooling.

It burns Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

In 1845, Ireland was hit with late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans), which killed much of the potato crops.

Since this was their main crop, a famine grew in the country.

It lasted for the next 6 years.

In the end, it is believed that about 1.5 million people died from starvation and 1 million people went to other countries.

Since tomatoes are in the same family (Solanaceae) as potatoes. it can also be affected by late blight.

2009 thus far has been one of the rainiest years in a while. The wet, cool conditions are perfect for the development of a fungus like Phytophthora infestans. This year

In the Northeast (from Ohio to Maine), reports have come in that plants Read the rest of this entry »