By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Sometimes the oddest things are the best things when it comes to the garden.

To prove my point, think of the reaction of the pilgrims when the Indians showed them how to plant corn with a fish.

Or in recent times, using gray water in the garden.

Sometimes it makes one go hmmm…

So here are some not so unusual items that are add to the garden soil and some quite unique items that may make one go hmmm…

• Banana Peels - These lovely kitchen scraps contain a bounty of potassium. This potassium is easily transferred into the soil and up the plant when the peel is placed in the hole before planting.
• Epsom Salt – This old drugstore standby is great for the garden especially where tomatoes are going to be placed. Simply put ½ cup into each hole before planting the tomato. Also, dissolving Epsom salt into water that is going to used on tomatoes is another approach.
• Eggshells - These provide calcium to the soil. Dry out the shells in an oven or in the sun, crush, and add to the hole prior to planting. Another approach is to place the dried, crushed eggshells to the water and let set for at least 24 hours. Then use this water when hydrating the garden. Read the rest of this entry »

By Guest Writer Penny Mohney of Penny’s Tomatoes

If you are thinking about starting your own compost pile think about this.

With just a little knowledge you can turn your everyday garbage into nutrient rich fertilizer for your yard or garden and the best part is…it’s organic.

Let’s start with your container.

You can buy or build something to house your compost pile.  A wooden frame (like a sandbox) made out of 2×10’s (or what ever) in the corner of our yard will work great. Add your scraps to it on a daily basis and “stir” or “fluff” it up 2 to 3 times a week.

Many materials can be added to a compost pile, including Read the rest of this entry »

By Kira Hamman

Sure!

But if you’re going to use your compost in the garden:

1. It’s best not to compost diseased plants because disease can spread through the soil. Instead, dispose of them in the garbage, burn them, or start a separate compost pile (far from the garden) that you’re not going to use.

2. You can compost Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

The first frost has come and gone and you’re guessing that your tomato plants aren’t going to do anything else this year.

It’s time to throw in the tomato towel.

You could try to let your plants live a little longer by pulling them up and hanging them right-side up in a garage or basement, clipping the ends to a clothesline for example.

You don’t need a lot of sunlight and a temperature between 60 and 72 degrees is recommended. You can continue to harvest tomatoes even after the vine is dead, so you might want to try this.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker

Now that you are putting your garden to rest for the winter, the question of what to do with the spent plants comes up.
Should you just add them to your compost pile and forget about them?

There is no one answer to this. Many gardeners have strong opinions on either side of this debate.

Those who compost them say that you should return the nutrients that the plant took up by returning the plant to the soil in the form of compost. They are also pretty adamant that compost is more important than any negatives those who don’t compost tomato plants may come up with.

Just what would a drawback to composting a tomato plant be?
Read the rest of this entry »