Tomato tower trellis

There are two ways of supporting organic tomato vines which produce good results. The first is tying the vines to trellises or stakes. The second is allowing them to run on the ground. In some locations where the weather is hot and humid it’s probably best to tie them to trellises or stakes.

Some sort of support needs to be provided for the tomatoes to run on. You can do this by simply driving a stake close to the plant. Then one to three stalks can be wrapped around the stake with strips of rag. This will train the vine to climb the stake.

The post needs to be strong and at least five feet high. For most crops at least three stalks should be left untied. Your next task  is to trim back the shoots every few days since they constantly start growing in all directions. This allows the strength of the roots to go into the fruit growing along the main stems.

An easier way for the casual gardener is to create a low fence along the row of plants. Leave most of the sprouting branches and tie them up to the wire which form the rails of the fence. Although this method and trimming back vines appeals to many gardeners, it does call for a great deal of work and attention when you have other crops that need work. To properly tie up and trim just a dozen organic tomato plants is no small task on hot midsummer days.

Experiences in several different states has shown that under normal conditions there are no bad results and some advantages to letting tomatoes run on the ground. As branches begin to grow out and fall to the ground,  thoroughly till the plot three to four inches deep. Then sprinkle a good organic compost around them to form a mulch and let the organic tomato vines run freely while moving the branches so that they don’t interfere with each other.

Organic Tomato Success Kit, Green

Organic tomatoes is one of the best plants for the small garden. It’s fairly easy to plant and take care of. It’s free from disease and is protected from natural enemies such as insects and worms.

A dozen plants will not occupy much space and provides plenty of tomatoes when cultivated properly. Even the green tomatoes left on the vines in the fall can be pickled. The organic tomato is such an all time favorite vegetable that it should be one of the very first planted in a  small garden.

Preparing a Window Box is a great space saver and makes it easy to plant tomato seed at home or at school. This method of planting is especially wonderful for school to stimulate interest. Since seed is generally planted about the last of February in the proper climate, it reminds the children that spring is just around the corner.

Place seed into a box about ten inches by twelve or fifteen filled with three inches of rich, light soil. Be sure to use soil that has been treated with a compost that includes lime. Lime creates more plant food for the growing roots to absorb and improves the physical nature of soil. On heavy and clay soil, it breaks up the lumps, separates the fine particles which cling together, and makes soil open and porous.

Be sure to provide drainage so water will not stand in the box. If the joints are water tight, holes must be made in the bottom. If care is used in watering the soil very little water will run out.

When the soil is ready make little holes an inch apart and one fourth of an inch deep. Drop two seeds in each hole. This should be done about eight or ten weeks before it’s time to set the plants in the garden.

If two seeds sprout in the same place, it’s wise to cut off the smaller plant, letting one little plant grow in each spot. When they are two inches high, either transplant into a raised bed if you have one, or get another box and set the plants out in the two boxes, two inches apart.

Tumbleweed Composter

Learning how to compost to improve garden soil does not have to be difficult. Done correctly it can certainly provide your organic garden with many benefits. That is why many gardeners today are deciding to make their own compost.

Before you begin to compost  the first thing you will need is a compost bin or compost pile. There are a variety of options available to choose from.

You can buy compost bins from home improvement and garden supply stores, or build your own compost bin. After setting up your composting area or compost bin start adding in waste materials.

Various types of organic matter can be added like sawdust,  raked leaves, paper and hay, also known as “brown” material. You also need to use “green’” material in your compost such as fruit peelings, grass, eggshells and coffee grounds.

As a general rule, the key to producing good compost is moisture and the balance of carbon to nitrogen ratio: 3 layers of  ”brown” to 1 layer of  ”green” material used. This will help the compost reach the right temperature and decompose at a faster rate.

Also make sure that  your compost is turned on a regular basis. If you are utilizing a compost tumbler bin this is easily accomplished using the crank on the side of the compost bin. If you have a compost bin without a handle or a compost pile then use a pitch fork to turn the compost.

Do not overlook this step because it’s critical to  making compost efficient. Within a month or so you can have a rich and nutrient dense compost to add to your organic garden.

Wire Composter Bin

To really understand what compost is you need to know what it is not. Composting is not a method to recycle everything you have in your home. You can’t compost anything and expect to receive beneficial results. Compost is a mix of organic table and garden scraps that have been partly decomposed to form a rich source of nutrients for plants. Items such as vegetable scraps, orange peels, wood chips, leaves, eggshells etc. make good compost material.

The best compost when done properly will become filled with earthworms and other microorganisms that help breakdown soil nutrients into a form that can be easily absorbed by your plants. Compost can be freely applied in any amount to enrich and condition soil when your ready to grow a new garden or to an existing garden that needs a spark of life.

Another major advantage of composting kitchen scraps, or other organic waste matter is recycling them into something that can benefit the environment. Did you know that an estimated 20 to 30 percent of the garbage in landfills is actually yard and kitchen waste?

This is waste that can be used in a positive way that benefits everyone. The organic waste that you produce both in and around your household, will go back into the environment and replenish soil that has been depleted of its nutrients during the growing season. You will find that composting is a great money saving advantage if you enjoy yard work, planting flowers, trees or gardens.

Now that you have a general idea of what composting is, you need to know exactly how to compost.

Here is an excerpt from the letter:

Sophisticated Global Positioning Systems can be specifically designed for spraying  pesticides. A weed detector equipped with infrared light identifies specific plants by the different rates of light they reflect and then sends a signal to a pump to spray a preset amount of herbicide onto the weed. Biogenetics allows a particular trait to be implanted directly into the seed to protect the seed against certain pests[...]

[...]As you go about planning and planting the White House garden, we respectfully encourage you to recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the U.S in feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the U.S. economy and providing a safe and economical food supply. America’s farmers understand crop protection technologies are supported by sound scientific research and innovation.

Okay, so may be some mad scientist killing lab rats with the latest frankenstein concoction doesn’t turn your stomach, but after MACA sent its letter they fowarded an email around with this message:

Did you hear the news? The White House is planning to have an “organic” garden on the grounds to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the Obama’s and their guests. While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made Janet Braun, CropLife Ambassador Coordinator and I shudder. As a result, we sent a letter encouraging them to consider using crop protection products and to recognize the importance of agriculture to the entire U.S. economy. Read below for the entire letter.

I purposely red flagged  that blurb to highlight the gall. Now, when your blood stops boiling make more than a symbolic gesture in celebration of earth day (April 22) using the following suggestions:

• Turn off all lights to help conserve energy on earth day (traditional).
• Sign the petition to the White House http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/ supporting organic farming and Obamas organic garden.
• Make a committment to yourself and family to boycott agriculture infested with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, synthetic chemicals and GMO (genetically modified organisms).
• Support any number of grassroots organic campaigns at http://www.organicconsumers.org/transitions/index.cfm
• Learn more about organic gardening click here==> free organic garden mini course.