Now, while our soil is extremely moist, we should be preparing where we will have our vegetable garden. Weeds extract from the soil easier and less is left behind due to breakage. Small or large areas should receive equal and adequate attention. Let’s start by weeding, tilling and testing our soil. I just bought a soil test kit for less than $5.00 and, by using this, I will immediately find out my soil’s condition. This disposable test not only tells me the PH level, it also clues me in to deficiencies of vital minerals. Each plant has a certain soil criteria that is required for optimum production and harvest. Lawns: adjust the PH and nitrogen for thickening and greening. Fruits & veggies: adjust and maintain potash nitrogen & phosphorous for sweetness. Flowers: for heavy budding and abundance of flowers, this can be achieved with the correct amounts of phosphorous & potash (potassium). Adjusting PH can be done simply by adding sulfur to raise acidity levels or adding dolomitic lime to neutralize and increase alkalinity.

I am going to start my garden this year completely by seed. In this economy, I am grateful for the option of doing so. Seeds should be started indoors between 4-10 weeks before planting outside in the ground. My daughter, Harlie, just turned four and one of her gifts was a jiffy greenhouse kit and some seeds. The greenhouse is great. It comes with the peat disks in it and a lid. All you do is gently tear open the top of the disk, place proper amount of seed or seeds in the little hole, water and cover with the dome lid. Instructions are included. We sell them in different sizes and from $2.50 - $7.50 from 12 to 72 disks each. Replacement disks are under $2.00 and the greenhouse is re-usable for the seeds that get started later in the summer for fall harvest. Seeds are between $1.00 - $3.00 per bag. Sounded like a great birthday gift any 4-year-old would love to get. Developing ownership in a young gardener should never be delayed. Hunter and her will have their own plants to take care of this year and, hopefully, this will help Harlie understand why mommy is not so fond of her little snails she loves so much. Read the back of the seed packets for instructions on when to start the seeds (i.e. 4-8 weeks before planting) and it also tells when to plant.

I have also heard something enough times to where now I’m gonna share it. The first to tell me was the ol’ rock herself, Gramma Chaney. A secret to tomatoes: Gramma always swears to tear off two-thirds of the leaves, leaving only a top canopy on the plant. Then, when you put it in the ground, sprinkle a half-cup of powdered milk in each hole. Then plant the tomato plant at 80% depth. Bury the plant all the way up to 1” below the canopy. This creates an extensive root system for maximum nutrient supplication. However, I never knew to pluck all the leaves except a few toward the top throughout the entire growing season. Reason: The leaves and extra branches suck up ALL of the nutrients. Many of us can and have grown tremendous tomato bushes. Many of us have also had better bush than tomato results. The tomatoes are few and small and are not dark red and "tomatoey" flavored. The leaves smell like a tomato more than the light-red tomato does. The fruit needs sunlight and good air circulation, but the leaves hog all of this by blocking the photosynthesis. At four weeks after outdoor planting, a tomato plant has between 35-60 leaves and, believe it or not, only needs five. Five is enough for photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration to occur. I also read (and this made sense) that the bush, especially when hot and wet, provides the optimum condition for fungal diseases, because the poor "mater" can’t breathe. So, I’m gonna give this a try. My beautiful tomatoes should pale in comparison only to Lesa Franco, however the sweetness may be a tie! By the way, if anyone is wondering (and to answer X2 questions) 1.) Our USDA agricultural zone for gardening is 8-9 and the sunset zone is 7-9. This will cover Sacramento, Roseville, Antelope, and surrounding areas. 2.) Also this is the ideal time for your mower tune up (i.e. plugs, filters, blade sharpening, belt tightening or replacements). Doing so now will prevent future hassles.

Until next time, guys, Go Green!

The Plant Lady