PIKE LANE GARDENS | Woodstock NY

When I put my starter plants into the ground, I like to immediately mulch the remainder of the bed. Mulching will dramatically cut down on your weeds, retain the moisture more effectively, and keep you soil cooler when the temperatures start to climb.

Depending on your size of your garden (and budget), mulching 4 inches on top of the soil is ideal

You can purchase mulch at your local garden store. Depending on your tastes, you can use, chips and bark, Straw (not hay)), Black plastic or landscape fabric.

I purchase shredded bark in bulk. It is easier to breakdown and can be turned into your soil the following year.

I have been using a product called Wall O Water for the past 3 years.

They are water holding tubes that encompass your tomato plant. You are able to plant your young seedlings into the ground as early late April!

The benefits of the product allow the heat to be absorbed in the side walls, which will warm your soil, moderate the temperature inside and protect the plants from the evening cold temperatures.

I buy  the original ones from the Producer “Wally” who lives in Dillon Montana.

www.wall-o-water.com

A three pack costs approximately 12.00. They can be stored and reused for the following year.

I have been eating cherry tomatoes as early as mid June!

If you woke up with frost on your car windows from last night, you know that overnight temperatures were in the 30’s. Your root crops (carrots, beets, radishes) as well as lettuces can handle the cold temperatures. However, if you have planted your brassica’s, such as kale, swiss chard and broccoli, they need some extra protection.

All purpose garden fabric (Row Cover) has many benefits to aid your young plants. It will protect the plants from frost and wind damage, act as a cover for bugs (flea beetles love to chomp on young plants) and still allows rain and sunlight to make its way to the plants and soil.

It is a worthwhile and inexpensive investment to consider. I know my kale plants are happy!

It looks like the freezing temperatures are behind us and you can feel confident to get your first seeds into the ground……….Carrots, Beets, Radishes, Bush Beans,  All of your lettuce greens and spinach.

When planting, make sure NOT to plant too deep. Most seeds require 1/4-1/2 deep or sprinkled on the surface (the lettuces.)

Once planted, it is very important to keep the soil moist (especially before germination and early growth)

Adam Tip: Use a potting soil mixture to top off your seed plants. Using a heavier top soil will effect aeration as well as lowering the percentage of plant germination.

Happy Seeding!!

I am sure that most of you have heard the term “did you test your soils pH? “  and thought “this is just too technical for me to comprehend.”  Let me make it easier for you!

PH determines the Alkaline/Acid levels in your garden soil. Why is this important for vegetable gardeners?

Having the proper PH allows the optimal release of the Major Nutrients to amend the soil and allow your plants to maximize their growth and harvest. Most vegetables thrive between a level of 6.0-7.0

Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium are the big three. They will contribute to vigorous growth, strengthening root development and increasing disease resistance.

You can find several organic forms of these nutrients including organic matter (compost and aged manures) as well as overall organic fertilizer brands such as “Moo-Doo” and “Fox Farm”

You can purchase a simple soil testing kit at garden stores or contact your local Cornell Extension office and they will sample it right on site for you.

Remember, you are feeding the soil for optimal growth, not the individual plant.

Although summer is still some time away and your tomatoes have not even gone into the ground yet, I thought everyone would enjoy a good laugh. Happy holidays to all!

A woman’s vegetable garden is growing like mad, but the darn tomatoes won’t ripen. There’s a limit to the number of uses for green tomatoes and she’s getting pretty tired of it.

So she walks over to her neighbor’s and asks, “Your tomatoes are always red, while mine are always green. How do you do it?”

Her neighbor says, “Well, this may sound absurd, but here’s what you do. After dark, go out into your garden and take off all your clothes. When the tomatoes see you they’ll get embarrassed and blush. Tomorrow they’ll all be red, you’ll see.”

Well, what the heck, she figures. So she does it.

The next day her neighbor asks her how it went.

“So-so,” she said, “The tomatoes are still green, but the cucumbers are all 4 inches longer.”

Here is my new column in Mens Journal. I think it will be helpful to all of you on the process of determining what you will grow this year and how to go about it.

http://www.mensjournal.com/getting-started-in-the-garden

This year is a Kale Extravaganza at Pike Lane Gardens. Yesterday was indoor seeding day. I planted over 350 Kale seeds,  including Fizzy, Dwarf Siberian, Red Redbor, a selection of Wild Kale’s and my proven winner, Siberian Kale.

THIS

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THIS

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THIS !!!

If you would like some individual attention or a private lesson, give me a shout. What a difference indoor seeding makes!

These past few weeks of warm weather have really been a treat.

My garlic has shot out of the ground and is growing beautifully.

However, the cold temperatures will be returning and who knows if there is still a snowfall ahead of us. My suggestion is to hold off on putting your seeds into the ground for another two weeks or so.

Cold, cold, weather will dramatically slow (or stop) the germination process as well as  decrease your yields……..so there isn’t any downside to waiting.

Hopefully all of you have already put your peas in the ground and will have great luck.

Thanks to my friend Nancy, I had a special delivery of peas that St Patrick’s Day afternoon.  I hope to share my good luck with all of you!

You can prepare your beds now for planting. Clean out the weeds, add your compost, and turn the soil.

Check the long term forecast beginning April 1st and then make your decision.

Good luck

It is true folklore that planting snap peas in your garden today will bring you good luck for the entire year.

I went out to the garage this morning and searched frantically for my seeds…. not there.  I will be going to a gardening store this morning and making sure they get into the ground. I would suggest the same for all of you!

With the weather being so unseasonably warm, the ground has already thawed. This is a perfect time to survey your garden, remove existing plants and weeds, prune your raspberry bushes and cut your old asparagus plants to the base.

You can begin planning of what you would like to grow and mapping out an initial garden layout. Maybe place your top soil and mulch orders or scope out the prices for individual bags at the garden store. Amending the soil will follow shortly for optimal growing conditions.

GET THOSE PEAS IN THE GROUND TODAY!

Yes…… It is finally here !! Now is the time to start organizing what seeds you would like to order for your 2012 vegetable garden.

So what do I want to order?  There are two types; Seeds that you want to direct sow into the ground and those you want to start indoors. I will spend time on starting your warm weather vegetables ( tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.)  indoors, later in the month.

For direct seeding, think of all of the various lettuce varieties, ( including spinach)  snap peas. beets carrots,  beans. cucumber and radish. ( among others) to purchase.

Here are a few companies I like to order from. You can request a catalog or go online and review. Try not to be overwhelmed about all the different varieties. Look for organic, and disease resistant. read about the color, size and days to harvest to determine the ones to experiment with.

Territorial Seeds ( my favorite) , Totally Tomatoes, Seeds of Change, High Mowing Seeds, and Johnny Seeds

For those of you who are thinking about getting some Asparagus, and Various Berries  to plant,  ( which remember are perennials,)  I like to order from Indiana Berry Company. Although you won’t plant these items into the ground until late April, you want to reserve  for purchase. The company will send them out to you when requested.

YOU ARE OFF AND RUNNING!!!!