Outdoor Planting

It's time! That's right it's finally time to get out there and clean out those garden beds and start planting! I know it seems a bit too cold but I promise there are a few hearty seeds that love to get started now.  Here is a short list of what you can plant now and how to get the best results!

1.) Carrots.  Carrots should be planted outdoors 3-5 weeks prior to the last Spring frost.  Here are a few more tips for great carrots.

• Make sure your soil is free of stones; carrots need deeply tilled soil that they can push through.
• Have you ever seen a carrot that has grown “legs” or forked? Fresh manure, or even recently applied rotted manure, can cause carrots to fork and send out little side roots. Don’t use it before you plant your seeds.
• Plant seeds 3-4 inches apart in rows. Rows should be at least a foot apart.
• Gently mulch to retain moisture, speed germination and block the sun from the roots.
• Soil should be well drained and loose to prevent forking and stunting of the root growth.
• Once plants are an inch tall, thin so they stand 3 inches apart. Snip them with scissors instead of pulling them out to prevent damage to the roots of remaining plants.
• Water at least one inch per week.
• Weed diligently.
• Fertilize 5-6 weeks after sowing.
• Carrots taste much better after a couple of frosts. Following the first hard frost in the fall, cover carrot rows with an 18-inch layer of shredded leaves to preserve them for harvesting later

 Carrots will be ready to harvest, after 2 1/2 months or when they reach a diameter of 1 1/2inches.

2.) Lettuce. Lettuce is a wonderful cool season crop.  Planting to late in the season can cause early wilting, and low yields.  Direct sowing is recommended as soon as the ground is able to be worked. By sowing early you can get a spring crop, and then replant in early fall for a second late season harvest. Here are few more tips for growing great lettuce.

• Leaf lettuce: Plant 4 inches apart.
• Cos and loose-headed types: Plant 8 inches apart.
• Firm-headed types: Plant 16 inches apart.
• Water thoroughly at time of planting.
• Fertilize 3 weeks after transplanting.
• Direct sowing is recommended as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant seeds ½ inch deep. Snow won’t hurt them, but a desiccating cold wind will.
• You should be able to sow additional seeds every two weeks.
• To plant a fall crop, create cool soil in August by moistening the ground and covering it with a bale of straw. A week later, the soil under the bale will be about 10 degrees F (6 degrees C) cooler than the rest of the garden. Sow a three foot row of lettuce seeds every couple of weeks—just rotate the straw bale around the garden.
• Consider planting rows of chives or garlic between your lettuce to control aphids. They act as "barrier plants" for the lettuce.
• Make sure soil remains moist but is well-drained.
• Retain moisture with mulch throughout the summer months.
• Lettuce will tell you when it needs water. Just look at it. If the leaves are wilting, sprinkle them anytime—even in the heat of the day—to cool them off and slow down the transpiration rate.
• Some thinning may be required for directly sown seedlings; use the space guidelines above.
• Weed by hand if necessary, but be careful of plant roots: They are shallow.

At harvest time cut from the base of the plant, and harvest int eh morning before the sun hits them for the day.  Harvest just before fully mature, and the head will last for a week to 10 days stored covered loosing in plastic in the refrigerator. 

For more planting dates and information visit:
 http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/MI/Jackson

Let's get gardening! Greener Solutions Lawn And Landscape can help install a raised garden bed for your vegetables at a great price, give us a call for FREE estimates!

Andy and Courtney Bailey
Greener Solutions Lawn And Landscape
517-945-1204

More Help With Those Tricky Tomatoes

In an earlier post we discussed starting tomato plants from seeds, and the need to use tomato cages when transplanting to an outdoor garden bed. I have just a few more tips to grow the healthiest tomato plants possible, and ultimately get more fruit out of your plants!

First, before the first shoots appear, keep your seed starters in a warm place and keep soil moist until germination takes place.  Once the first shoots appear, move into direct sunlight and continue to keep soil nice and moist. 

Tomato plants can have weak stems if you don't condition them for outdoor conditions.  The best way to do this indoors is to turn a fan on to the plants for 10-15minutes per day.  The swaying of the plants in the breeze helps to strengthen the stems.  Once true leaves appear, you can use the palm of your hand to gently brush across the tops once or twice a day to further encourage strong stem growth.

Also once true leaves form on the plant, begin to add soil in the pot, up to the bottom of the true leaves.  Tomatoes can develop roots from their stems, so adding more soil will encourage new roots to form. The development of a strong root system, ultimately leads to a healthier plant, and more fruit. Further this concept at the time of transplantation into the outdoor garden bed by trimming off the bottom leaves from stems 6inches in height or more, and bury the plant up to the remaining height of the leaves.

If young plants begin to bud before it is time to transplant outdoors, then simply pinch off the buds.  Budding too early can stress young plants.  Also watch for the development of suckers in the crotch of the plant.  These are tiny leaves that form where the branches of the plant split. These leaves have no real purpose and drain nutrients from other parts of the plant. You can simply pinch these off as well. Remeber to remove any dead or dried leaves on the lower portions of the plant too over the course of the season.

There are many varieties of tomatoes that you can choose from too.  Think carefully about how you would like to use the fruit once harvested.  For example, beef steak tomatoes are great for slicing and are usually very juicy.  Whereas the pompeii variety is a great tomato for use in sauces, and salsas. And cherry tomatoes are a wonderful addition to salad.  A little research in advance can help you decide which type will work best for you! Happy gardening!

Andy and Courtney Bailey
Greener Solutions Lawn And Landscape
www.greenersolutionslawn.com
517-945-1204

The Benefits Of Attending Your Local Home Expo

Spring is nearly here and it's time to start your annual home improvement wish list.  I love this time of year it inspires me to look at my home and property and look for opportunities to freshen things up, and make some changes!

There is no better place to become inspired than at your local Home Expo!  These home and garden shows are a great way for area homeowners to meet local contractors, interior design experts, and lawn and landscape companies. As well as learn about the newest trends for home improvement, and how to make those ideas a reality in your own home. Finally, these shows are entertaining, the companies and vendors who attend often put together unique interactive displays that are just fun to see and learn from.

The local home show can help you in selecting a great contractor. Finding the right company to take on your project is like choosing a doctor, this is someone you need to be able to trust to work in your best interests. Local home expo's are often times supported by your communities home builders association, so you can be rest assured that the contractors that you are meeting are quality, licensed contractors that you can trust.

A few tips to make the most of your Home Expo visit:

1.) If you have a specific project in  mind, bring some pictures or references for vendors so that everyone is on the same page
2.) Be open minded to the suggestions of the vendors, they are the experts!
3.) Be aware that many vendors may not provide pricing at the show but prefer to look first hand at the space and measure anything needed prior to giving any final price quotes for projects.
4.) The home expo is a busy place and you may have to wait to speak the representative, be prepared for short waits, the vendors try very hard to get to everyone.
5.) Be prepared to walk, Home Expo's are often held in large expo or convention centers that require a lot of walking.
6.) Have your calendar ready so you can schedule time for contractors to come out to prepare estimates if you have serious interest in getting your project started.

Now that you're fully prepared; come join us and the Jackson MI Home and Lifestyle Show, March 22-24 at the American One Fair Events Center! We'd love to discuss your ideas, and inspire you this spring!

Andy and Courtney Bailey
Greener Solutions Lawn And Landscape

Tips For Starting Tomato Plants From Seeds

Tomatoes can be a temperamental plant, and especially when started from seeds.  Generally the best time to start you tomatoes from seeds is 6-8 weeks prior to planting. Do Not transplant to outdoor beds until after the last early spring frost, or you'll lose your plants and your hard work. 

Tomato seeds should be sown in fertile planting soil, 1/4 inch deep and approximately 0.5 inches apart from one another.  If your using the biodegradable newspaper planters from our previous post then sow only 2-3 seeds per container. Allow seeds to germinate in damp soil until stems begin to show and then make sure that you move your plants to a sunny place or under florescent bulbs. Tomatoes require a lot of full sunlight to grow strong.

After about 15 days you should begin to see the early baby leaves of the plant open.  They should be bright green, if yellow or pale, get more light and water slightly less (but don't allow the soil to dry out completely). These early leaves are called the cotyledons, an additional 15 days of growth and you will begin to see the first true tomato plant leaves growing above these tiny first leaves.  Once true leaves are present you can thin your plants to 1-2 per growing container as needed. Keep in a warm sunny place, and make sure to water regularly.

Once temperatures have reached a consistent (day and night temperature) of at least 55 degrees, then you can transplant your tomatoes into the outdoor garden bed.

When transplanting your tomato plants, be sure to remove the cotyledon leaves and plant low in the ground bringing the soil up to the first true leaves.  Tomatoes can grow roots from their stems, by burying deep in the garden early, you'll develop a much stronger root and stem system for your plant. Water thoroughly immediately after transplanting, and set up your tomato supports. 

There are many types of tomato cages that you can choose from. They are very important to the health of your plant and the condition of the fruit.  Tomatoes that are not properly supported can have stem breakage, and fruits resting on the ground will develop soft spots (bruises) and over ripen much faster. Follow manufacturer suggestions/ instructions when erecting your tomato cages.

Continue to follow our blog or website for more information about getting you garden growing!

Andy  and Courtney Bailey

Greener Solutions Lawn and Landscape

www.greenersolutionslawn.com

ww.greenersolutionslawn.blogspot.com

 

Let's Get Your Garden Growing

As March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb; it's time to start thinking about that spring and summer vegetable garden.  Growing vegetables from seed can be tricky, and there are a few that you should get started now so they will be strong enough for planting in about 6 weeks. For more information on what seeds to get started and when to start them visit the links below:

http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/MI/Howell

http://awaytogarden.com/when-to-start-what-vegetable-seed-calculators

Here is a very simple method for early planting that easily transplants into your garden at the end of the 6 six week indoor growing cycle.  Using old newspapers, and a soup can (full or empty from your pantry).  Cut the newspaper into strips approximately 4-6 inches wide, and the along the longest length of the paper, you may need to use a couple of layers of paper per container.  Roll the paper onto the soup can loosely, with an inch and a half overlapping the bottom of the can.  Tape the side together, and close and tape the bottom together as though your wrapping a gift.  This will create a paper "cup" that is completely biodegradable!

Use a sharpie marker to write the seed type on the side of the paper cup, fill with potting soil, peat, or composted soil, and add 2-3 seeds per cup.  Place the container in a larger box, or tray, water the seeds, and leave in a warm place until seeds sprout,then move them to a sunny spot in the house that won't be disturbed by pets.

This is a great, inexpensive solution for getting those seeds started, and after six weeks, you can plant the entire container into your garden with no fuss!

Continue to follow our blog via our website, or direct link for more vegetable gardening tips, and ideas. We have so much more to share! Happy gardening!!

Andy and Courtney Bailey
Greener Solutions Lawn And Landscape
www.greenersolutionslawn.com
www.greenersolutionslawn.blogspot.com