Newsletter6

This week I want to suggest alternative planting ideas. Who said we have
to conform and use only certain "plant containers" to plant in? Just
look all over your kitchen, laundry room, garage, wherever you have a
bunch of odd items, and start thinking "What could I use to plant in?" I
found the cut off bottoms of plastic gallon milk jugs and 2/3 liter soda
bottles work great. (Remember to poke holes in the bottom from the
inside out for drainage) I've lined plastic strawberry pints and quarts
with sphagnum moss and put lightweight small trailing plants in. How
about egg cartons? They work great for starting marigolds because they
have a small shallow root system. The only thing to watch is that the
paper ones tend to dry out very quickly and the foam ones hold their
water too well and the soil stays to soggy. Poke holes carefully in them
too. Have you been to your local dollar store lately? To go in there
with your mind set to find new and innovative ways to pot your plants,
well, make sure you have enough cash on hand our you'll be sorry! There
are all kinds of baskets and even wire contraptions in all shapes like
ovals and squares, I've even seen ones shaped like baby carriages. How
about the foam containers your take out food comes in? Put in your
holes, line the bottom with pebbles, then add your potting soil and
you're good to go. Do your kids get half pint milk containers in school?
If you tell your child they can help you start the seeds, they might be
willing to bring them home for you every day! Or you could buy a bag of
6 or 8 oz. foam cups. I've heard of people using halved bathroom tissue
rolls to start seeds. I'd imagine they'd have to be watched for drying
out too, and they'd have to squished close enough together in another
container so the soil doesn't leek out the bottom, but I guess it can be
done. Make sure you bottom water them, that is, instead of watering over
the top, put water at their base and let the containers soak it up from
the bottom so as not to disturb the soil and seeds.

Which brings me to suggestions on watering your newly hardened off
transplants and established plants alike. The best time to water is
first thing in the morning. Avoid during the day in full sun as the
water on the leaves might cause them to burn in the heat of the sun. If
you water at night, you are risking fungal diseases because the leaves
won't dry overnight. And always try to water the base of the plant
instead of the top. It doesn't hurt on a cloudy day to mist the leaves
once in a while, but not as a habit. Take off that sprayer nozzle and
water the base well straight from the end of the hose. The general rule
is, one inch of water a week, but if you're as dry as I am in the
Northeast (I haven't had rainfall in over 3 weeks) I water that much
every other day right now. Using just the hose end lets you get that
inch of water to them quicker. If your soil is rock hard, wet it first,
let that soak in, then give it that inch! You'll notice results in about
2-3 days.

Well, as always, I'm asking for your e-mails with tips, suggestions and
questions. Can you believe so far I haven't received one single e-mail
from anyone? This list is still small enough that I can answer each of
you personally, but if no one e-mails me, that just "ain't gonna
happen". So if you are thinking that you shouldn't e-mail me because
everyone else must be, guess what? No one else is either! I'd really
love to hear from YOU, and please don't think your idea is stupid or
common so you don't want to send it. Believe me, I didn't get this
gardening knowledge overnight. I have done some of the DUMBEST things
imaginable, well, you can just imagine. Either way, I really would like
to hear from you. Pretty Please?

Enough begging for today. (please e-mail me at [email protected])

Happy Growing!

DBS