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Tips To Growing Better Tomatoes

The tomato plant is one of the first plants that any young gardener learns how to take care of. Growing them is fairly easy, but even the most seasoned gardener knows that plants can die without the proper care, just like any other living thing. Taking care of your plants and making sure that they receive adequate amounts of nutrients, water, and sun is crucial to having a productive garden.

One of the first things that you need to know is that you should plant the tomatoes deep into the ground. Part of the stalk should be under the dirt, as well, so the plant develops a strong root system. This will prevent the plant from falling over as it matures later in its life cycle. This makes a big difference when you decide to plant. If planting them in containers, make sure you get one big enough for the plant when it reaches maturity.

The amount of water that you give your plants and the time of day that you water them can have a serious effect on their lifespan and productivity. Never water your plants when they are in the hot afternoon sun, because this can scald the leaves and kill them. Plants appearing wilted in the afternoon sun is normal, however wilted plants in the morning is a sign of dehydration. You also want to avoid watering your plants too much; if there is standing water left in the pot after watering them, you have watered too much. Always make sure your containers have drains in them so the excess water can drain out.

Many gardeners use egg shells to produce great tomatoes, because the shells contain calcium and other proteins that tomatoes and other plants will love. Egg shells also help keep cats and other pests like slugs out of your garden because the sharp shells will irritate them, causing them to leave. Boil the egg shells to remove bacteria and then allow them to dry before placing them in a zipper bag and crushing them with a rolling pin. When you’re ready, add them to your garden soil. If you have a compost bin, you can skip this and just put the shells into it instead.

Tomatoes can definitely be grown in containers, but you need to give the plant plenty of room for the roots to grow later in the plant’s life. If the root system becomes crowded, it will negatively affect your plant’s growth and ability to produce fruit long term. A raised garden could be an answer if you don’t want to put your tomatoes directly into the ground due to the poor soil in your area. Remember that in a raised garden, you can control the soil’s nutrient content much better than you can with the dirt that is found naturally on your property.

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June 15 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »

The Positive Benefits of Having a Garden

Since early times, gardening has been a vital part of human society. In present day, individuals can get a lot of pleasure from participating in this age-old practice, while gaining a number of great attributes from a newfound hobby.

Perhaps the clearest benefit of gardening is the food. It doesn’t cost much to start a growing operation, and everything you get is free of cost. In addition, what you grow often tastes better and overall is better than store-bought food.

Since the majority of gardeners don’t use the kind of pesticides and chemicals that large scale farmers use, the entire yield will be completely organic. This means that it is better for you and the Earth as well. We are all bombarded with toxins every day, so having some organics to counter that is certainly useful.

Depending on the size of your garden, tending it can be physically challenging. There is the hoeing, the planting, the watering, and the harvesting. Small gardens usually do not require much activity, but you can really work up a sweat if you are managing a large field.

Believe it or not, gardening can actually help make you smarter. Much knowledge is required to run an efficient garden, so you cannot be excessively dim-witted to do it. You may also like to read books about gardening too.

Stress is more destructive than most people realize. It can not only be inhibiting to a productive life, but it can actually shorten life as well. Gardening is a great way to reduce stress, and therefore extend your life considerably.

In the case that you have a very large yield from your garden, you can even make some money for your efforts. Certain dedicated fruit and vegetable shops will buy products from trusted producers, and you could also sell to your friends, which would be quicker and easier.

The astounding amount of benefits one receives from gardening makes the hobby almost irresistible to participate in. Gardening can make you feel fulfilled in so many ways and make you healthier at the same time.

July 07 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »