Thursday, January 15, 2009

How to make seed tape





Seed Tape
If you notice a lot of seed vendors sell seed tape but at a very hefty price. You also have to stick with whatever varieties of seeds they have. It's very easy to make your own and you can use whatever seeds you like.
Here's what you will need:

Newspaper, toilet tissue or pre-cut seed tape paper
Elmer's Glue OR Glue Stick
Seeds
Ruler
Waterproof Marker

If you do not want to mess with using newspaper or toilet tissue, you can order just the seed tape paper at: http://seed-tape.com/ You will want to cut your newspaper or TP into 2 in long strips.You will want to check the spacing requirements on the type of seed you are using.
Using your ruler, mark off the correct intervals with a waterproof marker.
Drop your glue on the designated spots or use your glue stick. Place seeds over glue spots. Allow to dry 24 hours
Trust me, this makes planting flower and small seeds so easy in the spring.

Monday, January 12, 2009

BlueRibbontomatoes.com


Blue Ribbon Tomatoes

You'll notice on the sidebar that my friend Maria Stenger from Blue Ribbon Tomatoes is the Tomato Rock Star of the week (Even though it usually goes longer than a week)
I am doing a little copy paste from her blog at: Blueribbontomatoes.blogspot.com
She is a wonderful tomato grower and I consider her a great source for Kentucky heirlooms.

Here is a bit about her:

Blue Ribbon Tomatoes specializes in Kentucky heirloom tomato seeds. We're located in a rural county in central Kentucky (zone 6), and actively search out newly discovered local heirlooms. Tomato varieties that have evolved here are the thoroughbreds of the tomato world. They tend to be large and sweet family jewels, grown for the simple reason that they taste good sliced on a plate.



Our growing season here is at least 160 days, with a limestone clay loam. In our county, tomatoes go into the ground on Derby Day, the first Saturday in May. Late summer can get really hot and dry, but with a little care, the plants come right through it, and some produce until October's first frost.



I use no chemicals in the garden. Permanent raised beds are kept covered with leaves, hay, and paper, with supplemental horse manure, and organic foliar sprays as needed: seaweed tea, colliodal silver, and molasses.

Herbs, annuals, berries, and other vegetables are included in a naturalistic style. The tomatoes are given proper spacing, and the rest is filled in by intuition. Earthworms, birds, snakes, toads, and butterflies are welcome residents.



Our farm is a 24 acre wildlife habitat on a windy hill. Walking paths wind around blackberries and raspberries, and the expanding orchard is an ongoing process.
Here's a couple of pics of two of Maria's Ky Heirlooms. Also, there is a link to her site on the sidebar for those of you that would like to order seeds from her.
Max's Large Green

Franks Large Red