Gardening last week of February

NEW Gardening Column for Veggie & Flower lovers

Getting to be that time of year when we can’t wait to get outside and plant something. This new column will feature your planting tips, ideas, experiences, anything to do with gardening to share with our readers.

Email to [email protected] or bring to our office in the Communications Building (Indian Time/CKON) in Kana:takon.

Now is the time to get your gardening supplies ready for spring.  The snow is still on the ground, but we can start growing seeds indoors and plant them in the ground when the warm weather arrives. 

About the second week of March is a good time to start your tomato seeds indoors in Akwesasne.  You can also choose to start your tomato seeds indoors during the next full moon that is close to March 12th.  Gardening helps one to remember that our Mother Earth really does love all of us, even when we don’t follow man-made rules.  Gardening also helps provide you and your family with an organic supply of food that is very healthy because it did not have to be processed, radiated, sprayed with chemicals, pesticides, and all the negative mainstream practices that are causing so many diseases today.

If you plan to dehydrate, can, or freeze tomatoes for next winter, you will want to grow about 4 plants per person in your household.  I try to grow 4 plants of each variety for each person in our household.  Another rule that some follow, is to plant one container for every 10 to 20 pounds of tomatoes you want to harvest.  Each year, I also save tomato seeds from my organic heirloom varieties and plant them the following year.

 Plant Tomato Seeds

Use containers that are clean and dry.  Small holes should be in the bottom for drainage.  You can use small containers from your recyclable bins.  Fill each container with potting soil mix.  Place 3 seeds in each container and cover with ¼ inch of soil.  Soak the soil with warm water and move the containers to a south-facing window in your house where it gets the most sun.  I put mine in a small greenhouse in front of our kitchen windows.  The greenhouse keeps the sprouts warm and wet while they grow. 

Move Tomato Sprouts

In a few weeks you should see tomato sprouts in each of your containers.  You only want one of the sprouts in each container, so snip off the two weakest looking sprouts in each container.  When the sprouts get too big for their containers, move them to larger containers (not too big) and keep them warm, the soil wet, and in the sunniest window until it is warm enough to plant them in the ground outside. 

Only use Warm Water when you water your plants.  Cold or Hot water can damage your plants. 

You can also put a fan on LOW towards your plants to help them grow strong stalks that will be able to handle the outside winds.  Placing a stick and loosely tying your tomato plants to the stick will help provide support, as they grow before being placed outside.  

Plant Tomato Outside.

When it gets warm enough outside, usually around May, move your tomato plants to a sunny porch for about a week or two to help them adjust to the outdoor climate and wind.  When your plants are adjusted to the outside climate, you can plant them in the ground in your garden.

Move Tomato to Large Container

If you plan to keep your tomato plant in a container, put your growing plant in a larger container with more potting soil and a tomato cage or sticks to provide support and hold the plant upright.  Loosely tie each branch to a strong stick that is stuck into the soil around the plant, being careful to not damage the roots. 

If you have any questions about your specific tomatoes, you can always ask google.com

 anytime.

References

Gardening tips.  Retrieved online February 19th 2012 from http://www.garden.org/

Gardening Schedule for Akwesasne.  Retrieved online February 9th 2012 from

http://sproutrobot.com/hogansburg-ny/planting-calendar/13655#below_plans