Herb growing tips

Annual herbs are meant to be cut and used often. Once an annual herb flowers, it will put all its energy into producing seeds and the leaves will wither. I find it's best to leave at least half of the foliage when you cut some off. If you find you are using it so often it is looking bare, have more than one plant. 

If you grow your herbs outside, and decide at the end of summer you don't want to bring them in, let it flower and put the whole seed head in a zipper bag and grow your own in the spring. Or you can leave the pot or ground alone until next spring and you will have volunteer plants. 

Tomato Grow Box Tips

Here are some tips for my customers that bought "grow boxes" from us:

1) They need to be watered about every other day. If you need to go longer, you can put the whole box in a rubbermaid tub or something similar and fill it about 6 inches with water. The ends are just spot welded, and the water will seep into the box. 

2) They require fertilizer about every 3 to 4 weeks. Any vegetable or tomato fertilizer will do, just make sure they are kept wet afterwards.

3) You can use a tomato cage in the box or put a stake (broom handle, metal rod, etc) in the ground right next to the box to support it. Tie the stems to the stake with old rag strips or yarn.

4) If you have trouble telling the ripeness of the fruit by color, it is ready to pick when the shoulder of the fruit (the part next to the stem) is no longer firm. You must use this method for Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Golden Jubilee, and Pineapple. 

5) All of our tomato plants are indeterminate, meaning they grow and produce fruit for as long as the life of the plant, they do not fruit all at once.

6) If you have any questions, please leave a comment on this blog, or go to my facebook page and like it. 

Thanks, and I truly hope these plants nourish your body and your mind!