Spring weather has come early this year to Northern Illinois but do not start
planting the warm weather vegetables and flowers just yet. On average our
regions last freeze date is in mid-April and last frost date is mid-May.
Now is the time to prepared your gardens and flower beds for planting. It is a
great time to work in organic materials like peat, manure, etc. If you prepare the
beds now, you will save time later.
Just remember that warm weather also increase germination for weeds, so stay
ahead of them now. If you have not fertilized the lawn or put down a crab grass
preventer, do it as soon as possible. The warm 80 degree days will have it
sprouting in your lawn very soon. (Did you know Crab grass seeds can lie
dormant for decades?)
Now is also a great time to trim trees before they fully leaf out. Don't forget to trim
inner branches crossing over each other as this can cause them to rub together
and damage themselves. For flowering shrubs wait until after they bloom.
March and April are great times to plant cool weather plants and seeds.
Examples include radishes (ready in about 4-6 weeks), lettuce and spinach (both
which can handle temperature below freezing for a limited time). Peas and crops
like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can also be planted in the next 2 -4 weeks
for harvest in late May (if planted as plants; seeds take about 4-6 weeks longer).
Do not be tempted by early arrivals of annuals for vegetables and garden meant
to be planted later in the spring, be patient and wait until at least late April and
check long range forecasts which may indicate good weather before the last frost
date. Happy gardening!
planting the warm weather vegetables and flowers just yet. On average our
regions last freeze date is in mid-April and last frost date is mid-May.
Now is the time to prepared your gardens and flower beds for planting. It is a
great time to work in organic materials like peat, manure, etc. If you prepare the
beds now, you will save time later.
Just remember that warm weather also increase germination for weeds, so stay
ahead of them now. If you have not fertilized the lawn or put down a crab grass
preventer, do it as soon as possible. The warm 80 degree days will have it
sprouting in your lawn very soon. (Did you know Crab grass seeds can lie
dormant for decades?)
Now is also a great time to trim trees before they fully leaf out. Don't forget to trim
inner branches crossing over each other as this can cause them to rub together
and damage themselves. For flowering shrubs wait until after they bloom.
March and April are great times to plant cool weather plants and seeds.
Examples include radishes (ready in about 4-6 weeks), lettuce and spinach (both
which can handle temperature below freezing for a limited time). Peas and crops
like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can also be planted in the next 2 -4 weeks
for harvest in late May (if planted as plants; seeds take about 4-6 weeks longer).
Do not be tempted by early arrivals of annuals for vegetables and garden meant
to be planted later in the spring, be patient and wait until at least late April and
check long range forecasts which may indicate good weather before the last frost
date. Happy gardening!
| Why to tomatoes crack? |
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Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the most common garden plant for the average person and far
better tasting than the store varieties. Tomatoes like warm sunny days and even
moisture throughout the growing season. They prefer temperatures in the 80’s
and cool nights in the 60-70 range.
Here a trick , if less than 6 to 8 inches tall plant them about half way up the stem.
Remove the any leaves or side branches. This will force the plant to produce
more roots along the stem and make the plant stronger.
In reality, smaller is better for potted plants. Most potted plants, if to large, become
root bound or a tangled mess of roots. It has been proven that root bound
tomatoes and some other plants produce reduced yields over a small plant. In
addition small plants tend to catch up quickly to larger ones in only a few weeks.
Try not to pick ones with flowers or fruit, either. Again this has shown to reduce
yields. For those already planted do not worry, try it next year. Now for those side
branches, remove them until the plants are about 18 to 20 inches tall. Again this
allows the tomatoes to divert energy to growing up as a single stem. In addition, if
your tomatoes have flowers or tiny tomatoes remove the first set or two, to
strengthen the plant.
We hope these tips help. Happy gardening!
better tasting than the store varieties. Tomatoes like warm sunny days and even
moisture throughout the growing season. They prefer temperatures in the 80’s
and cool nights in the 60-70 range.
Here a trick , if less than 6 to 8 inches tall plant them about half way up the stem.
Remove the any leaves or side branches. This will force the plant to produce
more roots along the stem and make the plant stronger.
In reality, smaller is better for potted plants. Most potted plants, if to large, become
root bound or a tangled mess of roots. It has been proven that root bound
tomatoes and some other plants produce reduced yields over a small plant. In
addition small plants tend to catch up quickly to larger ones in only a few weeks.
Try not to pick ones with flowers or fruit, either. Again this has shown to reduce
yields. For those already planted do not worry, try it next year. Now for those side
branches, remove them until the plants are about 18 to 20 inches tall. Again this
allows the tomatoes to divert energy to growing up as a single stem. In addition, if
your tomatoes have flowers or tiny tomatoes remove the first set or two, to
strengthen the plant.
We hope these tips help. Happy gardening!
Why do tomatoes crack open? This has to
do with water. Tomatoes like even
moisture. If the soil dries out too much
followed by a lot of water, followed by too
dry, it causes the fruit to crack.
You can help this by mulching. Try placing
grass clippings, 2-3 inches around your
plants. This will keep the moisture in,
reduce weeds, keep the soil cool and you
can turn it over into the soil for natural
fertilizer at the end of the year. The main
thing is keep the soil evenly moist
throughout the growing season if possible.
do with water. Tomatoes like even
moisture. If the soil dries out too much
followed by a lot of water, followed by too
dry, it causes the fruit to crack.
You can help this by mulching. Try placing
grass clippings, 2-3 inches around your
plants. This will keep the moisture in,
reduce weeds, keep the soil cool and you
can turn it over into the soil for natural
fertilizer at the end of the year. The main
thing is keep the soil evenly moist
throughout the growing season if possible.
Do you ever wonder why tomatoes seem to
produce a few early in the season, then
there is a span of time when there are few
followed by a big surge of new tomatoes
growing. The reason is simple. As we get
into August and September, more tomatoes
start forming.
Extreme temperatures or not the right
temperature will deter fruit set: "Optimum
fruit set occurs within a very narrow night
temperature range of between 60° F and
70° F. When tomato plants experience night
temperatures lower than 55° F or above 75°
F, interference with the growth of pollen
tubes prevents normal fertilization. The
pollen may even become sterile, thus
causing the blossoms to drop. High
daytime temperatures, rain, or prolonged
humid conditions also hamper good fruit
set. If the humidity is too low, the pollen will
be too dry and will not adhere to the stigma.
If the humidity is too high, the pollen will not
shed readily. Pollen grains may then stick
together, resulting in poor or nonexistent
pollination."
from Washington State University
produce a few early in the season, then
there is a span of time when there are few
followed by a big surge of new tomatoes
growing. The reason is simple. As we get
into August and September, more tomatoes
start forming.
Extreme temperatures or not the right
temperature will deter fruit set: "Optimum
fruit set occurs within a very narrow night
temperature range of between 60° F and
70° F. When tomato plants experience night
temperatures lower than 55° F or above 75°
F, interference with the growth of pollen
tubes prevents normal fertilization. The
pollen may even become sterile, thus
causing the blossoms to drop. High
daytime temperatures, rain, or prolonged
humid conditions also hamper good fruit
set. If the humidity is too low, the pollen will
be too dry and will not adhere to the stigma.
If the humidity is too high, the pollen will not
shed readily. Pollen grains may then stick
together, resulting in poor or nonexistent
pollination."
from Washington State University
| Tomato Yeilds |
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