Esther's Gardening Tips, Parks Gardener's Handbook

8/7/2019 Esther's Gardening Tips, Parks Gardener's Handbook

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Page 1 of 23 Esthers Gardening Tips

Part 4

Esthers Gardening Tips &

Park Gardeners Handbook* * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *Helpful Tips for Gardeners

1. Invest in several Gardening Books or magazines that will help you become a good gardener for your area.Some I suggest are: How to have a Green Thumb without an Aching Back Ruth Stout; OrganicGardening Magazine Robert Rodell; and Jerry Baker has a bunch of really good gardening books.

2. Begin with good, clean soil. To clear out the soil before using it, sprinkle 1

cup chewing tobacco to 4-6 feet of area (Fels Napthais a good brand).Before planting, clean out dead, diseased plants, and continue to clear themaway after new plants grow. The more water and good soil you give yourplants the more they will grow, but always make sure they also have gooddrainage, because sitting in water also kills the plants. Dont let them dryout or they will die. Plants are like people, they need to be nurtured, caredfor.

3. Make a compost pit, and put everything in it to improve the quality of yoursoil: leaves, sawdust, animal manure, human waste, and anything that will break down and become good

soil (you can also pack these things into the bottom of large pots for potted plants).You can throw dish water on your plants and soil. As long as it doesnt have a heavy

amount of salt (Epsom & Sea Salts are okay); also Clorox, fluoride, cleanser are allbad and whit, vinegar and Vaseline or mineral oils, and petroleum oil are bad foryour garden and plants. Items that are good for the garden: peelings, egg shells,seeds, rinds, juices, wine, apple cider vinegar, Epsom salts, fish fertilizer, dog andcat food, ironite or blood meal; ammonia; beer; molasses and sugar; gelatin; agedmanure; apple juice; coke with sugar; black tea powder; dish soap or shampoo;baby powder; Diaperine (for bulbs), Pyrethrin Insect Spray. Ask for old fish parts

at the butcher shop and soak in water, and use the liquid as fertilizer on the plants. To activate compost:add ammonia and coke.


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4. Purchase good seed: Look for disease-resistant varieties. Some good varietiesare: scab-free Potato varieties: Cayuga, Cherokee, Chieftain, Early Gem,Menomince, Norland, Onaway, Ontario Russet, Burbank, Segalo, Seneca,Superior; German Lady Fingers are found in Gerneys Seed Catalog; b. goodTomato varieties: Early Girl, big Boy, Big Girl, Floramerica, Sweet 100 Hybrid,Big Sandy, Manmoth, Garwan Gold, Lees Golden Girl, Abraham Lincoln (2 lbs),Sumways Sensation (7 feet). Good snap bean varieties are: bush beans, KentuckyWonder is a good pole bean, Clarks Green-seeded Bush Lima bean is good.

Excellent flowering plants are: Dianthus, Phlox, Poppies, Calendula, Alyssum,Nemophila, Candy Tuft, Eschschaltzia, Bachelors Buttons, Clarkia Nierembergia, Gypsophila, and Nigella. Buy disease-free seed and Alaska early-producing

types. The best herbs to plant are: chives, parsley, dill, thyme, sage, mint, fennel, sweet marjoram, savory,and coriander. For trees, buy disease-resistant, self-pollinating fruit trees, apricots, blueberries, plumbs,sour cherries (sweet cherries need partners), peaches need partners (JY Hale and June Elberta, Europeanvarieties are good). Buy evergreens for minimum care, maximum beauty. Lombard Poplar trees areexcellent for beauty. Pick perennials for beds, plants that are suitable for the area. Buy creeping plants forground cover and mulch, such as: chamomile (seed), common speedweed (divide), English ivory (layer),angelica, anise, black-eyes Susan, caraway, carrot, coriander, daisy, dill, fennel, Jerusalem artichoke,parsley, parsnips, Queen Anns lace, santalina, strawflower, sunflower, yarrow, horseradish, marigolds,nasturtiums, oregano, chervil, borage, thyme, catnip, chamomile, hyssop, rosemary, sage, tansy, white

geraniums, basil, bee balm, candy tuff, California poppy, columbine, cosmos, foxglove, gloriosa daisy,larkspur, stock and sweet alysses, coleus, fushsia, geranium, impatiens, scented geranium.

5. Plant at the right time for your area. Plan when you will plant, make a note ofit, follow your plan, and then note the results for next year; for instance in myarea: Sugar Snap peas should be planted outdoors May 13th; tomatoes andpeppers and others are started indoors Feb. 1st. I plant every seed I can getmy hands on, but choose what you like. A Farmers Almanac will help youfigure out when to plant in your area. (www.almanac.com/)

6. To start seed: Indoors: Start about six to eight weeks before the last frost in your area: broccoli (GreenComet is excellent), brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, collards, cucumbers,eggplants, onions, peppers, squash, tomatoes and watermelon; also African violets are planted indoors(usually kept in pots). Before planting, soak seeds overnight or up to 72 hours in a cup of warm black teawater (the results are worth the effort and the extra day), and then plant indoors using potting mix. A goodpotted plant mixture is 1 part peat moss; 1 part Vermiculite, 1 part Perlite, 1 part sand (washed builders).Feed with a few drops of ammonia and coke. Plant tomato seeds in African violet soil indoors in paper

cups. After they get to be about 4 tall, pinch off all but the top layersof leaves and plant in larger pots, placing them in deep so only theleaves show. Let them grow to 9 tall, and then plant outside, againremove lower leaves, and bury deeper than they were in the paper cup,

but dont disturb the soil ball. Mulch with straw around the base, andcover with wax paper cones or cut-off milk jugs until the weather warmsup, and the plants have taken root. Or to grow larger (or keep in pots),use plastic 5-gallon pails with top and bottoms cut out, and plant thepails in the garden. Use metal stakes and tie the plants to the stakes

with old nylon stockings (which have been cut into strips). Remove all suckers from tomato plants. Spraytomato plants with Blossom Set before transplanting for bigger, better, more productive plants. Planttomatoes where they can have lots of sun. Cover or mulch tomatoes after four weeks. Smokers wash yourhands before handling tomatoes and potato plants. Use grapefruit halves to start new plants in, if desired.Use Popsicle sticks for marking plants. Use berry cups for cucumbers, squash plants. Put newspaper onthe bottom.


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7. To Start Plants Outdoors: Plant these seeds early (about two weeks before the last frost in your area):asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, celery, collards, garlic,kale, kohlrabi, mustard, onion and garlic, peas, radishes, rhubarb,rutabaga, spinach, strawberries, turnips and cover seed with plastic untilwarmer weather. Sow peas in lightly tilled soil, then cover with straw10-12 inches, plant near a fence. Plant about one week before the lastfrost: lettuce, beets, carrots, cauliflower, endive, parsley, parsnips,

potatoes, and Swiss chard. Plant on Memorial Day: corn, beans,artichoke, cantaloupe, egg plant, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins,squash, tomatoes, watermelon. Potatoes can be planted right on top ofthe soil and covered with hay or straw or similar item. Plant in April to June 1st, and give each potato pieceat least two eyes. Plant squash seeds or starts in foot-high mounds of sandy loam soil.

8. To plant starts: Before putting plants that were started indoors outside, they need to be hardened, or set; toimprove yield. Spray the plants with Blossom Set, which contains an all-natural hormone that increases the

plants ability to thrive despite poor weather or other unfavorableconditions. This is especially helpful for peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes,beans, eggplants, melons, okra, and grapes. Use cut-off bottom of milkjugs for mini-greenhouses to set out growing plants (tomatoes, peppers,

etc.) earlier. Peppers like a dry light soil in a sunny spot. Watermelonslike dry sunny locations with real good drainage, and remove any sick ordried blossoms; Golden Midget watermelon is an excellent brand. Plantraspberry starts in the spring in good well-drained soil 12 inches apartand 4 feet between rows; trim the roots some then plant and mulch withgrass or straw. Feed 3 weeks later with Tomato Grow. Every spring after

you have fruit, cut back 3 inches to the ground and feed with liquid plant food, move the mulch and cutout all but the strongest shoots and you will have a garden full of big, sweet, and fat berries. Plantstrawberry starts in good, rich, loose, light soil; about 12 inches apart in rows at least 4 feet apart. Put in asmall stone in the hole, then spread out strawberry plants roots on it dont plant any deeper then theywere in the nursery. Feed with a liquid garden food or dry food and pick off any blossoms the first year;cover with straw in the fall; and uncover in the early spring, also use science Berry Set as directed.

9. To Plant Root Crops: Dig a truck 4 inches wide, and 8 inches deep; fill upwith ground up leaves and sawdust and sand and compost and plant rootcrops, such as parsnips, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, radishes,rutabagas, and beets. Good beet varieties are: Detroit dark red beets. Plantwhen you can work the soil.

10. Plant the Right Depth and the correct number of seeds: Some seedsdont like to be covered, such as lettuce and tiny seeds. These plants dontmind if their stem is buried: tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, chrysanthemums,

coleus, impatiens. But these do mind: gerbera, gazania*, pansy, petunia,primula, zinna, ageratum, begonia, cabbage, lettuce, and others. For plantswith vines, i.e. cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, watermelon, etc. plant 3 seedsto a hill, and space about 2-3 feet apart. Pinch off the vine as needed toimprove plant strength and produce. *shown in the picture nearest theparagraph.


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11. Protect the plants when outdoors. Use heavy material to cover seeds in hotweather such as wet burlap or boards, then remove as seeds come up. Plantwinter-hardy seeds in the fall, such as spinach, but plant slightly deeper, andapply a protective mulch as soon as the ground freezes. Use large fruit juice cansto plant beans in with the bottom and tops cut off (9 inches apart). Plantcucumbers near fences so they can grow upon them, and mulch their feet. Placeyoung melon plants on a brick, and it will speed up the ripening.

12. Use the Right Amount of Water. Water new plants and seeds with a light sprayevery day until plants or seeds take root (about three weeks) then soak for up to 15 minutes, when signs ofwilting occur, but do not water daily unless they wilt. Use a sprinkler on the garden and let it soak roots, orestablish soaker hoses for each row of plants.

13. Fertilize correctly. Dig compost into the soil before planting, apply sidedressings of plant food after the plants are established (about 4 weeks), butkeep it 3 to 4 inches away from the plants. Add more after the plants go intobloom. Dust peas and beans with Legume Aid before planting. Usevegetable scraps and osterize with water, and pour on the plants and watchthem grow. Lawn clippings can be used to fertilize everything excepttomatoes. Feed egg plants with liquefied table scraps regularly as they are

heavy eaters.

14. Control Insects: Use all natural remedies, for instance, plant marigolds (Mexican) in between all plants thatbugs eat beans, cabbage, etc. Use corn oil on soil to control Ninatoder,and also sprinkle white sugar around plants. Use moth crystals aroundbulbs to keep mice and rats from eating them. To kill slugs: Mix together1 pint alumen sulfate and 4 pints peltized lime, sprinkle around plantsdry; or use 50/50 apple cider vinegar around all plants, spraying theleaves with slugs on them. Use a mixture of cayenne, garlic, ammonia,and dish soap on crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and gladiolas, for bug spray.

15. Perennials: These will come up every year without replanting if properly cared for. Sow seeds in the

spring, summer or fall so they have at least 4 months to mature before cold weather hits. After pre-annualshave died back, cut off all the dead leaves and steams and cover plants to a depths of 6 inches of straw,leaves, or pine bark or other light material, and place dead boughs over the mulch to hold it into place; dothis after the ground is frozen, a lasting snow cover is natures mulch.

16. Companion Planting: Certain plants complement each other,research good combinations and times of planting for your area, forinstance: plant radishes near squash, melons, and cucumber plants;carrots love tomatoes. Some plants antagonize others, for instance,dont plant beans near onions. Plant pole beans so they can grow upthe stalks of corn. Plant cucumbers, melons, and squash between the

corn. Broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower should beplanted in the same area. Dont plant pumpkins near squash as youwill have some funny-looking offspring. Spinach can be planted as a

border around evergreen trees, they love shade (feed lawn food every 3 weeks).

17. Fertilize plants during their strongest production cycle, when blooming. For instance, when the bloomsappear on tomato plants, add all natural fertilizer elements on the soil around the plants, such as rottenapples, fish fertilizer, oil, sugar, tea leaves, etc.


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21. Invite birds to your garden area. Plant berry-producing bushes(Maytree or Birds Paradise*, has tons of berries for birds, looks goodand smells good), and put up wild bird feeders to keep them around.They will help to keep down insects, slugs, beetles, grasshoppers, etc.Other bird-attracting trees are Snowberry, High Bush Cranberry,Coralberry and Barberry; and Honey Suckle, Red Gold Honeysucklelook like mock orchids, and attract birds. The Hydrangea Petidarisor

climbing hydrangea smells great and looks great.

22. Discourage animals that destroy the garden. Wormwood is notliked by cattle, horses, and other large animals, it can be planted along the fences. Spray Repell alongfence lines to discourage deer, goats and small animals (a little goes a long way). Sprinkle broken eggshellsalong boundaries, and along walking paths to discourage cats and dogs from digging in the garden.

23. Discourage weeds from germinating. Use ground cover alongareas where not planting, a good one is crown vetch, because itruns wild. For lawn, plant ground covering plants instead of grassseed. Add Epsom Salts and Bone Meal to make a good cleanlawn. Lay plastic ground cover in pathways under small rocks,

sand, or wood mulch to discourage weeds.

24. To have beautiful roses: Roses are started in the fall from rooted stalks, or potted rose plants. Purchaseskinny rose bushes, not fat, big ones. Cut off two-thirds of the rose bush (just above an outside bud) beforeplanting it in the ground (or it will zap the strength out of the plant); use nail polish to seal off cut areas.

When you get the new plants, soak in a 2 gallon warm water, with 2 tbsp.Epsom Salts added to it; and let it soak overnight, then plant them and waterwith this water, in soil where there is excellent drainage, in a bright sunnyspot. Dig a $5.00 hole for a 50 cent plant (much larger). Put the rose plantin, surround it with compost and soil, and pack in tightly, water and thencover with a loose mixture of leaves. Feed them with a handful of gardenfood once a month; water below and spray with soap and water once a week -

to discourage insects. PlantGrandi Florasroses, and you will have colorgalore and big flowers and they are strong, also polyanthas are excellent rosesfor hot climates. Cut off spent flowers if you want many more to form.

24. b. To make new rose starts: Take a summer cutting from a rose about 8 inches long, and remove all theleaves (but 2 leaves or buds on upper part of the stem), put in water, with a bit of root starter, and let sit inwater for three weeks. Then place in the ground, in well-drained soil, burying halfway, and covering with amason jar, in a bright sunny location. Remove the jar when new growthappears. Or plant bare root stock by burying the big knot of roots, or if youhave potted roses, mound up the soil around the plant as high as you can forthe winter. Prune roses in the spring (May) and add cup Epsom salts per 4

square feet, add bone meal in the fall. Cut roses just above a five-leaf cluster,or you wont have many blossoms; keep the center open of the roses; this isaccomplished by cutting just above an outside bud in the spring, and aboveand outside 5-leaf cluster when cutting and pruning roses, for bouquets orspent blooms. Work the soil up under roses first, plant them, then mulchthem. Supplement roses with Green-Guard Micronized Iron in the spring.


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25. To Have More Strawberries: Plant strawberries in raised beds in a sunny location (not shaded). Pinch offrunners-spaced 3 inches apart; get rid of old plants; spray strawberries with soap for bugs; mulchstrawberries for winter protection (not too heavy), and remove in spring. Use a soaker hose on strawberryplants to keep them moist. Add bone meal if leaves turn red. Use alfalfa tea on strawberries to get 3 setsof blooms and berries.

26. To grow large onions: Plant onion sets in the green house early to set out later.Pinch off seed heads of onion and in late August or early September bend over

the tops to stop the top growth. After planted outdoors, and they begin to grow,just bend over the leaves or stems when grown, and they will produce largeronions. Pull up bulbs and let it dry in the sun for 2-3 weeks and then store in acool, dry place.

27. To make House Plant Food: In a small container, mix: tsp. black tea; 1 packor tbsp. gelatin, tbsp. hydrogen peroxide, tbsp. dish soap, tbsp. ammonia, tbsp. molasses, cup whiskey or beer, add the mixture to a one-gallon jug, and fill with water, and mixwell. When ready to use: mix cup house plant food to 1 gallon of water, and use to feed plants as youwater each day.

28. For Flowering Plants and African Violets: add 1 tea bag (or instant

shampoo), ammonia, gelatin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Beer or Whiskey, and plantfood; put in 1 gallon water.

29. To increase Grape Crops: feed grapes wood ashes and sawdust, manureand cover with straw or mulch.

30. To have a good Corn crop: After the last frost, plant corn in mounds 4seeds to a mound, and about two feet apart; or if planting in rows, plant 2 corn seeds every 9-12 inches,with two feet apart the rows, and at least three rows (for better pollination); and always plant corn on thewest side of the garden so the corn can protect the other plants from warm dry winds. Add fertilizer tocorn after it is 1 foot high, and again after the silk shows. Pull out the weaker plants and draw the soilaround the heartiest stalk to improve corn size and quality. Mulch corn with lawn clippings and/or straw

down the rows and through the plants. You dont need to cultivate them.

31. For a Tomato/Potato Plant: For fun, and to reduce space needed in thegarden, cut a small hole in a potato start, and place a tomato seed inside.Plant the potato, and let them grow. When the tomato plant is largeenough to produce tomatoes, youll have two plants in one.

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Esther's Gardening Tips, Parks Gardener's Handbook

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