Gardening Tips
Master Gardeners in your county are a great resource for plant and plant pest related issues. Check the internet for your nearest extension office. For soil tests, contact your local cooperative extension office.
Homemade Rabbit Repellent
Follow recipe and directions offered by Master Gardener and author C. L. Fornari
https://www.gardenlady.com/homemade-rabbit-repellent/
May also work for deer but add garlic cloves to the mixture.
DO NOT spray on edible plants due to raw egg. Fence the area for edible plants for best defense.
Safe Time to Plant Tomatoes
The air and soil temperature must be consistently 50F or above for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
Organic Fertilizer
Mix organic fertilizer into the soil 2-3 weeks before planting. The additional time is needed for nutrients to break down and feed the soil prior to planting.
Commercial Deer Repellent
Only use liquid repellent. The repellent must be on the plant to deter deer.
Products such as Plantskydd.
Commercial Rabbit Repellent
Only use liquid repellent. The repellent must be on the plant to deter rabbits.
Fertilize Blooming Plants
Use a bloom booster fertilizer which generally has more Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). The last two numbers in the ratios of Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). NPK
Hanging Basket Care
Sunlight: Place the hanging basket in a location that receives the appropriate amount of sunlight for the specific flowering plants. Most flowering plants thrive in a spot with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, some varieties may require partial shade or indirect sunlight, so it's essential to know the light requirements of the specific plants in your basket.
Fertilizing: For baskets purchased at Seesholtz Garden Center --Start fertilizing your hanging baskets in August. Use a bloom booster, water-soluble fertilizer. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging for the correct dosage. Apply the fertilizer every two to three weeks to provide essential nutrients for healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
Water-soluble fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizer
Proven Winners Continuous Release
Osmocote Smart-Release
Vegetable MD Cornell
View plant disease and remedies for a variety of vegetables.
At the end of the season, throw tomato plants in the garbage --do not compost tomato plants.
Perennials
Apply 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring. If applying mulch, do not cover top of plants. Water in the morning, deeply 2x weekly.
Dahlias and Calcium
Use lime for dahlias to meet their need for calcium. Same for potted tomato plants. Follow package directions for proper application.
A soil test will help determine the current soil pH.
