WEEDING & THINNING
I've always said that this shouldn't be called gardening, it should be called weeding. Much of a gardener's time is spent pulling weeds, at least until his diligence gets his property under control --- if ever. Weeding is put there to teach you patience. You will find it easier if you weed after a good watering or after much rain. You will also find them easier to pull if they aren't too small. Tiny weeds tend to snap off, leaving the root.
While you are weeding look for volunteer plants. Volunteers are seeds thrown from plants you want. You might need to move them somewhere else. How many you find will depend on where you live. I've found volunteers of redbud trees, pines, dogwood shrubs, castor beans, curly endive, nasturtium, columbine, and arugula, among others.
Your seeded vegetables will need thinning at a certain stage. I tend to over plant to avoid vacant spaces and to supply the rabbits. Thin the sprouts to the specifics on their packets. If you don't thin you'll get weak, spindly plants.
Tomatoes need to be pruned. The lower leaves should be removed to allow air flow at the base of the plant. Any yellow or brown leaves should be removed as they may have a form of wilt. Then any branches forming between the stalk and main branch should be removed. How you train your tomato is dependent on the type of plant you choose. Old fashioned tomatoes trail along the ground and need heavy training. Most tomatoes need cages and help in restricting the number of branches they support. There are also new hybrids with great, stout stalks and these need no support --- so they say.
While you are weeding look for volunteer plants. Volunteers are seeds thrown from plants you want. You might need to move them somewhere else. How many you find will depend on where you live. I've found volunteers of redbud trees, pines, dogwood shrubs, castor beans, curly endive, nasturtium, columbine, and arugula, among others.
Your seeded vegetables will need thinning at a certain stage. I tend to over plant to avoid vacant spaces and to supply the rabbits. Thin the sprouts to the specifics on their packets. If you don't thin you'll get weak, spindly plants.
Tomatoes need to be pruned. The lower leaves should be removed to allow air flow at the base of the plant. Any yellow or brown leaves should be removed as they may have a form of wilt. Then any branches forming between the stalk and main branch should be removed. How you train your tomato is dependent on the type of plant you choose. Old fashioned tomatoes trail along the ground and need heavy training. Most tomatoes need cages and help in restricting the number of branches they support. There are also new hybrids with great, stout stalks and these need no support --- so they say.
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