June 2009

bears are scavenging very early this year.  I almost bumped into a hefty cinnamon colored mamma bear on the deck tucking into the remnants of some bird seed.  A couple of nights later she was back checking out the compost.  As she had her head deep in a pail, I had to get within 4 feet to attract her attention.  I heard some splashing from the pond where her big black cub was taking a bath.  They both ambled off when I shouted.  The next day they visited again.  I was a bit slow getting the camera out so most of the shots are of her large rump waddling off into the distance.

Roland Evans

Organic Bountea

• Make sure your irrigation system or hand watering keeps the soil consistently moist
• Mulch between the growing plants to conserve moisture and keep plant roots cool
• Do not let your weeds grow too big or go to seed.  Keep on top of them.
• Harvest any salads or greens that seem to be growing leggy or starting to seed
• Clear spent plants fast.  Replant the space with a different crop or green manure
• Start more seeds indoors or undercover for continual replanting

Bountea Compost Tea:  If you are growing lots of leafy greens continue to add the M3 to every second application of the Bountea.  If you want to promote exceptional flowering and fruiting of tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and fruit trees, add B3 instead of the M3.  The application rates are the same.

All About Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable/fruit grown in the US.  For healthy productive tomatoes, think about the order in which the plant grows.  Pay particular attention to the needs of each part of the plant as it develops.

• Transplant when roots just fill the pot – not when they are pot-bound.
• Do not plant where tomatoes, peppers or eggplants were grown last year.
• Plant into rich warm (70F) soil with plenty of soil life, humus, minerals and nutrients.
• Remove leaves from the lower 3″-4″ of the stems.  Plant diagonally in a shallow trench, covering the stems and gently bending up the tops of the plants.
• The root ball should be 3″ – 4″ below the surface.  The hairs on the stem become additional roots.
• Mulch well with compost and cover with plastic (red or black), if preferred.  When days get hot, add shading mulch so roots do not overheat.
• Water regularly and deeply to keep roots moist.
• Treat soil with Bountea compost tea with both M3 and Root Web added.

Stems

• When choosing plants, look for ones with short stocky healthy stems.
• Do not plant too close together – 2 feet or more between plants.
• Support determinate plants (bushy) with tomato cages.  Indeterminate (viney) plants need larger cages, strong stakes, supporting twine or a combination of these.  Choose a method that suits your types of plant and situation best.
• Do not let the stem twist and compress as the plant grows heavy with fruit.

Leaves and Suckers (Mainly Indeterminate Plants)

• As plants grow, remove leaves and suckers from the lowest 6″ of the stem.
• Make sure leaves get plenty of light – 12 plus hours a day.
• If you intend to prune, remove suckers regularly before they are 1″ long.
• If suckers grow too long, pinch off the leaves at the tip and any additional suckers.
• Prune so that there are no more than 8 main branches.  Each branch can fork to produce 2 smaller branches.  Pinch off new suckers as they appear.
• If fruit are not setting late in the season, prune most of the leaves to shock the plant into fruiting.
• If leaves turn yellow with green veins, sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsom’s Salts (Magnesium Sulphate) around the stem and water well.
• Foliar feed with Bountea plus M3 during the leafy growth phase of development.

Flowers

• Watch flowers carefully to make sure they are being pollinated and setting fruit.
• Vibrate or agitate the plants when flowers are in bloom to distribute pollen.
• Dropping flowers are mainly caused by too high or low temperatures and/or lack of water.  Water deeply and protect plants.
• Reduce fertilization with nitrogen rich products, such as M3, as flowers form on the mature plant.
• Treat soil and leaves with Bountea plus B3 to set abundant flowers and fruit as soon as buds form

Fruiting

• Support fruit trusses as they form to prevent lost tomatoes.
• Avoid blossom end rot by watering regularly in warm weather and making sure the soil has plenty of calcium — as in B3.
• Pinch off leaf tips on branches beyond the trussed to help set fruit.
• Leave tomatoes on the vine until fully ripe for the best flavor and nutrition.  Harvest regularly.
• Treat with Bountea and B3 every 2 weeks during the fruiting season.

Enjoy a bounteous harvest of lush, ripe, juicy tomatoes!


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