CART Enterprises, LLC

NOTE that the general schedule in Tom’s Tips involve Starting Seeds Indoors (ssi), Starting Seeds Outdoors (sso), transplants (tp), through to harvest (h).  To adjust the growing season extending it both in the spring and the fall install a PVC frame with plastic,  (Please see Mel Bartholomew, All New Square Foot Gardening, Cool Springs Press, 2005, page 86.)

The simple,  easy way is to buy two, 8 foot long pieces of PVC pipe, 1/2 inch in diameter, bend it to create an upside down U, sticking the two ends right in the soil in opposite corners of a ground or border box.  Repeat this with the second piece of PVC  pipe and then tie the two pieces together at the top of the upside down U.  Next drape a piece of plastic over the hoop, holding the sides down with bricks, rocks, logs, or whatever you have available.  Remember, you will want to get inside from time to time.  The width of the plastic needed varies with the height of the box.  My 23 inch high box with hoop required plastic 20 feet wide to reach the ground. Ten (10′) foot wide plastic, spread over a hoop in a 6 inch high ground box, should be sufficient.

1.)  Start or continue adding ONLY vegetation to your compost pile.  You will soon get the idea, correctly so,  that I believe one of the most productive things you can do for your garden, especially your SFG garden, is to make your own compost.  The simplest and cheapest way is to just start a pile, if you have the space.  It will NOT attract critters unless you mistakingly add annimal matter, e.g butter, grease, meats, etc from the kitchen.

2.)  On 3/11/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Broccoli [3rd crop]

3.)  On 3/11/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Cabbage [2nd crop]

4.)  On 3/18/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Lettuce (leaf) [1st crop]

5.)  On 3/18/2010  Start Seeds Indoors – Swiss Chard [1st crop]

February is the month to start your seedlings indoors.  It is also the month to get those grape cuttings as vineyards are pruning their grapes, if you are fortunate enough to know a vintner.  If you can volunteer to help prune their grapes, it is more likely they will share their cuttings with you. NOTE that the general schedule in Tom’s Tips involve Starting Seeds Indoors (ssi), Starting Seeds Outdoors (sso), transplants (tp), through to harvest (h).  March 2010′s tip will include comments on adjusting the growing season by installing a PVC frame with plastic,  (Please see Mel Bartholomew, “All New Square Foot Gardening<”, Cool Springs Press, 2005, page 86.)

1.)  Start or continue adding ONLY vegetation to your compost pile.

2.)  On 2/11/2010    Start Seeds Indoors – Broccoli [1st crop]; On 4/1/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

Think about the number of plants you want in this first crop.  Ask yourself how many plants you and your family will eat in a month.  If you want more of a particular crop then start some more seeds in two or four weeks.  You will then spread out your harvest.

Start only two or three seeds in each small pot.  You will be cutting back to only one plant per starting container as you transplant.  This is the reason that square foot gardening takes on 5% of the seeds when compared to traditional row gardening.

Save the balance of your seeds in a cool, dry environment for later crops this year  or next.  Remember that germination takes warmth and moisture.

3.)  On 2/11/2010    Start Seeds Indoors – Cabbage [1st crop]; On 4/1/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

4.)  On 2/11/2010    Start Seeds Indoors – Parsley

5.)  On 2/25/2010   Start Seeds Indoors -  Broccoli [2nd crop]; On 4/15/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

6.)  On 2/25/2010   Start Seeds Indoors – Cabbage [2nd crop]; On 4/15/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

7.)  On 2/25/2010   Start Seeds Indoors – Cauliflower [1st crop]; On 4/15/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

8.)  On 2/25/2010   Start Seeds Indoors – Onions [1st crop]; On 4/8/2010 Transplant Outdoors under hoop.

9.)  Remove old asparagus and rhubarb tops and side-dress plants with ammonium.

10.)  Prune grapes

11.)  Prune roses

How to Prune

1.)  Start or continue adding ONLY vegetation to your compost pile.
2.)  Mark your calendar for the year, adding Last Spring Frost [4/30 to 5/5] and First Fall Frost [9/26 to 10/2] dates to your calendar (average dates); Safe Dates = 5/6 (Spring), 9/25 (Fall).
3.)  Take series of time lapse pictures of sunlight as it passes over your property during one day.  Repeat in April, July & October. OR make mental or drawn map of sunlight/shade spots for these different quarters of the year.
4.)  Build or Purchase a ground box.  These can be purchased from CART Enterprises.
5.)  If you want to Start Seeds Indoors, January is the time to arrange a place for germination and growth.
6.)  It time to remove the decorations if you decorated your garden boxes for the holidays.