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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Acclimating Indoor Tomatoes Outdoors with Milk Containers

60 Seconds or Sow: Acclimating Indoor Tomatoes Outdoors with Milk Containers

In 60 seconds or so... I explained to you why indoor tomato plants have to be acclimated or slowly introduce to the outdoors and sun. I explain how to use a milk carton to accomplish acclimation and save you about a weeks time. The sun will actually burn their leaves until the develop a resistance to the sun's rays.






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Thursday, December 26, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Tomato Blossom End Rot & An Egg Shell Solution

60 Seconds or Sow: Tomato Blossom End Rot & An Egg Shell Solution 

In 60 seconds or so... I explain to you what tomato blossom end rot is, why it occurs and how to prevent it. Egg shells and lime will add calcium to your soil and help prevent tomato blossom end rot.



Tomato bottoms should like the picture below. Blossom End Rot will cause the bottoms to turn brown. Calcium and even watering will prevent this.




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60 Seconds or Sow: Milk Containers for Tomato Frost Protection

60 Seconds or Sow: Milk Containers for Tomato Frost Protection

Milk containers have many uses. One use is as a frost protection barriers. A milk carton with the lid on it will provide several degrees of frost protection for your covered plant. Milk cartons are especially good for larger plants like tomatoes. They are best placed on the tomato in the afternoon so they have a chance to absorb some heat from the sun. You can use cups too,  like in the picture for smaller plants or containers.








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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: The White Moth and Green Cabbage Loopers

60 Seconds or Sow: The White Moth and Green Cabbage Loopers

This is not by any means an exciting video. But in 60 seconds or so... you can see the white moth that lays cabbage looper worms/green cabbage worm eggs. You know the insect that puts holes in cabbage, kales, greens and other related vegetables. If you see this moth around... it is time to protect the vegetables.






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60 Seconds or Sow: What is a Potato Leaf Tomato?

60 Seconds or Sow: What is a Potato Leaf Tomato?

In 60 seconds or so... I show you what a potato leaf tomato is versus a standard leaf tomato. The leaf of course resembles a potato leaf. They are often found on many heirloom tomatoes. In this video I use the 'Brandywine Red' as an example.







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Friday, December 20, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: What is Tomato Leaf Sunscald & Prevention Tips

60 Seconds or Sow: What is Tomato Leaf Sunscald & Prevention Tips

In about 60 seconds or so... I show you what tomato leaf sunscald is, explain why it happens and briefly talk about how to prevent it. Basically tomato seedlings grown indoors do not have the resistance they need to protect themselves from the sun. You have to slowly acclimate them to the outdoors so they can handle the sun. Yep... it is a sunburn for tomato leaves.




Acclimation is the key to making sure your tomato transplant's leaves don't burn in the sun. Also keep in mind the sun can also burn the tomato. This typically happens when leaves are removed and the fruit is over exposed to the sun.



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60 Seconds or Sow: Use Cedar Shims to Label Your Vegetable Garden

60 Seconds or Sow: Use Cedar Shims to Label Your Vegetable Garden 

In 60 seconds or so I share a method to mark your garden plants. Cedar shims are inexpensive and can be found at most large do-it-yourself stores. A single pack has 40 large shims that are great for using as markers in your gardens.








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Thursday, December 19, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Killing Snails and Slugs with Iron Phosphate

60 Seconds or Sow: Killing Snails and Slugs with Iron Phosphate 

In 60 seconds or sow, I explain to you how to use iron phosphate in your garden to kill and control snails and slugs. It is simple and safer product to use, that really works. Unlike metaldehyde (another product) that poisons anything that eats it, iron phosphate is baited and geared towards snails and slugs






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60 Seconds or Sow: What do 10-10-10 and NPK mean on Garden Fertilizer?

60 Seconds or Sow: What do 10-10-10 and NPK mean on Garden Fertilizer? 

Well not quite 60 seconds or so, but as fast as I could. I explain to you what numbers like 9-12-12 and 10-10-10 mean on garden fertilizer. I explain to you what N-P-K means as they are key vegetable garden macro nutrients






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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: First Leaves or True Tomato Leaves, What are They?

60 Seconds or Sow: First Leaves or True Tomato Leaves, What are They?

In 60 seconds or sow, I show you the difference between first leaves and true leaves on tomato seedlings. First leaves are the embryonic leaves of the cotyledons. They are the first two leaves that break the ground.




The true leaves are actually the second set of leaves which develop in about 10-14 days of planting. They are the first set of leaves that look like true tomato leaves. You begin to consider transplanting your tomatoes when the first set of true leaves are well established.





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Monday, December 16, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Baking Soda to Fight Powdery Mildew

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Baking Soda to Fight Powdery Mildew

Baking soda can be used as an effective anti-fungal. It changes the PH level on leaves which often disrupts how a fungus reproduces. While it may not always cure the problem, when used properly it can greatly slow the progress of a fungus, such as powder mildew.




I have use this for a decade and have not hand any problem with using 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water. Using higher concentrations could damage certain plants. ALWAYS test spray a few leaves whenever you are using a new spray. Wait about 48 hours to see how your plants react.





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Sunday, December 15, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Aspirin to Strengthen Tomato Defenses (SAR)

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Aspirin 
to Strengthen Tomato Defenses (SAR) 

This is nearly a 60 second video that explains how the salicylic acid in aspirin can be used to bolster the defenses of your tomato plant. SAR is systemic acquired response. Essentially the salicylic acid in aspirin mimics a natural chemical in the tomato that initiates the SAR response.




The SAR is what your tomato naturally does when stressed. This may be due to diseases like bacterial speck or spot diseases. From experience, I can say I have had very good results using this general spraying method in the garden. I truly believe it benefits the tomato plant.





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Saturday, December 14, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Foil Trays for Easy Garden Plant Management

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Foil Trays 
for Easy Garden Plant Management

This is nearly a 60 second garden video that shows you how to use and recycle aluminum food trays as a way to manage your vegetable and flower transplants. Not a glamorous garden video but extremely useful. You will save time, effort and money




The trays are great for moving transplants in and out of the house or garage to acclimate them to the weather. They are also great for managing your transplants outside. A lot of these were sold and many went into my garden.




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60 Seconds or Sow: How to Perfectly Prepare Your Seed Cells for Germination

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Perfectly Prepare 
Your Seed Cells for Germination

In about 60 seconds I show you how to prepare and pack your seed cells perfectly to help your vegetable or flower seeds germinate and get off to a great start.


It is really important to pre-moisten your starting mix and to press the starting mix into the planting cells. Doing this will really improve seed germination.




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60 Seconds or Sow: Preventing Seedling 'Damping Off' Disease Using Cinnamon

60 Seconds or Sow: Preventing Seedling 
'Damping Off' Disease Using Cinnamon

This is nearly a 60 second garden video to show you how to use cinnamon and its anti-fungal properties to prevent or stop 'Damping Off' diseases on your seedlings.






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60 Seconds or Sow: Swiss Chard - A 3 Season Vegetable

60 Seconds or Sow: Swiss Chard - A 3 Season Vegetable

In 60 second or sow, I introduce you to a cool weather vegetable that grows through all three seasons. If you haven't grown Swiss Chard, check out this video. Swiss chard can be harvested spring, summer and fall. It will grow until a few hard frosts. The stalks can be sauteed and the leaves can be used like spinach.






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How to Protect Your Vegetables from Frost with Cups, Trash Bags and Wet Towels

How to Protect Your Vegetables from Frost
with Cups, Trash Bags and Wet Towels 

This is quick video to show you how you can create frost protection for you vegetable plants out of cups, trash bags and a wet towels. It is easy to do. Cheap, and it can be done quickly. It really works!





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1 of 2 How to Plant Peas in 5 Gallon Containers: Spring and Fall

1 of 2 How to Plant Peas in 5 Gallon Containers: Spring and Fall 

This video is not 60 Seconds or Sow but it quickly shows you how to plant peas in a 5 gallon container. They are great container crops. Plant them both in your garden beds and some in containers. You can never have enough peas!




You can plant peas twice yearly in the Spring and Fall. Container planting is simple, cheap and a very effective way to grow peas. Please check out my other videos to see how the peas mature.




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How to Plant Beets and Spinach in Cell Flats for Transplants

How to Plant Beets and Spinach in Cell Flats for Transplants

This is not one of the 60 Second or Sow videos but it quickly shows you a way to plant beets and spinach in cell flats. Once they mature you will be able to put them in your garden beds. It is a great way to save time in the garden.



A method of planting beets and spinach in cell flats. This is one way to grow beets and spinach transplants outdoors for your garden. Get a jump on the season and let them mature in cell flats while other crops are in the ground. This is a great way to maximize garden space. Grow transplants!




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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Harvesting Red Russian Kale Flowers as a Biennial

60 Seconds or Sow: 
Harvesting Red Russian Kale Flowers as a Biennial


Kale is, in my area zone 7, a biennial. It will over-winter and come back with new leaves as early as February. Not only do the leaves taste great and have a cold weather sweetness to them... the plant will  flower. The flower heads have a great flavor and if you let the blossom, you might catch them with a honey sweetness to them from the pollen. After they flower, remove them and replace them with new plants for the warms season and following spring. Enjoy!




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Friday, May 10, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Just Identifying Tomato 'Suckers' - Where Do They Grow?

60 Seconds or Sow:
Identifying Tomato 'Suckers' - Where Do They Grow?

This video is just to show you where the tomato 'suckers' grow on the tomato. Identifying them is the first step to deciding how you want to manage them on your tomatoes. They grow in the joint where the leaf branch and main growing stem meet.

'Suckers' if left alone will also turn into main production stems. That is they will grow leaves and flower clusters that will set tomatoes. There are reason to remove or keep tomato suckers and strategies for maintaining 1, 2, 3 or more main stems or production stems on your tomatoes. I will talk more about that as the season progresses.




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Thursday, May 9, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Save Time Grow Cucumber and Squash Transplants in Cups

60 Seconds or Sow:
Growing Cucumbers, Squash, Zucchini 
and Vine Transplants in Cups





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60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Aspirin ot Turn On Tomato Defenses


Using Aspirin to Turn On Tomato  Defenses




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60 Seconds or Sow: Stopping Tomato Blossom End-Rot with Egg Shells

Stopping Tomato Blossom End-Rot with Egg Shells






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60 Seconds or Sow: Preventing Seedling 'Damping Off' with Cinnamon


Prevent Seedling 'Damping Off' Diseases with Cinnamon





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60 Seconds or Sow: Milk Containers for Frost Protection


Milk Containers for Frost Protection





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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Use Cedar Shims to Label Your Vegetable Garden


60 Seconds or Sow:
Using Cedar Shims to Label Your Vegetable Garden


In 60 seconds or so I share a method to mark your garden plants. Cedar shims are inexpensive and can be found at most large do-it-yourself stores. A single pack has 40 large shims that are great for using as markers in your gardens.




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Monday, March 18, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: Controlling Snails and Slugs with Iron Phosphate

60 Seconds or Sow:
Using Iron Phosphate to Kill and Control Snails & Slugs

In 60 Seconds or so, I tell you how to use iron phosphate to kill and control snails and slugs in your garden. Just as spring arrives, is great time to put down the pellets.

Not much is growing in my garden as of mid March but the snails and slugs are hungry. Using iron phosphate now presents them with a bait to enjoy! Iron phosphate inhibits their digestion and they stop feeding. They die in a few days of ingesting the pellets.






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Sunday, March 17, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: What is 10-10-10 and NPK Mean on Fertilizers?

What is 10-10-10 and NPK Mean on Fertilizers?

In 60 seconds or so, (well actually 2 and 1/2 minutes) I tell you what the numbers like 10-10-10 and letters NPK mean on vegetable garden fertilizers. Essentially the tell you the amounts of (N)itrogen, (P)hosphorus and (K) for Potassium. They are the key macro nutrients needed for healthy vegetable plant growth.





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Thursday, March 14, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: What are First Leaves and True Leaves on Tomato Seedlings?

What are First Leaves and True Leaves on Tomato Seedlings?

In 60 seconds or so, I show you how to identify First Leaves and True Leaves on tomato seedlings. The identification is important because it gives you a cue to begin planning a transplant time for your tomatoes into larger containers.







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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Baking Soda to Treat Powdery Mildew


In 60 seconds or sow, I show you how to create a mixture of baking soda and dish soap to treat powder mildew on your cucumbers, squashes and other vine plants. Powder mildew is the white powder markings that cover your plant leaves. You know when it gets humid and it looks like white powders was sprinkled on your plants.



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60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Aspirin to Strengthen Tomato Defenses

In 60 seconds or sow, I explain to you how the salicyclic acid in aspirin mimics a hormone and triggers the tomato to turn on all of its defenses. You are tricking the tomato into thinking in has to fight off diseases, pests or damage. They are already in defense mode by the time a disease creeps in.



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60 Seconds or Sow: How to Use Foil Trays for Easy Garden Plant Management

In 60 Seconds or Sow, I show you how to use foil food trays to manage transplants for larger growth and as a way to transport them when acclimating them to the outdoors. Several tips are covered regarding watering and recycling trays with holes in them.




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60 Seconds or Sow: How to Perfectly Prepare Your Seed Cells for Germination

In 60 seconds or so, I show you how to pre-moisten your starting mix and pack your vegetable and flowers cells to get them ready for planting  your seeds indoors. The keys to perfect seed cell packing are revealed to get your seeds germinated and growing strong.





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60 Seconds or Sow: Using Cinnamon to Prevent Seedling 'Damping Off' Diseases

In 60 seconds or sow, I show you how to use cinnamon and its natural anti-fungal properties to prevent and treat 'damping off' diseases on your vegetable and flower seedlings. 'Damping off' diseases are the gray white fuzzy furry cottony growth on the surface of your starting mixes and stems of your seedling. It is a fungus.





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