Gardening Directs own guide to planting out a Tomato hanging basket kit an easy route to your own tasty and nutritious harvest of tomatoes directly on your doorstep. We show you step by step just how easy it is to prepare and plant out. Its worth it, as theres nothing like the taste of tomatoes which have ripened on the vine!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree Infomercial
Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree www.asseenontvhq.com Everybody loves fresh tomatoes. But do you have the time, patience, and space to grow them? Made of greenhouse grade material, the 5 Foot Grow-Stand is made of Powder-Coated Steel. You can grow three different plants in the same planter. Imagine growing tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant at the same time. With this space saving planter, you can grow over 200 tomatoes on your balcony, deck or patio. You only need 4 square-feet of space. And as a special bonus, youll receive a Topsy Turvy® Strawberry Planter FREE
We Can Do It! Building a Raised-bed Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden President Sophia Siskel and Manager of School and Community Gardening, Eliza Fournier, show novice gardeners and parents interested in having a vegetable garden how to make a raised-bed garden as a two-hour weekend project.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Löwchen tomato thief !
Löwchen puppy slyley taking tomatoes from our planter! For some time we noticed that tomatoes seemed to be vanishing. This video catches thief red-handed!
Winterberry Holly 'Red Sprite'
Ilex verticillata, commonly known as Winterberry Holly, is one of Carroll Gardens' most popular shrubs. Native to North America, Ilex verticillata is a deciduous shrub that loses it's shiny deep green leaves each winter, right after they turn orange and then yellow. The female varieties, when pollinated by a male, produce gorgeous red fruit that will remain on the branches long after the leaves have fallen, well into winter (unless eaten by birds). This week we are featuring the most compact Ilex verticillata - 'Red Sprite,' maturing at about half the size of other winterberry hollies.
'Red Sprite' is a neat compact rounded shrub that matures to an average height and width of only 3-4 feet - ideal for foundation planting or in the smaller garden. This female variety produces unusually large red berries, reaching close to 1/2 inch in diameter. Like all winterberry hollies, the stems can also be cut and kept in a vase with no water for months.
In order to set fruit, 'Red Sprite' needs a male Ilex verticillata. We recommend 'Apollo' because it blooms as the same time as 'Red Sprite.' One male is sufficient to pollinate 4 females. Apollo will grow somewhat faster and taller than 'Red Sprite'. If necessary, it can be cut back in spring for consistency with 'Red Sprite.'
Planting and Care
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' will thrive in full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade. 'Red Sprite' prefers a slightly acid soil that is moist, but does just fine in normally moist soil. For best results pruning should be done in early spring just before the new growth begins.
Plant in spring to early fall. Prefers full sun to part shade. Plant 3-4 feet apart. Water regularly until established. Fertilize with Holly-Tone in the spring and fall.Friday, March 26, 2010
Grow Tomatoes in Pots - Extend Your Growing Season
Growing tomatoes in pots allows you to put your garden almost anywhere that has enough sunlight. But it brings with it the added advantage of mobility for your garden. In addition, you can put your garden in spots that just are not feasible most of the time. But there are a few concerns that are unique to growing tomatoes in pots that require a little more up front planning. Keep these in mind and your will be treated to a bumper crop.
Some key factors to successful growing in pots include:
The Pot or Container:
A standard clay pot that has a diameter of 12 inches or more is recommended for tomatoes. Your pot should be drained well, usually with drainage holes in the bottom. Good drainage is needed to avoid rot. If you want something a little less traditional, try using a half whiskey barrels or a bushel baskets to give a different look.
The Right Tomato Variety:
Many types of tomato can be grown in a pot, but it's important that the variety fits the growing environment you've created. If you are in a warmer part of the country, try growing smaller varieties like cherry tomatoes since they will set fruit and not drop blossoms at higher temperatures. Sweet 100 is a real favorite small tomato variety.
Where to Get Seedlings:
The lazy man's way to start the plants it to just buy them from the the local home improvement story or nursery. One problem with buying at national chains is that they often do a poor job of selecting varieties that are suited for the local climate. If you can't find a a variety that you want, you may have to start seedlings yourself. Using peat pellets or pots makes this much simpler.
Potting Soil:
When using a pot you can easily tailor the soil to your needs. The key starting point for good soil is lots of organic matter, which will improve drainage. A soil mix that is not difficult to mix is one part each of potting soil, sphagnum peat moss, perlite and compost. Tomatoes are fairly heavy feeders, to plan on using some type of fertilizer. But make sure that it's a tomato fertilizer, as it will have a slightly different formulation than a standard 15-15-15 or the like.
Putting Tomatoes in the Pot
Start by filling the pot most of the way with the potting soil mix. Put the tomato plant in the soil, and fill to the top, covering the tomato plant stem up to the first set of true leaves, which will be deeper than it was planted before. Tomatoes can grow roots from the stem, so this will encourage a healthy root system. Water and add soil to the top of the pot.
Staking Tomato Plants:
Larger tomato plants will need to be staked. It's good to put in the stakes when you plant the tomatoes so you won't damage the root systems adding stakes later. For really tall plants you may want to support the stakes outside the pot, so the pot doesn't become top heavy and tip over, especially outside in the wind.
Water your tomatoes at least weekly, take care to stake them if needed, fertilize as often as the label suggests, and enjoy your tomatoes. Move them into shelter for the first freeze of the fall, and enjoy an extra week or more of fresh garden tomatoes.
Step by Step Easy Method to Grow Indoor Tomatoes
Step by Step Easy Method to Grow Indoor Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes indoors is not difficult. Anyone can grow tomatoes indoors. All plants require the same basic elements; Soil (medium), light, water and the proper temperature to grow successfully. Of course each plant differs in the type of soil, amount of light, amount of water and the ideal temperatures it requires. I'll focus on growing indoor tomato plants for this article by outlining the basic needs of the tomato plant. Followed by the method I use to grow indoor tomato plants and some useful resources to help you.
What Tomato Plants Like:
• Soil: The soil (medium) can be the usual potting soil mix that contains sphagnum peat, vermiculite and perlite. I like to use peat pellets, for starting my indoor tomato plants, that are available at most gardening stores or from online sources. TIP#1: Want to make your own peat pellets? Check out the article at Mother Earth News. For more in depth information on tomato plants I suggest; Jason's Indoor Guide.To much to cover here. http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardening.com/how-to-grow-tomatoes.html
• Light: Indoor tomato plants need to get 8-12 hours of bright light per day and a southern exposure is ideal during the colder months. Just take care to avoid cold drafts or to hot environments. Also if you don't have good lighting there are many sources for plant lighting available at your gardening store or online. Tomato plants also need a period of sleep (darkness).
• Water: When you are starting your tomato plants from seeds (this is what I do for growing my plants indoors) keep the soil (medium) moist. When you see the seedlings appear you should adjust your watering to 2 or 3 or more times per week depending on your homes temperature. Don't over water and let the soil dry out slightly before watering your plants. Misting is a good thing between watering.
• Temperature: Tomato plants can grow in a wide temperature range, but do much better with warmer temperatures. For example during the day 68 to 80 degrees and at night (when you save energy and turn the temperature down) from about 58 to 68 degrees.
Shopping List:
Note: If you have children, this would be a great project to get them involved.
1. Tomato seeds. I'd suggest that you do not get the ones that produce the very large tomatoes; It's to much extra work supporting them. We want this to be easy, right!
2. Some peat pellets or some potting soil.
3. 1, 2 or 3 of those small seedling pots (the ones you saved, but never knew why) The ones that are 2 to 3 inches tall and 1.5 inches across.
4. Small plastic pot tray, about 3" will do or a small saucer of any kind. Why so small; See #5
5. A large fishbowl vase or a large brandy snifter. You can find these at your local dollar store for, guess what, a buck ($1). This will be your green house. Just make sure the plastic tray fits into the opening of the fishbowl easily. TIP#2: Your plants need to breathe so make sure that you super glue 4 of those caps, from your bottled water, to the rim of the fishbowl/brandy snifter rim. The super glue is only a buck ($1) also. Can you tell I like the dollar store? J Note: If you want to go low tech, a small cardboard box with plastic wrap will do the trick also. Remember to have air flow.
6. Some plant food. Not sure, you may find that at the dollar store. I use Miracle-Gro
7. 1, 2 or 3 of those small gift bags. The ones with the handles and when opened they have a flat bottom. You can match your décor or just use the boring brown ones. They should not be over say 10" tall and 9" wide. More on this later as this is an optional step.
8. 1, 2 or 3 large storage or freezer bags. Note: Don't try using those plastic grocery bags. They are not water tight and when they leak, the bottom of, your designer gift bag breaks open. That splat you just heard was your baby tomato plant hitting the floor. You don't really need to ask how I discovered that, do you? L
Let's get started:
Note: If you have small children, this would be a great project to get them involved. Just stress that they should never handle the fish bowl/brandy snifter or better yet, keep it out of reach.
1. Total time for this project will be about 30 minutes. Longer if you need to go to the dollar store. Put the peat pellets or potting soil in a seedling pot and set them in a saucer of water to let them absorb the water and expand, while you complete other tasks.
2. As I stated above I like to use peat pellets. If you want to use potting soil, that's fine. (If I use potting soil I prefer to use small seedling pots. My thought on this is I like to build a strong root system first and repot later). You will only need to have a few plants unless you want to can tomatoes all year long (if all goes as planned, that is).
3. While the pellets or potting soil are absorbing water you can super glue the bottle caps to the rim of you new fishbowl/brandy snifter. Try to get them straight across from one another to have a solid stable base. You can of course use more if you like.
4. Put the tomato seeds into your potting soil or peat pellets. Plant them at a depth of about ¼". Place the seedling pots with your tomato seeds in the plastic plant tray. I always add enough water to cover the bottom of the seedling pot by 1/8" of an inch. This is the method I use to water the plant from that point on, feeding from the bottom. Adjust the water height to insure the potting medium (pest pellet or potting soil) is moist but not soggy. I put about ¼ of a teaspoon of soluble plant food in a gallon of water and water the plants with this, each time.
5. Place the fishbowl/brandy snifter over the plastic pot tray and set it where it can get sunlight or at least very bright light. In 7 to 15 days you should see small sprouts peaking out. It's important not to over water from this point forward. Rotate the tray regularly to produce a straight (vertical) plant. Allow the plants to grow to a height of about 6" to 7" tall.
6. Oh yeah, did I mention "Do Not Over Water"? Now you can repot the plants into larger containers or for those of you, who were scratching your heads, wondering what the gift bags were to be used for. I found a unique use for them. After putting potting soil into the storage/freezer bags (about 4 loose cups full) I add the tomato plant, covering the base of the plant just slightly higher than was covered by the potting soil or peat pellet. I slip the storage/freezer bag into the gift bag. The flat bottom makes it easy to place on a table. TIP #3: I found an old coat rack at a second hand store for $12 bucks (not the dollar store). It has 6 hooks around the top and I can now hang the gift bags from the hooks on the coat rack. It makes for an interesting display, takes up less space than a table and the plants can receive more light being above other plants or objects. Also I have the ability to support the plant when it begins bearing fruit. Is a tomato a fruit? Yes, I looked it up.
I cannot stress this enough "Do Not Over Water". The plastic storage/freezer bag will retain moisture. Always check the soil before watering. If in doubt simple mist the plant and water it later. TIP#3: Not sure if the soil is dry or moist. Stick your finger in the soil. If the dirt sticks to your finger; It's moist.
With that I am finished. I hope you found some useful information and I do wish you much joy, happiness and success in your life and with your gardening.
MDM
Hanging Tomato Planters - How Well Do Hanging Tomato Planters Work?
We are always on the hunt to find the best ways to grow tomatoes in our gardens. Few crops enjoy such widespread popularity, which is somewhat ironic given that they were considered poisonous in medieval times. But these days tomato growing is almost a national pastime.
But not everyone has the space or time to start a vegetable garden. So various container growing approaches have come about, but few are as popular as hanging tomato planters. Here's a sampling of why they have become popular.
First, you can use them almost anywhere. Since they hang, you don't even need floor space for them. Put one on a balcony, and many apartment dwellers can find they will grow great tomatoes. Put a hanging planter on your deck or patio, and fresh tomatoes are just outside the kitchen door, handy enough for a quick salad or to slice for a sandwich.
You don't need to weed them nearly as much as a regular garden. They are isolated from the lawn and other weeds, and there is not usually that much surface area to attract weeds in your planter.
Because you can change out the potting soil or growing medium each year, you end up with fewer problems with disease, as disease organisms will often overwinter and come back the next year. Similarly, because the soil is prepared as opposed to just using what's in your yard, you can improve the drainage and the moisture retention by using a custom mix with more organic matter or enhancements like perlite or peat moss.
Since the tomato plants hang down, the whole problem of trying to set up stakes or tomato cages is eliminated, just let them grow down to the ground, and for large indeterminate varieties you can prune them to keep the tomatoes under control. This improves the air circulation as well, which can help the pollination of the plants.
However, like most container garden approaches, the key to making it work well is to keep it watered well without water-logging the tomato plants. This is what usually sets apart one planter type from another...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree - As Seen on TV Network Buy 1 Get 1 Free for only $19.99
To Order Visit: buy-infomercial.at Included in Time Magazine's "Amercia's Best Inventions 2005," Easily grow delicious tomatoes without the backbreaking work by using the Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Hanging Tomato Planter. Buy 1 Get 1 Free for only $19.99 plus $7.95 S&H for each.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Build A Simple Planter Box
Love flowers, but don't have the space -- or the desire -- to plant a garden? You may want to try making your own flower box, which can be just about any size you wish.
This planter box is built with a top and a bottom exterior frame; then you affix cedar panels to the frame and add bottom panels. After that, just add plants for a touch of spring anywhere you want to put it!
Expert tip: Always draw a diagram before you build anything. Remember: If you can't draw it, you can't build it! You don't have to be Leonardo Divinci, just that YOU can read it!! Your diagram will be useful in helping you determine the size of your project and the amount of lumber you'll need. Simply take the finished diagram with you when you go shopping, and you'll be sure to get everything your project requires.
Materials:
Four Lengths of 26 Inch 1x2 Cedar
Four Lengths of 13 Inch 1x2 Cedar
Twelve Side & End Panels 5 ½ Inches x 12 ¼
Two Base Panels 1 Inch x 6 Inches x 24 Inches
Wood glue
Galvanized nails
Hammer
Stainless-steel or Ceramic Coated Screws
Drill driver and bits
Speed square
Note: All our sections were precut, so they just need assembly. If you can't or don't wish to cut your own lumber, home-supply stores will generally cut it for you for a small fee.
Expert tip: Before you begin hammering, use sandpaper to rough up the striking surface of your hammer. Then it's less likely to slip while you're working.
Building the Frames
Build the top and bottom frames out of the 1x2 cedar strips. You'll be butting the ends together, so no mitering will be necessary.
1.Fasten two 26" strips to two 13" strips to form each rectangular frame. (You'll need to ensure that the length remains 26"; to do this, butt the ends of the shorter strip against the longer strips. The thickness of the two longer strips will add an inch to each end of the shorter strips, increasing their length to 16". Do this at each end of the longer strips to form a rectangular frame 26" long and 16" wide.)
2. Apply a bead of wood glue to the junctions of the strips; then nail together with a single nail in each junction in preparation for inserting screws to hold them more securely.
3. Predrill the ends prior to screwing them together; this helps keep the ends from splitting. Then insert a screw in each corner.
Attaching the Side Panels
1. Stand the two frames on their sides and apply a bead of wood glue to the inside face of the bottom side frames (the long sides).
2. Attach four side panels to each long side, smooth sides out, and nail from the inside to hold them in place. Make sure the frames are flush with the panel ends on at least one side, or the bottom panels won't fit properly. If the panels are jagged on the other side, you can always smooth them with a trim saw later.
Tip: Because you're nailing from the inside, you may have to drive the nails at a slight angle. The advantage of this is that it conceals the nailheads from the exterior face of the window box.
3. Repeat step 2 on the other side of the box.
Attaching the End Panels
1. Stand the half-completed box on its end and apply a bead of wood glue to the inside face of the bottom end frames.
2. Attach two panels to each end in the same manner that you used to attach the side panels, once again ensuring that the ends are flush on the bottom.
3. Repeat the process on the opposite end.
Attaching the Bottom Panels
1. Check and if necessary adjust your box for square.
2. Attach three bottom panels to form the base of the planter box, using wood glue and screws. The base will reinforce and brace the box.
3. Drill several holes in the panels so that water can escape, or simply leave a gap between the panels.
Finishing
Lightly sand any rough edges and corners to smooth out splinters. Now it's time to feel, smell, kiss and hug your new planter box, because it looks so good - and you did it yourself!
Homework!
If you wish, you can stain, seal or prime and paint your planter to suit your home's decor. Because you used cedar, however, it can stay unfinished: cedar is one of the best lumbers you can use for exterior applications.
This planter is a good size for potted plants, but you may wish to add a plastic liner and fill it with soil (add a layer of gravel first). If you do, don't forget to cut holes in the liner to line up with the drainage holes in the bottom of the planter.
Enjoy planting!
Upside Down Tomato Planter - Part 1
My mom gave this to me and I'm going to see if it's any good. I planted an Early Girl plant in 100% organic compost and nothing else...all I had at the time. I will eventually hang it higher, of course. Music: "It Is What It Is" by The Highwaymen
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Upside Down - Perfect for Growing Your Tomatoes
Upside down tomato planters have become fairly popular over the last few years. There are articles on how you can build your own, and there are a number of commercially available units. But what are the advantages of using these upside down planters, and what kind of options do you have for buying or making one?
Upside Down Hanging Tomato Planter - Should You Make or Buy One
There are several types of planters you can buy. Some are for just a single plant, while others handle several plants. They can be used on a deck or even a balcony, bringing fresh tomatoes to the apartment or condo dweller.
They are advertised heavily to be used for tomatoes, but they can also be used to grow smaller bush plants like peppers and maybe even eggplants. Many herbs will grow well in these planters.
There are smaller planters (one of the most popular is the Topsy Turvy hanging planter) that your can find for less than $20. It will usually hold one tomato plant (you can sometimes put a second one on the top), and will need someplace to hang.
Another type is the larger self supporting free standing units like the Upside Down Tomato Garden. This garden unit stands almost five feet tall and is designed to hold several tomato plants, and herbs or flowers on the top. An ideal fit for an apartment balcony or patio, it will also serve well as a nice little garden space you can put close to your kitchen on a deck.
You should be aware that when you have filled these with plants and they are fully loaded they can weigh too much to easily move, so plan ahead when considering its location, so you don't have to move the loaded unit. The larger free standing upside down tomato garden will hold almost 80 pounds of soil, so you don't want to be moving it after it's loaded.
You can build an upside down planter yourself. One common approach is to use a plastic bucket for a planter by cutting a hole in the bottom that is a few inches in diameter to allow the plant to grow out. You can hang it from a hook on the house, or build a simple sawhorse bracket.
Pros of Using an Upside Down Tomato Planter
With the tomatoes hanging in the air they can ripen without rot. You have fewer problems with pests like snails and ants. Make sure to keep the planter soil moist, as all container grown plants tend to dry out fairly quickly in hot weather.
An upside down tomato garden is perfect for your apartment on a your balcony or a backyard patio, or put one on a patio or deck for those who are wanting to have part of their garden closer to the kitchen.
Planter Boxes - An Amazing Way to Garden
A unique look in a back yard is comprised of more than a couple of pretty plants. It takes creativity. Think of a sitting garden. There are places to walk, places to sit, unique plants and defining portions of the garden that will draw your attention. You could do this by creating a garden maze. You don't have to have a massive backyard for this theme, just a space you want to dedicate to gardening, and a fun escape from the rest of the world.
You will be building this garden maze with a single to double layer of concrete blocks, as the planter boxes and maze walls, and decorative planter boxes to jazz up the view. Instead of traditional maze 'walls' you will be placing plants in the 'walls' so it is a colorful, creative garden stroll. You may also want to put a bench in the middle of the area, or table and chairs, so you have a space to enjoy your handiwork.
Start with a page of graph paper. After you have measured the area of the yard you want to turn into your garden maze you need to create your design on the graph paper. Make sure the walking areas are at least 2 ½ feet wide. Remember, you will be using concrete block planter boxes as your path guides so they will take away from some of the walking space.
You also need to think about what kinds of plants you want to have lining your walk. You may wish to have a few themes, starting with flowers, moving on to vegetables and vine plants, the limits are really your imagination.
Once you have decided on the design, you need to start purchasing the concrete blocks to create the path. You will be laying the blocks out with the hole-side up, since they will be some of your planter boxes. Once the path is down, you may want to look for areas you want to add a little accent, with decorative planters. There are some planters that look like statues, or large vases on a pedestal and can be striking among the other plants.
From here you have one of two ways to go, you can start planting, or disguise the concrete block planter boxes. If you don't want them to look like concrete blocks, you can use a wall finish texturing that many masons use. It should be readily available in a home improvement store. This will add texture to the concrete block planter boxes and make them look more like a custom designed concrete creation than a bunch of blocks. You can even paint them at this point to add a little color.
Next, fill all the concrete planter boxes holes with potting soil, or a rich soil mixture that will work for the plants, and start planting.
With a little love from you and Mother Nature you will have a green and flowering maze garden in your backyard that will give you years of enjoyment.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Planter Boxes - An Amazing Way to Garden
A unique look in a back yard is comprised of more than a couple of pretty plants. It takes creativity. Think of a sitting garden. There are places to walk, places to sit, unique plants and defining portions of the garden that will draw your attention. You could do this by creating a garden maze. You don't have to have a massive backyard for this theme, just a space you want to dedicate to gardening, and a fun escape from the rest of the world.
You will be building this garden maze with a single to double layer of concrete blocks, as the planter boxes and maze walls, and decorative planter boxes to jazz up the view. Instead of traditional maze 'walls' you will be placing plants in the 'walls' so it is a colorful, creative garden stroll. You may also want to put a bench in the middle of the area, or table and chairs, so you have a space to enjoy your handiwork.
Start with a page of graph paper. After you have measured the area of the yard you want to turn into your garden maze you need to create your design on the graph paper. Make sure the walking areas are at least 2 ½ feet wide. Remember, you will be using concrete block planter boxes as your path guides so they will take away from some of the walking space.
You also need to think about what kinds of plants you want to have lining your walk. You may wish to have a few themes, starting with flowers, moving on to vegetables and vine plants, the limits are really your imagination.
Once you have decided on the design, you need to start purchasing the concrete blocks to create the path. You will be laying the blocks out with the hole-side up, since they will be some of your planter boxes. Once the path is down, you may want to look for areas you want to add a little accent, with decorative planters. There are some planters that look like statues, or large vases on a pedestal and can be striking among the other plants.
From here you have one of two ways to go, you can start planting, or disguise the concrete block planter boxes. If you don't want them to look like concrete blocks, you can use a wall finish texturing that many masons use. It should be readily available in a home improvement store. This will add texture to the concrete block planter boxes and make them look more like a custom designed concrete creation than a bunch of blocks. You can even paint them at this point to add a little color.
Next, fill all the concrete planter boxes holes with potting soil, or a rich soil mixture that will work for the plants, and start planting.
With a little love from you and Mother Nature you will have a green and flowering maze garden in your backyard that will give you years of enjoyment.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Build A Simple Planter Box
Love flowers, but don't have the space -- or the desire -- to plant a garden? You may want to try making your own flower box, which can be just about any size you wish.
This planter box is built with a top and a bottom exterior frame; then you affix cedar panels to the frame and add bottom panels. After that, just add plants for a touch of spring anywhere you want to put it!
Expert tip: Always draw a diagram before you build anything. Remember: If you can't draw it, you can't build it! You don't have to be Leonardo Divinci, just that YOU can read it!! Your diagram will be useful in helping you determine the size of your project and the amount of lumber you'll need. Simply take the finished diagram with you when you go shopping, and you'll be sure to get everything your project requires.
Materials:
Four Lengths of 26 Inch 1x2 Cedar
Four Lengths of 13 Inch 1x2 Cedar
Twelve Side & End Panels 5 ½ Inches x 12 ¼
Two Base Panels 1 Inch x 6 Inches x 24 Inches
Wood glue
Galvanized nails
Hammer
Stainless-steel or Ceramic Coated Screws
Drill driver and bits
Speed square
Note: All our sections were precut, so they just need assembly. If you can't or don't wish to cut your own lumber, home-supply stores will generally cut it for you for a small fee.
Expert tip: Before you begin hammering, use sandpaper to rough up the striking surface of your hammer. Then it's less likely to slip while you're working.
Building the Frames
Build the top and bottom frames out of the 1x2 cedar strips. You'll be butting the ends together, so no mitering will be necessary.
1.Fasten two 26" strips to two 13" strips to form each rectangular frame. (You'll need to ensure that the length remains 26"; to do this, butt the ends of the shorter strip against the longer strips. The thickness of the two longer strips will add an inch to each end of the shorter strips, increasing their length to 16". Do this at each end of the longer strips to form a rectangular frame 26" long and 16" wide.)
2. Apply a bead of wood glue to the junctions of the strips; then nail together with a single nail in each junction in preparation for inserting screws to hold them more securely.
3. Predrill the ends prior to screwing them together; this helps keep the ends from splitting. Then insert a screw in each corner.
Attaching the Side Panels
1. Stand the two frames on their sides and apply a bead of wood glue to the inside face of the bottom side frames (the long sides).
2. Attach four side panels to each long side, smooth sides out, and nail from the inside to hold them in place. Make sure the frames are flush with the panel ends on at least one side, or the bottom panels won't fit properly. If the panels are jagged on the other side, you can always smooth them with a trim saw later.
Tip: Because you're nailing from the inside, you may have to drive the nails at a slight angle. The advantage of this is that it conceals the nailheads from the exterior face of the window box.
3. Repeat step 2 on the other side of the box.
Attaching the End Panels
1. Stand the half-completed box on its end and apply a bead of wood glue to the inside face of the bottom end frames.
2. Attach two panels to each end in the same manner that you used to attach the side panels, once again ensuring that the ends are flush on the bottom.
3. Repeat the process on the opposite end.
Attaching the Bottom Panels
1. Check and if necessary adjust your box for square.
2. Attach three bottom panels to form the base of the planter box, using wood glue and screws. The base will reinforce and brace the box.
3. Drill several holes in the panels so that water can escape, or simply leave a gap between the panels.
Finishing
Lightly sand any rough edges and corners to smooth out splinters. Now it's time to feel, smell, kiss and hug your new planter box, because it looks so good - and you did it yourself!
Homework!
If you wish, you can stain, seal or prime and paint your planter to suit your home's decor. Because you used cedar, however, it can stay unfinished: cedar is one of the best lumbers you can use for exterior applications.
This planter is a good size for potted plants, but you may wish to add a plastic liner and fill it with soil (add a layer of gravel first). If you do, don't forget to cut holes in the liner to line up with the drainage holes in the bottom of the planter.
Enjoy planting!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Upside Down - Perfect for Growing Your Tomatoes
Upside down tomato planters have become fairly popular over the last few years. There are articles on how you can build your own, and there are a number of commercially available units. But what are the advantages of using these upside down planters, and what kind of options do you have for buying or making one?
Upside Down Hanging Tomato Planter - Should You Make or Buy One
There are several types of planters you can buy. Some are for just a single plant, while others handle several plants. They can be used on a deck or even a balcony, bringing fresh tomatoes to the apartment or condo dweller.
They are advertised heavily to be used for tomatoes, but they can also be used to grow smaller bush plants like peppers and maybe even eggplants. Many herbs will grow well in these planters.
There are smaller planters (one of the most popular is the Topsy Turvy hanging planter) that your can find for less than $20. It will usually hold one tomato plant (you can sometimes put a second one on the top), and will need someplace to hang.
Another type is the larger self supporting free standing units like the Upside Down Tomato Garden. This garden unit stands almost five feet tall and is designed to hold several tomato plants, and herbs or flowers on the top. An ideal fit for an apartment balcony or patio, it will also serve well as a nice little garden space you can put close to your kitchen on a deck.
You should be aware that when you have filled these with plants and they are fully loaded they can weigh too much to easily move, so plan ahead when considering its location, so you don't have to move the loaded unit. The larger free standing upside down tomato garden will hold almost 80 pounds of soil, so you don't want to be moving it after it's loaded.
You can build an upside down planter yourself. One common approach is to use a plastic bucket for a planter by cutting a hole in the bottom that is a few inches in diameter to allow the plant to grow out. You can hang it from a hook on the house, or build a simple sawhorse bracket.
Pros of Using an Upside Down Tomato Planter
With the tomatoes hanging in the air they can ripen without rot. You have fewer problems with pests like snails and ants. Make sure to keep the planter soil moist, as all container grown plants tend to dry out fairly quickly in hot weather.
An upside down tomato garden is perfect for your apartment on a your balcony or a backyard patio, or put one on a patio or deck for those who are wanting to have part of their garden closer to the kitchen.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Kersey Garden - Video #2, It's Time to Plant
This is the second in a series of home videos showing this year's attempt to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and herbs ... using homemade, upside down planters.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Upside down tomato planter
Learn how to make your own upside down tomato planter. Can also be used for peppers, cucumber, and some squash.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tomato Growing Tips - Growing Tomatoes in Your Garden
Almost anyone can grow tomatoes in their garden, and it's quite popular. It's no mystery why, as anyone who has sliced a fresh tomato on a sandwich, or popped a Sweet 100 in their mouth while still standing in the garden knows that the taste of store bought tomatoes can't come close to that of a fresh garden tomato.
What are some tips to improve the tomatoes in your garden?
Start with where you plant your tomatoes. Are you planning on growing the tomatoes in the garden or in a container. In either setting, a well drained, loamy soil is preferred, with a pH of somewhere between 6 and 7, which is slightly on the acidic side. Work in some well rotted compost, if it is not thoroughly decomposed it will rob nitrogen from the soil, and the tomatoes will suffer. If you going to use the garden, it may be preferable to use a raised bed garden to ensure proper drainage. It will also allow you to create the soil that your tomatoes want.
If you are looking at container grown tomatoes, there are several choices. A large self watering container, like the commercially available Earthbox is a great choice, as it solves one of the biggest problems with container grown plants, which is the tendency for them to quickly dry out.
Supporting your tomatoes is critical to their optimum production. This can be done with stakes or cages. But one other approach is to use hanging planters. By letting the tomato vines hang down from the planter, they are supported on the top end, and the need to stake or cage is eliminated. This is true for the upside down tomato planters as well, which also relieve the stress on the vine as it drapes over the edge of a traditional hanging planter.
Hanging planters have other advantages like eliminating the need for bending or stooping to work on them. And all the container approaches let you put tomatoes in places that normally can't hold a garden, like and apartment or condo, or just the back patio or deck.
There are many other tips to great tomato gardening, like the proper selection of tomato varieties, the type of fertilizer to use, proper pruning, and plant spacing, when it's best to plant, and more...
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