Here are six more of the Victory garden contest gardening tips that were sent into the contest. Try growing a victory garden on year.
1. When spreading small seeds over a wide area, mix the seeds with sand and put the mixture into a grated-cheese dispenser with a metal lid and large holes. The sand will help scatter the seeds over a wider area. (Jane Morris, Nevada)
2. Seedlings of recently planted annuals should be thinned carefully when they reach about 2″ tall. It’s difficult to remove seedlings but plant to close together so not mature and grow as well. If you feel bad about it, transplant them and give them away or sell them. (Elizabeth Carol, Springville Min.)
3. You can make you own seed planting strips by using Kleenex. Cut into strips. Make a very weak glue water and dip the Kleenex into it. Set aside and lay seeds about 1 inch apart in the Kleenex. Cover the one strip with another strip of Kleenex and let dry. Plan the Kleenex strips as deep as you would the seeds. The Kleenex will break down quickly and you have less hassle planting seeds one at a time. This is good for carrots, radishes and lettuce. Tom Jesperson, Richmond, Va)
4. Milk jugs make great mini-greenhouses. Rinse well and let dry. Cut the bottom off and place over plants. I put a stake into the ground and string a string from the stake to the milk jug handle so the wind will not blow them away. At night put the cap on. During the day remove the cap for ventilation and air. If it’s a cloudy windy day you can leave the plastic jug in place over a tender plant. (Jim Shepherd, Maine)
5. Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantis, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose organic matter.
Birds also have helpful garden benefits and eat many of the bad bugs. By not using chemical sprays you will help the birds to stay healthy and pick off the bad bugs form your gardens. (Jenny Baxter, Clearfield Pa)
6. If you have aphids on a plant spray the infested stems, leaves, and buds with a very dilute soapy water, then clear water. This works even on the heaviest infestation for both indoor and outdoor plants. (Terry Jones, Wyoming)
Enjoy your gardening season. If you have a gardening tip you would like to share leave a comment
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