MARY'S HOMESTEAD
We are providing you this information for your 2010 spring garden for your education and enjoyment.
in your homesteading for the 2010 year and the future ones to come.
STARTING SEED INDOORS
Collect the necessary materials for starting seeds. You will need pots or other containers, and soil medium. Containers
can be anything from yogurt cups to flowerpots, but all should have drainage holes in the bottom so there is adequate drainage
for your seedlings.
Very important note; most seeds should be buried to a depth of one or 2 times the diameter
of the seed. That means that small seeds like tomatoes should barely be a quarter of an inch below the surface of the soil.
Remember that in nature most seeds just lay on the surface of the ground before germinating.
In addition to requiring
a soil medium and water to grow, seeds also require warmth and light. A warm spot in the house, such as on top of the refrigerator,
will provide the heat. Once the seedlings emerged, light becomes extremely important. A sunny windowsill may have to be used,
( remember to turn the seed trays every other day), but ideally a pare of low-cost fluorescent shop lights should be suspended
on chains about 2-4 inches above the growing tops of the seedlings. Turn the light on for up 16 hours per day and then let
the plants rest during 8 hours of darkness. Keep the seedlings warm during the day hours (around 70 degress) and reduce
the temperature to 60 degrees at night. Lightly water when the soil feels dry to the touch using water at room temperature.
A good fertilizer is fish and kelp emulsion organic food.
CLICK HERE:
FOR MARY'S HOMESTEAD NON-GE-HEIRLOOM SEED PAGE.
WE HAVE 10 DIFFERENT NON-GE-HEIRLOOM
SEED COLLECTIONS ON THIS LINK.
BUY NOW HEIRLOOM SEEDS.
YOU CAN SAVE MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE BY EATING FOODS FROM
YOUR GARDEN.
YOU CAN ALSO SAVE THE HEIRLOOM SEEDS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
BEGIN
AT THE BEGINNING
As early as possible in the year, prepae a list of the vegetables
, fruits and herbs that you want to grow. BUY YOUR SEED NOW! If something happens then you will have them. Make a list
of the plants that you want to grow. Make your plans of the vegetables that your family eats. Make a menu for your year
or 3-6 months menus of whatever your family likes. After making your list you can decide how many seeds or plants you need
to buy. BE SURE TO EMAIL US AND WE WILL HELP YOU.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAST FROST DATE IN THE SPRING
There are 2 categories of plants in the garden: first tender plants which will be killed by temperatures of 32 degrees.
This group is further divided into those which must be started indoors so that they have grown into small plants before planting
after the first spring frost. Second, hardy plants will not be killed in your early spring temperatures drop into the lower
30's. They can be planted directly in cool soils without pre-startng in the house.
FIND OUT YOUR LAST FROST
DATE
You can ask gardening neighbors, or a local agricultural or university Extension office. Ask a gardening supply
or feed store or go online. With this date you can now work bckwards through the early Spring months and work out what needs
to be started and when.
COOL
WEATHER CROPS SPRING/&/OR/FALL
BROCCOLI, ENDIVE, KALE,
HEAD LETTUCE, RADISH, SPINACH, TURNIPS, PEAS.
EARLY MATURING VEGETABLES
CRESS, RADISH, SCALLION, SPINACH,TURNIP, BUSH SNAP BEANS, SUMMER SQUASH, EARLY PEAS,KALE,
SWISS CHARD,
PLANT IN SUMMER FOR A LATE CROP TO
STORE THROUGH WINTER.
BEETS, CABBAGE, CARROTS, CELERY,
ONIONS, PARSNIPS, PUMPKINS, WINTER READISH, WINTER SQUASH, TURNIPS
GREATEST
YIELD FOR SPACE AND EFFORT
TOMATOES, BUSH SNAP BEANS, LETTUCE, SQUASH, CARROTS,
BEETS
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MY SEEDLINGS
The soil mix should be damp but not dripping. Rinse with a bleach and
water solution ( 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Water from the bottom whenever possible. Seedlings that are too leggey or
tall that have been grown without sufficient light. Tomato plants can be buried deeply when transferring into larger pots
when moved out to the garden.
HARDENING OFF
If
possible, move the trays of young plants outside for some hours of the daylight and then return them to the protection of
the house at night.
HOW TO PLANT SEEDLINGS IN THE GARDEN
Once the plants have been hardened off and
the danger of frost is past (if applieable) take the seedlings and a full watering can out to the rows of beds. Using the
spacing chart provided (SEE MARY'S HOMESTEAD HOMESTEADING & PLANTING GUIDE) dig a small hole. Place the seedling in
the ground at about the height it was growing in the pot. Press the earth down firmly and water well.
VITAMINS IN THE NON-GE-HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES
VITAMIN
A
Vitamin
A is needed more for children and adults need it also for healthy skin and eyes.
BUTTERCUP SQUASH
RECOMMENDED PLANTING DATES IN MO. (PLEASE ASK YOUR EXTENSION AGENT FOR YOUR AREA IF YOU DO
NOT LIVE IN MO.)
SOUTH MISSOURI-MAY 1-30, CENTRAL MISSOURI-MAY 10-30, NORTH MISSOURI-MAY 15-30.
CARROT
REMENDED PLANTING DATES IN MO (ASK YOUR EXTENSION AGENT FOR THE PLANTING DATE IN YOUR AREA).
SOUTH MISSOURI: MARCH5-25, AUG. 1-15, CENTRAL MISSOURI-MARCH 15-30, NORTH MISSOURI, JULY 20-30RICH IN VITAMINS A AND C
SPINACH DOES ALSO SUPPLY VITAMIN A & C. VITAMIN C IS NEEDED TO PREVENT SCURVY.
A DISEASE THAT RESULTS IN BLEEDING GUMS.
SPINACH
RECOMMENDED
PLANTING DATES IN MISSOURI
SOUTH MISSOURI: MARCH 10-MAY 1, CENTRAL MISSOURI: MARCH 20-APRIL 20, NORTH MISSOURI:
APRIL 1-20
VITAMIN
C
MARY'S HOMESTED HAS 3 DIFFERENT SWEET PEPPERS. California Wonder Sweet Pepper, Red Marconi Sweet Pepper,
and Golden Marconi Sweet Pepper.
RED
MARCONI PEPPERS IS A FAVORITE FOR SALADS AND STEWS. IT HAS LOTS OF ANTIOXIDANTS TO FIGHT FREE RADICALS. IT ALSO HAS LYCOPENE
WHICH PROTECTS AGAINST CANCER.
RECOMMENDED PLANTING DATES
SOUTH MISSOURI: MAY 1-25, Central Missouri:
May 10-30. Northern Missouri: May 15-30.
TOMATO RICH IN VITAMIN C
MARY'S
HOMESTEAD HAS 4 KINDS OF NON-GE-HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS. They are : roma, beefsteak, red fig, and riesentraube.
TOMATOES ARE FULL OF THE ANTIOXIDANTS LYCOPENE
AND VITAMIN C. ENJOY OUR TOMATO PAGE AND ALL OUR HANDBOOK PAGES. MARY'S HOMESTEAD HAS A TOMATO HANDBOOK. IT HAS MANY
RECIPES FOR TOMATOES. THERE ARE RECIPES FOR KETCHUP AND TOMATO SAUCE. YOU WILL GET THE LYCOPENE IN YOUR CANNED TOMATOS
. THE TASTE IS GREAT OUT OF THE GARDEN.
RECOMMENDED PLANTING DATES,
SOUTH MISSOURI: APRIL 20- TO MAY 10.
CENTRAL MISSOURI: MAY 10-20,
NORTH MISSOURI, MAY 15-30
START SEEDS INDOORS AND
TRANSFER OUTDOORS AFTER THE LAST FROST (TENDER PLANTS).
VEGETABLE
Chives, leeks,
onions, 12 weeks before last frost.
Celery
10 weeks
Eggplant, peppers 8
weeks
Tomatoes
8 weeks
Broccoli, cabbage
6 weeks
Cucumbers, melons 3
weeks
Okra, squash 3
weeks
DIRECT SEED IN GARDEN BEFORE
LAST FROST (THESE SEEDS ARE HARDY)
5 WEEKS
BEFORE LAST FROST DATE.
BEETS, CARROTS, PEAS
4
RADISH, ENDIVE
4
LETTUCE ( ALL TYPES) 2
SWISS CHARD
2
DIRECT SEED IN GARDEN AFTER LAST FROST (TENDER)
WEEKS AFTER LAST FROST DATE
BEANS
1-2
CORN, MUSKMELON
2
WATERMELLON, OKRA 2
PUMPKIN, SQUASH
2
CUCUMBERS, PEANUTS 2
ROW SPACING CHART
Plant seed and seedlings according to the following row spacing chart. If you use rows in your
garden & if you direct-sown seedlings come too close together based on this chart, carefully pull out additional ones
to achieve the desired spacing. There are other methods of setting out plants and we will put those methods in another newsletter.
The other methods are: wide row planting, raised beds, and container gardening.
ROW SPACING
VEGETABLES
RADISHES
2
CARROTS, PEAS
3
BEETS, LEAF LETTUCE 4
ONIONS
4
SPINACH, TURNIPS 4
BEANS (POLE)
8
BEANS (BUSH)
6
CABBAGE, KALE
12
SWEET & DENT CORN 12
BROCCOLI, CUCUMBER
18
OKRA, PEPPERS
18
TOMATOES, EGGPLANT 18
MUSK MELONS
48
SUMMER SQUASH 48
WINTER SQUASH
48
PUMPKINS
60
HERBS
CHIVES, OREGANO, YARROW, PARSLEY 12-14
THYME, CHAMOMLLE, CATNIP
8-12
DILL, SAGE, BASIL,
6-8
WE WISH YOU MANY BLESSINGS FOR YOUR HOMESTEADING IN
THE 2010 SEASON. WE PRAY THERE WILL NOT BE ANY DIFFICULT WEATHER FOR YOU. WE HOPE AND PRAY YOU WILL PREPARE.
EMAIL US FOR OUR MARY'S HOMESTEAD NEWSLETTER.
SEND US YOUR NAME AND EMAIL.
EMAIL US IF YOU WANT THE NEWSLETTER. SEND US YOUR NAME
AND EMAIL ADDRESS.
PLANT A PLANT IN A CONTAINER, ON YOUR PATIO, SMALL SPACE
HOME, HOMESTEADER OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
JESUS TOLD US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND LIVE IN HIS LOVE.
PS
67:5-7
LET ALL PEOPLE THANK AND ENJOY YOUR EARTH. YOU MARK US WITH BLESSINGS, O GOD . THE EARTH AND FOUR CORNERS
HONOR HIM!
ANY QUESTIONS OR HELP PLEASE EMAIL US.
SINCERELY,
JERRIE AND JOHN
HOLDEN
