Photo credit: Melinda Myers, LLC

Although June is national rose month, gardeners can keep their roses healthy and blooming all summer long.  Through proper care and a few simple strategies both existing and new roses can continue to look their best throughout the summer months – maximizing their beauty and enjoyment for all.

Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist. Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to apply the water directly to the soil where it is needed. You’ll lose less water to evaporation and reduce the risk of disease by avoiding overhead irrigation.

Mulch the soil surface with shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic matter to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as they decompose.

Keep your plants blooming and looking their best in spite of the heat, humidity and pests of summer. Immunize your plants against common environmental stresses such as heat and drought, while building their defenses against insects and diseases natural defenses with an organic plant strengthener, such as JAZ™ Rose Spray (gardeners.com).   Researchers discovered when some plants are stressed they produce hundreds of molecules that help them better tolerate environmental stresses as well as insect and disease attacks. When applied to plants in the form of a plant strengthener, the treated plants improve their own defenses, much like immunizations do for us.  Gardeners will notice less damage from stress, better recovery, reduced yellow leaves, and healthier plants overall.

Proper fertilization will help keep roses healthy and producing lots of flowers. A soil test is the best way to determine how much and what type of fertilizer is best for roses growing in your landscape.

Check your plants throughout the season for signs of insects and disease. Early detection makes control easier. Remove insects or infested plant parts when discovered. Look for the most eco-friendly control options when intervention is needed.

Enjoy your efforts and improve your roses appearance by harvesting a few rosebuds for indoor enjoyment. Prune flowering stems back to the first 5-leaflet leaf. You can prune back farther on established plants, but be sure to always leave at least two 5-leaflet leaves behind on the plant’s stem.

Those gardening in cold climates should stop deadheading roses toward the end of the season.  Allow the plants to develop rose hips.  This helps the plants prepare for the cold weather ahead and increases hardiness.  Plus, these red to orange fruits provide winter food for birds as well as attractive winter interest in the garden.

And if you don’t have roses, make this the summer you add one or more of these beauties to your landscape.
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening.  She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments and is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.

135 Comstock Hill Road, New Canaan, CT
$2,399,999
Susan Blabey, William Pitt Sotheby’s Int’l. Realty, 203-979-7774

354 Nod Hill Road, Wilton, CT (photo of guest cottage)
$2,470,000
Roseanne Forslund
, Coldwell Banker, 
203-762-8666

67 North St. (with 2 guest cottages), 
Easton, CT
$1,049,000 (with 5+ acres)
$1,349,000 (with 12.7 acres)
Denise Walsh & Partners w/William Raveis R.E.
, 203-259-7653

944 Pequot Avenue, Fairfield, CT
$2,695,000
Maryjane Cerrone, Nicholas Fingelly Real Estate, 203-255-9900

231 Cannon Road, Wilton, CT (photo of guest cottage)
$2,299,000
Kathleen Brennan, 
Coldwell Banker, 203-762-8666

424 Hawley Road, North Salem, NY
$1,900,000
Tracy Cunniff, Houlihan Lawrence Katonah Office, 914-232-5007

437 Hulls Farm Road, Fairfield, CT
$3,950,000
Maryjane Cerrone, Nicholas Fingelly Real Estate, 203-255-9900

82 Trinity Pass, Pound Ridge, NY (photo of guest cottage)
$3,395,000
Mary Anne Condon, Houlihan Lawrence Pound Ridge Office, 914-764-5762

ben.guerrero@sbcglobal.net

This Asian-inspired chest in “Striking White” with antiqued mirror, available from Darien Design Center, can help bring style to any space.

Home decor trends
from Darien Design Center
When in comes to interior design, there are definite trends, according to Jackie Christman, interior designer and owner of Darien Design Center,  “Sometimes trends move toward or away from a particular style,” Jackie explains. “Right now the styles continue to move away from wood furniture in any sort of brown, wood-colored finish. Driftwood gray and shades of white dominate, but strong colors — navy, orange, canary — are mixed in to add a little joie de vivre.”

Layering textures is a sophisticated way to add style to a room, whether it be highly polished lacquer or woven natural fibers on floors and walls, and mirrored surfaces add another layer of texture to the often neutral palettes, according to Jackie. For more info, call 203-655-8739 or visit dariendesigncenter.com.

Summertime finds
at The Summer House
It’s almost summer, and the perfect time to “lighten up” the look at home…just ask Kathleen Ho, manager of The Summer House, located in New Canaan. “We love the look of driftwood side tables from Maine, which add organic form and functionality to any interior,” she says. “The texture and silvery color tones of this naturally found wood could make any house feel like a summer home, any time of year.”

Driftwood tables from The Summer House are made in Maine and are available in different sizes.

Kathleen adds that lanterns are especially popular right now. “Our tealight lanterns are great for porch or patio,” she states. “Flickering candlelight reminds everyone of lazy summertime evenings.”

The store, which carries 18th and19th century Swedish antiques and vintage items, modern and contemporary furniture, lamps, wall decor, decorative pillows and candles, plus many other home accessories, is located at 32 Forest St. For more info, call 203-594-9550 or visit thesummerhousect.com.

Clark Construction
celebrates 25 years
Clark Construction, a Ridgefield-based design build firm, is celebrating its 25th year, company president Gary Clark announced. “We have remodeled homes from tiny to huge, simple to complex, and tackled projects ranging from replacement baths and master suites to kitchens, additions and whole house renovations,” he explains.

Bathrooms and kitchens are currently the most popular remodeling projects, Gary says, and design trends include white, which continues to dominate in both bath and kitchen selections.  For further info, call 203-431-2699 or visit online at www.clarkconstruction.net.

White continues to dominate as a color trend, as shown in this bathroom from Ridgefield-based Clark Construction.

Stylish storage from The Barn Yard
Whether your closets are full, your attic is crammed or your garage is packed, The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages may have the perfect storage solution for you, according to Erik Koehler, marketing engineer for the family-run, Connecticut-based business.

Storage can be beautiful as well as functional, as attested by this outdoor shed from The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages.

“Whether you need a small shed in the backyard, a stylish pool house, or a completely custom garage, The Barn Yard offers stylish solutions to storage dilemmas,” Erik says.

The company manufactures storage and garden sheds, gazebos, pavilions, custom garages and, with summer here, pool houses, including the new Governor’s Pool House.

“We have three locations,” Erik states, “Brookfield, Ellington and Winsdor Locks; coming soon is our new Bethel store, which will serve as the location for our Brookfield store.” For more info: 1-800-628-2276 or thebarnyardstore.com.

Mike Trolle
BPC Green Builders

Last month, I wrote that an unfinished basement represents a golden opportunity to improve the thermal envelope (TE) of your home at a low cost with a rapid payback by way of reduced energy bills.  The fact is that most basements have little insulation, and there is no clear boundary between conditioned and unconditioned space, with the result that most people are unknowingly spending good money to heat the ground surrounding their basements.

The following insulation strategies are meant for basements that never have moisture problems. If yours is damp or wet, I’m going to address that topic next month.

Starting with the concrete slab, one good approach would be to install rigid foam boards directly over the slab. You could use expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS). Both are widely available in various thicknesses. The XPS has a higher “R” value per inch and is a bit more expensive than the EPS. I would suggest 1-2”, if space allows. If the ceiling height is low in your basement, the XPS would allow you to achieve a higher “R” value in a limited space. Make sure the sheets of foamboard are installed tightly to each other, the joints are sealed with an approved tape, and you specify a compressive load rating of 25psi (pounds/square inch).

The sheets of foam can be covered with two layers of 1/2” or 5/8” plywood, with a gap of 1/8” between sheets to allow for expansion and 3/8” around the room’s perimeter. The second layer should be installed perpendicular to the first and glued and screwed to the first layer to create a rigid subfloor that floats above the foam; that is, there is no mechanical connection. Finally, I would recommend a finish flooring that is both stable and allows vapor to dry through it, such as engineered wood, cork, or carpet.

Illustration courtesy of Elizabeth DiSalvo, Trillium Architects

HO-N June Trolle illustration

For the walls, I recommend installing a 2×4 framed wall 2” to the interior of the foundation wall and directly above the new subfloor; use a 2×6 top plate to seal the gap between the framed and foundation walls (a fire code requirement). Then hire a spray foam contractor to install 2” of 2 lb. closed cell, spray foam insulation (SPF) between the framed and foundation walls. This product can handle any exterior moisture that might get into the wall. Now you can complete any electrical work, followed by the installation of batt insulation in the 2×4 stud cavities; fiberglass, mineral wool, cotton would all be fine.  Finally, install drywall or paneling to complete the project.

There’s one last critical detail. Typically, there will be one or two wood plates (2×6 or 2×8 usually) bolted to the top of the foundation wall which the floor joists rest upon, with the 1st floor subfloor above the joists. Remove any batt insulation (which is next to useless in this location) and install the same 2 lb., closed cell SPF that was used in the walls directly below. I’d suggest 3” or more.

That’s it! Your basement will now be close to air-tight, with an “R” value of 4-10 in the floor and 24-26 in the walls. Moreover, all of the floor insulation and the first 2” of the wall insulation will be continuous, thereby greatly limiting thermal bridging (one expert calls it “heat bleed”) through the highly conductive concrete.

One word of caution – if you have a fuel-fired water heater, boiler, or furnace in the basement, make sure it does not depend upon air leakage to the basement for combustion air. If it does, or you are unsure, consult with a heating contractor to make sure that it will function safely after you complete the insulation work.

Mike Trolle, a Ridgefielder, is principal of BPC Green Builders, 523 Danbury Road,Wilton. He may be reached at mike@bpcgb.com.

A stone fish pond can be appreciated from various points on a garden path in Lake Kitchawan. Photo credit: Bernard Marquez.

Beyond the Garden Gate, the fourth annual home garden tour hosted by the Lewisboro Land Trust and the Lewisboro Garden Club, is going to be held Sunday, June 23. The self-guided tour of five private gardens will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with visitors checking in at Onatru Farm Park, 99 Elmwood Road in South Salem, beginning at 9:30.

Rippowam Retreat: Nestled high above the shores of Lake Rippowam, this newly renovated Craftsman-style home is surrounded by a variety of garden spaces. The pea-gravel drive flanked by gardens leads to pathways and striking overlooks. An outdoor living room boasts a stone fireplace covered in climbing hydrangea. From this vantage point, one can enjoy the long views of Lake Rippowam in the distance, as well as the beauty of nearby mature shade trees, perennial plantings, and annual color. Container plantings, a garden fountain, and statuaries offer surprise elements throughout this interesting property.

Historic Main Street: Known as “Happy Home” as far back as 1867, this historic house, once owned by Elisha Keeler (musician and horticulturist), eventually became Happy Home Nursery. The current owners, also in the business of flowers, have kept the house and surroundings “true to their roots.” The property’s well-developed mass plantings of shade- and sun-loving favorites are displayed along gravel drives and paths. Boston ivy and wisteria grace stone walls and structures, including a large greenhouse, lending an old-time feel to the home.

Slate paths allow up-close views of seasonal blooms at an historic Main Street home. Photo credit: Lisa Wickersham.

The White Garden: Explore a variety of garden settings surrounding this modern Greek Revival-style home. Classically inspired gardens include a pergola garden, labyrinth, and theater court. Hidden areas include a perennial ellipse, an annual garden, a conservatory “jungle” garden, and an Asian-inspired moss garden. Water features and sculptures accent the landscape, and native plantings dominate in areas outside the central gardens. In the woodlands, walking paths weave over a meandering brook and through a shady dell.

Kitchawan Views: Beyond a heavy garden gate ensconced in a high stone wall, visitors are treated to a beautiful landscape of “garden rooms” designed and created by the homeowner. The 1930s cottage set high on a bluff is sheltered by stone walls to the front and enhanced by stone steps and terracing throughout, including an artfully designed fish pond. Natural rock outcroppings add interest and crevices for plants to take root and thrive. Boxwood in various forms and a variety of coniferous trees and shrubs provide texture and composition, as well as a sense of calm. Annuals and flowering trees add splashes of color. The cedar garden room, a separate structure, offers another escape for relaxation and reflection. The lush landscape is complemented by distantviews of Lake Kitchawan to the west.

Scented azaleas and Lake Kitchawan views delight the senses in this circular outdoor room. Photo credit: Bernard Marquez.

Native Living: The permaculture design of this Adirondack-style house and grounds offers sustainable living at its best. The home’s systems operate solely on solar and wood-pellet energy. Underground cisterns collect water for use in the garden, and during downpours rain chains provide visually pleasing columns of water that are conserved in rain barrels.This shy five-acre property situated along a winding river is home to an organic vegetable garden, an orchard that provides a variety of edible fruit, native shrubs, and a particularly impressive copper beech. A private iris-edged pond and labyrinth provide peaceful areas for rest and reflection.

Tickets are $30 anad may be purchased the day of the event or in advance. Visitors will receive a tour map, an optional boxed lunch pre-ordered for $10, and an invitation to the “after party.” Circle back to Onatru at 4 p.m. for some music and refreshments. Although “pets are people, too,” we ask that you leave pooches at home. Due to limited parking at some of the properties, carpooling is strongly recommended. For further information, email grace@westchesterlandtrust.

An impressive stone fireplace is the focal point of a Lake Rippowam outdoor patio. Photo credit: Lisa Wickersham.

Lisa Wickersham is a member of the Lewisboro Garden Club and a resident of South Salem.

An inviting poolside seating area with oversize stone fireplace lends to the resort-like feel of the Rosano home. Photo courtesy of Phillip Ennis Photography.

Describing themselves as homebodies who love to entertain, Sharon and Rich Rosano thought carefully about everything they wanted when building their New Canaan home six years ago. Flow, amenities and proportion were important, as was technology. “I love that I can pretty much run the house from my iPhone,” admits Rich, an Rochester Institute of Technology graduate who previously sold software applications. They also wanted to maximize natural light and have plenty of storage.

“Having a great kitchen was also important as ours is well used,” Sharon said. “We cook together as a family and keep a packed pantry and freezer. We can feed ten people on an moment’s notice — and have.” She loves what she calls her “Costco pantry,” a walk-in with plentiful shelves that enables her to buy in bulk and readily holds cooking and serving pieces. The six-burner gas stove also has a frequently used griddle and the long, midroom, marble-topped counter has a bar-height side with stools that make it easy for people to linger and hang out.

Coffee, cappuccino or espresso are readily available in single servings or by the pot; a butler’s pantry has a wine cooler, refrigerator drawers that are great for kids’ snacks and beverages and a drawer dishwasher perfect for a load of glasses; and a half wall separates the kitchen from the adjoining family room with fireplace (the house has five in all, including one outside, all piped for gas) and coffered ceiling.

Family affair
“The house suits us,” Rich says. “It’s comfortable, not formal, and has places and spaces for us to do both individual and family things.” That includes two en suite guest rooms for visiting family and friends, home offices for Sharon and Rich, a mirrored exercise room with several pieces of equipment and a pub room featuring a pool table and bar.

The well-appointed home serves as the family’s permanent vacation destination. Photo courtesy of Phillip Ennis Photography.

Their two preteen daughters agree that their favorite places in the four-level, 10,500-square-foot house are the lower level home movie theater (operated off an iPad) with eight cushy reclining seats and the backyard, which features a 22-by-44-foot swimming pool with adjacent spa and two waterfalls, plus underwater speakers, surrounded by bluestone patio, and a tucked-away fire pit with spiral seating wall.

The far end of the swimming pool is accented with a large seating area backed by a tall stone wall centered with fireplace and topped with a pergola. A swing set is half concealed by the wall and a hammock beckons at the other end of the yard. Privacy is ensured by tall spruces in front of the side and back fences.

There are also two cooking areas: one near the pergola with large portable grill and small refrigerator, and large outdoor kitchen with a grill that looks like it could cook a hundred burgers — and they have had parties with crowds that large — and a bar to belly up to that is closer to the house. One area that has pleasantly surprised the couple is the covered porch right off the kitchen. “It is cozy with the roof structure, and we find ourselves coming out here for morning coffee as often as possible,” said Sharon.

When designing the 20-room home, Sharon and Rich Rosano worked with Gill & Gill Architects, LLC, of Norwalk. Bryan Haeffele photo.

When designing the 20-room house, the couple worked with Gill & Gill Architects, LLC, of Norwalk; it was constructed by RRBuilders, LLC, which is Rich’s multi-award-winning full service general contractor and construction management firm. But even a builder is not immune to change orders during construction. The bells-and-whistles laundry room, for example, is on the second floor, but it was realized that with a swimming pool, damp towels would have to be schlepped upstairs, so space intended for a second stairway into the lower level was converted into a second laundry room with shelves holding towels.

Custom crafted
In considering “how we live,” another favorite spot is a small “dog room” near a door that has a large bin to accommodate bags of dog food and a pot filler spout close to the floor to easily replenish their pet’s water bowl. Drawers hold leashes, toys and brushes.
The master bedroom suite is divided by a small hallway that separates the sleeping and sitting areas, adjacent to the large

The family kitchen is fully equipped for entertaining a large gathering of family and friends (including the family dog, Nero). Bryan Haeffele photo.

bathroom and walk-in closet. Rich laughs when recalling ordering the jet-tub; asked if he wanted the chromatherapy lights feature, he figured, why not? Afterward, he was surprised by how much setting different colors can enhance various moods — and added that feature to the swimming pool.

The girls’ bedrooms are quite spacious, as their placement is over the four-car garage and each as a built-in desk area. Another change made during construction was to move a wall in each room to create a recessed opening, providing a private space to in which to curl up with a book or just hang out. And in an expansion of the Jack-and-Jill bathroom concept, each bedroom has its own sink and toilet area, but the bathtub is shared.

When contouring the land prior to construction, ground level entry to one end of the lower level was created, giving easy access to the mechanical room. The full-house generator was also placed in this outside area, where it cannot be seen from the backyard — and that generator was greatly appreciated during the long power outages of the past couple of years. “Our friends and family appreciated it too!” the couple notes.

What could be cuter than Mama Goose followed by five little gooselets? Or more graceful than a white-tailed deer? But cats were never meant to be treacherous, were they? And is that actually a coyote outside the kitchen door? Nature has changed. Urban and suburban sprawl has deprived animals of their traditional food supply, and the lack of predators has made them bolder. For nature lovers who choose country life instead of big cities, there are unexpected backyard battles: gardens destroyed, garbage pails overturned, innocent pets in danger.

Jim Sterba, whose journalism background includes working as a foreign correspondent, as a war correspondent, and for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, has put his love of the outdoors and skills as a researcher into his fascinating book Nature Wars. It tells how wildlife comebacks have turned back yards into battlegrounds. Speaking at Highstead Arboretum in Redding recently, he started with the inescapable deer problem. “Selling advice and products about controlling the deer population has become a thriving business in the suburbs,” he declared. “The magnificent white-tailed deer, a visual treasure to behold, has become a long-legged rat. Fertility control can cost $1,000 per female deer and it hasn’t worked. Given the chance, local bow hunters and managed sharpshooters could solve the problem, but deer get skittish and stay clear of shooting sites.” A suggestion came from a woman in the audience. “I have an electric wire around my garden, only two feet above the ground and it keeps every animal away, including deer.” It’s worth a try, but maybe not when children are around.

Jim Sterba, author of Nature Wars. Photo credit: Lois Alcosser.

The droppings of Canada geese have made them quite disgusting creatures, despite their graphic design. Less than 40% of their food is digested and the rest passes through their systems in 30 minutes to an hour. Intestinal bacteria from geese can threaten drinking water. Live decoy flocks have been used to change their locations, with questionable success. Once again, an electric wire may be the answer.

Backyard invaders come with one purpose: to eat. The most sensible and practical solution is never to feed them and to remove sources of food, even birdseed. There are certain plants that are reputed to repel deer, but there are mixed opinions about this. Underneath it all, there is also another battle going on between conservationists and environmentalists. For example, at this year’s Wilton Go Green event, a representative from Wildlife in Crisis, which rescues wounded animals and returns them, whenever possible, to their natural environment, agreed that there was an overpopulation of deer but had a very different approach. She said the answer was to feed deer high-calorie, super-nutritious corn and therefore satisfy their appetites. The deer would have no desire to munch on plants and trees. She said the most she’d ever do to scare or harm an animal is to soak a tennis ball in ammonia and put it in a hole somewhere in the garden. (Try it. It might work.)

When environmentalists hear this suggestion by conservationists, they exclaim, “We’re not feeding the deer!” And so the conservationists stick to their side of rescuing and protecting, while the environmentalists bemoan the preponderance of deforestation and destruction by deer, who, after all, also carry Lyme disease and are therefore not to be pitied.

The presence of more and more feral cats is another cause of backyard battles. Though cats are usually beloved house pets, many are abandoned and become desperately hungry scavengers. They revert to wild behavior, a serious threat to pets and people. Once again, this can be traced to our current culture of removal of woodlands, which turns pets into predators. We spend millions of dollars on food, grooming, medical care, clothing, furniture for our poodles, while unwanted felines are left to fend for themselves.
Coyotes, wolves, bears, and wild turkeys are sighted by homeowners all through Fairfield County. Jim Sterba explains, “Much of sprawl has plenty of trees, and human residents offer more and better amenities than many wild creatures can find in the wild: plenty of food, water, hiding places, and protection from predators with guns. The result is a mix of people and wildlife that should be an animal-lover’s dream come true but often turns into a sprawl-dweller’s nightmare.”

The big solution is land preservation, protection of woodlands and wildlands, the mission of Highstead. By giving back their habitat to the backyard invaders, we re-connect with nature as intended. The backyard battles cease.

For immediate help, here’s one suggestion: Geese Police has been in business for 25 years. They use highly trained border collies (natural predators of the geese) to harass them until they fly away. From then on, the geese consider that specific property an unsafe space. For more information, visit geesepoliceinc.com or call 1-866-664-3373.

New Canaan Summer Farmers Market
Saturdays through November 23, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., rain or shine; Old Center School Parking Lot, corner of South Ave., Maple St. and Main St. More info: newcanaanfarmersmarket.net

Wilton Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays, beginning June 5; The Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Rd.; more info: www.wiltonfarmersmarket.com.

Darien Farmer’s Market
Open Wednesdays through Christmas, 11 a.m to 4 p.m.;
Municipal Parking Lot off of Mechanic Street behind the firehouse on Boston Post Road, Across from Goodwives Shopping Center; more info: www.darienfarmersmarket.com.

Pound Ridge Farmers/Bakers Market
Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Antiques & Tools, on front terrace, 65 Westchester Ave., Scotts Corners, Pound Ridge; more info: 914-764-0015.

Cucina Casalinga features guest chef
Wednesday, June, 12, 6:30 – 9:30 pm; 171 Drum Hill Rd., Wilton; Guest Executive Chef Mike Garaghty of Wusthof-Trident of America Inc., will be on hand for a special knife skills class. $110. Call 203-762-0768 or visit cucinacasalinga.com

Women Artists Walk-and-Talk
Sundays, June 16 and June 23, 3 p.m.; Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 34 Halpin Lane; free and open to the public; more info call 203-438-8863 or visit rgoa.org.

Father’s Day menu at Cucina Casalinga cooking class
Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 – 9:30 pm; 171 Drum Hill Rd., Wilton; Mixed Tuscan Grill. $145. Call 203-762-0768 or visit cucinacasalinga.com

Special workshop on Trattoria Cooking
Friday, June 21, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; Cucina Casalinga, 171 Drum Hill Rd., Wilton; $150. Call 203-762-0768 or visit cucinacasalinga.com.

Makers’ Night Trunk Show at RGA
Friday, June 21, 7 – 9 p.m.; artists’ objects for sale; Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 34 Halpin Lane; more info call 203-438-8863 or visit rgoa.org.

Kids’ cooking class at Aux Delices
Sunday, June 23, 4 – 6 p.m.; “Dinnertime Survival”,” ages 8 – 14; 23 Acosta Street Stamford, CT; please register with Chef Lynn Manheim, Director lmanheim@auxdelicesfoods.com or call 203-326-4540 ext. 108.

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable in home gardens across America; most gardeners agree nothing tastes better than a home-grown tomato!  It’s important to understand common tomato terms, often seen on tomato plant tags and the basics of growing tomatoes…the more you know the better you’ll grow. Now through mid-July, you can plant extra tomatoes for later harvests in fall, often right up to frost dates if you protect them overnight or harvest them green and ripen them indoors.

Tomatoes need the right combination of good soil, water and heat. Use transplants as they’re faster than starting from seed and easier to grow. Transplants offered in biodegradable pots are planted directly in-ground, preventing transplant shock and saving millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. Find a sunny location (at least 6 hours of sun) with good drainage, and if you plant tomatoes each season, it’s a good idea to rotate the spot in the garden where you plant them.

Terms
Tomato plants are classified as either indeterminate or determinate. Indeterminate plants grow all season, continuing to bloom and produce fruit as long as weather conditions are favorable. Determinate plants are the compact bush type, like Better Bush, they grow to a certain size, set fruit, and stop growing, bearing fruit all at once. This type of tomato is popular with gardeners who like to can and make
sauce.

Tomatoes are often designated by the terms early, middle and late, which refer to when the fruit will be ready to harvest. Early season tomatoes are the first to ripen, late season are the last to ripen and middle season types fall somewhere in between. Planting some of each type is a good strategy for enjoying ripe tomatoes throughout the summer.

Tomato Types
Heirloom tomato – Any tomato that is at least fifty years old and is not a hybrid type, like “Mortgage Lifter”; this heirloom tomato got its name because a mechanic in West Virginia who developed the variety made so much money selling the seeds he paid off his mortgage!

Hybrid tomato – A tomato bred by crossing varieties. Hybrids offer better disease resistance, higher yield, and other improved traits.

Now it’s time to pick your plants: While tomato lovers have a seemingly endless list of varieties to plant in their gardens, tomatoes fall into three basic categories: small salad (cherry) tomatoes, slicing tomatoes and thick-walled tomatoes ideal for making sauces.

If you’re temperatures are rising, and most are, choose a heat-set tomato variety that’s able to set fruit in high temperatures compared to many other varieties.

Planting Tomatoes Step-by-Step

1. Prepare your plot: Loosen the ground to create a welcoming bed for roots to grow. You can add 3 or 4 inches of compost or other organic matter, especially in clay or sandy soils. Then dig a hole that is as deep as the plant is tall because you are going to bury two-thirds of the plant.

2. Slip Plant from pot if in plastic: Gently remove the plant by slipping the plastic container from the root-ball. Don’t tug on the plant stem; this can sever it from the roots. If the roots are growing out of holes in the bottom of the pot, tear or cut them away and squeeze and twist the pot as necessary to work it from the roots. If your plant is in a biodegradable pot, just tear off the bottom of the pot to make sure that roots are in instant contact with the soil.

3. Bury Two-thirds of the plant: Set the plant in the hole deeply enough so that two-thirds of it is buried. Roots will sprout all along the buried stem to make a stronger plant. You can pinch off the lower leaves if you prefer, but it is not necessary.

4. Don’t forget to fertilize: Mix fertilizer into the soil that you will put back into the hole.  It is best to fertilize according to recommendations from a soil test, but if you don’t have that, use a timed-release fertilizer, which doesn’t leach…or use an organic fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label.

Your tomato plant is almost ready to grow – when you’re done, two-thirds of the entire plant will be buried; only the top of the tomato plant remains above ground.

5. Water well: Water thoroughly at soil line. This is very important to help settle the soil and start the plant.

6. Maintain your mulch: Mulch with pine needles, straw, or compost to help keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds. Mulch should be 2 to 3 inches deep for effective weed control.

Plant tomatoes that work for you, they’re fun to grow and the taste of a home-grown tomato is definitely more delicious than any store bought tomato.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor! For more info, contact: bonnieplants.com.