Why Do Tomatoes Split?

Why Do Tomatoes Split?
By Michael J McGroarty

It is very common for tomatoes to split, and there are a couple of reasons for these unsightly cracks. Split tomatoes can be caused by either moisture or heat stress.

You may find tomatoes with large cracks that form concentric circles around the stem. This splitting is caused by moisture stress, when the fruit becomes too plump too quickly and literally bursts through the skin. This typically occurs after a heavy rainfall that follows a dry spell.

Large cracks on tomatoes that radiate down from the stem are caused from heat stress. This occurs during periods of bright sunlight and temperatures above ninety degrees.

To help prevent splits from moisture or heat stress, try to maintain even moisture for the plants and provide good drainage in the soil. A thick layer of mulch over the plant's roots will help keep the soil cool and evenly moist. Remove ripe and nearly ripe fruit after a heavy rain, before it has a chance to split.

Tomatoes that are already ripening can be allowed to finish ripening on the kitchen counter.

The splits are cosmetic only, and won't affect the flavor of the tomatoes. As long as the fruit is harvested immediately it will still be good for eating.
Don't let a tomato stay on the plant if it has split as it can easily be invaded by insects or develop mold in the open cracks.

Blossom end rot is typically seen early in the season and often doesn't affect fruit that is set later in the summer. It is caused by a poor supply of water and calcium in the developing tomatoes.

Tomato plants that were planted out in the garden before the soil warmed up are susceptible to blossom end rot because their root systems don't develop well in cold soil. Without a good root system the plants cannot take up enough moisture and calcium for the developing fruit, resulting in blossom end rot. Blossom end rot may also be a problem after dry periods followed by heavy rains.

Mulching your tomato growing bed after the soil has warmed up is a good way to prevent blossom end rot as the mulch helps to maintain even moisture in the soil. You'll also want to keep the plants well watered during dry periods and avoid cultivating too closely to the plants as this can disturb tiny feeder roots that are close to the surface.

If you have tomatoes afflicted with blossom end rot, just remove those fruits from the plant, maintain even moisture for your plants and wait for the next set of tomatoes to ripen.

I'm Mike McGroarty and I'm passionate about plants, soil and everything that has to do with gardening! I promise to teach you things that will make you a better gardener, and I'd like to start by giving you these FREE Gardening Gifts! http://freeplants.com/signup.htm

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Reasons Why a Well-Maintained Garden Is So Important

Reasons Why a Well-Maintained Garden Is So Important
By Ian Schechter

A sense of beauty and joy fills your heart when you are surrounded by greenery. But we should appreciate a garden's maintenance in the same way we appreciate its beauty. Nowadays, gardens are not only restricted to residences but also found in offices. It is significant to maintain gardens regularly because an unkempt one can makes the property look dull and unwelcoming. If you cannot make time to manage your garden area, you can hire landscape design services. Now, let us go through the reasons why garden maintenance has become so important today.

Why do you require maintaining your garden area?

Whether it is your office or home, if you have garden, you require maintaining it properly. We have compiled a few reasons that signify the importance of the upkeep job.

Live amid nature

If you have your own well-kept green area, you have the privilege to live in the middle of nature. Plus, such a space can always serve as a perfect destination to sip your morning or evening cup of tea or coffee. (Whichever drink suits you.) Furthermore, you can always use the space for organizing formal parties or impromptu get-together.

Add beauty

If the green area has beautiful flowers and leaves that glisten, your space will become more appealing. A well-kept green area will only add charm to your property.

Create freshness

Greenery-if maintained well-will always add to the overall freshness of an area. Greenery helps in creating a type of freshness that can soothe your senses and rejuvenate them.

Grow fruits and veggies

Now, that is what we can call "killing two birds with one stone." Beg your pardon if the idiom sounds a bit ghastly, but it holds water in the current situation. A well-maintained garden area can support the growth of fruits and vegetables, i.e., you can eat organic, healthy, homegrown fruits or veggies daily. So, having such an area not only helps you see beautiful nature but also lets you eat healthful fruits and veggies.

Do not let your garden get infested with worms and pests

It is a no-brainer; if you do not maintain your garden, it will soon become a home for pests and other insects. And if your green area has, sadly, run to seed, you have to check the area for snakes and other dangerous rodents as well.

If you have a garden area, you can avail each of these benefits. But for experiencing these benefits, you can either find some time every day to maintain you garden or hire a landscape design NYC service provider who will do the chore for you. We can rightly say that it is essential to do the task if you do not want your green area to serve as a blot on the landscape.

Ian Schechter at Greening Stone shared this article on the importance of well-maintained garden. Greening Stone is a leading landscape design services provider in New York.

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Growing A Vertical Garden

Growing A Vertical Garden
By Kimberly S Smyth

When I started my vertical garden, it was a small affair, just a few herbs like basil, mint and Rosemary. Then I added cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers and burpless cucumbers and my garden has now expanded to plants on Shepard hooks and on hooks attached to the fences. Additionally, I started adding some decorations like stake type art, one of which has a solar light included!

The whole point of starting this type of garden was that my Shorkie, Brandy, is very destructive and I still wanted something pretty to look at besides the gray fence. So, my first thought was "why not plant something we can use"? Hence the herbs and veggies. That wasn't enough however, we were still looking at the ugly gray fence, so a few weeks later, we added the flowers and decorations. I still plan to add more to the fence when the temps start going down a bit. Hey, it's hot in Texas right now!

My inspiration was a beautiful pin I saw on Pinterest and not only were there plants all along the fence, the fence itself was painted like a flower garden! Very inspirational and so much talent needed I'm sure. The first challenge I faced when starting to put plants on the fence was how to hang them without the weight pulling on the fence. First I came up with over-the-door hooks to hang from the support board from the neighbors side. That ended up being where I hung other decorations like a tiny birdhouse and a pretty sun. You see, I would have had to find half baskets and I'm on a budget here.

Ultimately, we ended up getting strong decorative metal hooks that my husband was kind enough to install on the support posts of the fence. They proved quite strong and now I have a plant hanging from each one, three in all. There are other ways to hang more plants at one time, like a long box held by brackets or maybe even half baskets that would hang flush with the fence. Truth is, the weather got hot and I decided to wait to add more because I've created enough I have to water already!

We have managed to harvest a few cherry tomatoes and a sweet pepper plus I use the basil for many things. The mint comes in handy as well if you like to make infused waters for instance. Also, it's wonderful to have pretty flowers, lights and decorations to look at now all out of my puppy's reach!

Please check out my blog at http://www.kimsmyth61.wordpress.com for more stories about my Paleo journey and more. Also check out my Instagram pics and posts at crafter61

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Connect With the Earth, Receive Her Gifts

Connect With the Earth, Receive Her Gifts
By Beverly Molina

"Keep close to nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." -John Muir

I am humbled and sorry to say that I have not always been appreciative of Planet Earth and all of the life-sustaining benefits and beauty She offers to me.

In fact I was pretty much asleep-pre-occupied in my own personal life adventures and dramas, when my oldest, now college-aged boy, back in grade school began bringing my attention to what he was learning, namely the importance of caring for our environment, our planet.

He would watch me like a hawk. Constantly, as I was about to throw something away, he would screech, "Wait, we need to recycle that one!" It was he who took on the project of creating our makeshift recycle box (the first of many) for the kitchen.

In the beginning, I recycled to humor him - Earth's small and persistent steward - unaware that this was the beginning of my waking up to a new way of recognizing, being, and appreciating the interdependent living system of which I am an integral part.

Since then, Mother Earth and I have come to know each other very well. She even came to my rescue once at a personal low point in my life.

Today, I consciously make her a part of my everyday practice, whether I am doing my part to better the environment or whether I am enjoying and acknowledging the rich gifts she brings to my everyday life.

Yes, everyday is Earth Day.

When we feel disconnected from nature and the Earth, we may take her gifts for granted.

I believe it is important to deliberately connect with the Earth. When we practice and realize our connectedness, it is my belief that we will finally take care of this swirling blue-green marble in space, as she takes care of us.

Here are some of my favorite ways to connect with gorgeous Mother Earth:

• Sink your toes in the sand and feel the cool watery roughness between your toes. Can you feel the eons of time swirling beneath your feet?

• Hug a tree. Seriously. Did you know a tree will hug you back?!

• Immerse yourself in natural waters-cool creeks, lakes and the mysterious sea-often, and feel how the natural waters run through your own body.

• Breathe in the soil of the earth and feel it bring back ancient memories.

• Spend time walking, hiking, climbing and immersing your self in nature. Notice the treasure chest of wonders that appear before you.

• Observe how tall grasses and the leaves of trees move, almost imperceptibly, as a breeze blows through them. What messages do you hear?

• Walk barefoot often-in the dirt is even better-and feel yourself become grounded.

• Drink in the delicious rays of the sun and remember this light has sustained life from the beginning.

• Look up at the vast stars and feel the peace of how you are connected to infinite time and space. Can you feel the star dust coursing through your veins?

Thank you Planet Earth for reminding me of the interconnectedness of life-in all of its fragility, strength, uniqueness, and perfection. Thank you for enlivening and invigorating me, for bringing me peace. Thank you for allowing me to see anew with wonder, curiosity and excitement. Thank you for putting things in perspective and bringing me back to myself.

May we all remember to connect with the Earth every day, and be her grateful stewards.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more about how you can live a fulfilling and authentic life, please visit my website at http://www.braveandawake.com and check out my newly released book called Brave and Awake - A Story of Authentic Becoming.

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Growing Medicinal Plants in Your Kitchen Garden

Growing Medicinal Plants in Your Kitchen Garden
By Sarath B Sribhasyam

Grow medicinal plants in your balcony

"Food is our medicine; medicine is our food" - Aristotle

Long hours of work, unhealthy eating, less sleep, more pressure are all putting our bodies and health at a great risk. Diabetes, obesity, thyroid malfunctioning, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases are all interlinked and can be controlled only by healthy food. Greens, vegetables, fruits and nuts are great sources of nutrition that empower the body with all the vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. Green herbs especially can fight a lot of disorders and keep you away from impending health dangers. Instead of stepping out to buy them, you can grow these medicinal plants in your balcony with very little effort. Plenty of reasons why you should grow and eat them on a daily basis!

Methi (Fenugreek) - Growing methi in a container is one of the easiest things you can do. Choose a sunny spot, sow the seeds in a container and water it. Methi seeds germinate in a couple of days and in a span of 10 to 15days, the leaves come up and the pods are ready for harvest. Chilly weather conditions might not be suitable for methi to grow.

All diabetics consume methi leaves or fenugreek seeds to combat blood sugar level fluctuation. A natural soluble fibre named 'galactomannan' plays a key role in slowing down sugar absorption into the blood stream thereby controlling diabetes. Chronic digestive disorders, acid reflux, heartburn, dandruff and hair fall can all be corrected with regular consumption of methi leaves and seeds.

Bitter gourd (Karela) - Another miracle vegetable that is completely exotic in taste! Since it is a creeper plant, if you can arrange a small trellis in your balcony then karela can be grown easily. It is a warm weather crop but can also tolerate mild cold. Soak the seeds in lukewarm water before sowing them. This process ensures quicker germination and also strengthens seeds.

Bitter gourd is often disliked by many people due to its bitter taste but the goodness the vegetable contains is indescribable. From weight loss to controlling blood sugar levels, bitter gourd does it all. Regular consumption can also correct vision problems, cleanse liver and kidneys and also boost the immune system. But remember that excessive consumption can lead to stomach upset and cause an imbalance in the hormones.

Coriander (Dhaniya pattha) - Pick a few dhaniya seeds from your kitchen, split them into two, sow them in a container and place it in a sunny spot in your balcony. In a week's time your coriander crop will be ready! It is seriously as easy as this. The only pre-requisite for coriander plants is lots of sunlight. If your balcony receives plenty of it then just go ahead.

Coriander leaves fight with bad cholesterol and improve the levels of good cholesterol thereby boosting good health. Diabetic patients can keep their blood sugar levels in check with regular consumption of coriander. The rich iron content in the leaves and seeds enhances bone marrow performance and treats anaemia in women.

Stevia (Meetha pattha) - Rapidly replacing artificial sweeteners is the 'sweet leaf' or 'sugar leaf' mainly known as Stevia. Just one leaf will make anything sweet and easy to eat. Diabetics are now taking solace in this miraculous herb. Home grown stevia might lack the deep sweet flavour that is usually found but the leaves can definitely replace your sweetener. You can either sow seeds directly in a container or buy tiny stevia plants to transplant them in your garden. Light watering regularly and six hours of sunlight is good enough for the leaves to grow.

Brewed stevia leaves are an excellent replacement for table sugar. You can use them in tea, coffee, juices and other beverages. When consumed with ginger or cinnamon, stevia cures constipation and common digestive problems. Diabetics can make this a part of their diet and control their sugar cravings.

Basil (Tulsi) - Found in almost every Indian home, the basil herb can treat a wide range of health disorders. Sowing seeds directly in a container is the ideal way to grow basil. Keep the soil moist always by watering the seedlings regularly. It is an annual crop and continues to produce leaves in all seasons.

Chronic cold, cough and phlegm can be treated very well by dried basil. A strong decoction of the leaves when consumed on a daily basis kills bacterial infections and boosts immunity. Purifying blood, fighting mouth ulcers, treating migraines and keeping infections at bay, the basil does it all!

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