Planting Tomatoes

• Set plants a little deeper than they were originally growing so lower leaves are near the ground. If only “leggy” plants are available, plant them at about a 30-degree angle in a trench long enough to leave only the top 5 or 6 inches of the plant exposed. Roots will develop along the buried portion of the stem. If the plant is in a peat pot, make sure the entire pot is covered, because exposed portions of the pot will act as a wick and rapidly dry the root ball.  You can also remove the peat pot.
• Ideal spacing for home garden tomatoes is generally 24 to 36 inches between plants. Planting closer than 24 inches reduces air circulation around the plants and can trigger disease outbreaks. Large-vine tomatoes should be spaced 36 inches apart. Rows should be 4 to 5 feet apart.
• Credit for this information goes to the University of Missouri Extension.

Spacing Lettuces and Other Vegetables
Heads of lettuce need about 8-12" between plants, while leaf lettuce needs about 6".  Of course, we have small plots at Ruby Garden, so do the best you can.  Here is a good chart for planting information, including spacing between rows and plants, from the Oregon State University Extension.

Optimal Watering

• We hope everyone has learned how our watering system works by now.  Please contact us or ask one of our Master Gardeners in the garden if you have any questions about how to unlock or use the hoses.
  
• Watering is best for plants in the morning.
• Water directly on the roots.
• About one inch per week, about 1 foot deep.
• Check out this short article about optimal watering in Organic Gardening.
  

Organic Pest Control

• Something's eating my arugula... could it be slugs?  Beer traps are very effective.
  
• Floating row covers are another organic idea.
• Check out this list of organic pest controls.
• And register for the Organic Pest and Disease Control workshop at Windy City Harvest at Chicago Botanic Gardens on June 25, 2011!
• If you have any questions about pest control, please contact us or stop one of our Master Gardeners in the garden.  Remember, only organic materials are allowed in the garden.
  

Square Foot Gardening
What is It?
Square Foot Gardening

Early Season Planting
You can start sowing cold crop veggies now. You can sow lettuce, all kinds also arugula etc, spinach, scallions, parsley, peas, fava beans and I think cilantro very soon.  Inside you can start peppers,
eggplant, broccoli, cabbage and in a few weeks tomatoes.

It would be best to add some compost to the soil if you did not do it already in the fall. And of course if you need trellis make sure you do not block the light from your neighbor.

Have fun and we hope to see you soon in the garden.