Courtesy of James K., Virtually Green, San Francisco, CA I’d be cautious about using a compost tea on your crops, and doubly so spraying it on any edible foliage, unless you were sure it was produced using an ingredients formulation and preparation process that prevented unsafe levels of E. coli....
Courtesy of Bob B., The Fresh Veggies, Toronto, ON I used store bought potatoes in 2008, and the yield was low. Last year I ordered seed potato, and the yield was almost three times higher. I planted following the varieties with exceptional results: Norland Red, Yukon Gold, Banana Fingerling, Lindzer...
Courtesy of Ed G., Fresh SPIN Farms, Davis CA We have a local source for fingerling seed … our local food co- op. Â You can cut potatoes into “seed” by making sure you have at least one eye and enough potato to “feed” the runner until it surfaces to get...
Courtesy of Paige H., Patchwork Farms, Austin, TX I just loaned my standard Christmas lights (read “not LED, so warmer”) to my neighbor who is concerned about her citrus. She’s borrowed my quilt batting and has strung the lights inside the tree wrapped with the batting. Sure beats burning tires.
Courtesy of Michael B, Austin, TX You can fit about 1 tomato tripod per 6 sq. ft. or so. The tripod is held together at the top by twine. I allow my first sucker to develop as the second leader and then trim every sucker from then on out. I usually use...
Courtesy of James W, Kelowna BC Flaming is an excellent weeding tool, particularly if one is using the stale bed method prior to seeding. We spent $60 on a tiger torch for a propane tank. Small, reasonable portable and very effective. It has worked very well for our farm.
Courtesy of Josh V., Portland OR The one green I’ve had consistent good luck with, uncovered, through the entire winter, is mache. Â This is not a productive plant, but it is very tasty and if you let it go to seed it will establish itself as a winter “weed,” and...
Courtesy of Robert H., Pomona, CA Treat cut greens like cut flowers. Trim the stems and put them in water when you store them in your cooler. Change the water every day.  A head of tender lettuce will last up to 3 weeks or longer with this approach.
Courtesy of Wally S., Wally’s Urban Market Garden, Saskatoon, SK The best way that I know to plant scallion sets is one by one, not laying them down. Yes, it is one of the most tedious chores, but the reward is early onion bunches at market, and for later on...
Courtesy of Bingo B. Boise, ID To deter cats, I put chicken wire down on newly tilled beds. Keeps ’em from digging.Once plants come up so does the wire. But sometimes I just leave it in until the end of that bed. You can get 24″ high rolls of the...
