The 08'r Tomater
or
The Gunny Sack Garden
This article is brought to you courtesy of Synagro and their sponsorship of sustainable gardening on the Country Garden Radio program.
The "08'r Tomater" or Gunny Sack Garden is a project that is very easy, quick and best of all, inexpensive.
This is a great project to do with the little ones. Planting with the young ones introduces them to the joys of gardening and it will increase the chances that they will eat more vegetables because they grew it.
Dale also loves this project because you don't even break a sweat completing this garden.
The "08'r Tomater" or Gunny Sack Garden is a project that is very easy, quick and best of all, inexpensive.
This is a great project to do with the little ones. Planting with the young ones introduces them to the joys of gardening and it will increase the chances that they will eat more vegetables because they grew it.
Dale also loves this project because you don't even break a sweat completing this garden.
So Simple, even Dale can do it!
There are only 3 items to pick up: a tomato, potting soil (1.5 to 2 cu. ft. bag) and a burlap bag.
The Gunny Sack garden is a great project for people who have small yards with little or no planting areas; hard soils where they have a difficult time digging or for those who don't want to work at ground level. The gunny sack garden elevates the plants off the ground making care and harvesting easier and it also minimizes the problems with ground level insects.
Your garden can be placed almost anywhere that you have a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine. The tomatoes will perform better if they have morning sun with late afternoon or evening shade. Don't forget to have it near a water source for easier care.
The Gunny Sack garden is a great project for people who have small yards with little or no planting areas; hard soils where they have a difficult time digging or for those who don't want to work at ground level. The gunny sack garden elevates the plants off the ground making care and harvesting easier and it also minimizes the problems with ground level insects.
Your garden can be placed almost anywhere that you have a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine. The tomatoes will perform better if they have morning sun with late afternoon or evening shade. Don't forget to have it near a water source for easier care.
Selecting your Tomatoes and other vegetables
The gunny sack garden can use a wide range of vegetables. Possible choices are peppers, eggplant, carrots, radishes, and of course the tomato. When selecting your tomato plant look for determinate tomatoes. Tomatoes are determinate and indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes are known as bush tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes are vining. For easier care, the bush type are easier to care for in the gunny sack garden. The two most popular are Celebrity and Roma. Vine tomatoes are Early Girl, Better Boy, Beefsteak and many of the heirloom varieties.
For the gunny sack garden use one tomato plant per bag. Carrots and radishes can grow around a dozen plants.
For the gunny sack garden use one tomato plant per bag. Carrots and radishes can grow around a dozen plants.
Step 1.
Place the bag of potting soil on the ground and puncture 8 - 12 drain holes into the lower portion of the bag. Do not tear the bottom of the bag.
Step 2.
Place the potting soil into the burlap bag and stand upright. Pick up the sack with the soil inside and drop the bag to distribute the soil in the bag so it will stand upright. The gunny sack garden will have better support if it is leaned against a fence or wall.
Cut the top of the bag open.
Cut the top of the bag open.
Step 3.
Plant your tomato into the soil. Remember green side up. Remove the plant from its container. A trick with tomatoes is to plant the tomato deeper into the soil and remove any leaves that are buried in the soil.
Learn more about deep planting tomatoes click on The tomato eggshell planter article.
Water the tomato to settle and firm up the soil. Remember to water slowly to prevent erosion of the soil. It will need separate watering from the rest of your yard unless you attach a drip system to the sack. Check and see where the water will drain to, it can leave water stains on the cement.
Check the water needs on regular basis, it may only need to be watered 2 -3 times a week. Watering needs will change when the summer temperatures heat up and it may require more water. Do not overwater your tomato, this can result in a great growing plant but it may not have any flowers to turn into fruit.
Fertilize your plant every 30 days with an organic flowering or vegetable fertilizer.
After the season is over, remove the old plants and toss the potting soil into your garden to enrich the soil.
Have fun and listen to the Country Garden every Saturday morning at 8:00 AM and let us know how your garden grows.
Learn more about deep planting tomatoes click on The tomato eggshell planter article.
Water the tomato to settle and firm up the soil. Remember to water slowly to prevent erosion of the soil. It will need separate watering from the rest of your yard unless you attach a drip system to the sack. Check and see where the water will drain to, it can leave water stains on the cement.
Check the water needs on regular basis, it may only need to be watered 2 -3 times a week. Watering needs will change when the summer temperatures heat up and it may require more water. Do not overwater your tomato, this can result in a great growing plant but it may not have any flowers to turn into fruit.
Fertilize your plant every 30 days with an organic flowering or vegetable fertilizer.
After the season is over, remove the old plants and toss the potting soil into your garden to enrich the soil.
Have fun and listen to the Country Garden every Saturday morning at 8:00 AM and let us know how your garden grows.
