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Prolific Tomatoes, etc.

Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Johnnie:

You asked what we did to make our tomatoes (and everything else that the
grasshoppers didn't eat to the ground) so prolific.  It wasn't the seed, it
was the preparation of the bed and the amendments we added ... and wonderful
regular rains.  We did as follows:

1.  We have red brick clay here, so "WE" dug three feet deep (whew!) and
replaced the "brick" with 1/3 each of composted Eastern Red Cedar SHAVINGS,
composted SOIL from under the oak trees in my forest, and composted HORSE
MANURE mixed in with a little of that old red clay.
2.    For each tomato plant I dug a hole one foot deep and mixed with the
soil in the bottom 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup bloodmeal, 3/4 cup green sand, and
3/4 cup calcium/magnesium like dolomite (or ground agricultural limestone).
I planted the tomatoes deeply, up to their top three leaves, with a gallon
plastic milk jug with holes punched in bottom buried beside each plant.
3.  When it didn't rain and I had to water, I put one tablespoon of Miracle
Grow in each milk jug and filled it with water to get to the roots.  Did
this with the peppers also.
4.  I planted 10 or so tomato plants of the following varieties:  Big Boy,
Celebrity, Super Fantastic, Brandiwine, Beef Master (excellent medium sized
and great taste), and Merced.  They all produced a variety of large, bigger
than a hamburger bun sized tomatoes, and a few medium sized tomatoes.
Except the Brandiwine, which only had smaller tomatoes but were the first to
ripen and delicious tasting.  All are still producing in spite of the 100+
temps here.
In February, I (not "we") dug a new plot 4' x 4' and almost 3 foot deep,
placed a little amended soil deep enough to plant 4 Big Boy tomato plants up
to their little ears, covered them with a clear plastic tarp (couldn't find
an extra window glass that I could handle, being a 58 yo grandmother) each
night or day that was too cold and covered them with more amended soil as
they grew.  I did this last year also even through the snow.  There roots
were so deep that even when the other tomatoes dried up because of the 110
degree Texas heat, these tomatoes kept on for another month and recouped in
the fall.  Of course they were all mulched.  This year I used thick
newspaper for mulch instead of hay.  The hay mulch from last year grew and
grew and grew.  Newspaper doesn't grow.
Since the 104 degree days and no more rain, and the grasshoppers, about all
I have left are the peppers, tomatoes, okra, and squash.  It was fun! (I am
jealous of all you guys with gardens still growing!!)

Not sure how to plant a fall garden because of the grasshoppers.  Am toying
with building little cages for each individual plot, but the veggies grew so
wide and so tall that they covered the walkways, so not sure how to have
smaller plants ... what a problem.

About colloidal silver, it is a liquid like water.  I put a few drops in my
grandson's ear with cotton while he slept.  Gave him a couple of tablespoons
to drink (just tastes like water), and 3 chewable 500mg vitamin C's  several
times a day.
You can buy CS at health food stores, or you can buy or make a colloidal
silver machine which I have.  I got directions from an Explo I attended
several years ago.  I WOULD BE GLAD TO FAX DIRECTIONS TO ANYONE WITH A FAX
as I don't exactly know how to make the picture on the computer.  Ah, time
for another learning session with how to use draw program.  Now that I have
a broken toe, maybe that will be my next sit down accomplishment.
Good luck on your garden.  If you grow your own seeds, be sure to buy them
early enough to allow the time for them to grown inside or in a cold frame.
I LOVE my coldframe.  Of course, we are in Texas on the line of zone 7/8.
Are considering building a small greenhouse for winter veggies.  ... Nickie


----- Original Message -----
From: Donald L Townsend

Nicki,

 What varity of tomato produced that abundance?  I'd love to have some seed
for next year.  You didn't say how they tasted.  Also, was the colloidal
silver a cream or liquid?  How did you use it for an ear infection?  Johnnie
T.


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