HOW TO AIR LAYER YOUR TOMATOES

AIR LAYERING YOUR FAVORITE TOMATO CAN EXTEND YOUR HARVEST. YOU WILL NEED SOME SPAGNUM PEAT MOSS, A PLASTIC BAG, TWIST TIES, AND ALUMINUM FOIL FIRST SELECT A SECTION THAT HAS AT LEAST TEN INCHES OF GROWTH. REMOVE ANY LEAVES AT THE LOWER PART OF THE TEN INCHES. SOAK THE SPAGNUM PEAT MOSS FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE USING. WRAP A FOUR INCH COLUMN OF SPAGNUM PEAT MOSS AROUND THE TOMATO STEM. WRAP THE PLASTIC PRODUCE BAG AROUND THE PEAT MOSS SO THAT IT RETAINS MOISTURE..WRAP THE PLASTIC PRODUCE BAG IN FOIL SO THAT THE NEWLY FORMING ROOTS WILL NOT GET SCALDED. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS CHECK THE PEAT FOR ROOTS. CUT BELOW THE PEAT WRAP WITH A SHARP KNIFE AND YOU WILL HAVE A CLONE OF THE ORIGINAL TOMATO PLANT. KEEP MOIST UNTIL THE PLANT BECOMES ESTABLISHED..

QUICK TIPS

SAVE SEEDS IN PAPER ENVELOPES. THIS WILL KEEP THE SEEDS FROM MOLDING.

Plant Sweet Basil for the Kitchen

SWEET BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) ONE OF THE EASIEST TO GROW AND USE IS THE ANNUAL HERB KNOWN AS BASIL. IT HAS LONG BEEN USED A CULINARY HERB IN EUROPE. BASIL COMES IN MANY VARIETIES. THE LEAVES RANGE IN COLOR FROM LIGHT GREEN TO DARK PURPLE. IT IS THE LEAVES THAT ARE USED IN COOKING. BASIL IS EASILY GROWN FROM SEED THAT IS SOWN IN THE SPRING AFTER THE LAST FROSTS. IT PREFERS A SANDY LOAM SOIL RICH IN ORGANIC MATTER THAT DRAINS WELL., FULL SUN WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHADE WILL PROVIDE OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS, TRANSPLANTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL NURSERIES. THE FLAVORS OF BASIL ARE NUMEROUS. LEMON, CITRUS, ANISE AND REGULAR ARE THE MOST POPULAR. BASIL HAS VERY FEW PEST PROBLEMS. BASIL FLOWERS READILY AND THE FLOWER HEADS SHOULD BE REMOVED TO PROMOTE CONTINUED LEAF GROWTH. BASIL CAN BE USED FRESH OR COOKED. IT DOES NOT DRY WELL.. SALADS, PESTO, SAUCES, VINEGARS AND OILS ALL BENEFIT WITH THE ADDITION OF BASIL..

Paw-Paw Tree (Asimina triloba)

The Paw Paw tree, a large shrub to small tree, is in the custard apple family. It grows along stream banks and moist areas. Flowers, leaf buds and young twigs are covered with rust colored hairs. The large oblong leaves are a bright shade of green turning to a wonderful shade of yellow in the fall. Flowers are chocolate colored and bloom before the tree develops leaves in the spring. The fruit is edible. You will have a better chance of fruit if you plant more than one tree. The Paw Paw tree is a slow grower, likes a sunny location and grows well in southern climes.