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Articles written by Catherine Wissner


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  • The 2020 Victory Garden growing great tomatoes

    Catherine Wissner|May 21, 2020

    Growing tomatoes in Wyoming doesn’t have to be difficult or result in green tomatoes in October. Tomatoes, like very warm soil to grow in, 65 degrees or warmer. The best way to achieve that is by using black plastic or black weed barrier fabric to cover the soil and keep it warm. Use a meat thermometer to take the soils temperature. After you’ve prepared the soil with, either or all; peat moss, grass clippings, kitchen compost, or a slow release fertilizer like osmocote, but not manure. Place soaker hose or drip tape down next, this will go und...

  • The 2020 Victory Garden amending soil for a vegetable garden

    Catherine Wissner|May 14, 2020

    Wyoming soil can present some challenges in soil type, pH, fertility levels, EC or salt and moisture. There are some easy and inexpensive ways to amend your soil for a successful vegetable garden. It’s always best to start with a soil test so you have a starting point and know exactly what is needed. A soil test kit can be picked up at your county Extension office or at the soils lab at Colorado State University. Vegetables like their soil more acidic with a pH of 6.5 to 6.0 which is difficult to achieve without a lot of amendments like peat m...

  • The 2020 Victory Garden reading a seed packet

    Catherine Wissner|May 7, 2020

    The back of a vegetable seed packet will have information to help you know days for germination and days to harvest fruit from that plant. Here are what all the numbers mean. Days to Germination; under the proper growing conditions (warm soil and proper moisture) the seed will germinate in a given time. Some seeds can take a couple days others a couple weeks. Days to Maturity or Harvest is, once planted and allowing for transplant shock, then under proper growing conditions when you get to harvest that first fruit or vegetable. For example:...

  • The 2020 Victory Garden Seed Starting

    Catherine Wissner|Apr 23, 2020

    There are three important components to indoor, or outdoor, seed starting they are: consistent moisture, never let the seed dry out during germination, warm soil between 65 and 85 degrees and bright light. The seed packet will have some starting instructions and tips on the back side. Some seed need light to germinate, for example some peppers and dill just barely need to be covered, so they germinate better with light. Most other seeds need dark and completely covered by soil, the packet should tell you what is needed. For seed staring soil,...