Cure Your Bulbs Before You Store ThemWhen it's time to dig your summer flower bulbs, make sure you dry them thoroughly before storing them in paper bags or cardboard boxes in a warm, dry spot for the winter. No fancy equipment needed. You can just rummage for an old screen door, lay it across a couple of sawhorses, and you'll have a drying rack.
Chop and Drop Rhubarb MulchDon't pitch those freshly cut rhubarb leaves into the compost bin/pile. Instead, tuck those leaves up, under and around your rhubarb plants. They provide excellent mulch as well as extra nutrients for your plants.
A Pencil Makes a Great Seedling ToolUse a common lead pencil to make the first transplant of seedling from seedling tray to next size up. Fill your six-pack (or similar) cells with starter mix, then use the pencil to make the planting hole. Use the pencil tip to gently lift and separate the seedling from its seed tray. Then use the pencil tip to gently tuck the root down into the starter mix. Last, apply gentle compression to the soil-less mix around the stem and roots.
An Easy Way To Clean Up After Castor BeansI love Castor Bean plants!! If your winter temps are below freezing more than not, then you'll love this tip! When it's time for fall clean-up, instead of fighting with those humongous roots, just "top" the plant down to a 2-3' bare stem. In the spring, after the ground thaws, pull the stems and roots out of the ground, using only your gloved hands.
Water Seedlings CarefullyHow many of you have ever dumped out packs of new seedlings, trying to pour excess water from the seedling flats. How frustrating is that? Why not grab your old turkey baster, tip the flat up a bit, and suck all the excess water up into the baster? Quick, easy, and no dumped seedlings. Buy a new baster for the turkey...
