Looking for a little light reading to take with you on vacation this summer? I recommend “Coffee for Roses and 70 Other Misleading Myths About Backyard Gardening.” In it, author C. L. Fornari deconstructs some of the most time-honored tips for getting the most out of a garden. It’s easy reading that also informs.
I admit that I’ve traded around a good bit of what’s discussed in this book, including the tip of putting a handful of eggshells into the hole when setting out tomato and pepper plants. The calcium in the shells supposedly prevents blossom-end rot.
According to Fornari, we can stop saving our eggshells or dropping Tums® into planting holes, because it turns out that blossom-end-rot isn’t caused by a lack of calcium. Rather, stress is to blame. “The most common cause of stress is uneven watering,” says Fornari. “Allowing the plants to dry in between soakings is frequently the culprit, especially for tomatoes grown in pots or raised beds.”
There are other environmental stresses on tomatoes: excess water, heat and cold, dry soil, or too much fertilizer. What to do? Fornari recommends mulching to preserve moisture, watering thoroughly but less frequently to encourage deep root growth, and if necessary, watering container-grown tomatoes both morning and late afternoon. Back off on fertilizer.
Another tip the author dissects is the advice to plant cucumbers and pumpkins in hills. Says Fornari, “We all know the difference between ‘in’ and ‘on’, but when it comes to planting vegetables, gardeners have overlooked the distinction. The [planting] instructions say in hills, not on them. What a difference one letter makes!”
“Hill,” Fornari says, “is an old agricultural term for a group.” So, planting cucumber, squash and melon seeds in a hill means to plant several seeds in a group rather than in a row. She doesn’t say why planting in a group is advantageous. Perhaps the clustered leaves help shade the soil and prevent evaporation.
Planting “on” a hill creates the challenge of keeping squash and cukes well watered. Water tends to run off the hill and the soil in hills dries out faster than the rest of the garden. In some regions, it’s even advantageous to dig a slight depression when planting squash; the tender roots of new seedlings and young plants benefit from a lot of moisture. Planting squash in a depression also makes it easier to cover plants with floating row covers to protect from cool spring weather and insect pests. Just make sure you’re planting into well-drained soil.
Another tip Fornari debunks is that oak leaves and pine needles make compost or soil more acidic. “Although pine needles and oak leaves might have a low pH in their raw, pre-composted form,” she says, “once decomposed they are closer to neutral.” Not because their acid is leached into the ground but because pH is neutralized in the composting process pH is. Any finished compost, regardless of the ingredients, will test at around 6.5.
Oaks and pines grow in areas that tend to have naturally acidic soils, “This stems from the minerals in the soil, not the trees that grow there,” she says.
Fornari’s advice covers annuals and perennials, shrubs, trees and vines, compost, soils and fertilizers, insects and diseases, and “random folklore.” Each tip is covered thoroughly yet succinctly. I also love this book’s small-ish size, about 7 1/4″ square, which makes it easy to tuck in a beach tote.
Note: I’ve been selected to take part in Chester County library’s first “Read Local” event showcasing 30 authors and illustrators with ties to Chester County,, covering multiple genres and age groups. The event is this Sunday, May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the main branch library at 450 Exton Square Pkwy, Exton. I’ll be there with my nature-related books for children. It should be a fun afternoon. If you’re in the area, please stop by. I’d love to see you! For details, go to https://ccls.libcal.com/event/11573636
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442.
