PLANT YOUR TOMATOES WHEN THE PEONIES AND BLACK LOCUST BLOOM!

I have been acquiring a great deal of gardening knowledge by reading Jerry Baker's Book Terrific Tomatoes, Sensational Spuds, and Mouth-Watering Melons.  This book is completely full of great advice and old-fashioned wisdom for gardening!  I have actually taken a lot of the information I have read and created a "cheat sheet" with the hints, tips, and information all on one piece of paper.  I then laminated this piece of paper, front and back, so that the paper can be taken to the garden with me when I am working!  Jerry's Grandma Putt always told him to plant your tomatoes when the Peonies and Black Locust bloom, and that is just what I did.  I had my transplants hardened off and ready for planting just in time!  My tomatoe plants have come along well, and I was very excited to get them in the ground.  As many of you know I also plant my tomatoes in handing buckets upside down!  I have also planted some plants in the ground as well.  I am hoping for a great crop of tomatoes this year!  Time will tell!

I also followed the advice of the additives Jerry recommends to use when planting each plant.  In the hole where I was planting each tomatoe I included some compost and well-rotted manure, a handful of Bonemeal, and a teaspoon of Epsom salt.   

He also advises to water your tomatoes with fish fertilizer two weeks after transplanting, after the first flowers appear, when fruits are golf ball size, and when first ripe tomatoe is spotted. 

If you get a chance, check out Jerry's book, you won't be sorry that you did!  I have learned a lot and will put it to the test this year to see how the advice works!