Question:
I’ve saved the seeds from last years tomaotes and pepper plants. When would it be a good time to start the seeds, so I can transplant them into the garden in May?
Answer:
When germinating flower or vegetable seeds, I’d allow six to eight weeks between sowing the seed and planting in the open ground. Hence, I’d be sowing the seed in early March. However, if these were hybird varieties, it's not worth the effort and you’ll be disappointed. You only want to save and replant open pollinated varieties. The seeds saved from hybrid flowers and vegetables varieties are unpredictable. The chances they are duplicates from last years varieties is not very good. It’s all about genetics, so I’d start with new plants. If not, the first thing to do is check to see if the seed is viable. Viable seed means it is capable of germinating. This is easily accomplished by pouring the seed into a glass of water or a larger receptacle. You discard the seed that floats on the surface and plant those that sink. The viable seed is dried out by spreading it over a paper towel and covering it with a second sheet. Next, sow the seed into a flat of pre-moistened potting soil, moist like a wrung out sponge. With a pen or pencil, you make furrows in the soil, sow the seed in the rows and then cover the seed. The flat is then covered with plastic to trap the moisture and heat. Once the seedlings start to emerge from the soil, remove the sheeting and place the flat in an area that gets morning sun. The seedlings are transferred to individual pots when they get two sets of true leaves. Some gardeners prefer to sow seed directly into individual pots and there is nothing wrong with that. But, I prefer the other method as it allows me to select and grow on the most vigorous seedlings.
Note:
May is an excellent time to plant vegetables especially tomatoes and peppers. It’s not unusual for summer vegetables to struggle with cool and damp weather in March and April. So, there is a real advantage by waiting until May to plant.
Question:
I’m confused by the different types of hose end sprayers available. What is the actual fluid content of these sprayers? I’m assuming a six or twenty gallon sprayer must mean so many gallons per second. A true twenty gallon sprayer would be humongous in size.
Answer
The number of gallons of a hose end sprayer represents the total volume of water that is dispensed when you fill the jar to the top until its empty. The discharge rate is determined by the nozzle. The larger the capacity of the sprayer the larger the water droplet that is dispense. So, a six gallon hose end sprayer with a fine droplet is used for foliar sprays while a twenty gallon sprayer large droplet is ideal for soil drenches.
