Here’s the list of supplies needed for tomato grafting:

-Root stock seedlings, about 4 wks old  (they must have their true leaves)

-Scion seedlings, about 4 wks old (they must have their true leaves)

-Razor blade

-Cutting board

-70% alcohol solution (the working area must be sterile)

-Grafting clips or tubes (1.5mm to 2.0 mm)

root stock on left, scion on right

cut root stock below cotyledons and scion above cotyledons (You want the root stock to be longer than the scion b/c graft must be above ground when planted)

lay root stock and scion next to each other and using a razor make a 45 degree cut through both of them

this is what it should look like after cut, next you would press the two together and place the clip or tube over graft

this is the picture of the grafted tomato I got from the workshop

the grafted tomato must stay humid and out of direct sunlight for a week and then be hardened off, mist it daily while in the bag

If you are interested in tomato grafting Johnn’y Selected Seed’s has both root stock seeds and the grafting clips.  The  University of Arizona is a very informative site.

Here is an eye opening excerpt from an article I found through, 100 mile locavores.  You may want to think twice before eating another pineapple.

“Pineapples need very large amounts of pesticides, about 20kg of active ingredient per hectare per cycle. The soil is sterilised; biodiversity is eliminated. Fourteen to 16 different types of treatment are typically needed, and many have to be applied several times. They use chemicals that are dangerous for the environment and human health. The chemicals involved are legal in Costa Rica but include some of the most controversial in the world.”  Read the entire article here.

Sorry, this post is so late, but I hope if you live in the Fort Walton area you can come and join us.

-Plant flowers and herbs that produce nectar and pollen.

-Plant native flowers rather than hybrids.

-Use combination of plants that will produce nectar and pollen throughout the year.

-Don’t use pesticides.

-Make sure water and shelter are available.

If you need ideas for plants click here.

Honey bee courtesy of aboutbees.org

Although most of us know the importance of honey bees, many are unaware of the Africanized honey bees, better known as “killer” bees.  The africanized honey bee unlike the European, normal, honey bee is very aggressive and territorial.  These bees moved into the United States via south Texas back in 1990 and have spread to many areas in the South.  They will not seek you out, but if you stray near their hives, they will make you pay.

African honey bee swarm courtesy texasento.net

Here are a few things you can do to insure these bees do not move into your home and yard.

-Remove potential nesting site

-Inspect exterior walls and eaves and seal openings greater than 1/8-inch

-Install screens (1/8-inch hardware cloth) over vents, rain spouts, water meter/utility boxes, tree cavities, etc.

-During peak swarming season (spring through fall) inspect once or twice a week for any bee activity.

If you see a nest stay away!  Do not spray the nest with anything, and call your local bee club to remove it.

If you disturb a hive here are a few things to do.

-Run for shelter.  Do not jump into a pool, they will stay and wait for you to surface.

-Cover your head with your shirt, as bees will get into your ears, nose, and mouth.

Click here to see where these bees have spread.

Port City Market

Honestly, I am not sure who I was more happy to find, Green Acres Farm who had the pasture raised meats or Keens Beans with organic coffee.  Let’s just say, since the morning was still a bit chilly the coffee sure was great.

Second up, a visit to the beach.  I haven’t been to the beach in quite sometime.  My last visit to the beach was not a good one.  The beach  was strewn with tar balls, and if that’s not bad enough, seeing the birds swooping into the water, knowing that they would inevitably have oil on them, was just more than I could take.  So I have stayed away.  But today was beautiful and I couldn’t resist a visit. There were still men with equipment on the beach, I presume to see how much oil is below the top sand layers,  but today, no tar ball could be seen with the naked eye.  The birds were enjoying the day and I had a ball collecting shells.

The water was cold but beautiful

Pelicans enjoying the day

Pelican flying

Shells collected

Here is the marmalade recipe I used.

Head over to  Greenish Thumb for some other great garden to table ideas.

One of the best things about square foot gardening is after harvesting one veggie, the seeds for the next veggie can go right in it’s place.  All I do is add a little fresh soil, compost would be best but my compost is not ready yet,  to the square   Here in zone 8b, it is time to plant cauliflower, celery, peas, and potatoes.  I hope to build a few more beds before spring.