The Tribune

Stop Smoking: Are you a smoker? You may wish to stop killing yourself and your young peppers. Peppers are very sensitive to nicotine and the residue on your fingers could harm any plants that are handled, particularly during the transplant process. Won’t give up? Try wearing rubber gloves while dealing with peppers.

Nematode Control: When you come to the end of the vegetable growing season, consider turning your plots into flower beds. Use large marigolds in profusion as these are known to kill nematodes and other pests. You can have marigolds in your garden during the growing season as well. They do not take much in the way of nutrition away from your vegetables.

Add to your Garden Daily: Every time you make a pot of coffee you can add a cupful of soil to your garden. Mix used coffee grounds into your soil instead of throwing them away. If you are having problems with cutworms, snails and slugs, place the grounds around your seedlings to deter these pests.

Extra Garden Space: Is your vegetable garden defined by cement blocks? Do not forget to use the insides of the blocks to grow parsley, cilantro, and other herbs. Just fill the blocks with soil and add your seeds.

Plan Labels: Plant labels are very useful to gardeners but are very expensive for what they are. I like to get the most out of them by writing in pencil initially, then in marker for second use. I then turn the label over and repeat the process, getting four uses out of every one. Even cheaper are white plastic picnic knives. Write on the handle and push the blade into the soil for clear plant identification.

Seed Containers: Have you ever had the problem of finding containers when you are giving away seeds? Cheap off-brands of plastic cookie bags are very inexpensive and do the job just fine and are easily labelled using a marker.

Be Patient: Do not be in a hurry to cut away an orchid flowering stem that has finished flowering. Some orchids flower again on the same stalk, so wait until the stem dries out before pruning.

The Ubiquitous Crate: Another use for plastic milk crates. Turn one upside down and store your bamboo stakes for easy access (by you, and by your grandchildren).

Small Seeds: Some seeds are so small they are like dust and very difficult to plant evenly. Use an old salt shaker and mix the seeds with dry sand. Shake well (covering the top, of course) and then sprinkle the sand where you need your seeds.

Refrigerated Bulbs: Are you from the far North and miss snowdrops, hyacinths and tulips? Buy the bulbs and refrigerate them for a month or two. When planted they will flower quickly and bring back memories.

Dirty Fingernails: It is well known that men, with their terrible testosterone problem, are incapable of reading instructions or asking for directions. Wearing gloves in the garden is also taboo and they rejoice in bloodied hands and arms after a pruning session with roses and bougainvillea. They also like to clean their fingernails after a weeding session with a 12-inch knife, something that could be avoided by scratching a bar of soap before starting. The soap – and dirt – disappears when they wash their hands. But what is the use of telling them. They do not take advice either.

Earth’s Ready: This one is for the ladies. Should you water or not? Treat your soil like a cake in the oven and insert a toothpick. You know the routine. (Could you imagine a man doing this?)

Save Water: Do you have plants in pots? If so, a receptacle for the pot to sit in (usually called a saucer) will retain moisture and reduce your watering by a half to two-thirds. Some plants demand a ‘soak and dry’ schedule. For these, use clay pots and no saucer.

Overcrowding: When planting seed potatoes, do not use the end of a potato with a mass of sprouts. There may be a dozen sprouts there and each will produce a plant. The most you could expect in the way of potatoes is a crop of marble sized miniatures. Ensure there is only one eye on a cut piece of seed potato, two at the most. You will then grow full sized plants and full sized potatoes.

• j.hardy@coralwave.com