Indoor Gardening and composting.

Nature's Footprint Catalog link <<<

If you read through this blog you will be learning about, among other things, the concept of using worm castings as your best fertilizer, completely organic and provided by nature.   Fortunately, you can obtain castings from your own worm farm right in your home or garage and, in the process, eliminate smells in your kitchen waste can while you recycle food scraps and paper.

We sell all of the items listed (above) in the "Nature's Footprint" catalog on our online store www.CompostCritter.com <<<

I highly recommend the Worm Factory 360, which I have used for about 10 years and have here in my garage.  Red Wiggler worms are the quiet little critters that work 24/7 recycling our kitchen waste into fertilizer for our house plants and next year's garden.

The other item you will love is the Metro Grower!  This 6-gallon container simulates the way that nature feeds plants from beneath the surface and makes container gardening the success that you had always wished for.

More to follow as I gather photos and resource materials on these products.

Happy Gardening!

Jeff

First year. Bounty tomatoes!

Last fall I loaded this area up with about 48" of leaves.

 I just kept dragging in tarps filled with leaves and stomping them into place.  There is an existing trellis that I added 8' uprights to for additional anchor points while the vines grew.  Planted the Cherokee Tomatoes horizontally beneath the mulch/compost with just the growing tips exposed to become vines.

There is one BigBoy plant that I picked up from Rural King.  It struggled throuch half of the summer probably due to being stunted by cold nights sitting outdoors in the parking lot at Rural King.  It's finally yielding small tomatoes.

The Cherokee Purples were from the farm market.  I put off planting until Mothers Day and the wait was well rewarded.  These plants took off from day one.  By the first of August the pruned vines were above the 8' stakes that I had added.  I guided the tops to gwor sideways so I could reach them.

We have harvested at least 50 fruits from 5 plants, and there are at least that many still on the vine.  Last week I cut all of the growing vines to move energy into the existing fruit.  This might be a couple weeks early in the season to do, but we are leaving on a vacation in 14 days.

What's the source of the success?   Do a google search, or read further in my blog to learn about the Lasagna Garden concept.  Layers of compostables including clippings, leaves, straw, compost to build a terrific layer of nutrition... not to be confused with black dirt.  The origins of the black soil of Iowa and the midwest may be similar, but this is a growing bed created within the last few months that can't be beat for gardening.



ThenI also put worm castings over each planting when started.  added at least one more cup to each during the summer.   I added Aggrand fertilizer twice.  Tead below for info on this Organic product.

From then on it was just a matter of cutting back the side shoots so the plants only knew about extending the main vine and setting fruit.
This fall I am going to add a cold frame so my garden can begins at least 45 days earlier.  Maybe add a lettuce fall crop.

Happy Gardening, and thanks for stopping by.
Jeff

Holy Tomatoes!

 July 9th.  Tomatoes looking great!  Some variance plant to plant in the quantity of blossoms and plant height but all looking nice.

Cherokee Purple tomatoes are all but one of the plants.  Planted on Mothers Day with seedlings from farmers market in Carbondale.  No color as yet.  Recent rains seem to be keeping things supported.  I watered one day about two weeks ago.

Every two weeks I am using AGGRAND organic fertilizer mixed 4 oz to large watering can, about 1.5 gallons of water.  Each plant gets about a quart.  Added fresh worm castings below the mulch last week.

This was June 26th:That second plant is past the 5' mark.  Next photo is today and the plant is over 6'.  26 tomatoes counted today and many more blossoms are there.

 Today, same shot.  The white stuff on the garden is newspaper shreds.  The vines in the back are two cantalope and two squash.  There are blossoms but no fruit yet.These were from Rural King and planted about 4 weeks ago.

The white sheet is covering herbs seeded a couple weeks ago.  Not much going on there yet.

Here's a shot of the largest of our roses.  Just over 3' tall, and all but one of the stems is new growth.  Between steady pruning this spring and plenty of AGGRAND fertilizer and composting, the buds are coming out by the dozen.

Details on the fertilizer products at www.CompostCritter.com

Stay green!

Jeff

Garden 2016

So here's how it's going...   In the fall I layered newspaper and leaves from the 1/2 acre property into a bed behind an old trellis.  The pile was initially about 4' deep in back and about 2' deep towards the front.   Left it sit for winter and then planted directly into it on Mother's Day weekend, 2016.

5 Cherokee Purple tomatoes and one hybrid bush from Rural King.   Later I added two cantelope and two squash plants to foll in the back.

Last week I built a 24' long planter box across the front of the garden to establish more of a raised-bed.   The dark material you see in the planter and at the front of the bed is compost fro

m a local composting service.  Looks great and does not appear to have any weed seeds in it.

Here's a link to the best of the recent photos of my plants.

For added boost I am using worm castings that I brought from Pennsylvania.  They are a couple years old but still carry much of their original nutrition.  I have started a new worm composter in the garage and will be dishing some of that out to the plants soon.

Then I use, about monthly, the Aggrand 4-3-3 fertilizer, mixed 4 oz to two gallons and put about a pint on each plant.

Today, June 27th the tomatoes are over 60" and between 20 to 40 blossoms on each plant.  Not bad for a garden's first full year.

Stay tuned for more photos and tips in the weeks to come.

Happy Gardening!

Jeff

Aggrand Organic Fertilizer!

This is the way to max your production and remain certified organic!

Check the details at Aggrand.com  or, call me for details 717-620-9676

You will need my dealer number to access some areas:  JEFFREY L. KURTZ - 2014184 Dealer

Natural Fertilizers

Proven Performance through Natural and Organic Ingredients

AGGRAND Fertilizer Organic Series 4-3-3 (OSF) is a multipurpose liquid concentrate that promotes vigorous growth, increased root development and improved stress and disease tolerance in vegetables, fruits, nut trees and field crops. It is Listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production. AGGRAND Fertilizer stimulates microbial activity in the soil and provides essential macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in a ratio of 4-3-3.

AGGRAND Fertilizer Organic Series 4-3-3 is intended as the alternative to AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer 4-3-3 (NOF) for growers who must use fertilizers certified to NOP standards.

For the same production without the expense of the Certified Organic classification, try our regular fertilizer.

Here's the PDF of our Vegetable Productiviny Study <<<

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer 4-3-3 (NOF) is a multipurpose liquid concentrate formulated to promote vigorous growth, increased root development and improved stress and disease tolerance on flowers, vegetables, fruits, shrubs, trees, field crops and houseplants. In addition to stimulating microbial activity in the soil, it provides nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in a ratio of 4-3-3. AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer is the ideal product for those seeking a natural fertilizer that demonstrates superior results.

All-Natural Sea Kelp

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer uses kelp concentrate from the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Kelp accumulates high levels of potassium. When used as a fertilizer, it increases plant health by enhancing heat, drought and cold tolerance properties.

Organic Nitrogen Source

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer is made from oceangoing menhaden fish that feed on mineral-rich plankton. Though not considered edible for humans, Native Americans have used menhaden for centuries as a natural fertilizer, calling it “munna whaleaug,” or “that which manures.” Menhaden provides nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, essential micronutrients and numerous vitamins and amino acids. Menhaden fish emulsions represent the primary source of nitrogen in AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer.

• Multi-purpose – excellent results on flowers, fruits, vegetables, trees, crops and houseplants
• Formulated for foliar feed or soil application
• Promotes enhanced plant vigor, contributing to disease and stress resistance
• Convenient liquid concentrate
• Can be mixed with other AGGRAND products for easy application

Financing a garden or greenhouse?

And now!! Finance options for your greenhouse or AG related projects! Qualifications: A) In business for minimum of two years, B)$10,000 minimum loan C) May be used for multiple purchases/expenses of services or new or used equipment.

Cost /Budget: Email: In Partnership with Crest Capital Equipment Financing

Looking for a way to extend your season?  Protect from critters?  Finish worries about a early or late frost?   The Solexx Early Bloomer is a very reasonable priced greenhouse that you can assemble in an 8'x8' space.

Check all the details at www.CompostCritter.com!

Happy Gardening!   Critter