Tomatoes are the favorite
of garden-grown vegetables

THE INCOMPARABLE flavor of
vine-ripened tomatoes is why they
are the most popular of all
home-grown vegetables.

Nutritionally, they are an ex-
cellent source of vitamins A and C
and minerals such as calcium. For
the weight -conscious person, they
have the added advantage of being
low in calories.

Another advantage of growing
tomatoes in one’s garden is their
productivity. A few plants tucked
into a corner of the backyard or
grown in tubs on the patio or
balcony will often provide suffi-
cient tomatoes for an entire family
with a surplus for canning.

Productivity can be maximized
by supporting the plants in some
manner such as tying them to
stakes or enclosing them in wire
cylinders.

Some gardeners prefer to limit
the numbe: of stems by pruning
away all but one or two. This will
usually result in larger fruits of
better quality than would be ob-
tained if all stems were allowed to
remain.

Sufficient foliage should be re-
tained, however, to prevent the
fruits from being burned by the
sun.

Tomatoes may fail to set fruit
unless grown where they will
receive at least six hours of direct
sunlight. They will do best in a
deep, well-drained soil that con-
tains a good measure of organic
matter such as peat, compost or
manure.

A lack of moisture during the
growing season will result in weak

vines and small fruits that may be
plagued by blossom end rot, a
black, corky tissue that forms at
the base of the fruit, rendering it
inedible.

A good rule of thumb for ir-
tigation is to ensure that the
plants receive at least an inch of
water each week from either natu-
tal rainfall or irrigation.

Tomatoes prefer a soil which.

has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Lime may
be added to an acid soil to adjust
the pH to this range. The calcium
present in lime is also important
for vigorous growth and to help
prevent blossom end rot.

A starter fertilizer applied at
planting time will get the plants
off to a good start. Continued
fertilization throughout the season

will keep them growing vigorously.

Invite birds into your garden

MAKE YOUR garden inviting to
various kinds of birds and you'll
enjoy more of its natural beauty.

The sounds, colors, and
movements of birds will add in-
terest to your landscape year
round,

Homeowners create a welcom-
ing atmosphere by planning wise-
ly. The best way to invite birds to
nest is by providing food, shelter,
and water.

If you don’t have a pond or
stream on your property, a bird
bath will serve as a good source of
water. Put it where trees and
shrubs will provide protective
cover and be sure to keep it filled

with plenty of fresh water.

A protective environment is
essential for building nests, and
some plants provide both shelter
and food. You can select such
dual-purpose trees and shrubs as
dogwoods. crabapples, hawthorns,
pines, cedars, hollies, viburnums,
and honeysuckles.

After you’ve identified your
yard's best features for attracting
birds, begin to enhance them. You
should take a cue from nature.

The edges of the forest or open
meadow attract birds because the
greatest diversity of plant life oc-
curs in those places. Recreate this
environment in your own yard by
providing a variety of trees,

shrubs, and flowers.

The quick way to transform
wide-open lawns into bird habitats
is to disregard the rule about pro-
perly spacing trees during installa-
tion. Instead, plant a cluster of
fast-growing trees. Under a lone
shade tree plant shrubbery and
flowers. Put shrubs in as a
background for your Mower bed
and accent it with a small fruiting
tree,

You should tet your garden
reflect your own style and taste,
whether formal or informal. Birds
can’t discern design elements.
They prefer a variety of plants of
seasonal interest, just as you do.

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