Every Thursday at noon ET we host a live social media episode on Facebook and Instagram during which we answer gardening questions from Seedsheet customers and traditional gardeners alike! We’re here to help you successfully grow from seed to supper.
Last week on Seedsheet Live, Larissa from sunny Fresno, California asked, “Is it ok to grow a Seedsheet container kit on my screened-in-porch?”
If you’re in the warmer, southern areas of the country (like Fresno), you are definitely still able to grow veggie gardens during this time of year, and screened-in porches are a viable option if you are in severe heat areas, like Arizona or Las Vegas. However, if your heat is moderate, say between 60 and 80 degrees F, your plants will prefer, and enjoy, full and direct sunlight that is not being filtered by the screen and potentially blocked by the roof overhang of the porch. This being said, screened porches can offer your garden a break from severe heat during the hottest parts of the day if necessary, but in general, Seedsheet gardens and most veggies prefer unfiltered and direct sunlight for a minimum of 8 hours per day.
Our weekly Customer Testimonial came from Kathy in New Jersey, who grew gorgeous cocktail and herb gardens! Thanks to Kathy for sharing photos of her Seedsheet success via Instagram and as a reward, she won a FREE Balcony Seedsheet Garden kit of her choice! Don’t forget to email photos of your Seedsheet success to contest@seedsheets.com for a chance to be featured on an episode of Seedsheet Live and win a garden kit.
For our recipe of the week, we whipped up Crispy Zucchini Tacos for a crunchy plant-based meal. They’re totally addicting when paired with roasted poblano pepper crema drizzled on top. Cook these up for an easy Taco Tuesday, or a make-your-own taco bar party. Photo-ready, choose from infinite colorful toppings for a tasty rainbow dish!
Finally, Robert in Connecticut asked, “the growing season is over in my area but I still have green tomatoes on my plant. Is there any way to ripen them at this point?”
Tomatoes will continue to ripen off the vine. If the weather in your area is consistently below 60F and you’ve got a bunch of unripe tomatoes left in the garden, your best chance for end-of-season ripening is to pull them from the garden and bring them indoors. Wash and dry the tomatoes and then store them in a paper bag with an apple or a banana to speed up the ripening process. While ripening, these fruits naturally release ethylene gas, which is a key hormone triggering faster maturity in fruits and veggies. We recommend a low-humidity environment during this process, and if you have a lot of tomatoes, gently wrap them in newspaper before putting them together to limit their contact. This will prevent them from getting squishy during ripening.
Another great option for unripe toms is to make mountains of Fried Green Tomatoes, which are totally amazing.
Don’t forget to tag us in all your Seedsheet social media posts and submit your Seedsheet success photos to contest@seedsheets.com for a chance to win a free Seedsheet balcony garden kit! We’re also available for any and all gardening assistance-- direct message us on Facebook, or Instagram, or email us a photo of your gardens with your questions to support@seedsheets.com.
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