The Mindful Blog

Grow 40 lbs of Tomatoes Per Plant?! Trellising, Pruning, and Growing Tomatoes, Organic Tomatoes, Trellising Tips Goal: Big, flavorful heirloom fruit from indeterminate vines Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing until something stops them. Left unchecked they become long, sprawling vines. The practical approach is to corral that vigor so the plant funnels energy into fruit rather than endless foliage. With the right approach to growing tomatoes, organic tomatoes, trellising, a single plant can produce 20 to 40 pounds of tomatoes in a season. Quick overview of the system Start strong: seed-started in soil blocks using a balanced potting mix and planted...

High Tunnel, NRCS, Greenhouse: Practical Guide to Selection, Construction, and Funding A reliable protected growing space can transform a small farm or garden. This practical guide walks through the essentials of planning, building, and maintaining a high tunnel, and explains how NRCS cost-share programs can help cover construction costs. Use these steps to choose the right site, avoid common mistakes, and get the most value from your greenhouse investment. Why a high tunnel? A high tunnel lets you extend the season, protect crops from extreme weather, and boost productivity on less land. Compared with field production, a well-built high tunnel...

Simple & Affordable Seed Starting Setup for Thriving Plants Seed starting doesn't have to be elaborate to be effective. With a compact, intentional setup I can start hundreds of seedlings for a family of five and grow nearly all our produce on just 1,000 square feet. This guide walks through a straightforward, affordable seed starting system that uses soil blocks, bottom-wicking trays, a heat mat, and adjustable LED lighting to produce strong, non-leggy transplants. Why a simple seed starting setup works Complexity can create more work and more things to fail. The goal is healthy seedlings with good root structure...

If you want stronger, healthier transplants, try soil blocks, soil blockers, seed starting as a system. Instead of seedlings sitting in plastic cells and circling their roots, a compacted brick of soil allows roots to air prune at the block edge.