# Top Heirloom Varieties
SCC Master Gardeners had a tasting contest and the following top varieties were chosen. They will also be available at the April 15th Spring Garden Sale.

* 1st Place: Ed?s Millennium

* 2nd Place: Brandywine from Croatia

* 3rd Place: Black Pearl

* 4th Place: Sun Sugar

* 5th Place: Paul Robeson

I was actually able to get all of these this year from their Spring Sale. But get there early because people are in line from 7am hoping to be the first to get in there.

# Tomato Potting Mix
Tomatoes require a higher pH level than most potting mixes provide. To prevent blossom end rot, simply add 2 cups of dolomite or hydrated lime to the potting mix before planting. (Dolomite is available at all SummerWinds Nurseries) If Blossom End Rot develops during the season, mix 1/4 cup of hydrated lime to a gallon of water. Spray the mix directly on the plants or add it

# Tools

[Prohoe](http://web.inetba.com/prohoe/productCat90505.ctlg): These are hand made and supposedly the strongest garden hoes available. Used by farmers country wide.

I bought the 70G and the 70F. They are the best hoes I’ve seen around. Since getting them, I’ve been checking the ones in the stores and noticing how flimsy the store hoes are.

These are so solid that you can put your entire weight on it and only see perhaps a couple millimeters of flex. Whereas the common hardware store hoes would have noticeably more flex. I’ve also been chopping through roots with the 70F. In some cases, it does better than an axe at tearing out roots.

I’ve been chopping away at ground that has lots of little pebbles and the sharpness is still holding strong. Highly recommend.

# Books

* Golden Gate Gardening: A book specifically for California Bay Area and Coastal gardening.

# Supplies
Master Gardener Sue Bell recommended these supplies.

[Glaum Egg Ranch](http://www.glaumeggranch.com/): They have an organic chicken manure and egg shells compost that is recommended by Sue Bell. You can get #30 bags for $3.70 from the ranch. But they also sell their products through Kelloggs Garden Products @ 1-888-443-8383. [Johnson Lumber](http://www.johnson-lumber.com/) in Morgan Hill carries this stuff. It’s under the product name Garden and Bloome.

[U-Save Rockery](http://www.usaverockerysanjose.com/): They have cedar chips that are excellent for use on pathways. They are supposedly one of the few places that have walkways material like this.

God’s Little Acre Nursery: (408) 927-8868, 19810 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120

[Solvita](http://www.solvita.com/): Easy Soil test kit that tests the life of the soil instead of looking at individual nutrients.

[RainTree](http://www.raintreenursery.com/): Recommended source for strawberry plants by fellow gardener Wes who has the most healthy looking strawberries in our garden.

[Heirloom Roses](http://www.heirloomroses.com): Source for Heirloom Roses

[Peaceful Valley](http://www.groworganic.com/default.html): An organic gardening supply with seeds, etc.

[Neptune’s Harvest](http://www.neptunesharvest.com/): Some of the best Fish and Seaweed.

# Websites

[California Rare Fruit Growers](http://www.crfg.org/index.html): I haven’t read much from this site, but it seems interesting. I’m wanting to get a fruit tree for our backyard, this will perhaps help choose and care for a fruit tree.

[Worms Digest](http://www.wormdigest.org): A website which has loads of information on work composting and forums for getting help and learning more.

[Nature Technologies](http://www.nature-technologies.com/): A source of compost tea and soil ecology resources.

[California Organics](http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/): Some helpful links and information about organic gardening.

[Soil Food Web](http://www.soilfoodweb.com): The current one stop authority on the soil ecology.

# Composting

[Compost Sifter Plans](http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/public_works/compost_screens.asp): How to build a compost sifter

[Compost Sifter 2.0](http://www.nifty-stuff.com/compost-sifter-screen-sieve.php): This guy used the above plans and made some improvements.

[Compost Sifter Alternative](http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-build-your-own-dirt-and-stone-screen-sifterwith-wheels/): This guy sorta figured it out on his own before discovering the above methods.

[Compost Tips](http://www.urbangardencenter.com/tutorial/index.html): Some very detailed information about composting. All free.

# Garden Tips and Education

milly’s bug juice formula: Looks like and excellent and powerful formula to try.

[Corn Spiral](http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/0603/corn.html): Planting Stowell’s in Corn Spirals