1. Plant pole beans next to sunflowers. The beans will climb the lower part of the sunflowers and you won't need to use any poles.
2. To save over watered terrarium plants from ruin, roll a paper towel very tightly and place it in the pot so that one end of it is just touching the soil. The towel will soak up the water in no time. Repeat if necessary. Use this method with any over watered plant that is potted and doesn't have drainage holes.
3. Don't throw away your leftover coffee in the morning. Pour it around your geraniums to promote blooming.
4. Your African violets will bloom longer, prettier, and more abundantly if you stick a few rusty nails in the soil alongside them.
5.In late summer or in fall, collect seeds from your flower and vegetable gardens. Let dry thoroughly in the sun. Place in plastic bags, label, seal, and put in the freezer. In spring, you'll be all set for planting.
6. Save large salt shakers to use as handy dispensers when it's time for planting in your garden. Fill them with seeds, then shake out in neat rows.
7. To remove dead leaves from perennial flower beds in spring without damage to plants, use a child's rake to get in among them.
8. If you have a fire place or wood burning stove, save the ashes as fertilizer for your gardens.
9. For slow and thorough watering of garden plants (such as tomatoes), punch three or four holes in the bottom of an empty 1-gallon milk jug. Bury jug in the soil next to the plant with the top sticking out a little ways and fill it with water. As water seeps out, the plant's roots will absorb it. To add nutrients, some plant food int the water every other time you fill the jug.
10. A teaspoon of mild detergent will revive a vase of wilted flowers.
11. Sweet corn ears are ripe and ready for harvest when the top of the cob is rounded, not pointed.
12. Always water your lawn, garden and houseplants thoroughly, Frequent light sprinklings do more harm than good.
13. When digging up dahlias or gladiola bulbs in fall, separate them by color and store in nylons or in knee-high stockings. Use a same-color ribbon or a rubber band to tie the ends shut and remind you which colors you're planting next year.
14. For tender rhubarb stalks, be sure to water plants well for a day or two before picking.
15. To "silk" ears of corn, I use a wet terry towel washcloth. It does a great job of removing the silk and doesn't do any damage to the kernels.
16. Keep your fingernails clean while working in the garden by scraping them over a bar of soap before starting. This fills the underside of your nails with soap so dirt can't get in.
17. Dandelions will do a disappearing act if you spray pure white vinegar where the roots were after pulling. Don't worry about the grass-it will grow back fast.
18. To kill grass in cracks of the sidewalk, pour full-strength vinegar on the cracks. Withing 2 days, the grass will be dead.
19. When you bring in cut flowers from the garden to make a bouquet in the house, always cut the stem on a slant instead of straight across. This increases water intake, keeping the flowers fresher. Add part a can of white or lemon-lime soda to the water improves the appearance of the flowers.
20. Cut the top and bottom off of a soda bottle, leaving a 6-inch cylinder open at both ends. This makes a great planting sleeve for plants. It helps prevent cutworm damage and creates a nice water reservoir too.
