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May 6, 2008 | 10:27 AM PST
Tag: tomatoes
I posted this under vegetables, but maybe I'll get some play here. I read an online article about removing almost all of the leaves from a tomato plant to get bigger yield of the tomato. Supposedly the plant will put more energy into producing tomatoes rather than supporting the leaves. (note-it did not say to remove ALL leaves). Heck, tomato worms will remove lots of leaves! Anyway, my tomatoes are heavily leafed this year and I have lots of tomatoes; I don't know about this! Anyway, could have bought the book for 39.95 and learned more. Anyone hear of this or done this?
May 3, 2008 | 10:42 AM PST
Tags: compost , tomatoes , lavender , seeds
I prepared the veggie bed. I must've added about 6 inches of compost to it! I hope the 2 (haha) tomatoes I planted will be happy. I am planning on adding peppers and various herbs. Maybe I'll plant the lavender seeds my mom got me in there too- it's a raised bed so it should get plenty of drainage.
I still need to turn my other compost pile and add a bunch of "green" to it. Not a whole lot of fun without a pitchfork. I just don't want to spend $20- $30 for one!!
Some of the sweet pea seeds I planted about 4 days ago have sprouted! (dance of joy)
I took a bunch of photos the last few days. Now I just need to get DH off of the PS3 so he can offload them. Hopefully I'll have them posted tonight *fingers crossed*
Apr 29, 2008 | 2:39 AM PST
Tags: Small space container gardens , herbs , tomatoes , jalepenos
So, this year won't be the year for a 'real' garden, the one that I want! But I am still trying to be this great 'gardener' -we'll see if I can container grow...
I have just the regular flowers, and tomatoes & jalepenos, and herbs to come... I just planted them in temporary container pots -until they get too big for them, then of course I will have to re-plant them...
Will post pictures as soon as possible!
-Samantha
Apr 22, 2008 | 3:52 PM PST
Tag: tomatoes
It was about a month ago when I planted an "Early Girl" tomatoe about a month ago. Instead of two at the bottom, I added another one on top of the planter. All three are growing strong and flowering now. I can't wait to see how good and tasty they will really be. According to the nursery where I bought the planter, the tomatoes will be "clean" and free of disease. My only concern is that an Early Girl is an indeterminate variety. Maybe I should have planted a determinate variety so the top plant will not need a support. We will see. Patience, patience.
Mar 9, 2008 | 9:30 PM PST
Tags: seedlings , herbs , tomatoes
Most of the seedlings have their first true set of leaves! Things are moving along well. I need to get a second grow light and move them higher this week. Here are this weeks photos:
Mar 4, 2008 | 5:11 AM PST
Tags: seedlings , tomatoes , herbs
The Tomatoes are really taking off as you can see. As I thought the Chili's did not sprout, but that's ok, I really hadn't planned for space for them in the garden. The Cilantro still might sprout another couple plants but I really only needed two. Finally the Rosemary started coming up, I was beginning to wonder, but right on time there it was. So here are the photos from this week. You can also see them in my photo albums.
Feb 27, 2008 | 6:07 PM PST
Tags: seeds , seedlings , marigold , coleus , Epsom salt , tomatoes , daylilies , hosta , Spring Fever
Well, the marigolds are starting to set flower buds indoors just 4 weeks after sowing. Sheesh!! I had no idea they grew that fast. Oh well. It will be nice to have some pretty flowers indoors while I'm still waiting for spring.
Two of my coleus are starting to look very nice. They take quite a while to get started, but the longer they're around, the faster the new leaves grow. So they're growing at a decent pace by now.
I finally located some Epsom salt at the pharmacy, after have looked in several nurseries for it. 4 lbs. for 3 bucks. Not too bad. I've already put some on some of my more well established plants. We'll see if it makes any difference. So far, at least, it hasn't killed anything. ;)
I just sowed a bunch of tomato seeds-- beefsteak, cherry, Italian heirloom, and Italian market. Hopefully my crop will be better this year since I'm starting them so early, and I think I have a bit better of an idea of what I'm doing this year.
My one daylily which germinated about two months ago is really starting to take off. It must have been establishing a good root system in all of that time. Now sets of leaves are starting to poke through on the other side of the pot. And the new leaves seem much thicker and sturdier that the first set of leaves. I'm still waiting on the rest of my daylily seeds. Just because they haven't germinated yet, doesn't necessarily mean that they're duds. ;)
I have 58 hosta seeds. I most sincerely hope that all or most of them germinate and grow. I could so easily use 58 hostas around the yard.
What can I say?? I wish it was warm out! I'm so itching to get outside and move around at least a bit. But at least I'll be somewhat prepared this spring. ;)
Jan 17, 2008 | 10:56 AM PST
Tags: triple curled parsley , compost , companion planting , tomatoes , kohlrabi , Walla Walla Onions , cold frame , garlic
We are in zone 7B here. Almost time to gear up! I have a couple of the large boxes that salad comes in so am going to introduce our youngest to cold framing. He is going to grow Kohlrabi this year so it looks like, the best bet, would be to go ahead and cold frame the starts at the end of this month, beginning of next as our last frost SHOULD be about March 24th.
The other item he is going to grow is Walla Walla sweet onions. He got the area ready and composted in Fall so they will have he perfect setting and I plan to place them randomly as they also lend to being a pest deterrant.
I need to get a new pic of my Parsley, you can't see it between the last of the tomatoes there but it has gone plumb crazy with the nice cold weather, beautiful tufts of green-ness, like giant green snowballs (the pastry...if you can call them that, haha). I had put it in for two reasons, one, I love fresh parsley, but more so for the fact that parsley and tomatoes are companion plants. I had the added benefit of having something nice and green through these winter months on my side.
Interestingly enough, the garlic (this hedges his space, sides and back, random side and back on my side) decided to come up with our warm snap. Nature came to her sense and was all over the being winter again these past few days and the garlic does not seem to care so maybe it will just keep going. G there is excited as this is the first results he is seeing for all his hard work, he went out the other day 'just to look at the garlic'. Hard to teach an 8 year old patience but he has been pretty good at it (or he just kinda forgot for a bit, hehe).
Dec 24, 2007 | 8:25 PM PST
Tags: olive , mango , coffee , tomatoes , black currant , grapes
Hi all! I hope you're having a good xmas. I've been so busy lately and I haven't had time to play in the garden - how depressing! I spent the whole of winter looking forward to this season.. but we have gone away for the last 6 weekends.
Anyway garden updates.. I bought a dwarf mango tree. Will try to keep it alive in my cooler district. I have a broken heart as a possum ate all of the leaves on my young avocado tree and I'm not sure if it will grow back. Our coffee plant is growing vigorously but I haven't seen any sign of berries..! Tomatoes, currants and grapes are also fruiting.
Here is blurry picture of a young olive: 
Nov 8, 2007 | 3:04 PM PST
Tags: Tomatoes , basil , oregano , sage , thyme , dahlia , hydrangea , radish seed , alpine strawberries , yellow rose , bees , Parsley , cotoneaster , Japanese Elm , Japanese Maples , bonsai , Storm
So we had an amazing wind storm not that long ago. We even cleaned up the yard and battened down the hatches, so to speak. Got all the potted stuff down in a protected spot (will be the winter spot too!) and all the furniture and our bikes nice and tidy and close...
Max is a dumb cat, I love him so but he is CRAZY. The wind started blowing HARD but it was not raining yet so I decided to give him some outside time. Nut job goes running around with the WILD KAT look in his eyes. You know the drill...run run run...mad dash...STOP! look around madly with flashing eyes.
He does not have that collar anymore, little jerk keeps losing them. This time was the worst as it had his license and a name tag. Jerk.
Then he did this and I was thinking 'Ain't he cute!'. As you can see all the brown in him, he snuck in as a regular cat and once he was established he is letting the Maine Coon out.
Then he FLEW over to one of the cedars and ran on the roof. Not happy. Wasn't happy a bit. He had no clue how windy it was, and how fast he could fly off! So I ended up standing in the raised bed while he teased me by coming to the edge when I was whistling and calling and finally came down so I promptly tossed him inside! Jerk. Cute, fuzzy, lovable jerk. My wife calls this shot 'fluffy butt'.
So, on to the destruction,
The dahlia. It took one hell of a beating...
My tomatoes, oh dear, my poor Black Prince...
The radishes I let bolt? So close to get my seed? Not a chance in hell. The wind snapped every single one of them and it was going so well. They would have had SO much seed. Damn. I had a fit and went ahead and cleared them out. They are now mulch. See all those seed heads? I don't even want to look.
So, upset as I was, daunted by the greenery that needs to be cut, tossed...all of the above, I started looking around. I have pretty much missed the nice fall foliage that so many are harping on as our nicely colored leaves have been passing us at about 90 MPH. I looked at my Bonsai and had to take another glance (and pictures!) as they are most gorgeous! Here is one where I took two different breeds and literally wrapped the Female around the Male to create a piece I call 'co-dependence'. hehe. Her color is amazing! He has just started to change a bit.
And one of my favorites, these are all about 4-5 yrs old. Such a nice yellow! Guess we have to keep our trees behind a wall in order to be able to see the colors!
The Japanese Elm has lost most of its leaves so gets to show off it's corkscrew nicely!
And the Cotoneaster is showing off it's berries, the wind took off a lot of them but it still has a few ;)
Then I notice the thyme and sages, how happy they are...it has finally cooled down enough for them.
And yes, I will get in there and weed them!
My herb pot looked a little unhappy, then I looked closer and changed my mind when I saw the flowers :D
The Parsley is happy finally, it does NOT like it hot-hot-hot, haha!
I come out of the garden area and see this, a cool little volunteer. One of the great things about a rental is you really don't know what is there so it is always a surprise
Yes, I know the buggers next to it have to go, lol. I *promise* LMAO!
Heading up the hill I see the dahlia in a different light...and that bush behind it? Never stopped flowering, it was leggy, like 8 ft tall and I cut the bejeezus out of it. So it flowered and has not stopped since early spring. Oh how the honey bees and bumble bees love it!
Then I look over and see that the yellow rose our youngest decided to trim this summer, with a toy sword *eek!* gave us something.
I look to the left and see fall colors on the hydrangea with a guest that really set it off!
Much better mood. What can I say, there is good in everything...I think. Excepting our present government, hehe. I decided to FINALLY plant the alpine strawberries that have been floundering and mocking me continuing to flourish despite my treatment of them. They will be great here, this spot is full of bulbs so is interesting for about 5 minutes then Blah.
So, we lost power, had to toss a blanket over the lizard cage. It was cold and windy, rainy and the power cut off while my non tv watching butt was in the middle of Grays Anatomy. I will not get radish seed this year from my crop. My tomatoes are a mess...the dahlia is half broken and the yard is a basic mess. A basic beautiful mess!
Nov 8, 2007 | 10:57 AM PST
Tags: Cuban Oregano , Walla Walla Onions , brussel sprouts , Purple Kohlrabi , Tomatoes , Garlic
It is getting cold and much cleanup must be done. Our youngest is getting his side ready, all by himself. I need to get him some mulch to help the fact that we have a neighbor cat pooping in his bed! Once we get some mulch he is going to plant Garlic and Walla Walla sweet onions. We sat and created his plan last night, of course he is *almost* 8 so he is a bit disappointed that he will not really see anything till spring but I already picked him up some Brussels Sprouts and Purple Kohlrabi seed for spring too so that will be fun! I also promised this little tomato eating machine his own tomato plants so maybe the rest of us will get some, LOL! See how much nicer his side is? I really need to get out there! I did *not* tell him I dumped half a bag of cow poop in with the soil he was working in!
So, to counteract his disappointment I showed him something last night. He had forgotten that I had taken a couple cuttings off of my *very* irritated Cuban Oregano to see how fast it would root in water. Lo and behold it is rooting rather quickly so I showed him one and he goes 'Roots!' and then I reminded him that he would get on for his room. Little guy walked around for a half hour sniffing one of those wonderful, soft leaves so I told him we would make sure he gets one for his room too. Then he goes 'Can we have ten? Twenty? a HUNDRED???'. I could only laugh, thinking I am creating a monster (and he does know where the pots are, hard to miss them!).
Oct 2, 2007 | 10:00 PM PST
Tags: tomatoes , zucchini , beets , peppers
Well, It's been a week since my last blog. I have been one busy bee, I managed to can my beets, bake a couple batches of zucchini bread, make my salsa, empty the compost pile, keep up with the vegetables and run all my errands that had to be done. Whew! And dinner with the in-laws was very nice. I sent home some zucchini with them, and they brought me some fresh apples.
It has been rainy the last couple of days, so I haven't been able to spend as much time in the garden as I would have liked lately. But all that rain seems to have extended the life of my tomato plants - can you believe they are putting out still more blossoms?!? The rain seems to have revived some of my green bean plants, too. I still have quite a few hot peppers and the zucchini shows no signs of giving up any time soon.
I am getting anxious to get the winter squash. It is such a long wait for those to ripen, and it looks like I will have enough to last me until next year. I also can't hardly wait to dig the sweet potatoes, but the vines are still growing like crazy. You can't tell with those how much you'll get until you dig them. The suspense is driving me up a wall!
We are supposed to have nice, warm weather this coming weekend, so I hope to spend a lot of time out there.
Sep 21, 2007 | 2:44 PM PST
Tags: tomatoes , green beans , canning
Well, I've spent the last two days doing what I like to call "a million little things" in the garden. There isn't much ripening right now, the tomatoes and green beans have slowed way down, and I have to wait a while longer for the winter squash and sweet potatoes. I caught up on weeding the flower beds, pruning a few things and watering some pots and things that usually get a bit neglected. I also tackled emptying the compost pile. Well, I alsmost tackled it. I was nearly finished when I had a cousin drop by. I plan to finish the compost pile tomorrow.
It looks like I'll be working out there by myself this weekend, hubby is on overtime. I hope I can make a dent in the "to do" list on my own. I have a lot of things on that list that I'd like to get done before the leaves start to fall and create more work for me that way.
It seems like my canning season is over for the year. There just isn't enough tomatoes or green beans coming in to worry about canning them. I didn't get nearly as much put up this year as usual. Right in the middle of the season, my canner had to poop out on me. The seal wore out, and I had a devil of a time getting a replacement. I went from store to store searching, but apparently most stores no longer carry replacement parts for canning equipment. There must not be enough demand for them to justify stocking them. I finally thought to check online (duh) and ordered what I needed from the manufacturer's website. I had been hoping to avoid having to wait for it be shipped to me. So while my canner was out of commision, I was giving the stuff away as fast as it was growing so it wouldn't go to waste. Not that we don't usually give a lot away anyway, because we do. But our family and friends got an extra amout this year. Oh, well. My daughter claims she's sick of green beans anyway.
Sep 13, 2007 | 5:14 PM PST
Tags: weather , Black Prince Tomato , tomatoes , miniature tomatoes , tomato blossoms
It's happened! A miracle! Look!
I just went out to my balcony to sweep up the petals from the impatiens - and lo and behold - TOMATOES! RED tomatoes!!! I'm sooooooooooo pleased!
I could not believe my eyes. I'd given up hope. Thought those little guys would be green until Christmas. Remember how I was fretting and fretting in the early Summer that there was absolutely no sign of anything but lovely green leaves. Then suddenly I discovered wee tiny blossoms ... just a few. I watched them for a long time and nothing seemed to be happening with them. Someone on the forum suggested I tickle them. So, tickle I did. I think I tickled them every day for a week! I guess it worked huh?
I just ate some and they are very tasty. Mmmmm.
We've had such marvellous weather out here lately. Unbelieveable. I think they call this Indian Summer. It's just wonderful. Hope its like this at your place too!
Cheers!
RN
Sep 13, 2007 | 10:50 AM PST
Tags: Plant food , Daylies , Tomatoes
Thank you for all the warm wishes concerning my eyes! The swelling did go down during the day and evening and now, you can barely see it.
To answer bloominnana, I decide to mutilate my bed of day lilies because they were packed under at least 5" of grass clippings and other things. No one really took care to remove the weeds, make sure no garbage was swept in by the wind, etc. So, it took me nearly two hours to cut the plants, remove the dead grass, remove the weed, trow out some pieces of plastic, etc. Now, it's been two or three days and I can see that the leaves have already started to grow (at least an inch from what I can see).
It has a nice clean look to it and I am tempted to do this every year, but I most likely will not . I fear that it may weaken the plant and give me less flowers. To make sure that they do not overly propagate, I will dig a little and place some rocks or bricks or planks of wood.
As for the potted daylilies, I haven't cut those. They are neat and without weed or debris, they are even making babies! I will keep those in pots till next summer, when I can plant them in a decorative basket outside.
The tomato seeds are growing nicely. they are in an old plastic donut container, with a lid. I place them outside, in the sun, during the day and take them inside the house. I know some people have very elaborate settings with light and heat sources when it comes to growing plants, but I refuse to fall into that. I will spend money for soil, plants, seeds and that's it. Being poor and cheap is a nice combo! :)
And yes that is a lot of seed. I did only pay 10 cents of all of them... So, going back to money, it seems to be even more economical to just grow your vegetables and fruits than to buy them at the store. What's your opinion?
At any rate, If they all grow... Well, I'm SOL and PWF. (#@!$ out of luck and pretty well f*cked). Heard that lil gem from Gorge Carlin on one of his shows and I'm making it mine! Sorry if the cursing offended anyone. :)
So, yes, if they all grow, I will be in trouble, I know no one will take them so I will have to commit tomato genocide. and keep only 3 or 4 plants.
Plant food! I've had a bad experience. An out of date plant food was given to my pothos golden and my baby lemon trees. It smelt like cat pee, but hubby assured me that he purchased it a while ago and that it was actually plant food. Well my pothos golden stopped growing for a while! and it killed 2 out 3 of my lemon trees!
I've emptied the bottle, threw it in the garbage and told it I would see it in hell. Screw that, I am not using cold coffee for my plants. I usually brew 4 VERY strong cups and mix that with a gallon of cold water. Pothos golden, lemon tree, potted daylilies and asiatic lilies seem to love it.
I wanted to take some pictures, but I seem to have misplaced the usb cord (SOMEONE needs to be a better housekeeper!... oh wait.... That's me!) I promes pictures as soon as that lazy house keeper find the cord!
Aug 26, 2007 | 4:26 AM PST
Tags: Fall Veggies , Tomatoes , Cukes , Mums , Horse apples , Compost
Friday night brought us 4 good thunderstorms and lot's of steady rain in between! Yesterday was glorious. I did a lot of cleaning up in the flower beds, then headed out to the veggie patch to plant spinach, lettuce, beans & radish seed. Put in the broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts starts too. Also discovered that something had eaten all the tops off my new little beet sprouts. :( I was not pleased. I reseeded them and will hope for the best.
The major heat we had looks to have shut down the tomotes. Still have alot of fruit but no new flowers. The cukes got a second wind and I have about a dozen more pickle size cukes growing. The third planting of beans are about 3 feet high now and starting to flower.
Wally World got in a shipment of mums and I loaded up a cart. Potted some up for the deck and will put the rest in the front bed this morning.
Daughter #2 arrives Thursday evening for the long weekend. Looking forward to being able to show her around. She was here two years ago at Christmas but there was not alot we could do at that time, that and she thought it was too cold! Should have perfect weather while she is here. Suppose to be in the low to mid 80's.
One of my co workers has two horses and I think she thought I was off my rocker when I asked her if I could have some of their horse apples. When I told her I wanted it for my compost pile the light went on. I also kept her in tomatoes, peppers and cukes all season, so I think the idea of more fresh veggies won her over. I told her I would come out to her place and even shovel, but she said she would have her hubby load me up some large garbage bags.
My compost pile is finally large enough and has begun to cook and I am so thrilled. Doesn't take much to make me happy!
The light through the trees at sunrise this morning
Aug 19, 2007 | 4:20 AM PST
Tags: No Rain , Tomatoes , Cukes , Fall Garden , Internet , Dogs
Well we are suppose to have an 80 percent chance for rain today. Keeping my fingers crossed becaused I have really not watered much the last two days. Will get out this morning and wet some of the containers down real good.
My little old neighbor gave me a beautiful plant. She said it is swedish ivy, but this thing is no ivy. I will take some pix when the sun comes up and see if you all can help me figure out what this thing is.
The internet police at the office has blocked ALL but necessary websites. So I am unable to check GG in the mornings or at lunch. I am going to start carting my personal laptop to the office. I only peek in on MY time so there!!! Not like I don't do my work and 5 other peoples everyday!! Okay enough bellyaching. I know I sound bitter.
My fall beans are up and my beets are up. Too hot still for anything else and the clock is ticking. Might be all we get out of the fall garden. My cukes have a few more small ones left, but I am not seeing any new flowers and I think they are about finished up. Maters ripening all over the place and I have been living on toasted mater sandwiches for days. No problem there I love eating them that way. Though the boys will be glad when they are done. Because at least three times a week I tell them it is "fend for yourself night"! They don't eat maters like I do.
Well the dogs are up and giving me the evil eye. They want their trip to the lake and then we will come home and water, pray for rain and does anyone have a spare snake? Want to try out Angels grandfather's method for getting rain.
P.S. I posted some pix of the mystery plant in the General Discussion Forum.
Aug 12, 2007 | 8:41 PM PST
Tags: vegetables , peppers , tomatoes , corn , squash , onions , lettuce , cucumbers , water melon , cantaloupe , okra , peas , pumpkin , radishes , green beans , spinach , cabbage , jalapeño , Habanero peppers , banana peppers
I currently have uploaded all of my photos
online that I have taken during the 2007 gardening season. I have taken
photos from the spring time to the present. You will be able to see my
husband’s and my progress in the garden, including some of the canning that we
both have recently completed. This year, we grew roma, beef steak, and
Better boy tomatoes; jalapeño, chili, bell, Anaheim, banana and Habanero
peppers; cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and broccoli; Sugar Snap peas,
carrots, and radishes; spinach, Romaine, Black Seeded and leaf lettuce; red and
white onions, green beans, okra, and corn; cucumbers, summer, and zucchini
squash; pumpkin, water melon, and cantaloupe. Of my entire garden, the
only vegetables that did not produce, due to insects were the brussel sprouts,
cauliflower and broccoli. We did have only one head of broccoli and that
is all. Otherwise, our garden was truly blessed by the Lord. Our
neighbor’s gardens were blessed, as well. This year has been a great year
for planting and harvesting! Please feel free to take a look at all
my 2007 Garden Photos and enjoy what I have enjoyed this
year!
P.S. As I finish my canning season, I may add a few more photos of the vegetables and fruits that I can during the 2007 Gardening Season!
Aug 6, 2007 | 5:21 PM PST
Tag: tomatoes
Our tomatoes look great untill they ripe and then they get a black rotten spot on the bottom. I
have been told that maybe it is some type of fungus....... has anyone had this problem if so
what can I do to prevent this?
Aug 5, 2007 | 5:43 PM PST
Tags: tomatoes , corn
Okay, so I am easy to please. Will somebody please tell me the secret to making tomatoes red? These jewels have been on the vines for weeks, but no color changes. I am stumped. Anyway, these are the second crop of cayannes this season. Not bad for one plant. The corn is doing surprisingly well. I planted the week before Mom's Day. 3 Silks have appeared this week. I had no idea we would get this far with this stuff. We haven't planted corn before and thought that it would be difficult. So Far, we have had great luck... (so far) Holly is the dog. Cootie is the cat. No, they don't get along well. If you look closely at Holly's nose, you may be able to see her scars from numerous clawings from numerous unhappy felines on the property.... No matter for Holly, she thinks it is all great fun!
