Sweet Sweet Fall Tomatoes

Nothing in the world is better than the taste of the first bite of the first tomato of the season. I ate my first tomato from my fall garden this afternoon. It was a large cherry tomato and I sprinkled it with sea salt. Yummm.

Now, I have a confession. I hide the first tomato or three from my family and eat them myself. I don't share. I am careful to check them everyday and make sure to pick them just before they are fully ripe. Then, I hide them in a bowl of hot peppers that no one else will get into. I know it is wrong, but I can't help it. Trust me, if they found them first I wouldn't have a chance.

One of my vines is producing deformed fruit with black spots on them. It is not blossom end rot and it does not look like cat facing. Anybody have any idea what is going on? The vine looks just fine. Sorry about the blurry picture, again.

Great Tomato Trick for Trench Planting

I learned a neat trick to help out when trench planting tomatoes. I always plant my tomatoes sideways in a trench in order to get as much of the stem underground as possible. This allows the plant to produce roots along the buried stem increasing the root system and keeping it from being too leggy in the beginning. This is also a good way to handle a seedling that has stretched too far while growing in the pot. I have accidentally broken off the top of plants while handling them this way. Never again. All you have to do is lay the tomato plant on its side in its pot the day before you plan to plant it. The little tomato plant will reach for the sun therefore creating a curved plant. Aren't vines amazing. The little plants on the right and left above were turned on their sides yesterday afternoon. This afternoon they have a nice little crook to them. When I plant them that little bit turned up will be what is sticking out of the ground. No problem having to try to carefully keep them from breaking off at ground level.

Do y'all have any other tomato tricks I might try this year?

Tomato Volunteer

Every summer, like most vegetable gardeners, I end up with tomatoes that are damaged in some way that makes them inedible. Usually a bird has pecked them or it they did not get the right amount of water and have blossom end rot. I usually just pick those tomatoes and drop them on the ground under the tomato plant. By doing this, the following spring I have tomato volunteers. I found my first one this afternoon. From where it is located, I can hope that it is a Green Zebra. However, there is no telling, it could be anything. The main purpose of these little volunteers is that when they come up and are about six inches tall, I know it is probably the right time to plant my other seedlings. I know other gardeners plant either on April Fools Day (to early for me) or Mother's Day (to late to suit me).

When I get back in town Sunday, I will plant my tomato plants that are about six inches tall. Many of my seedlings are still tiny and not ready to be planted in the garden. The Cherokee Purple and Early Girl are ready. I have been worrying over these tiny little tomato plants. They just don't seem to be growing fast enough. Last week I added compost, blood meal, and bone meal to each of the pots. Two days ago, I made a solution of fish emulsion and Super Thrive and watered them with it. Today they looked a lot better. I think they are on their way.

I will be away for the next four days. I will be traveling with four of my friends to the Texas State Master Gardener convention in Conroe. I was just informed by email that I am a delegate. That means I have to vote on an agenda and a budget. We will take six classes and go on at least one garden tour. I should come home with all kinds of great new ideas and information plus a few stories about who snored the loudest. I am not going to do the wild flower post this week unless something inspires me between now and sunset. To make it up to you, I will find some cool wild flower or wild flower field between here and Houston and post about it when I get home.

Need Help Identifiying This Daffodil

Back in December, I bought four bags of daffodil bulbs from our MG group. I know I bought Texas Star, Geranium, Earlicheer, and something with the word giant in it. These bloomed yesterday. The blooms are pretty big. They fill the palm of my hand. They also smell nice with a very light pretty scent. I know they are not Earlicheer (which smells bad)or geranium (it is white and light orange). So is it Texas Star or the giant whatever. The picture I found of Texas Star looked a little lighter than this, but that could just be the exposure. If you have a guess or actually know what this is I would appreciate any input.

Above are my pitiful tomatoes. They have been stuck in a window sill for weeks. I didn't trust that the temperature in the greenhouse would stay above 40. I added more potting mix and put them in the shade on the deck. I should be ashamed of myself and turn in my MG badge. The varieties are Early Girl and Better Boy hybrids along with Cherokee Purple, Yellow Pear, San Marzano, Green Zebra, and some sort of cherry which are self-polinating heirlooms.

Tomatoes

I woke up way to early again and started lurking around blotanical and found this. How cool is a blog dedicated to tomatoes. Love it.

You still have a few days to pick your gardening super power. Go to the top right corner for the poll. For some reason I became confused before and typed left a few times. I do know my right from my left. Guess which side of my brain I use?

Quilt Blocks and Heirloom Tomatoes

Here are the last two blocks. My points improved significantly. I figured it out. You put the point piece up and then fold down the seam allowance at the tip of the point and sew right over the very tippy tip.

Here they are all together

Next project. Put all of the tomatoes in 4" containers. Varieties are San Marzano, Green Zebra, Yellow Pear, Cherokee Purple, Early Girl, Better Boy, and some kind of cherry.

What kind of tomatoes do you grow?

By the way. This quilt does not have a home. Who deserves it?

I'll See You Friday

I just stopped over a Blotanical and looked a the picks. There were so many I wanted to read and I just don't have time. I did read one. It was on heating water with a compost pile. I just couldn't resist. When I have time later I will come back here and link it. Anyway below is a list of the stuff I have to get done before Thursday.

1. Plant 100 tulips
2. Plant 20 daffs
3. Make three quilt blocks. One of which is applique.
4. Feed monkeys.
5. Wash monkey clothes.
6. Start the basil for the spring seminar.
7. Pot up about 30o tomatoes for the spring seminar.

So when I am not chained to my sewing machine, I will be chained to the potting bench. The monkeys can make peanut butter sandwiches.

See you Friday.

Winter Pictures Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Abby, Internet Police Dog, getting ready to bully the neighbors Boxer.

Baby tomatoes off the dryer and in the sewing window. Move them to the green house in 5 to 10 days.

I know, I know there are a million pictures of daffodils on garden blogs right now, but what else is this pretty right now. This is the best I can do for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Still have plenty of cabbage