Tomatoes

When I planted them, I was pretty sure that Tomatoes were just about idiot proof. And, to be sure, they have been relatively simple. I just had to fertilize them with Epsom Salts and Coffee Grounds and keep them wet. Beyond that, I’m just letting them do their thing.

And, boy have they. I’ve had to prop up some of the arms of the Big Boys to keep them from sagging. I read somewhere that Tomatoes don’t turn red in temps over 80, or somewhere in there. So, when they turn a slight shade of orange, I’ve plucked them and let them turn red in the kitchen cabinet. Give me about a week, and I’ll be up to my knees in tomatoes.

I’m a bit mixed on my Morning Glory. They grew like crazy initially, especially when I got them winding their way up the posts. In point of fact, they outgrew the initial 3 foot dowels. I then put some twine on four foot bamboo posts. The flowers out grew those soon.

Since then, they have flowered. The flowers are really pretty, but they are not terribly prolific. There has only been one blossom per day. Hopefully, they’ll start to blossom elsewhere. But, on the plus side, they are really pretty.

Realization

Well, it occurs to me I'm a pathetic blogger. It has now been a month since my last post. I did want to post, but life has been rather busy.

But, I have a good deal to report and, hopefully, I can do it justice.

So, back on the saddle we go...

Scotch Pine

This is proof of just how far I'm behind in my blogging. I picked up this tree at Lowe's for free. I'm raising it in the pot until next spring.

Happy Earth Day!

Squash

I bought some squash on Earth Day. Honestly, it was kind of a whim. Like the melons, they are potted. One of the four plants didn't make it after three days. The others have thrived, especially since it has started to get sunny and hot. Also, I think they like the coffee I'm using a fertilizer.

I'm not kidding. They are really thriving. Once I figure out how to take and use pictures on my new phone, I'll post some.

Melons

Originally, I wasn’t going to deal with melons or anything “funny” like that. It wasn’t because I don’t like melons. I just don’t really know what I’m doing and I’m not sure I have the space for melons. To be honest, I still don’t (on both counts), but I figured I’d give it a try.

The leading picture is the “melon patch”. I got around the space issue by putting them in pots. I don’t know if that will be beneficial to the melons, or inhibit growth. There are 4 watermelons and 4 cantaloupes. All are still potted.

The watermelons have done really well. I’m pleasantly surprised. I keep reading that watermelons are difficult to grow properly. I suppose that we’ll see that when it comes to harvesting the “fruit”. Either way, it is fun to see the growth. They are currently staked up because of the rain threat during the storm.

The cantaloupes exploded at first. They, like their larger counterparts, were in pots and grew like crazy. In about the last week, however, I started to notice them yellow a bit. To be honest, I’m not sure why. I think they might have overgrown their pots. If that is the case, I’m nervous about the watermelons. I put the cantaloupes in larger parts, in pairs. We’ll see if that prompts some growth.

Tomatoes and Beans and Peppers...Oh My!

No photos yet, my loyal blog readers, but trust me that they will be coming soon.

I've had a tiny Jalapeño growing out there for about a week now. Currently, it is about the size of my pinkie. Hoping the Bell Peppers start to pop soon.

I also have some cherry tomatoes, on my cherry tomato plant, which are starting to develop. I have a small bowl of them at current.

But, the really cool stuff I've only seen in the last 12 hours. Last night I was out watering and weeding. I noticed some really tiny green beans! Admittedly, they aren't much larger than the cord to my iPhone, but they are growing. And, even cooler, I grew their parents from seeds. Okay, that probably did sound a bit weird.

And, this morning, I notice that one of my "normal" tomato bushes has fruit growing on it. In short, I have tomatoes coming!

Garlic

Nothing really to report here. The garlic is growing (as is the potted garlic). At some point, I'm gonna have to sit down and figure out what to do with it when it is ready to harvest. But, not today...

Onions

The onions were kind of an afterthought. The plot where they are growing was originally dedicated to Basil. I thought that was dead (It has proven me wrong, in hindsight). Anyway, I planted the tiny onions, having gotten them on sale of course, not really expecting too much. In hindsight, that was stupid. They are growing well and sprouting up in the hurry. What you see here is the early growth. They are rather impressive.

Cucumbers

I have to say, I had my doubts when I started with Cucumbers. Originally, I thought they were gonna consume the garden. I must say that, since putting them in the garden, they have become some of my favorite plants to observe because of noticeable growth.

The first two pictures are White Wonder Cucumbers. I didn’t buy them, directly. When I got the plants from Burpee.com, they threw in a seed package of White Wonders. They are a vining cucumber so I’m gonna leave them in the pots. They do look a bit scraggly now, but the others did at one point too. I have faith they’ll come around.

The third picture is a close up of the garden variety. These are Bush Cucumbers which will grow vertically if properly supported. I put a stake near each one in the garden. They are all really growing well. I gave some to Oscar next door (the bottom picture shows what they looked like). We’ll see how much success he has. I’d give them about 45 days and we’ll have some fruit growing there.

Update

I've got some pictures here from previous update posts.

My peas have flowers. This is the first one which I took a week ago. Since taking them, more and more of them have developed flowers. They are also creeping up the fence and starting to develop pods. I could be up to my eyes in peas later, but that is a risk I’m willing to take.

This is a Morning Glory. It has vined its way up beyond the dowel. I’ve since had to jerry-rig a way to connect two dowels. What is peculiar is that the package of seeds said the plants would get to 3 feet. Various websites I’m finding about M.G.s suggests they can grow up to 8 feet! I’m not sure what I’m gonna do if they get taller than me.

A survey shot of the beans. No major growth here, but they sure look prolific.

Apologies

Sorry for the delay in writing my loyal readers. But with the weather over the last 10 days, it has been crazy.

Tomatoes

The Tomatoes. To this point, the most visible of my plants. The tomatoes are growing very well. No fruit as of yet, but A LOT of flowers and growth. I think the combination of Epsom Salts and Coffee Grounds has really helped them take off. Of course, all of the rain probably hasn’t hurt either.

The first picture is the overview. The Big Boy tomatoes are in the front, going toward the top. The Romas are under the tree.

The second and third pictures are the Big Boys. They started at 4 inches and are growing tall ever since. Hopefully, we’ll have fruit there soon.

Pictures four and five are Roma Tomatoes. I bought those on a whim. A four pack for $3.50. To be honest, I’m not sure how to use Roma Tomatoes in cooking but I’ll figure it out. Again, the coffee grounds are helping. I’ve tied them off to the cages and they are straightening out.

The last two are my newest additions, at least as far as tomatoes are concerned. I ordered some strawberries online (burpee.com) for the hanging strawberry planter thing. To get free shipping, I needed to buy something else (darn). I ordered the Tumbling Tom Yellow Cherry Tomatoes. They thrive in pots so I’m really looking forward to see them grow something. Also, don’t freak out b/c those tomatoes look withery. The first picture is the first day after getting in the mail. In the pot, they are doing much better. Even after only a few days in dirt, they are really picking up.

Beans

The beans are growing well. Frankly, they're kind of going crazy. I don't know if it is the Epsom Salts, the near flooding rain over the last two weeks, or the position in relation to the sun. Either way, they're most certainly an impressive crop.

By the by, if anyone wants Green Beans, give me a holler. I've afraid we'll be knee-deep in them about Memorial Day.

Morning Glory update

Since the last posting, I've noticed some growth on Morning Glories. I've noticed them beginning to vine their way up their dowels. New leaves are appearing as well.

That'll teach me to write off plants.

Peas

Like the Peppers, the Peas have been pretty easy. Which, after all, is kind of the point of the Peas. I've planted them running the whole length of the fence and they're all looking good.

I got dowels (a couple packages, all about 8 inches long) and have tied the peas to them. The idea was to have the peas climb the fence. I'm not sure the peas have really understood that game plan, however. They are more interested in sending vines out and climbing on each other. I've started tying them to the fence in an effort to train them. That seems to be working, but it is taking a while.

Peppers

Peppers- One Month Update

By in large, I've not had any problem with the Peppers, excepting the Mole. For what it is worth, I've not seen hide nor hair of the Mole since I put the stake in the ground.

The Peppers have grown well and have started to bloom. I'm also happy to see little Peppers developing on the original three plants. They started as plants and I simply put them in and staked them up. I really don't have to much to say.

As a sidebar, I'm intrigued by how much smalled the Jalapeño plant is when compared to the Bell Peppers. I know that Bell Peppers themselves are bigger, but it wouldn't seem the plants would be that much different.

Morning Glories

In no particular order, I'll describe what is going on with everything.

We'll start with the Morning Glories. If you recall, they looked crispy when the seeds started sprouting. I thinned out some of them. Some started to grow from that and others were still struggling.

I got desperate and tried to figure out what to do to help them. So, I staked them. According to the various sources I found, that helps them grow. Or at least that helps them grow straight up, which is something the plant is designed by nature to do. I bought a gob of dowels and tied them off to the dowels.

It would seem that some of these websites aren't crazy. The majority of the flowers have grown like, well, weeds (which is another problem I have). Most are now over 4 inches tall and growing with pretty good speed. The large quantities of rain have also helped them. They grow to 3 feet tall, so they'll eventually overtake most of those dowels, and will have pretty blue flowers.

One Month In- Garden

A quick look at a calendar suggests that the garden has been growing for darn near a month now. Given that, it seemed like a good time to do an overview of what is growing, how it is doing, and the like.

What you've got here is an overview of the garden and pictures of it. The fence material came from Kelly's folks. Originally, Mumsy told me I would have to paint them. But, now that they're up, I kinda like the rustic look, so they might not be touched. Except that there are a couple I'm going to cannibalize and turn into trellises for cucumbers. More on that later.

There are also plants growing around back. Again, more on that in future posts.

Cheap Coffee Trick...

If you're like me, this one is certainly something you can get behind. It is certainly a good use for old coffee grounds. I've also heard something similar about egg shells. Give it a look see...

New Map

Well, it took a while, but I'm finally updating the blog.

It isn't that I haven't wanted to update the blog. Quite simply, I just haven't had the time lately.

That is, however, no excuse.

So, without further delay, a new map!

Further information to come.

New Map

Have rearranged some space over the last couple of days. When I get some time, I'll post a new map so y'all out there will have an idea of what is brewing.

First Blossom!

Feel free to think "why is pointing this out." That will not, however, curtail my thought on this one. What you see in this picture is the first blossom of the year on something that isn't a flower. That, little yellow flower, is the first tomato blossom of the year!

That is on the first group of tomato plants. The picture was taken on Monday afternoon before the storm came in. Today (Tuesday) I noticed several other flowers on the other tomato plants. I give it about 3 weeks and we'll be swimming in tomatoes. So, if you live in the area, and are interested, you might be in line for an armful of tomatoes before to long. Just let us know.

Birthday Growth!

Haven’t posted in a bit due to various activities such as going to New Orleans, Conference…and Eloping there. So, I couldn’t get the pictures I took on Monday (my Birthday) up until now.

I’m just blown away with how much the Petunias have taken to the garden. Those were the best $.25 purchase I have made in a while. All of those in the gardens have grown like crazy. Even those in pots and planter boxes have grown very well.

All of the Peppers have grown too. You’ll notice how the Mole hole is still there. But, those that survived the rodent’s wrath have grown well. Especially those three on the near side of the plot, hopefully, that growth will continue.

Marigolds and Petunias. I don’t really have any comment other than they are pretty.

Cosmos. I’m really proud of those because I grew them from seeds on the first day. Thus far, they are the most successful seeds. I’ve since thinned them out a bit (see later posts). Hopefully, they’ll be amenable to growing in the pot this summer.

Beans. Not bad growth, considering half of those have been transplanted. They are exploding in green and are looking really good. Hopefully, considering they are bush beans, I won’t have to prop them up.