From left to right, I planted (1) Victor (from Ed). (2) Bloody Butcher (from Mr. H. 2011), I planted this variety in 2011 and it earned a spot in this year's garden. (3) Coastal Pride Orange (also from Mr. H. 2011), another winner from last year's garden. (4) Homestead (from WinterSown SASE 2009), I plant this one every year, as it's dependable and I love the flavor. (5) Bush Celebrity (WinterSown SASE 2012) first time planting this variety, but I used to always plant Celebrity and like them. (6) Rio Fuego (WinterSown SASE 2012) first time planting this variety. (7) Mountain Princess (from Wendy 2012) first time planting this variety.
Next I dug multiple roots and suckers from around the lilac tree, making a nice soft flower bed for some zinnias. I got a bit carried away with planting zinnia seeds this spring, and they are not only outgrowing their containers, but many are getting flower buds. I found room for 16 plants under the lilac. I have no idea what I'll do with the remaining plants.
A half circle of Lilliput and Sprite zinnias on each side, and to the rear of, the barrel. I have two leftover broccoli plants that will fit behind them against the chain link fence. I had planned on Honey Bear squash in the barrel, but it might be sweet potatoes. It depends on whether the potatoes have slips in time (I doubt they will).
Wow tomatoes out. Now you are ahead of me. My tomato seedlings are almost getting their first true leaves right now. We have frost in the forecast. Our daytime weather has gone back to normal so we have been just hitting 60 during the day. Good for the plants that are out there, but now way am I putting the warm weather plants out yet. Though my schedule has me planting corn seed on May 1st.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, I'm putting my trust in the weather forecast. I normally wouldn't set them out this early. The next few days won't be conducive to growth, but temps in the 60s will be a good transition period for new transplants and it's supposed to get back into the 70s after just a couple of days, with nights in the mid-40s to mid-50s.
DeleteI want to get my corn planted today, if it doesn't rain. My transplants were pretty much a bust, so I'll be direct seeding it.
I think I'll borrow your tomato-alley idea to plant all those extras around the house :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, I had three or four plants there last year, and it worked well for me. It's directly across from a water faucet, so easy enough to keep irrigated. The best thing is that the lawn sprinklers don't hit them there, so I don't have to worry about wet foliage. The worst thing is that they only get afternoon sun, which seems to make them a bit less productive.
DeleteYou have been on Busy Bee Granny! Tomato Alley looks good. I don't think that I will be putting my tomatoes in at the plots until right before we go away. I do have 4 early tomatoes planted in Kozy Koats at the home garden. I guess that I should take some pics and do a home garden update. My peas are getting big!
ReplyDeleteYes, Robin, we haven't seen your home garden in ages! I've wondered what's going on there lately.
DeleteJeez Granny! You are the busiest bee there is.
ReplyDeleteYou should start a boot camp. Get people to pay you money to come out, help you with garden chores, and learn just how you are so incredibly productive! I will be the first to sign up. :D
Prairie Cat, you're hired!
Deletewow tomatoes outside already! Everything looks so great!
ReplyDeleteMrs. P., more tomatoes going in today. It had better stay warm!
DeleteI think the extra zinnias should go in front. lol
ReplyDeleteThat's a LOT of soil digging and manipulation so I'm very proud of you for that. Sending a couple of advil and a nice warm bath. I like the sweet potato idea. I have one token potato sitting in water and has a few roots and two slips that are only about an inch long thus far. (never grew them in my life tho so who knows.)
Spent last night weeding the potatoes we planted. The compost is making seed sprouts. I thought compost was supposed to cook any live seeds. We buy the same kind annually and it always sprouts but it's nice compost otherwise. A bit sore from pulling tiny weeds by the million but over time they'll be out. Weeding is very zen and relaxing anyways so I don't really mind, minus the sore parts the next day.
Amy T., they can't go in front of that bed, that's where the chives and alyssum are, and the dogs walk and lay all over there.
DeleteMy sweet potato just has roots, no slips yet. The other potato didn't root, just rotted and got stinky.
I don't mind weeding, but I've been digging out Bermuda grass roots, which is very labor intensive and tiring. My body needs the Advil and the soaking hot bath, but I have one last wheelbarrow full of soil to mix up for the last three tomato buckets.
This time of year I always think we need more hours in the day, but ya know what? I'm too tired anymore to deal with more. And a nap sounds kinda good too!
ReplyDeleteOh, Sue, take a nap for me hon. I'm too busy ;-) I can't even sleep more than 5-6 hours at night, my mind is too busy planning and planting, LOL!
DeleteWow!!! You must be a lot younger than I! Great job today. Rained a little here which we needed and dreary so no pictures for my blog. Bought soil for my new white half barrels today. Sure is expensive! Wish I could figure out something cheaper! Gardening will never save me money this way! lol Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
ReplyDeleteLOL, Nancy, everybody is younger than I! I celebrated my 73rd. birthday in January.
DeleteI just ran out of potting soil for my last three tomato buckets. I was hoping I'd not have to buy more, but another bag full is in my future. I cheated and used bagged garden soil for the last three, not the best thing for containers. I did mix in some peat and vermiculite, which I hope lightens it up a bit.
Well, Annie, we are close! I will be 73 this year on my birthday! But you have oh, so much more energy. Must be the state you live in! lol Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
DeleteThe title of the post should have been "Granny Play's With Fire!". You are brave putting your tomatoes and zinnias out now. I haven't even started mine yet, that won't be till May 1. I have two nights coming up forecasted at 36 degrees.
ReplyDeleteYour tomato seedlings look great! Only one 'Victor'? I have five right now doubling in size every other day.
Ed, looking back on previous years, I'm not any earlier, or at least not by much (a week or so at most), on my tomatoes. The end of April is much warmer this year, and expected to stay that way. Tomato Alley is very well protected from harsh weather, and much warmer than the main garden....and the green buckets warm the soil quickly. Zinnias went out in late April last year and did fantastic.
DeleteI started more Victors, but two of my kids have decided to grow gardens this year so I'm sharing my plants with them. I thought I had another one, but can't find it so I must have miscounted.
If your 'Victor' produced like mine did last year, you'll have more than enough. With five plant's I should be buried underneath them!
DeleteEd, between Victor and Bloody Butcher, I should be inundated! Although last year, Bloody butcher was already blossoming by now, and was my first to bear fruit. This year it's lagging a bit. Maybe it didn't get that "unmentionable" stuff. Which I ran out of, by the way, so I used some of that first potting mix and nothing, I mean nothing is sprouting in it :-(
DeleteI think I secretly like the rushing/shoehorning aspect to gardening. Maybe you do, too?
ReplyDeleteI think you might be correct, Stefaneener. I make all these perfect plans, but when it comes time to actually plant, I never follow them. It's just more fun to wing it! See a bare spot? Plant something there! Spinach didn't grow? Grab some lettuce seeds!
DeleteI didn't plant homestead this year because I it didn't fruit much for me last year. Is this plant not very good with heat?
ReplyDeleteCharmcity, it was actually bred for producing high yields in hot climates. I've planted it the past three years (last year at my neighbor's) and it has produced lots of really tasty tomatoes.
DeleteThe tomatoes look great! I wish I could put tomatoes out, it still just too cold at night.
ReplyDeleteVanessa, it's been warmer than usual here for the end of April. My fingers are crossed that it stays that way! It's 8:00 am here right now, 57F and raining. Looks like I'll get a day off!
DeleteHi Gran, hope you're doing well! I feel like it's been forever since we've caught up. I'm going to trying your bucket technique this year behind our townhouse. :)
ReplyDeleteThomas, you stinker, you've been noticeably missing! Yes, I'm doing very well, but feeling the aches and pains of spring gardening. I'm finding muscles I didn't know I had ;-)
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