I would classify our garden last year as semi-successful. In that we managed to have fresh salsa, made from our peppers and tomatoes, almost every day for almost 2 months. But the East coast was hit with a heavy case of blight, due to an extremely wet summer, that killed the tomatoes off before they naturally would have stopped fruiting. We also had a bad case of squash bugs that hit our cucumbers, squash and pumpkins (because all were in the same bed) and even though we had squash and cukes for a few lovely weeks, we saw not one pumpkin appear on the vines before they shriveled up and died.
We also attempted to start some of our plants from seed – I’d say that particular endeavour was wholly unsuccessful. We started them too late (although a new baby made it hard to focus on anything else) and didn’t have them under correct lighting, so they became spindly and weak. I believe one jalapeno made it to the garden and only fruited after all the tomatoes had died.
This year, things were going to be different. I did a little more research, talked to The Expert (thanks, Mom!), and got the correct supplies. Thanks to a perfect Christmas gift, assembled by the giver (thanks, babe!) we had our own set of grow-shelves, ready for a host of growing seedlings that would be nurtured by adjustable lights. I had ordered most of my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and was very excited and yet very nervous about using heirloom varieties. (You really should get their catalog, whether you garden or not – it will make you want to start. I won’t admit this if asked about it in the future, but I hugged it repeatedly in pure, unadulterated joy. And they are non-GMO to boot.) So when I saw my seedlings sprout and become stocky and healthy, I was over the moon.
Soon it was time to transplant.
And then things got a little scary. The seedlings were starting to yellow and look not-so-hot (that’s a gardening technical term, in case you were wondering) so I called The Expert, who gave me a few tips and also made me realize that I didn’t do quite enough research (I didn’t bury my tomato transplants to help the thickening process). I persisted though with love and tickling (creepy? no – it works!) and not quite as much water, and soon it was time to get the beds ready for planting.
I had decided to try the trellising system for our tomatoes this year, suggested to me by our neighbor who runs a fantastic blog (check out the video here) that every gardener should bookmark. He also talks about removing suckers and keeping the bottoms trimmed, to help avoid early blight – something I didn’t do last year (although it probably would have happened eventually anyway). Tom and our friend Stephan put the stakes up several weeks ago, after I planted my seedlings, along with a couple local nursery-bought plants (for security).
At first, my little babies looked oh-so-tiny next to the two greenhouse plants, and I mentally chewed my nails for over two weeks (I don’t actually do that – but you get the point – I was nervous) wondering if they would even survive, let alone fruit. I even called The Expert, who assured me that they would most likely catch up. Not that I don’t trust The Expert, but I was a little skeptical. And then – Boom! We had 2 weeks where it would rain for a day and a half and then let up just enough to let the ground dry, and then start again. Now? Tom and I spent a few minutes tonight adding more clips to growing plants, almost all of which have caught up to the nursery plants (although the Brandywine we got will probably always be bigger just because of that particular variety).
Our first, ripe tomato, not surprisingly, came from a nursery-bought plant that I put in a pot, but I have flowers on 4 other home-grown plants and green fruit on 2.
I can’t say that I’m not still doing the mental-nail-biting though. Heirlooms are tricky and growing tomatoes in a hot, humid atmosphere adds to the stress. But I am certainly feeling the excitement. I can almost taste that first bowl of Tom’s salsa…
(Lots and lots of pictures will appear over the weekend on flickr if you’re interested – I’ll be including a bunch of my flower-garden endeavors with descriptions of how we’re changing things up – mostly for my mom’s benefit, because we’ve always loved to garden together so I want her to experience it virtually – you’re welcome to do that as well.)
You got tomatoes already ripe? Wow… nice.
Beautiful! And Sophie looks way impressed! Side note: my co-worker Penn was in his office last week and we heard, “How you doing little buddy? Did you get enough sun today? I’m gonna give you a little water ok.” He was talking to his plant. It was pretty much awesomeness. And his plant looks great, so don’t forget the talking 🙂
You both have an amazing garden which wouldn’t happen if you weren’t such a tenacious gardener. Great work from the two of you!
Oh I talk to my plants all the time – just found out about the tickling this year though. If you kind of tickle the tops of your seedlings, it simulates wind – which toughens up the stems. It worked, so I did it, despite the comments from Tom who was – let’s say, skeptical, of the idea.