The tomato plants went in last week. They’re growing at a ridiculous rate with little corresponding effort on my part. Granted, I didn’t start them from seed, but I swear the plants doubled in size since I took that picture. Now, they need cages and everything. This is very good for the ego of a novice gardener.
This is what I planted: one Brandywine, one Cherokee Purple, and one San Marzano, which I mixed in with the roses that were here when we moved in. They say roses and tomatoes get along real nice. We’ll see about that. I also have a Caspian Pink, which I put in a pot by itself just in case things get ugly.
I focused mainly on heirloom tomatoes because I might have mentioned that I have a tomato seed problem. And a raw tomato flavor problem. So, if I’m going to eat any of these tomatoes raw (and I want to eat all of them raw except for the San Marzanos that are destined for sauce), they need to be beyond delicious. Luckily, I’ve learned that the best-tasting tomatoes are the ugliest ones. Misshapen, cracked, in weird shades of red with tinges of green – that’s my ideal tomato.
(Oh, and once I had a big, cream-colored tomato that knocked my socks off, but I have no idea what it was called. It was big. And cream-colored. Anyone?)
As for the vegetable garden, the radishes look the best, followed by the arugula. Not bad considering the spot I so lovingly chose for the garden only gets two hours of direct sunlight per day. Good one. The carrots look pretty pathetic, but they’re carrots so who cares. I think one zucchini seed out of 16 germinated. Also, the squirrels have taken it upon themselves to rearrange the seed rows while digging for buried treasure, so it’s going to be a mystery what things are until I pull them up.
I love this whole thinning deal, though. I had no idea what a perk it would be. We had arugula sprouts on tuna salad sandwiches last week, courtesy of Husband who has a way with a can of tuna. Today, I had a little salad of baby lettuce and Swiss chard sprouts. Why are they so good?
Right now, I’m stationed by the window on red alert for the terrorist threat posed by one or more scheming groundhogs. No matter what happens, at least I had the sprouts.
Wait.. you have to help me understand this thinning thing. I don't geddit.
I just planted a swiss chard plant - it's got funky colored "stems?" and lil leaves - are you telling me I can eat those?? And this radish thing? What's going on there? And all of this nipping and eating is going to make your plants grow bigger and produce more?
you'ff goth thum ethplainin to dooo loooocy.
xoxo
Posted by: Lisa | May 31, 2007 at 11:16 AM
If you want your tomatoes to take off, lay down that red plastic/vinyl stuff that helps retain heat. I forget what it's called -- that's my wife's responsibility -- but it made a huge difference for us.
Posted by: Fish sauce hater | May 31, 2007 at 01:58 PM
Hater: Good advice. With the dark brown shingles enclosing the tomatoes on two sides, though, I might be worried about the sun's rays igniting them. Is it possible to set tomato plants aflame in this way and, if so, wanna come over and watch it?
Lisa: Well, I ate them and I didn't die. The radish sprouts were the best. I'm just blindly following the seed packet instructions, so I've got no answers for you. If you're not going to thin, though, let's compare notes at the end of the season and see if it really does make a difference.
Posted by: Tammy | May 31, 2007 at 08:22 PM
I can't wait to see a pic of you garden when the tomatoes get bigger. You'll see what I mean mid-July.
Oh, and the one in the back left side of the pic - are you sure that's a tomato? Looks more like a pepper plant to me! And you're lucky only one zuccini seed germinated. One plant will furnish enough zuccini to feed your entire neighborhood. I can't imagine what you'd do if all 16 had germinated and bore fruit!! But it sure would have made for interesting posts.
Posted by: Sally | June 01, 2007 at 08:12 AM
You took the CAPTCHA out?!?
Posted by: Sally | June 01, 2007 at 08:12 AM
Sally: Not intentionally. I think Typepad's having some issues.
Regarding the odd plant, that's supposedly a Brandywine tomato plant. There was some mention of it having unusual potato-like leaves. I hope the garden people weren't messing with me, but even if they were, I like peppers, too. Can't wait to find out.
Posted by: Tammy | June 01, 2007 at 09:34 AM
There is a large, cream-colored tomato called "White Wonder". Could that have been it?
Posted by: Sarah | June 07, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Hmmm. Could be, Sarah. I just looked up some pictures and it meets the specs. Even has very few seeds which is VERY IMPORTANT to me. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Tammy | June 08, 2007 at 11:01 PM