Mulching

This past weekend we did a long overdue mulch project. The kids and I put down 10 yds of mulch.

Tomatoes 2012

Last spring was very busy with robotics and whatnot and we didn't do any seeds.

This year I wanted to get back into the game.

On Sunday night I started 6 tomato varieties, some various herbs and some jalepenos.

The tomatoes are in small pots in starter mix; the six types are:

• Lemon Boy
• Chocolate Cherry
• Sweet 100
• Roma
• Red Zebra
• Mary Robinson's German Bi-color

The Jalepenos, Rosemary and Lavender are being sprouted in baggies (with wet paper towels). Also I did a mixed herb pot for the kitchen with basil, parsley, oregano and cilantro. Man are those oregano seeds small.

These are the first seedlings that we have done on Windsor Drive.

Seedlings

Today is day 16 for the first batch of seeds. Everything has some true leaves out and the largest plants are ready to be potted up soon.

We had really good germination with everything but the Black from Tula. We put a bunch of Tula seeds in moist paper towel and baggie. Even those took some time to sprout and yesterday we put 4 sprouted seeds with roots (no green yet) into dirt.

I think there are about 25 plants at this time.

In about 2 more weeks we are going to start a second round of plants; those plants will be 6 weeks on June 1st, which is the time that most of my friends and family are interested in getting started.

Also need to think about putting in some herbs and I want to try some okra seeds that I was given last year.

Sprouts

We had our first sprouts 4 days after planting. All of the plants are up and under the lights.

Here are some tiny sprout pictures.

From Tomatoes

From Tomatoes

From Tomatoes

First Seeds Planted

Well the day finally arrived when we planted the first seeds of 2010.

Colin getting the pots ready



Seed packets a plenty





This is the first round of plants; we planted:

• Lemon Boy
• Red Zebra (from the store and from last years saved seeds)
• Chocolate Cherry*
• Sweet 100
• Black from Tula* (feature tomato of 2010)
• Roma
• Mary Robinson's German Bi-Color*
• Early Girl
• Bloody Butcher

* New for 2010!

Review of last years toms plus plans for 2010

Last year I grew the following tomato seedlings:

Lemon Boy, Sweet 100, Viva Italia, Better boy, Red Zebra, Early Girl, Pink Brandywine
Bloody Butcher, Tiny Tim, Container Choice, Zhongshu #4, San Marzano

I kept at least one of every plant except for Better boy and Early Girl.

Tiny Tim and Container Choice I grew in 5 gallon SWC (self watering containers). The others I grew in the dirt.

My top three plants from last year were:
3) Viva Italina (roma variant) - prolific and useful
2) Lemon boy - very prolific, early, tasty
1) Red Zebra - prolific, large plant, tasty

I honestly couldn't tell any difference between the taste of the hybrid Viva and the San Marzano OP variety and the Viva was more prolific.

Tiny Tim in the SWC was unbelievably prolific but the taste was very forgettable and most of the fruit just withered on the vine. Same with the taste of Container Choice.

This year I am going to grow Chocolate Cherry instead of Sweet 100 (for myself) I will still make some Sweet 100s for my friends and family.

I will definitely plant my top 3 again. This weekend I am going to look through my seeds and see what else I will try that is new. Mortgage Lifter or Rutgers perhaps (I think that I have both).

If I gave you plants last year which ones worked out the best for you?

Garden dreaming

It has been ages since I posted here but I am starting to think about gardening for twenty-ten even amidst the cold and snow.

Just this morning I decided that I was going to start some perrenial herbs pretty soon in order to get a better jump than last year. Specifically rosemary, sage, thyme and maybe a couple more depending on what I have around.

I am going to try not to buy any seeds this year; I have a ton of seeds around so I will try to make do with those. I am sure that the temptation will be overwhelming but I will try to stand firm.

Speaking of temptation, around New Year's eve I saw someone post on GardenWeb that they were starting tomato seeds (someone in zone 5 type of climate) and I was sorely tempted. I am going to hold out until at least 2/15!