Planting Slicing and Cherry Tomatoes. 5.5.22

 I cleared out the winter crop of snap peas, mixed in some steer manure compost, and planted the tomatoes for fresh eating.

The peas were an experiment.  They were no where near blooming yet.  I don't have room to let them continue, plus grow the tomatoes, so I fed the pea vines to the chickens, who ate them voraciously.

Arranging the tomato plants.

Then I planted them, each with about 1/4 cup "Grow More" organic plant food for tomatoes and vegetables, and arranged brown paper mulch.  The paper is held down by the raised bed capstones, and by rebar I found in the shed.

This needed two days.  I had rudbeckia seedlings temporarily planted in the bed, so I transplanted them to their final destinations to make room.  I want this bed devoted entirely to tomatoes this year.

There are two remaining dwarf tomato plants.  I need to figure out a place for them.  

I realized I can write the variety names on the paper mulch.  For the moment, I just stuck the labels on the nearest capstones.

Various Seedlings. 4.29.22

 These are the sweetpeas that I set out about March 25.  They don't look great but it is still early.

These are seedlings outside that still need to be planted. Among them are oregano, thyme, four o'clocks, coreopsis, the last of the carnations.  I have some planting to do LOL.  There is oregano and cilantro in the ground here, too.

Container Potatoes, First to Emerge. 4.29.22

 These were sprouted grocery red potatoes that I planted April 6.  So now is 23 days later, about three weeks.

Three of the six have emerged so far.  

Seedling Travel Cart. 4.29.22

 Most of the seedlings are still too tender, and the nights too unpredictable, to leave them outside or plant them.The sunroom gets too hot during the day, to leave them there, plus they need the outdoor conditions and sun, when it happens, to grow healthy.

So, I bring them in at night, and back out during the day.

Those are mostly tomatoes, chilis, eggplants, basil, and a few others.  The geraniums on the bench, to the right of the rack, have stayed outside for a week or two.  They are ready to plant in the ground or permanent containers, now.

I think the statice, four o'clocks, and remaining carnations can stay outside permanently.  Unless we get a frost.  I want to plant them in their long -term locations within the next week.  Also some Chinese cabbages, celery, and kale.

Tipping Pepper and Eggplant Seedlings for Bushiness. 4.29.22

 When the pepper plants look like they are starting to grow better, I like to remove the growth tip.  The growth tip produces auxin hormones that travel downward, and inhibit buds from growing branches.  When the growth tip is removed, branches grow.  That means more blossoms and fruits, and a stockier plant less likely to fall over.  I'm also trying that with some of the eggplants this year.

Chili Pepper Before Pruning.

And After pruning.

Eggplant before pruning.

And After Pruning.

I hope they put on some good growth and the weather is nice, so they can be planted outside mid to late May.