The Tomato Chronicles: Chapter 1

 Over the last three years I have had my share of success 

 growing tomato's

in the vegetable garden

 I realize this is not something really earth shattering

because tomato's will pretty much grow 

anywhere they are planted

 but what is astounding is how many tomato's 

the average garden geek

 (which would be me)

 can get from a single plant

 It seems like it's a never ending 

tomato-palooza 

So this year I have 9 plants in the garden already...  

most are heirloom and interesting varieties

but I have a few of the old favorites like 

San Marzano, Better Boy and Sweet 1000's

Then today this arrived...what the...?

It came from Burpee

I completely forgot that I had ordered this special 3 pack of tomato plants 

called SuperSauce 

way back in December!

so here is the pitch:

this tomato is a Burpee exclusive 

and when mature, each tomato is supposed to weigh 2 lbs 

and be 5 inches high

and

it's virtually seedless

are you kidding?

 really??

and it makes great sauce?

no wonder I ordered it!

 When I finally pulled the saucy little plants out of their plastic space suit 

they looked a bit tired and dehydrated

and

not so super

 the instructions say to feed them luke warm water 

and let them rest for a day

 and then plant them

 so that's what I'll do

Now...do you think they will be a super star in the world of tomato's?

or 

a SuperSauce star?

or 

a big fat dud?

You now have read the first chapter of 

The Tomato Chronicles

more chapters to follow

Early Autumn Gardening

 It really does not feel like fall considering it has been over 90 degrees every day, since the middle of July...but this morning it really cooled off and it finally felt like Autumn

 I have started some cool season veggies
like carrots, broccoli, cabbage, beets and tons of new mesclun and lettuce

 I thought I might try a late season tomato and see what happens ...I planted two, about a month ago 

but as luck would have it.... last night the raccoons were out 

and made short work of the squash plants

what you think your garden should look like 

 and what it actually is
at the end of the summer

can be very different things

I did not get even a single zucchini this year....all munched

 there really is no way to stop the critters
especially when you have good looking zucchini!

the weird thing is that they ate the stalks too...they even ate some of the hot peppers and eggplant!

and the squirrels have been even worse...but it's all part of gardening...you take the good with the bad

 ouch!
those raccoons are so destructive...
we don't have deer in the Arbolada, because there is no water source this time of year, but I have heard that they are a huge problem for those that live near the creeks.

 I planted chives between my tomato plants and have really enjoyed them all summer...

I was about to pull them
  up, but then saw these blossoms forming

 nice to have some chive blossom's in a salad !

 I have planted chives in a variety of ways either self sowing in a large area
or dividing up little six packs form the nursery...both methods work pretty well

 Lately I have tried a new method for sowing seeds directly in long rows
as opposed to larger 24 x 24 inch plots in the raise beds

The new seedlings need to be really well irrigated or they die and some seeds need direct sunlight to germinate so be sure to read the back of the seed packet 

 The grapes were a success...but these are three years old now, so we knew most of them would produce this year

again, the critters had a hey day...but we enjoyed some grapes too

 I really love how the vines trellis along the fence
enclosing the four apple trees

 this variety is a champagne style grape
which is really small and purple when it ripens...and really delicious

Our family citrus orchard is finally in great shape...
after hours and hours of TLC, spraying, mulching, pruning and watering

I think these trees are probably about 30 plus years old,
so it takes time to have large beautiful citrus trees,
but boy do they produce the fruit

the goal is to get the  branches to fall almost to the ground
with an enclosed sheltered canopy

 this is a better picture and you can see how the branches are just above the soil
 and loaded with green oranges that will begin to ripen this winter

this is such a beautiful time of year for gardening...and next month, October,

 is the busiest gardening month of the entire year...so rest up!

bye for now

kelley

eat

 summer is here and so are the veggies

 time to get picking

 while I love them all...it really is the tomato's that make me smile and feel like I am doing something right in my garden

 basil and eggplant

 the colors and shapes and the abundance of the tomato's

 is really amazing

 lettuce is my second favorite and perhaps my year around 

"go to" crop...

I am never with out a nice bowl

 of little green leaves

 I hose everything off and then bring it inside 

for a  few days 

to use as needed

 tomatoes 

 banana peppers and cucumbers

parsley and spring onions

 I am not sure why the things 

that grow in the garden are so beautiful...

but they just are

 everyone should try a little garden this summer 

it is never too late to start

kelley