May 30, 2008 My First Tomato!

The first tomato plant to set fruit was.....one of Phil's Rainbow mix! I won't have any idea what kind of tomato this is until it is ripe hehehe but it was sure nice to check this morning and find this tiny little 'mater!

Lets see what am I actually growing? Pole-Lima, Christmas Speckled Large (Well that is what the package said heheh), Henderson's Lima, a mixture of Kentucky and Blue Lake pole beans, about six different varieties of cucumbers including a few parthenocarpic ones, the luffa, a yellow squash that said to thin to only 4 inches apart (can't wait to see if that works or not!) a zucchini that is parthenocarpic, Peppers I have at least a dozen varieties in pots-Gypsy, Cherry Bomb, Poblano, Giant Marconi, Sweet Banana, Jalapeno, Habanero, Jamaican Hot, Long Slim Cayenne, Tangerine Bell, Chocolate Bell and a bunch of regular green bells. Tomatoes I got at least 20 types growing this year all heirlooms. Butternut squash, oh yeah and purple tomatillo. I missed a bunch of stuff I know because that does not include the herbs I have scattered around everywhere or the strawberry's either! I guess I need to go take individual pictures so I know what it is I am growing! Whoops, forgot Okra, Swiss Chard, Collards, Turnips, Lettuce and Radishes....Guess I have a pretty big garden!

Watermelons and Pumpkins are still in pots....

May 29, 2008 The First Straw Bales planted!

gosh you can barely see my tomato plants in these straw bales! I was really surprised how warm it was inside the bales, it felt especially warm compared to the potting soil these tomatoes were in! I hope it wasn't too hot, these tomatoes all ready were neglected! I have one last one to put at the end of the bale, it is in a larger pot and I need help so I don't break it to pieces! Hopefully future pictures will show lush growth!

More Pics of Ugly Garden

New House, New Garden, New Everything

Well we moved in about six weeks ago and we are still not moved in! I immediately started planting and trying to figure out where to plant things! No tiller, no money, this will be fun! So far I have reused some wire fence and posts to give beans and cukes somewhere to grow, they are planted in the holes of concrete blocks! I have had much success with blocks before so am not worried about them!

There was an old 55 gallon barrel sliced in half lengthwise in the back yard, I think the previous tenants used it for water dishes for thier dogs hehehe! Well I filled them up with topsoil, composted manure and peat and a handful of this and that and mixed it all up and planted in them. Of course the dirt settled so much I had to fill some more barrels up pronto and transplant all my squash. It is not doing so well but maybe it will make a comeback.

Tomatoes are in pots with posts, and as of tomorrow some will be in straw bales. I am both excited and scared about sticking a tomato in a straw bale! After that it will be the hole method!

Well lets see how to post the pictures of the ugly garden. These are from about a week ago.