Welcome to week three of the spring gardening season on TT. If you haven’t started it’s not too late! At least get a cheat plant (the kind that come with flowers or even fruit already) and plop it in your yard, deck, patio or balcony!
This week I went to try to get new tires but the line was long so I ended up at the Dollar Store to buy squirt bottles and WalMart to buy parsley, basil, marigolds and I ended up with a San Marzano tomato plant as well. Things got busy on the site, and I didn’t have time to plant them until today.
A couple of nights ago we had a rain shower in the after noon and I put the new guys out on the front porch for a drink. Yesterday I noticed that something was already trying to eat the basil. I had purchased marigolds for the tomato plants to ward off whatever was eating them So today I put out some marigold companion plants around the tomatoes and the peppers. I’m also spraying all the plants with soapy water with a bit of red pepper flakes. This seems to have solved the white fly problem with the tomatoes and my cheat plant is going like gang busters. I have four fruits set and lots of blooms. All in all my tomatoes are doing pretty good. My Golden Jubilee is planted in the middle of an over planted bulb garden and seems to be struggling for nutrients. But over all the tomatoes are better this week.
It’s the peppers that are getting eaten now. I just sprayed them again and hopefully a daily spray will keep the leave eaters away. Marigolds stink so that is the theory with everyone getting a marigold.
The herbs are being temperamental. The stupid cilantro is already trying to bolt. So I am pinching it. I have figured out it likes more water than I thought. I pulled some oregano out of a pot needed for other things and put in a put sitting in the back of the bulb garden. I didn’t really plant it properly so I tried to compensate by over watering. Not sure it will make it but I have other oregano plants in the big tomato pots that are thriving. Just like the oregano my chives came back on their own. I don’t think I have ever used chives in cooking, but they are out there should I need any.
I had to split my gardening in two separate outing today. It’s finally getting hot and digging a hole for the new tomato and running the new hose across the front of the house twice because I am too stupid to install a hose was exhausting. I may go back out and spray the soapy water on the plants again later.
But first, I’ve got bacon in the oven for a BLT. Bacon was half price at Publix the other day and yesterday I went and bought bread and lettuce, and vine ripe tomatoes. It costs like $20 to get all the stuff for my BLT! I did also get cheese and a yellow bell pepper. Last night’s 10pm sandwich was delicious. I am looking forward to another. Then after a few big glasses of green tea, it might be time for some rosé.
What’s going on in your garden?
PS. Radchick, and my other Imposters buddies. I am going to try to get to that soon. Hopefully tonight. Sorry for the delay, I can’t wait to see what happened. I just haven’t had time to watch and the nature of things I was reporting on this weekend has been affecting my sleep. I haven’t forgotten you!
My mom just told me how to tell the difference between female and male bell peppers. If you look at the bottom of the pepper the male has three lumps and the female has two lumps. I don’t know if the info is correct. I kinda want to believe it cause it makes veggies interesting.
Bit of a correction. Females have three bumps and are better for salads, chopping up and using. Males have four bumps and are better for baking, like stuffed peppers.
Another slight correction. It is the female pepper that has 4 lobes and the male has 3. I’m not sure I believe there is a difference in cooking the peppers, but I may pay attention, just out of curiosity.
I, too, have tomato plants. Mine are grape tomatoes and they are about 1 ft tall, but no fruit yet. My peppers are about to bloom so that’s good! I planted marigolds, chives, and radishes to protect my spinach, cucumbers, and lettuce. Everything has sprouted, but still in early stages, so we will see!!
I have basil next to my tomatoes. I was always told growing up that you always keep the two together. Is this something anyone else has heard?
TT, I’m happy to hear your tomatoes are coming along. I hope mine will be productive soon. I found a piece of orange plastic fencing left behind after a gas pipe project and tied it around my tomato cages yesterday and bought some bird netting to cover the grape vines I just planted. I hope this provides them with enough cover to grow into something before they get gobbled up.
The nice rains have served well, as has the horse manure. If only the animals will stop pulling everything I plant out of the ground. I have to check 2x/day and replant and water once I find transplants lying around and drying out. Some of the garlic made it through the freezes and some did not, but the onions all survived. The kale is flowering heavily, so I guess that will soon be done. I have a few types of lettuce: buttercrunch, arugula, and Mâche, all doing well now. Insect pests have been slower to munch due to the cooler spring, I’m thinking. My dollar store radish seeds are producing for me, but the basil that’s always been so easy doesn’t like the cooler weather and won’t sprout. I’ve planted some more rhubarb, but it seems to find it too hot here, based on the last couple of years’ experience. I’ve also found lemongrass easy to grow and I’ve planted it with the flowers for a grassy accent there. The sage and oregano are taking off. Nice to have it return, but the rosemary seems to prefer warmer winters and is being fussy.
I wanted to share a couple of tips that I’ve liked: Cutworms used to take my new transplants, but a toilet paper tube collar (I’ve also used sections of 2-ltr bottles) around the main stem will stop them. Also, old hose or tights cut into strips make nice ties for tomato plants, etc., since they’re soft and flexible.
Good to know about the peppers, I have 10 bell pepper plants and about 50 other varieties of other peppers, (I say “I” but it’s dear hubby) His tomatoes are looking very good, I’m sooo hopeful. I do have a separate herb garden going, happy to say that my cilantro, basil, sweet basil, parsley, chives, and mexican tarragon are just going nuts! First time I’ve ever done an herb box!!
It was 48 degrees when I got home at 6 p.m. from visiting my Mom in the nursing home. (Last Thursday it was 93.) We don’t plant tomatoes in Connecticut this early. My son and I did get the dahlia tubers in the ground Thursday and the lilacs are finally in bloom. The blooms aren’t all that plentiful. I think the 6th coldest April in Connecticut’s history killed some of the buds.
I have 2 little tomatoes and I don’t care if the birds and squirrels eat them though the cage will help. I could get behind an herb garden. I need to look into that. Is it too late?
Not too late at all! I just planted my parsley and basil today and another Tomato plant. Go for it! If you cook even occasionally it’s great to have.
Have you tried soap spray to deter the bugs?
Why do I get the feeling you just skimmed my fascinating post?
Nah, couldn’t be. Did I ask if it was castile soap? I know that is what I was thinking.
I really want to get a plant that I can keep on my deck this year but I don’t want to transfer anything. Plus I have a squirrel who helps himself to whatever I put on my deck..including some pretty potent rum balls that I set outside to cool over the holidays.
I do too but feeding little animals seems good to me. I was thinking birds because when it’s hot and dry they need help. I used to pick figs to put up every year. I gave jars and jars away. Now I let the birds have them because no one ever gave my mason jars back. It was expensive. I still have plenty to do a few jars. I want it chopped down. My hard work is making sure none are on the ground for dogs to eat. Figs are toxic to them. Maybe they will leave me some tomatoes too. If the squirrels dont get it all first.
How do you guys know so much about tomatoes? I dont know what kind I planted. I found the table with tomato plants and purchased those. I am watering mine, I did spray with sopy water. I do that with flowers too. I water, they seem to be growing ok.
I wish I could grow Romaine. I love Caesar salad but it’s a death trap right now.
Drunk Squirrels?! Too Funny!
They must have gotten loaded at your house and come over to mine. At our first house, whenever we went out on the deck the squirrels would throw acorns at us until we went in.
This cracked me up. How exactly to squirrel manage to throw acorns?
Thanks for laughing at my silly story. Made me feel better about posting, because I know it sounds, ha, nuts. There was a smallish tree that the builders had built the deck around, running up through the middle, and the squirrels sat in it. If you’ve ever watched them, they hold what they’re eating with both front hands. They weren’t far above our heads and it wasn’t a large deck, so it probably wasn’t that hard for them to hit us. We lived in the woods and there were lots of squirrels.
Another one: Did you know that fish bite? I would tell my children it was safe to swim in the lake, that the fish wouldn’t bite them. Then I found out that they did. They just loved to swim up and get the fat roll that bulged out of the top of my bathing suit in back.
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that I was a very active little girl growing up. My mother would dress me in dresses and tights in the winter and dresses and bobby sock in the much longer hot summer months in Libya. I was always getting scratched up. And when I went swimming in the Med the fish would nibble on all my cuts. It didn’t really hurt but it freaked me out. I’m still not overly fond of swimming in the sea or the ocean. lol.
In the Mediterranean, too? I thought I was nuts at first, but it was undeniable. There was a very long Gar that washed up here once and I’m glad their snouts don’t open very wide, because boy, did it have a lot of teeth. I just saw a pic of a Sheepshead fish and it has amazingly human-like teeth. Obvs, I’ll never again tell small children that fish don’t bite.
I like to put my feet in our lake and let the fish nibble all of the dead skin off after a long winter. My daughter had a fish pedicure when she was in Thailand. I don’t mind oneor two nibbling my feet but I don’t want dozens of them doing it at the same time.
My husband had that in China and enjoyed it. I’m not sure how I’d feel about it. Btw, if you can grow hostas, you’re doing better than me. They’re too popular for deer mealtimes here to make it to any size at all.
The deer ate evey one of my hostas last year. This year I’ve been spraying them with a deer repellent that smells like a hot New Orleans alley on Sunday morning in August. I can’t stand to stay outside when I spray it but after an hour or so it’s not too bad.
Some friends used that type repellent and swore by it. I’m glad you reminded me. I generally use hot peppers that I grow, and it’s too early to have those yet. I’m going to buy some tomorrow and maybe I’ll salvage some roses that way. Thanks for the warning about the smell. I think another reason the hot peppers work is that, left outside, the “tea” develops a real stench.
And I can relate to the active bit. I was always hearing that I wasn’t feminine enough, as I preferred my brother’s boy scout troop to my own girl scout troop and loved to walk in the woods after school. I didn’t eat daintily enough; you name it. I can’t say I heeded the admonitions.
The squirrels in our neighborhood are mean little assholes and FAT from eating all my plants. The house next door is empty and their pecan tree drops nuts into our yard. Sadly we can’t get to them before the little shits pick them and bury them making tiny little pecan trees growing in my garden. Does anyone know how to get rid of them??? Also TT my stubborn tomato plant hates me. Its nice and green with all its leaves but it bears no fruit. What do you think I’m doing wrong???
When we had two dogs in the yard to chase them up trees, I had far less damage; no tearing out my new plantings or eating all my produce. They taunted the dogs constantly and gave them lots of exercise. I consider squirrels to be bushy-tailed rats.
Cynthia, unless it is a cheat plant, meaning it was already a mature plant when you bought it, it is a bit early for fruit.
Depending on where you are it is time for a flower or two. If it isn’t flowering it’s probably because it isn’t getting as much sun as it needs. That could also be because your are up north and things will pick up when your days get longer. I have kid that just now stopped by to clean my gutters and he probably has close to 45 minutes left to finish the task. Hopefully a few nice hot sunny days in a row will get you going. It’s been pouring here again.
I have lots of squirrels. I might make them some rum balls tonight.
I’m so proud of you all for being so ambitious with your tomatoes and veggies. Nothing nicer than stuff from your garden. I love chives, will have to plant some. I use them in chicken stew, on top of my baked potatoes, with sour cream, and always put some in my salmon cakes. They add a lovely little flavor. Also love fresh thai basil and put it in certain stir fries. Parsley, which used to grow so tall and thick in England, and stay around for a long time, just doesn’t do well for me here in CA – maybe it’s too hot. I love to add a little to stews, split pea soup, lima beans with ham, and a ton of other things. I especially love to sautee chopped bacon, mushrooms, chopped onions and fresh, finely chopped parsley, throw in some half and half and a ton of parmesan. add salt and pepper and cooked linguine, simmer for a short time and it thickens up beautifully. Yum, but I like it too much and always eat most of the leftovers, even cold for breakfast. Probably explains a lot about the origin of my “cuddly” figure.
I love the difference between regions. We still have tulips! (remind me to send you some pics, they are spectacular).
Tomatoes are just going into the ground!
Still too cold here on the coast of Maine – 38 last night. I will try the soap & red pepper flake solution this year on some flowers that the Japanese Beatles seem to love as I don’t like using 7 or the like for them. I’d like to get some toms, cukes and peppers planted someday this year. I hope before June. I should get some supplies to make a small greenhouse. That should guarantee very warm spring, kida like a new snowmobile will get you a winter with no snow.
I’m enjoying all of your gardens. I’ve tried for years just to grow some tomatoes. I’ve tried putting them in the ground and in pots but I live deep in the forest on a rock so I get no sun and have very little soil. This year I’m not even going to try. I’ll tend my hostas and be happy…if the deer don’t eat them.
Yeah, living in the forest is an acceptable excuse for non participation. Unless there is a spot somewhere that gets a lot of sun, you probably can’t do it.
Living deep in the forest on a rock surrounded by hostas? Sounds wonderful to me, but do you have to worry about wild life like bears and other critters? Ticks? My daughter’s ex took their little dog camping with him a couple of weekends ago and when he brought it back it was crawling with ticks. Poor little guy has long fur – he’s some kind of Papillon, long-haired chihuahua, God-know-what else mix, and (even though the ex claimed he’s checked him carefully), they were everywhere. My daughter already suffers from very painful, debilitating fibromyalgia, so then she was paranoid about a tick giving her Lyme disease. Took a long time and two baths to get him tick-free. Anyway, I wish you would tell us more about your life. It sounds fascinating.
I love living here. I have neighbors pretty close but the trees are so thick that I don’t see them and they don’t know what I’m doing hidden back here. I’ve had raccoons tear out my porch screens to get on my porch. I’ve walked outside at night and found them sitting on my deck railing and they aren’t afraid of me. I often see an opossum walk by my sliding door at night and one time I reached into a dogfood bag and there was one in there. Armadillos come around every once in awhile but I see more of them dead on the road than in my yard. When I had chickens there were fox in my yard trying to kill them all the time. I still hear them screaming at night, sometimes right outside my bedroom window. I don’t see them during the day now that I don’t have chickens though. Bear periodically kill a small dog in the neighborhood but not too often and I’ve never seen a live one. I like to sit on my upper deck in the morning and watch the deer walk by without seeing me. One dropped a fawn close to the house a couple of years ago and I’ve been watching a doe this year because I think she’ll give birth close by also. This time of year I see several box turtles wandering around and lizards and snakes are all over the place.
I can handle living with all of those critters but the ticks are the worst. My husband sprays the areas I’m in frequently but if I wander out of those areas chances are I’ll pick up a tick. I keep a sticky lint roller handy to roll on my clothes and skin after I get out of my protected area. There is a tall grass growing along the lane up to the road and when I walk up I bet I see a tick sitting on the top of the tall grass every 10′ or so. There aren’t a lot of things I truely hate but ticks I truely hate.
Thanks for sharing your interesting life – it sounds like the movie where Eddie Murphy was talking to all the animals! I can imagine you on your deck chatting away. It all sounds really good to me except the bears, the snakes and the ticks. I grew up in England, and we walked all over the countryside, but I never encountered a tick. Now, my old area is considered high risk for ticks. Strange, but it’s apparently because of the changing climate – warmer and wetter.
My salsa garden is coming along nicely. I have 2 Cherokee Purples that are thriving. My cats see this big, big box as a new kitty litter and I’m terrified everything will die because of the urine.
Can’t wait for tomato season up here in DYT. Been too cold as of late though and typically NOTHING goes outside or in the dirt until at least Memorial Day weekend. We were still having snow on April 30th and it’s still very cold at night. Got my plants going indoors until Memorial Day Weekend to get my tomatoes and basil going! I’m branching out this year and think I’m going to add heirlooms to the mix.
Love your name! You must be one of the very few.
TO’Krsa- thank you for clearing up my pepper confusion.?
I would like to have the soap/water/red pepper ratio for my plants.
T O’Krsa- I just google the difference between male and female bell peppers and two different sites say that the male has three lumps and the female has four. I’m confused . I don’t know which is correct. Lol.
Does living on the high desert count as an excuse? We’re still getting below freezing some nights, usually do until June 1…first freeze around September 1, very short growing season.
I’ve had success with cherry tomatoes but they’re my least favorite variety and when all said and done they are some spendy tomatoes. We’ve settled on chickens for our “homegrown bounty.”
I’m just happy some of my perennials and trees that I’ve planted over the years are pluggin along. We may some have shade in 10 years…? Fingers crossed. We had a very dry winter and the fires have already started.
Happy Mother’s Day to you mom’s out there (of any fashion)! I worked today. Work with amazing women (and men, luv u guys too!) who are daughters, mothers, grandmothers…It was nice to celebrate the ladies today that gave to see that we all have our lives past present and future. Thank you Mommy!
P.S. Tamara, my “prize” winning cycle of invasion has begun again FYI..
For a good laugh go to you tube and search for “squirrel climbs oiled bird feeder pole”. The video is about
a minute and a half long. It’s hilarious.
I would love to know your comments on the video.
I’m just now getting around to reading this post. What’s going on in my garden? Well, Saturday we planted 70 tomato plants and still had some more to plant but we got tired and decided to finish it on Sunday. Saturday night we got marble sized hail that took out our entire tomato crop including the ones we hadn’t planted, we left them outside. I don’t know if we have time to start more tomatoes from seed or it we’ll have to go by some plants. This is a major blow to our gardening! We have three 30′ x 75′ gardens and tomatoes are a big part of it! I refuse to give up! We WILL have tomatoes this year!!!
Well that sucks! HAIL? Really? So bizarre!
New Poster, but have been reading weekly for like two years. What got me was tomatoes. I get you Tamara! My garden is my therapy. I know I’m in screen licking mode. But I do love your posts.
A catbird being chased by a mockingbird, in hot pursuit, chose to land on my left shoulder for protection. One of the sweetest gifts ever bestowed upon me.