March 4, 2009
couldn't
stand it, couldn't stand it, couldn't stand it. It is +10C /50F for 2 days in a
row and it is severe meltdown around here. Snow banks which were knee deep or
more two days ago are all bare on anything with any grade of a southern slope.
The area I am going to put the raised beds on the south side of the house is
barely covered with snow. So I planted tomatoes today, but I will hold off on
the squash and the rest of it yet.
With Bren's tomato
addiction, I am planting all of my tomatoes varieties this year so he can sample
and see which ones he likes. I have a handy dandy tomato chart for each variety
so we can keep excellent records on them this year. I also have a 'grab bag' of
mixed tomato seeds. I farmed some of those out this year to someone who I know
will enjoy them and pass them onto others, as well as me being able to keep an
eye on what grows from them and even get some seed back so I can properly ID
them. The tomato plants grown at that site will also go to a wonderful use long
term, so it is a win-win situation for everyone involved. This is what I
planted/ing today.
| "Amish Paste" | Indeterminate | pre-1900 |
| "Beefsteak" | Indeterminate | 1950's |
| "Black Krim" | Indeterminate | Old World heirloom |
| "Brandywine" | Indeterminate | 1885 |
| "Camp" | Unknown | Old World heirloom |
| "Cherry" | Indeterminate Status: Rare |
1880's |
| "jon's Cherokee Yellow" | Indeterminate | Heirloom |
| "Free Emerald Evergreen" | Indeterminate | Heirloom |
| "Garden Peach" | Indeterminate | Heirloom |
| "German Gold" | Indeterminate | 1890's |
| "Kentucky Beefsteak" | Indeterminate Status:Endangered |
1800's |
| "Large Red Cherry" | Indeterminate Stats: Rare |
Heirloom |
| "Manitoba" | Determinate | Heirloom |
| "Mexico Midget" | Indeterminate Status:Endangered |
Heirloom |
| "Nebraska Wedding" | Determinate | Heirloom |
| "Old German" | Indeterminate Status:Endangered |
Heirloom |
| "Persimmon Type" | Indeterminate | Newer Heirloom |
| "Principe Borghese" | Determinate | Old World heirloom |
| "Purple Prince" | Indeterminate Status:Endangered |
Heirloom |
| "Rainbow Beefsteak" | Indeterminate | Heirloom |
| "Roma" | Semi-Determinate | Heirloom |
| "Russian Yellow" | Indeterminate | Old World heirloom |
| "Rutgers" | Determinate | 1934 |
| "Rutgers Select" | Determinate | Heirloom |
| "San Marzano" | Determinate | Heirloom |
| "Silvery Fir Tree" | Determinate | Old World heirloom |
| "Stupice" | Indeterminate | Old World heirloom |
| "Summer Cherry" | Indeterminate | Heirloom |
| ..also growing out a mixed bag of heirloom tomatoes | ||
So that is 28 guaranteed varieties and some which will be from the heirloom 'grab bag'. All of the seeds in that packet (and there are alot of them) were accidentally all tossed together by someone's wife who thought she was doing her hubby a favor. They are all heirlooms and fantastic ones. The names of the possible ones are ON the packet, so at least it is pretty much matching them up to their descriptions, leave type, shape of leaf, colour and fruit shape. Eventually I will get them all straightened out from the 'grab bag' again. In the meanwhile it will be fun to see what comes up.
Looks like the celery is starting to come up. This morning I noted that there is 2/3 less snow in the area I want to plant my heat-loving plants at.
Yesterday I met up with a friend I have not seen in four years. I drove out to her beautiful log home and had lunch with both her and her husband. It was so good to see her again. Spent two hours catching up on what we have been doing and then 'Cyrus' and I drove back home on a beautiful day for a drive.