Garden Update 2014 Growing, Growing, Growing!

Lots of photos today of the garden we have in the community plot.  Everything is growing so well even with the high heat we have had the last 3 days.  Today we have a forecast of 102 degrees! I will need to water again tonight.  The cages held up in the winds pretty well as did the tomato plants.  I did tie a few  branches to the cages yesterday morning just to make sure they didn't break in the wind.  We had 15-25 mph gusts all day.  It is 93 degrees in the shade right now (10:30 AM) heading for a hot day again, with high winds.  Fires are all over San Diego Co. So far only one in our city that was put out quickly by our Fantastic Fire Department.

We are supposed to get a break from the high winds and high temperatures tomorrow and through the weekend.  Looking forward to 80's, which is still higher than normal for May.  We should be in the 60's and 70's. 

Crookneck Squash foreground on the left

One lone Speckled Lettuce that came back after cutting.  It will probably bolt now in the heat.  Snow Peas in the center of photo.

Southern Night on the left and San Marzano on the right, although when I looked at the shape of the tomatoes forming on this San Marzano they are round and not at all like the shape they should be.  Probably was one I mixed up when planting.  Oh well, I love a tomato surprise!

Cocozelle Zucchini, before watering and looking wilted. Kentucky Wonder Beans on the tripod to the left.

Dr. Wyche on the left and Ponderosa in the corner. Peas on the tripod and Lolla Rossa lettuce that was cut and is coming back in again.

Basil plants in the background against fence and Purple Bush Beans in the center.  A gopher moved in on these and I flushed him out so hopefully he will not get back in.  The plants have a chicken wire cage underground which kept him from eating too many of the roots, but the plants suffered a bit.  They are loaded with blossoms so hopefully they will recover.

Ronde De Nice (an heirloom round zucchini) lots of blossoms on it already.  Farmer's Market blend lettuces along the edge, from Botanical Interest Seeds, doing very well even in this heat.

Cherokee Purple on the left and Chocolate Stripe to the right.

Scallop Patty Pan Squash, very healthy! Seed is again from Botanical Interests, see the link on my blog for seeds or to order a catalog.

This is German Queen.  Looking very healthy even though I have found two worms on it early on, I was able to get them off before they did any damage.  I will need to save seed from this one this year as this was the last of my seed for this variety.

Poha or Cape Gooseberry.  Seeds I saved from my fruit last year.  Very healthy and looks much better than my plants did last year!  Here is a LINK for seeds.

Anaheim Chili Pepper and Tatsoi which I am leaving for seed.  It is not happy in this heat but is in bloom now so I should get some seed heads soon.

Bull's Blood Beets, Chioggia Beets and Gourmet Beets. One row of each but I seeded more last week in another area.

Snow Peas and Carnival Carrots int he box.  I checked a few carrots last week that I pulled and they were already 6 inches long.  I will plant more in another box this weekend when the weather cools.  I like to use the boxes for them so the soil stays soft and deep for nice long, straight carrots.

The garden after watering, looking fresh and happy!

Next group of photos are from my home garden.  Tomatoes along the driveway and in the citrus grove.

Green Zebra and Ponderosa

Ponderosa, Basil,  Green Zebra, and San Marzano.

San Marzano, Basil and Swiss Chard in back, Big White Pink Stripe.

The high winds blew over two of my cages, see the one under the citrus tree!  I will wait until tomorrow to put them back over the tomatoes since we will have more high winds today.  The tomatoes are Big White Pink Stripe and Dr. Wyche.  Purple Basil in the foreground.

Garlic along the front edge, Cherokee Purple and Black Krim in cages.  Cherokee Purple's cage was tumbled over in the wind but I managed to stake the back of it to keep it from going again.  The problem I am facing is that we lined this bed with chicken wire years ago and it is not deep enough for me to pound the cages in more that about 10 inches.  We need more depth than that when we have these high winds to support the cages.  I will build up the soil in the fall and put some bricks along the back to support the deeper soil.  That should solve the problem for next summer.  Isn't gardening fun?!!!

Purple Basil setting flowers.  I will leave some flower heads for the bees, they love basil blossoms.

A small leave Italian Basil, Swiss Chard hanging in there in this heat and so far has not bolted. 

Another photo of Ponderosa.  One of my all time favorite tomatoes!!  It is halfway up the cage already and it is only May 15th, it was planted on March 22nd.

Cherry tomato bed in the grove.  L-R Green Grape, Snow Drop, Bi-Color Cherry, Brown Cherry

Not a great photo but this is the cage with the other tomatoes I am growing in the citrus grove area.  The only one you can really see in the front is Southern Night, but I have Chocolate Stripe next, then Hillbilly/Flame, Gold Medal and then Goliath.  Tony's strawberry bed to the left.

New additions to the family waiting for cooler weather to be planted in the herb bed.  Tarragon will go in a pot since it will like a little more shade in the summer.  Two more basil plants, cat mint for the girls; chives and oregano for the herb garden and another mint for a pot.

A poem for July but in this heat I feel like we need it!

When the heat like a mist veil floats,
And poppies flame in the rye,
And the silver note in the streamlet’s throat
Has softened almost to a sigh.
It is July.

 –Susan Hartley Swett (1860–1907)

Garden Update 2014 April 29th and May 1 Photos

 Photos of my garden plot on April 29th.  Everything is looking well and growing quickly now with the warmer weather.  I did cut most of the lettuces on this day and only have two left.  I hope it doesn't bolt in this heat.  We are supposed to reach 98 degrees today and we have Santa Ana winds too.  I watered last night so we are good as far as moisture.  Let's just hope we don't have sunburn on anything.

3 of the 6 Heirloom Purple Bell Peppers, Carnival Carrots in the box and snow peas on the trellis.  I also seeded some Mache and Sorrel around the back of the box. 

In the back is my lettuce row  I seeded April 17th. Cocozelle Zucchini on the right is finally growing and looking healthy.

San Marzano in corner and Soyu Cucumbers to the right. 

Henderson's Ponderosa

not sure which Eggplant this is

Lolla Rosa Lettuce with Peas now able to climb the cane poles since I cut the lettuce head that was covering them.

Ronde de Nice Zucchini, Blue Lake Beans in the cage, Easter Egg, English Breakfast, and Round Black Spanish Radishes in the background

Newly planted Heirloom Purple Bell Peppers 6 plants total and Italian Basil

Onions, Patty Pan Squash, Swiss Chard and Blue Lake Pole Beans

Cherokee Purple in corner and Chocolate Stripe to the right

Bull's Blood Beets, Gourmet Blend Beets, Crookneck Squash

German Queen in wood cage, Poha in red cage

Southern Night and San Marzano to the right

Below are photos of the tomatoes growing along the driveway.

L to R: Green Zebra, Ponderosa, Green Zebra, San Marzano, Big White Pink Stripe, another Big White Pink Stripe, Dr. Wyche, Cherokee Purple, and Black Krim.

Green Zebra

Ponderosa

Green Zebra

San Marzano

Big White Pink Stripe

Big White Pink Stripe

Dr. Wyche

Cherokee Purple

Black Krim

Lacinato Kale.  I pulled this today since the seed heads were forming.  We will have a huge kale salad for dinner tonight.

Below are the tomatoes growing in the citrus grove

Left to Right: Goliath, Gold Medal, Hillbilly/Flame, Chocolate Stripe, Southern Night

Left to Right: Green Grape Cherry, Sun Drop Cherry, Bi-Color Cherry, and Brown Cherry.  Also in this bed is some late seeded Beets, Carnival Carrots and a Parisian Round Carrot.

Eversweet and ever-bearing strawberry.

We are keeping the BEES BUSY!!!!

Tomatoes we are growing this year 2014

Big White Pink Stripe Tomato

95 days to maturity  

Indeterminate: regular leafed, pale-peach colored 4” slicer with pinkish blush on blossom end and peach-cream colored flesh inside. Meaty fruits with tropical flavor similar to melon but slight sweet-tart tang. Low yield, but worth growing for its unique color and flavor. Though this tomato is neither pink nor striped, it is by far the most interesting and delectable tomato I’ve tried. It’s sweet with dense flesh, good smooth texture and rich fruity flavor.  Fruits are big but squat and irregular shaped.

Black Krim

75 days to maturity

Indeterminate:  originally from the Isle of Krim on the Black Sea in the former Soviet union. This rare, and outstanding tomato yields 3-4” slightly flattened dark red mahogany colored beefsteak tomatoes with deep green shoulders.

Cherokee Purple

90 days to maturity

Indeterminate: regular leafed type. Grown over 100 years ago by the Cherokee Indians, this heirloom variety is from Tennessee.  Plant produces high yields of 6 to 12 oz. purple-dark pink tomatoes.  Tomatoes have a sweet rich flavor and turn dark pink with purplish tint and green shoulders.  A favorite among heirloom growers.

Chocolate Stripe Tomato

70-80 days to maturity

Indeterminate: regular leafed, one of the most stunningly beautiful tomatoes.  Very rich and earthy flavors, large fruits upwards of 4-6” across weighing as much as a pound.  Smoky red fruits with dark green stripes and rich flavor, it’s a favorite for sandwiches and salads.  Very productive and has a good yield. 

Dr. Wyche’s

80 days to maturity.

Indeterminate:  regular leafed type. This heirloom was introduced to Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche, who at one time owned the Cole Brothers Circus and used the manure of elephants to fertilize his heritage gardens. The 1 lb fruit is solid and smooth; their color is a glowing tangerine-orange that always stands out on the vine. One of the best heirloom orange types, with its smooth texture and tropical, sweet taste. Heavy yields.

Flame or Hillbilly

70 days to maturity

Indeterminate:  prolific French heirloom that bears in clusters of 6, 1½” round golf ball sized tomatoes that are persimmon-orange colored inside and out. A delicious full-bodied flavor that literally bursts in your mouth, very pretty tomato. Note: this may be Hillbilly in which case it will take 80 - 85 days and is a huge, bi-color heirloom with brilliant yellow color and red marbling. Very large with a rich, sweet flavor. Beautiful when sliced. An heirloom believed to be from West Virginia.

German Queen

75-80 days to maturity

Indeterminate: potato leafed type, very rare, old heirloom German pink (see note) beefsteak tomato that has large, sweet fruits.  Lower in acid and quite meaty, making them perfect for slicing.  Vines will grow tall and bear fruits all summer long.  14-18 oz fruits.  (Note: there are two German Queen Tomatoes I found on the internet and this may be the yellow stripe one)

Gold Medal

80-90 days to maturity

Indeterminate: regular leafed type. Introduced as Ruby gold by John Lewis Childs in 1921.  Ben Quisenberry renamed it Gold Medal in 1976.  Sweet, dark, golden yellow tomato, some reaching over 2 pounds; gourmets delight, meaty gold color flesh with beautiful red steaks running though out.  Very impressive sliced tomato.  Heavy yields.

Goliath

65-85 days to maturity

Indeterminate: Hybrid regular leafed type, beautiful, smooth bright-red, deep oblate beefsteak fruits averaging 10 to 15 oz., to a sweet luscious flavor that lives up to its virtually blemish-free exterior  Goliath hybrid tomatoes have classic shape and flavor with firm, light red fruit that have few seeds. Plan on harvesting 70 or more fruit from each Goliath plant. The indeterminate vines are vigorous, so you will want to stake them or use a tall cage. Tall vigorous plants produce yield after yield, and modern disease resistance.

Resistant to many diseases:  verticillium wilt (V), fusarium races 1 & 2 (FF), nematodes (N), and tobacco mosaic virus (T). (VFFNTASt) this is the only hybrid I am growing, I was so impressed with this one last year that I am growing it again this year.

Green Zebra

80-90 days to maturity

Indeterminate:  regular leafed type, this one was developed in 1985 by tomato breeder Tom Wagner, and this is an unusual green tomato.  2 inch round fruit ripens to a yellow-green gold color with dark green zebra like stripes. The flesh is lime-emerald in color and has a lemon-lime flavor. Even though this tomato is not old it is now categorized as an heirloom tomato by many.

Ponderosa

86 days to maturity

Indeterminate: regular leafed type.  A meaty pink-red beefsteak introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1891.  Heavy yield, some reaching over 2 pounds, needs adequate support of a tall growing tomato up to 12 feet. Great for canning and freezing.

San Marzano

75-80 days to maturity

Indeterminate: regular leafed type. A large plum tomato with 5-6 oz fruit formed in clusters of 6-8 fruits, very heavy yields on tall 6-plus foot vines.  San Marzano tomatoes have been grown in the Campania region of Italy for centuries.  Provide tall, adequate support for this heavy producer.

Southern Night

84 days to maturity

Indeterminate:  potato leafed type.  A rare, old traditional Russian heirloom with black-shouldered, slightly-flattened, blackish-red fruits. Reputed to be darkest of all when grown in very warm conditions.  Plant produces lots of 12-16 oz., purple-brown beefsteak fruits with some green shoulders. Good disease resistance.

Rainbow Cherry Tomato Blend

65 days from transplanting. Indeterminate, bushy, tall, climbing cherry tomatoes.

Sundrop = orange, round

Brown Cherry = brown, round

Green Grape = green, oval grape shape

Bi-color Cherry = pink/white striped, round