We've had a few frosts in the past few weeks and everything left (tomatoes, peppers, basil...) was looking really pathetic. The tomato cages were all crumpled over--I'll never get those shitty thin-metal cages again, what a waste. The basil was brown after the first frost.
Anyway, it's a beautiful, sunny Sunday, and with few things to do, I spent some time ripping those plants out of the garden and throwing them in a new compost pile...
I've still got some lettuce that is hanging on under a make-shift cold frame consisting of some 2-by-4's and an old glass picture frame.
Maybe next year I'll build some super tight, wooden tomato cages... More to come...
Showing posts with label tomatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tomatoes. Show all posts
October 25, 2009
October 2, 2009
Early frost
Yesterday, central Ohio got its first frost. I woke up to 31-degrees F. "F" stands for the expletive that escaped my mouth when I got out of bed. Fortunately I rigged up a pretty ghetto system of towels, wood scraps, and an old glass picture frame to protect my lettuce and spinach seedlings. The butternut squash was killed. The basil started to turn purplish by the end of the day. Not sure if or how the tomatoes will respond, or if the young swiss chard will be affected.
I ripped out one tomato plant that was bent over and nearly horizontal. I think the other three will come out this weekend.
My hope is to build an appropriate cold frame around the area where I plan to keep lettuces growing to see how far into the year I can be producing food... More to come...
What needs to happen before too long is I need to mix up the compost pile and increase the aeration in the bottom of it by laying down sticks and twigs.
Also, I need to consider putting down a "winter crop"--perhaps a legume like hairy vetch to add nitrogen into the soil--before winter is officially here.
I ripped out one tomato plant that was bent over and nearly horizontal. I think the other three will come out this weekend.
My hope is to build an appropriate cold frame around the area where I plan to keep lettuces growing to see how far into the year I can be producing food... More to come...
What needs to happen before too long is I need to mix up the compost pile and increase the aeration in the bottom of it by laying down sticks and twigs.
Also, I need to consider putting down a "winter crop"--perhaps a legume like hairy vetch to add nitrogen into the soil--before winter is officially here.
August 15, 2009
Surprise!
Today I realized a different variety of tomato was growing amidst one of my Roma plants. Surprise! A "Purple Cherokee" volunteer had tricked me into thinking it was a second stem of the one plant I had buried in my garden. I had been a little bummed that I had planted four tomato plants and all of them were a variety of Roma-sized paste tomatoes. The Purple Cherokee is a dark color--nearly purple throughout, with a splash of dark green at the top. It's a big round tomato, a slice of which fits perfectly on a sandwich or hamburger... I had planted this variety last year and a seed made it's way into our garden via one of a variety of ways--though I suspect it was hiding in some "compost" that I spread in the bed this Spring. My compost is hardly what it should be--I haven't put the right ingredients in the right order and I'm sure it doesn't heat up to the point that it is actively decomposing anything really. Oh well.
I guess it just sows that it's never too late in the growing season to be surprised by something.
I guess it just sows that it's never too late in the growing season to be surprised by something.
August 13, 2009
Recipe: Fresh salsa + Supplies
There are a billion ways to make fresh salsa--the simplest way is what I whipped up late last night:
- Roma tomatoes ("Fresh salsa" variety, lots of meat, less guts, intended for salsa)
- Red onion, diced
- Cilantro, fresh, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
I wish I had some hot peppers ready to be added... but I don't. My boss was telling me about his "rainbow salsa" which uses lots of colors of tomatoes (different varieties). I ate some today at lunch and it was great. So refreshing. I would care for it to be a little more spicy next time.
--
Today I stopped by the hardware store and bought some "potting mix" and a package of 32 small peat-pots for seed starting. I plan on starting a handful of kale plants, more spinach, maybe lettuce, and possibly some swiss chard... These tiny peat-pots are perfect for transplanting. By the time you have a suitable seedling, the peat is really easy to tear apart so you don't end up losing the potting soil from the fragile roots that aren't hairy enough to hold on to it.
- Roma tomatoes ("Fresh salsa" variety, lots of meat, less guts, intended for salsa)
- Red onion, diced
- Cilantro, fresh, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
I wish I had some hot peppers ready to be added... but I don't. My boss was telling me about his "rainbow salsa" which uses lots of colors of tomatoes (different varieties). I ate some today at lunch and it was great. So refreshing. I would care for it to be a little more spicy next time.
--
Today I stopped by the hardware store and bought some "potting mix" and a package of 32 small peat-pots for seed starting. I plan on starting a handful of kale plants, more spinach, maybe lettuce, and possibly some swiss chard... These tiny peat-pots are perfect for transplanting. By the time you have a suitable seedling, the peat is really easy to tear apart so you don't end up losing the potting soil from the fragile roots that aren't hairy enough to hold on to it.
August 9, 2009
Recipe: Pizza Sauce
Today I called "Nanny"--my grandmother-in-law--to get a homemade pizza sauce recipe. When she realized I was using home grown Roma tomatoes and basil she was really hyped. She explained how her mother made pizza sauce when she was growing up.
In a nutshell, it involved boiling the tomatoes, peeling them, then cooking them down with garlic, basil, and salt.
I already wish I would've cut out the tough "white part" where the stem attaches, before boiling them down. Also, I missed the part about squeezing out most of the juice/seeds before cooking the tomatoes with garlic, basil, and salt... So it's a bit juicy.
My plan is to fill one or two freezer-safe zip-lock bags and freeze them for the next round of homemade pizza--another awesome recipe passed down from Nanny.
To be honest, the sauce is still cooking, so I have no clue how it will turn out, but I'll write an update when I do.
In a nutshell, it involved boiling the tomatoes, peeling them, then cooking them down with garlic, basil, and salt.
I already wish I would've cut out the tough "white part" where the stem attaches, before boiling them down. Also, I missed the part about squeezing out most of the juice/seeds before cooking the tomatoes with garlic, basil, and salt... So it's a bit juicy.
My plan is to fill one or two freezer-safe zip-lock bags and freeze them for the next round of homemade pizza--another awesome recipe passed down from Nanny.
To be honest, the sauce is still cooking, so I have no clue how it will turn out, but I'll write an update when I do.
July 24, 2009
Things Fall Apart (Tomatoes, Squash...)
Tomatoes:
Yesterday, on my way out the door, I found two of my tomato plants had fallen over due to the previous day's rain, worthless metal cages, and the burden of many large and unripe fruits. C had used some bricks to prop the cages up temporarily. After work I had used some tent stakes to anchor the two bent cages in relatively upright positions. The fall had resulted in a couple large, lateral branches snapping, so I decided to completely remove those. As of sunset today I counted three near-ripe fruits.
Lesson learned: no more shitty $3 cages. Next spring I will invest in heavy-duty metal cages or a nicer looking wooden setup.
--
Squash:
I found a few more Squash Vine Borer worms in the yellow squash this afternoon. I was tipped off by the lower leaves that had become flaccid and small holes in the main stem of the plant. I was encouraged by the two fruits that are growing, but I'm afraid they won't mature fully. I might pile up some more soil tomorrow and hope that helps keep the plant nourished.
--
I decided to remove the dessicated sugar snap pea plants from the garden bed. I'm not sure what to do with the void--I'm thinking about adding some lettuce and more spinach, hoping they can handle the summer heat... More to come on that space soon.
Yesterday, on my way out the door, I found two of my tomato plants had fallen over due to the previous day's rain, worthless metal cages, and the burden of many large and unripe fruits. C had used some bricks to prop the cages up temporarily. After work I had used some tent stakes to anchor the two bent cages in relatively upright positions. The fall had resulted in a couple large, lateral branches snapping, so I decided to completely remove those. As of sunset today I counted three near-ripe fruits.
Lesson learned: no more shitty $3 cages. Next spring I will invest in heavy-duty metal cages or a nicer looking wooden setup.
--
Squash:
I found a few more Squash Vine Borer worms in the yellow squash this afternoon. I was tipped off by the lower leaves that had become flaccid and small holes in the main stem of the plant. I was encouraged by the two fruits that are growing, but I'm afraid they won't mature fully. I might pile up some more soil tomorrow and hope that helps keep the plant nourished.
--
I decided to remove the dessicated sugar snap pea plants from the garden bed. I'm not sure what to do with the void--I'm thinking about adding some lettuce and more spinach, hoping they can handle the summer heat... More to come on that space soon.
July 22, 2009
Updates: Tomatoes, Chard, Squash, Peppers
Tomatoes:
As of yesterday (7/21), one tomato is starting to turn red. I suspect it will be another week or more before it will be ready for the plate. Looking back through my notes I see the seeds were started on March 30. So, roughly 4 months from seed to fruit for those.
--
Swiss Chard:
The seeds have sprouted and are poking out of the ground. 50 more days until we eat them...
--
Squash:
Yellow squash seems to be recovering from the Squash Vine Borer larvae. One fruit is growing steadily and might be ready to be picked in about a week. Two butternut squash plants are getting huge, but still seem to be a long way from the large, hard, and golden fruits we find at the grocery store.
--
Peppers:
My "mariachi hybrid" jalapeno peppers are getting big. I thought they would be a variety of colors. I'm wondering if I should have clipped the first fruit when it started to develop--I think this strategy helps promote stronger growth in all other fruits... I'll pick the oldest one to try very soon. (This seed was also started on March 30th)
As of yesterday (7/21), one tomato is starting to turn red. I suspect it will be another week or more before it will be ready for the plate. Looking back through my notes I see the seeds were started on March 30. So, roughly 4 months from seed to fruit for those.
--
Swiss Chard:
The seeds have sprouted and are poking out of the ground. 50 more days until we eat them...
--
Squash:
Yellow squash seems to be recovering from the Squash Vine Borer larvae. One fruit is growing steadily and might be ready to be picked in about a week. Two butternut squash plants are getting huge, but still seem to be a long way from the large, hard, and golden fruits we find at the grocery store.
--
Peppers:
My "mariachi hybrid" jalapeno peppers are getting big. I thought they would be a variety of colors. I'm wondering if I should have clipped the first fruit when it started to develop--I think this strategy helps promote stronger growth in all other fruits... I'll pick the oldest one to try very soon. (This seed was also started on March 30th)
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