BROCCOLI & CABBAGE

This is a blog about starting seeds (not proofing them).  I begin with a ditty that isn't very witty.

Gardening, in retrospect,

Scary thoughts, oh heck,

Nothing planted since last year,
This is a disaster, I fear.

No planting green veggie plants,
Because of ground hogs, we can't,
They hide and patiently in wait,
For the delicacy, better than cake.

The Broccoli,  almost ready for harvest,
They think we've made a personal request,
During the early morning hours,
They've scheduled their time to devour,

The Vegetable we love best.

We are getting ready finally to garden, or try.  We are very late so we will not be proofing the brassicas seeds.  We are going to take pot luck and place several seeds in each container.  If they grow they grow.  We start our seeds in an "incubator".  Then we trans plant them into small pots.

The following blogs are what we do every year to get our plants growing and ready for the garden.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/broccoli.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/02/cabbage-and-broccoli-on-move.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/02/seeds-sprouted.html

Now for the incubator.  It is a simple affair using a Styrofoam box, a yogurt maker, piece of cardboard, a thermometer of some kind (I use an old outdoor one.)  I find the yogurt makers at the resale shops.  They have become scarce the last couple of year.  I guess, the  making yogurt has gone out of fashion.

Cut a hole in the side of the box at the base.  This is for the plug from the yogurt making to go through.  Put the yogurt maker inside (without its lid) you only need the bottom part of the maker with the heating element in it.

Now cut your cardboard the size you need to lay on top of the yogurt maker (fit it side to side and end to end in the Styrofoam box, on top the yogurt maker. The cardboard is cut the size of the interior and then you cut slots about 1/2 inch wide cut in it (this is to let the warmth rise into the chamber).  It is the shelf to place your plant containers on.

Place a thermometer in it (not over a vent hole) and turn it on.  Put the lid on tight, give it a couple of hours to warm up and then check the temperature.  You want it to hover around 80 degrees.  If it is higher open the lid a half inch and check it in two hours.  fiddle with the lid until you know how your incubator holds the heat.  You might want to open the lid even wider if it stays too warm.

Hopefully this will be a year we put supper on the table.
I love cooking from the cabinet loaded with items we have grown.

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Blogs about our pair of pitbulls.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/

A Blog mostly about quilting and sewing, but you'll find recipes and gardening too.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission 

PROOFING BEAN SEED 2016

It has been since May 21, 2015 that I last posted.  We didn't have a garden the last two years.  There were several reasons.  The main one was we had a "hoard" of ground hogs move in.  They were extremely smart and thwarted all our methods to capture them.  We have a dog which has helped dispatch a couple of them and are hoping this will give us a window in time to garden.

First up for gardening is proofing all the old seeds.  We want to see if we need to order new replacements or if we will be able to use what we have.  Here are two blogs on the subject:

Proofing from another year
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/proofing-seeds.html

Blog about our favorite bean.  We are worried this year we won't have viable seed.
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2011/09/searching-for-spartan-arrow-green-beans.html

My excitement for gardening was rewarded when I checked the incubator on the 27th to see if the beans were showing any sign of germination.  WOW....not only were the seeds germinating, but they were all ready at 60 -80 percent germination.  Yesterday this was the results.  I am so pleased.

BEANS AND PEAS  FEBRUARY 24, 2016 PROOFED

“R”   SPARTAN ARROW BUSH BEAN 2010  RISPENS SEEDS (PR 10) 2/28 (10)

“RA” 2012 ORGANIC FROM US, OP 2012 (PR 10) 2/28 (10)

“RB”   “         “                        “                “      (PR 10) 2/28(10)

“RC” 2010 OUT OF 3 LB BAG  (PR 10) 2/28(10)

“Z” JADE GREEN BUSH BEAN PINETREE 2010 
        (PR 10) 2/28 (1) (ROTTED) TRASHED

“E” PEAS DWARF GRAY SUGAR 2008 100%, 2010 100%, (PR 10) 2/28/16 (8)

“A” SUGAR SNAP PEA 2013 GURNEYS (PR 10) 2/28 (9)

“J” GARDEN PEA 2010 SHUMWAY (PR 10) 2/28 (8)

“D” SUPER SUGAR SNAP PINETREE 2010 (PR 10) 2/28 (8)

The proofing of seeds tells me a couple of things:  

One my storage of them must have been optimum (the seed is very old for bean seed)

Some sources say 3 years and some say 5 years).

The seed quality from the producers are very good.

The proofing of seeds also tells you how long each variety will take to sprout in the
garden.  Remember you have to take in to account the temperatures and the weather.  

When proofing you may get 100% germination but the outside planting conditions 
may inhibit the germination of the seed.  

Googled and found the following info on germination times:

Propagate by seed - Do not start seeds inside. Beans do not like to be transplanted. Germination temperature: 70 F to 80 F - Germination is slow 

and poor when soil temperatures are below 60 F. 

Days to emergence: 8 to 10 -

Germination may take two weeks or more if soil temperatures are below 60 F.

From Cornell edu 

Take time to test your seeds and possibly save some money because you won't have to buy new.  

Off to proof some tomato and pepper seeds.

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Blogs about our pair of pitbulls.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/

A Blog mostly about quilting and sewing, but you'll find recipes and gardening too.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission 

HE'S BACK!

He's returned.  He only visited for 3 days last year.  It was the first time we had ever seen a bird like him in Missouri.  While he was here last year I was able to snap these pictures:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2011/05/bird-feeder-visitor.html

I had requested if anyone knew who he was, please let me know.  I went agoogling and found what I thought was him.   I am sure now he is not what I called him.  My best clue was he has a top knot he raises and lowers like the Phoebe does.  My second clue was the wing bars.   I have now found him and found out he isn't out of his territory.  

He is a Great Crested Flycatcher.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Crested_Flycatcher/id

It amazes me I have not crossed paths with this bird.  I have been watching the birds since 1963.

It was so nice to see him on this cold May day in Missouri.

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Blogs about our pair of pitbulls.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/

A Blog mostly about quilting and sewing, but you'll find recipes and gardening too.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission 

GREEN HOUSE OCCUPANTS

Spring is finally here for us.  

I have been traveling and it seems the weekends I am home 

are deluged by rain.  This is the first weekend we've had to do 

anything outside.  So it is hurry up to beat...you guessed it

THE RAIN!  We are mowing the upper and lower pastures.

I sure miss the sheep, goats and cows doing it for me.

When my back gets too tired of riding the mower I graduate

to working in the green house.  It is mundane work, weeding 

and mixing dirt to go in the beds.  The only thing we have 

right now is Chard and Raspberry plants which need to 

find a home outside.  It is already getting too hot for early 

things like lettuce and peas.

This morning while rousting out the weeds I dug up the nicest

nightcrawlers.  Then who should come hoping out from under

a chard leaf, and adorable brown and beige toad.  He was about

the size of a fifty cent piece (do those still exist?).  

I had several Mouse tunnels I had to collapse.  It looks like the 

cats need to get to work.  Either that or we have one very busy mouse.

He seems to have tunneled in every bed.  The good thing,

there doesn't seem to be any moles hiding, waiting to

lunch on the roots of my plants.

  I've come in for some rest and refreshment, and a change of clothes.

It's a necessary thing.  We are also deluged with ticks,   

all kinds and sizes. I detest the little seed ticks! (If you get seed 

ticks on you grab the clear wide packing tape.  

They stick to it real well.

I hope you aren't bored, my mind thinks in prose.

Here is a poem, green house inhabitants inspired.

A toad is hopping in my house,

Perusing tunnels made by a mouse,

He thinks it is a space for him,

Built by humans, on a whim.

Sometimes he lurks beneath the green,

Hoping he is not readily seen,

He watches for the occasional fly,

Hoping one or two, will come by.

If lunch isn't whizzing by,

He ventures out beneath the sky,

Seeking insects which delight,

In eating all the green in sight.

Guarding, protecting, throughout the day,

Quietly waiting with nothing to say,

For the unsuspecting visitor to meet,

To be his dinner, a gourmet treat.

Our green house is a happy home,

Where toads, frogs and snakes do roam,

The mice and sometimes little voles,

Run in and out, through minute holes.

Our little brown toad reigns supreme,

Guarding all around him, which is green,

He knows the cats won’t bother him,

Because he tastes really grim.

We hope your garden is blooming, not a bloomin garden.  BTW,

Gardening is extremely hard in the later years.  

Don't ask me how I know.

Foot Note:  Our Pit Bull, Boychik, dispatched a ground hog for us!

Happy gardening.

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Blogs about our pair of pitbulls.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission 

FARM TO TABLE: RECIPES

There is lots of farm to table talk.  It is usually in reference to buying your foods from local resources .  You can't get more direct to table than growing it yourself.   My Blog offers hints on raising the veggies and there are also recipes stuck between the hints.  I also have recipes in my sewing/quilting blog, after all we do get hungry doing those activities. 

 

I haven't added recipes lately, so I thought it would be nice to make a list of the ones I do have.  Some of these are easy, less than 30 minutes.  Others take more time.  All are favorites in our house.

 

Some of the recipes I obtained from other sources.  They are given credit where credit is due. 

The rest are recipes of my own. 

 

SOUPS

This is definitely a winter soup.  If you are suffering from the flu or cold it has all the ingredients to soothe the flu beast if you make it with chicken broth.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2010/01/garlic-enough-to-keep-vampires-away.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/01/broccoli-soup.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2010/01/cucumbers-when-they-arent-cool.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2008/09/it-takes-tomatoes-to-make-tomato-soup.html

 

 

BREAD BAKING

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2009/03/cooking-from-your-garden-can-be-year.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/cinnamon-rolls-from-challah.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/challah-made-easy.html

 

PASTA

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2011/01/supper-surprise.html

 

 

VEGETABLES

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/02/cucumbers-not-just-for-salads.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2008/10/eggplant-secret-ingredient.html

 

 

NATURE'S BEANO

It really works

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/05/epazote-natures-beano.html

 

 

DESSERTS

Not Gluten free

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/cookies-cookies-and-more.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2010/12/cookie-time-is-all-time.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2009/12/always-season-for-cookies.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/chocolate-cake-3-way-delight.html

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2008/12/need-some-chocolate-indulgence-today.html

 

I can't wait to garden, hopefully it won't be filled with blasphemy from visitations of ground hogs.

Happy Spring.

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/
Not a garden blog.
There are articles which have nothing to do
with creating or gardening.
There are blogs on the new born baby kittens
we found and mothered.
It is a blog where I voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

 



BLACKBERRIES, A KITCHEN AID

This is not an article about raising blackberries, nor is it about cooking with them.  There are lots of articles on the internet sharing that information with you.  It is also not about using a "Kitchen Aid" brand mixer, although I am the proud owner of one of those since 1981. 

 

It is an article about using the berry's remains when you think they are ready for the compost pile.

 

There is an attachment for your "Kitchen Aid" which would be a help with your black berries.  They have a sieve which fits inside your bowl with a wooden beater which fits in it.  This is great for removing the seeds and peelings from the blackberries.  If you don't have a "Kitchen Aid" there are very good counter parts.  My favorite is the cone shape colander.  I call it my "China Man".  It has a wooden "rolling pin" to mash the contents in its cone.  Second best is a "Foley Mill".  For me, the seeds always get stuck under the plate of this kitchen appliance. 

 

We do not like the seeds in the berries so the above equipment is of supreme importance in our house. Now for the purpose of this blog:

 

 

1.  When you are looking at the bowl of seeds and peelings, reconstitute them before destroying them.  Add water to them till, when you stir they move around (you don't want to float them, you want them about the consistency of boxed pudding when it is cooked and ready to pour into bowls (thinner than cooked oatmeal, thicker than cream gravy).  Heat this to almost simmering, stirring constantly (I use a silicone spatula ).  This is very important, the contents will scorch and scorch very quickly. 

 

When you are finished put the seeds back in your "China man" (colander), and mash the seeds again till no liquid runs out.  The resulting liquid can be measured out and used with "Sure Jell" dry pectin. Following the directions for Jelly (not the Jam) you can make you several pints of very good jelly.  If you have never made jelly before using the instructions in the box it's a breeze. BTW, instead of boiling the jars, I put the dishwasher cleaned jars in the oven at 225 and keep them there till I take them out one by one, when I am filling them.  You want those jars hot when pouring in the jelly.  You don't want to break them with the boiling liquid jelly.

 

2.  Your seeds are still not ready for the compost pile (Or the bird feeder). This is where they become a "Kitchen Aid".  I am very fortunate to own several very nice copper pans.  The care and feeding of these is an arduous process.  Several years ago while processing blackberries I filled the sink with pots and pans and one of those was sitting in another which had been used to process the berries.  It had about 2 inches of water in it.  When I removed the pan to wash it (a couple of hours later) It had a bright copper water line on it's bottom. 

 

My wheels began turning and I took the seeds which were destined for the birds and turned the pan upside down and packed the seed mass all over the pan. I wet it a little (not enough to run out on to the cookie sheet I had it on).  I left it for 1 hour and then went to scrape off the stuff.  Voila! a clean copper pot with no effort and no expensive caustic cleaner.  BTW..I bet I could have frozen the seeds and reused them several times.

 

I've been picking berries for a week now.  It doesn't look like I have even touched the canes.  There are tons on the ground because we have a squirrel with a very purple muzzle.   Yesterday I saw a site I wouldn't have believed if I hadn't seen it.  We had a Hummer with his beak enjoying blackberry juice direct from the berry.

 

For more blogs by me, visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/
Not a garden blog.
There are articles which have nothing to do
with creating or gardening.
There are blogs on the new born baby kittens
we found and mothered.
It is a blog where I voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

SPARTAN ARROW BUSH BEANS

I have noticed I have quite a few people interested in these beans.  When or should I say if we plant them I will be updating this blog with information.  (The reason I say if, is winter seems to be hanging on interminably.  We haven't even been able to get in to pull weeds.  The ground is frozen 2 inches down and on the top is muck.)

 

If in our searches we find a source of the seed we will put the information here.  Please book mark this page if you are interested.  Information will be added with color coding.  The date will be at the top of this page and each new addition will be added to the bottom of the article.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

I have added new blogs on my site about Peppers, Eggplants, Tomatoes and Broccolli.

 

For more blogs by me, visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
New Blog about dolls.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/
Not a garden blog.
There are articles which have nothing to do
with creating or gardening.
There are blogs on the new born baby kittens
we found and mothered.
It is a blog where I voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

EGGPLANTS RE POTTED

THIS BLOG WILL BE EDITED AND UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS THE PLANTS ARE MAKING. THE DATES WILL BE COLOR CODED.  NEW COLOR CODED INFORMATION ADDED AT THE END OF THE BLOG.

MARCH 22, MARCH 31

2013 EGGPLANT SAGA continues.
My Eggplants have out grown these homes.  Today I am moving them to larger quarters.

I don't know if you recognize the plants, they're the seedlings I potted on March 2nd.

This is 19 days growth.

The picture on the left is the March 2nd potting.  I was very pleased with the results using the Activia containers.  The roots did not get root bound.  The soil did not dry out quickly like it does in peat pots. The above picture is tattling on me.  It is telling  you I don't use sterile potting soil for my plants.  Some people would condemn me for it.  In fact when  we first started gardening we religiously used sterile potting soil.  We had the fear of God put into us that every plant would die of damp off.  The only thing I like to use sterile mixture for is when I am seeding.  I also am very particular to use a soil less mix.   The soil I used was from our compost pile which was left over from the year before.  It was laden with weed seeds.  Needless to say we have to weed our potted plants.

This is the root system which has developed.  They should not suffer much transplant shock.  (Eggplants are supposed to hate being moved from pot to pot).  When I put it into the new pot, I put it just a little deeper than it was originally.  It is not like tomatoes.  It will not grow roots on its main stem.  I put it a little deeper so that it will be able to support the growth of leaves which will be happening.  

The following picture shows the depth I put the plant at.   I bury it up to where the cotyledons are.

  You will notice I am reusing a pot that has not been scrubbed out.  This is another NO-NO. (It was rinsed out before it was stacked and put away for the winter, just not scrubbed).  As you can see the soil looks wet.  I water all plants well, the night before I plan to re-pot them.  It helps them to plump up in case they have trouble taking up water after they are transplanted.  Something to "tide" them over.

After the plants are settled in, they get a huge dose of Fish emulsion water.  Not only does it give them a nutritional boost it settles the dirt around the roots. 

I didn't mention it before, to my dirt mix which is the same as the first potting, I add ground  up eggshells.  Calcium helps with the growth of the plants.

Today all our egg plants went to their new quarters.  I did lose one.  Its stem had a weak place and when I picked up the plant it snapped at the weak section.  Of the above Melanza plants we ended up with 17 plants. 

We also have 9 Aswad plants, and 10 Diamond plants.  I am hoping for only one more move but think because the cold is hanging on here, I will be doing this job at least 2 more times before they finally get to the garden.  

These are our eggplants in their new homes.

Look closely at the base of the eggplants, the dirt is covered to the cotyledons.

 

MARCH 22:  It is very important to make sure your eggplants are in a consistently warm environment.  Chilling, stresses them and sets back their development.  Our eggplants are still on their shelf where they are closed in at night to keep the heat in through the night when the lights go out. We are prepared with a heating pad if needed (a person's heating pad, not a special mat for plants).  This is set on low and the plants are set on racks about 1 inch above it.  The temps stay at or around 75 degrees

They receive 16 hours of light.  (We have a timer).  The plants are 2 inches or less from the light source.  The picture on the left, is the day before the eggplants were re-potted.  you can see how close the plants are to the light source.  Our light source is an inexpensive "shop light" set up with two fluorescent bulbs. (We have a bank of 3 units for each shelf).  We try to keep one grow light and one regular bulb in each fixture.  But grow lights are expensive so if they burn out sometimes they are not replaced immediately.  We have seen no detriments to their growth.

 

Water or the lack there of, is extremely stressful to the plants.  They need to be consistently damp.  This needs to be checked twice a day, especially when the plants are nearing filling their pots with roots.  They consume lots of water and dry out quickly. 

 



 MARCH 31,
The above tray is the same tray as in the picture above.  It is just turned around to the other side.  The Dannon container is the only thing handy that I had for size comparison.  They have really grown the last 8 days.  They are still under the lights in the nice warm furnace room.  They are given a feeding of fish emulsion once a week.  Their roots are rapidly filling the pots.  I was hoping to have some reprieve before I had to repot them again.

Tomorrow I will pull one out of the pot and take a picture of the root systems.
 



Previous blog on the beginning of these plants: 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/03/eggplant-transplanting.html

For more blogs by me, visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

 

New Blog about dolls.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/
Not a garden blog.
There are articles which have nothing to do
with creating or gardening.
There are blogs on the new born baby kittens
we found and mothered.
It is a blog where I voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

TOMATOES

This is a blog which will be updated with each of the changes in the lives of the tomatoes.
BLOG EDITS:
March 24, March 25, March 26, March 28, March 31,  April 1

The color of the date of the edits will be changed.

 Information added on that date will be typed in that color. Scroll down for updates.
 

Finally it is the day to start my tomatoes.  I have been nervous that maybe I shouldn't have waited till now to start them.  I started the eggplants and peppers over a month ago.  The eggplants are ready to go into their second potting and the peppers are poking along. The following links are their blogs:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/03/eggplant-transplanting.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/sweet-peppers.html
 

I have put the seeds in the dirt and they are ready to go into the propagation chamber.  The moon is coming up to the full phase I hope it pulls these seeds right out of their "shells".  I use exactly the same dirt and methods I use for the peppers and Eggplants.  (refer to either blog)

 

This is the 16 varieties ready to go into the chamber.

I normally use the  Activia containers  cut in half to start a few seeds (they are slipped in a plastic zipper bag), but I was rummaging in a drawer today and found these larger size sauce containers (used for take out).  They have plastic lids which will keep in the moisture.  They are large enough, when half filled, there is room when the seeds sprout to grow for 24 hours. (There are holes poked in the bottom for drainage.  We keep the chamber about 72-76 degrees for sprouting the tomatoes.

 

THE VARIETIES WE PLANTED

 

DATE

MARCH 20                MAR 24     MAR 25     MAR 26     MAR 28      MAR 31

 

AUNT RUBY'S                                 2/6             3/6              4/6                5/6

GERMAN GREEN

Pinetree 2010  6 sds

 

BIG MAMA  HYB                                               4/12          5/12                5/12

Burpees 2008 12 sds

 

CHADWICK

CHERRY

??   ??              9 SDS      5/9              9/9               9/9             9/9               9/9

 

CHEROKEE                                       3/6               3/6             4/6              4/6

PURPLE                                                    

SowTrue 2012 6 sds

 

COMPOST GOLD

Mine OP  2009 6 sds

 

DELICIOUS  12 sds      3/12                7/12        7/12            7/12              8/12

Henry Fields 2010

 

FLAMINGO HYB         1/8                   1/8           1/8            1/8                2/8

Gurneys ??  8 SDS

 

GERMAN OLD                                                     2/12          4/12              5/12

TIMERS  12 SDS

MineOP 2013 12 sds                                

 

GOLDEN RAVE                                   1/8            1/8            1/8                2/8

HYB Gurneys  8 sds

2010

 

JELLY BEANS HYB       1/ 8                1/8          3/8              3/8                3/8

Gurneys 2010  10 sds

 

JUBILEE                                                                                                         1/10

Ferry Morse

2009  10 SEEDS

 

JULIET  HYB                 8/10                 9/10        9/10            9/10              9/10

Jung 2012  10 sds

 

ORANGE HYB                                                     1/8                 1/8              2/8

WHOPPER  8 sds

Gurneys 2013

 

SUN SUGAR HYB        5/9                    8/9          8/9                9/9              9/9

Pinetree 2012 9 sds

 

I have two other packages of Jelly Bean tomatoes and I want to start a few of each just in case the others don't sprout.  I also want to start some more of the "Compost Gold".  We will be saving seeds from two of our tomatoes.  They each have a story:

 

COMPOST GOLD:  This tomato was found growing in the compost pile.  It is a jawbreaker size yellow cherry tomato (we have never grown yellow cherry tomatoes). The skin was thin.  It continued to flower and produce after the first frosts. The flavor was outstanding even for a yellow tomato.  The color was a brilliant gold.   Hence the name Compost Gold.

GERMAN OLD TIMERS has a wonderful story behind it, albeit long one.  I was on a trip to buy hay for my goats, cows and sheep.  I drive past a state park named "Babler Park". On the way there is someone who always has a small kitchen garden.  I noticed he had a veggie stand and could see squash on the table.  I stopped to buy some (my squash plants had been inundated with the borers.)  Also on the table I saw these green tomatoes.  They were on the medium size and I commented it was nice of him to pick his tomatoes green so people could make fried green tomatoes.

"Lady, Dem's ripe." He volunteered.

"They are still green, where did you find tomatoes still green when ripe?"  I replied incredulously in 1998.

"Da Ole guy, don the street, brung dem from Germany, gived me the seed."

"Do you know the name of the variety?" I asked.

"Nope, I din forgot, was long time ago.  Can't ask him, he dead."

I bought a pound of them, thinking it was a mistake.  When I got home I examined them and they felt ripe.  I cut into the softest one and cautiously took a bite.  Taste sensation moment.  If I closed my eyes it was the reddest tomato I had ever tasted with lemony overtones. 

The closest I can guess, is it is probably kin to the zebra tomato.  I have been saving my own seed from it since that day.  We named them German Old Timers because the original seed came from an old man from Germany.

MARCH 24:  I picked red because it is a red letter day.  I couldn't wait to get on the computer to write this update.  Last night seconds before I went to bed I remembered I hadn't checked the seeds for the evening.  I really did not expect anything being it was only 3 1/2 days since I put them in the chamber.  Much to my surprise there was sprouting just starting in two varieties.  Four plants, just unbending, in the Juliet's and 1 plant in the Sun Sugar. If I had left them, in the chamber in the dark, till this morning they would have become gangly.  This morning they were already an inch high and they had developed their first leaves.  The picture on the left is our first tomato sprouts.  I didn't realize until I took this picture I had put the wrong date on the labels.  They were started on the 20th, not the 21st.

 It is snowing very hard right now.  It didn't start till about 6 this morning after raining all night.  We are due for lots of snow today, who would have thunk!Normally I am picking lettuce outside, but the only thing growing in my garden is last years lemon thyme.  I have covered and uncovered, (with two large plastic buckets inside of each other for insulation)  to keep it from freezing.  It worked too.  It has been growing, albeit slowly and I have been harvesting all winter. 

Another herb that definitely says get growing tomatoes is basil. When I set the seed for the peppers I also planted Siam queen basil and sweet basil.  This week when they move to larger homes,  I will be able to pinch the top set of leaves off to have with chicken sandwiches..or even on pasta . These basils left their nursery tray on March 7th.  They weren't even a 1/2 inch tall at that time.  This picture was taken March 22.

MARCH 25:   It is still snowing and we have at least 11 inches on the ground.  The snow is real fine (like a mist that is frozen).  There is a wind today..Not a gusty one, it is steady about 10 mph.  Inside though me and the seedlings are doing just fine. 

In the last 24 hours we have had a population explosion.  I find myself getting anxious for the ones which have shown no sign of life.  I proofed the "Compost Gold" seeds and on the one set I had 80% germination.  They haven't shown they are "in the dirt"yet.  I just checked the dates and it took them 6 days to germinate.  Today is only 5 days.  I guess I need to be patient.  The other tomato "German Old Timers" I didn't proof because it was seed I collected last fall  and it wasn't old and it was processed properly when I collected it.  Of the older seeds I know to be patient, they do need a longer germination time.

This is the blog I wrote when I proofed some of my seeds.
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/proofing-seeds.html

Something I need to mention for those reading who are beginners;  When your tomatoes sprout don't be alarmed if they look extremely skinny and fragile.  I don't know why, but the tomato seedlings are terribly thin compared to their pepper and Eggplant cousins.  They also seem to take an interminable length of time before they set their second leaves.  Place those seedlings as close to the light source as possible.  Mine are no more than an inch some are almost touching.  (Do not let the leaves touch the bulbs).

MARCH 26:  A couple of more varieties sprouted during the night.  I am getting a little anxious about my newest seed from Gurneys.  The orange whopper has just sprouted one and I only planted 8 seeds because it was fresh seed.  

I have had a large percentage of "trapped" seeds.  Where the shell doesn't pop off.  some of them have not grown enough for me to pinch it off like I did for the peppers and eggplants.   There are pictures in the pepper blog how I "un trap" a seedling.
 http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/sweet-peppers.html

The snow has stopped and what melting which did occur froze over making heavy ice.  Walking to the barn will be treacherous this morning.  Something a little off topic but note worthy, we had a Towhee show up at the bird feeder yesterday.  They are normally a very shy bird but he stayed around for half the day.  I hope we weren't his truck stop on the way to somewhere else.  Last year we didn't have towhees..but previous years we have always had a resident pair.

Today I will be potting more tomato seeds just in case and I will probably start some more basils and some lettuce.

MARCH 28:  Getting more anxious about the germination of some of the seeds.  I know it is only 8 days.


MARCH 31:  It is Easter Sunday, the end of Passover is tomorrow.  It is the season of renewal.  Today it is just that in our household.  The tomatoes are finally ready to do it in the "dirt".  They are ready to make the transitions to real pots.  For us it is the activia containers, using the mix they have come from mixed with My special potting mix.  It is also time to begin another blog on this stage of their lives.  I will post the link here when I post the blog.

I am very disappointed I have two varieties which didn't sprout. I know it  only 11 days and am still hoping more will sprout.  I will plant more of these and hope the seed isn't bad.  The biggest disappointment is the "Gurneys Orange Whopper".  This was new seed and to have only two sprout.  I will be calling the company.  If the viability is this poor in the fresh seed, It certainly won't grow next year. (I still have the other 2/3 of the packet to use). 

The "Compost Gold", I am wondering if I got the labels mixed up and this was the wrong seed that I proofed.  I had two sources I saved seed from.  One was the fruit which was fresh which I refered to as "wet"  and a fruit that was dried on the vine "dry".  This is the blog about proofing seeds:
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/02/proofing-seeds.html

APRIL 1:   I haven't finished the blog for yesterday "Moving Day".  I did want to put a note about the pots I used for starting the seed.  The larger "take  home sauce" pots were the absolute perfect container.  I will buy a product if it is in a container I can recycle for the garden.  The reason they were perfect is they had enough room when 1/2 filled to plant the seed and if it sprouted before you got there, there was room between the soil less mix and the lid.  The lid held the moisture in till sprouting (no need for plastic bags, sliding containers in and out).  They were small enough you didn't have a lot of mix used.  You could plant 4 seeds and extract the seedlings without damage.  (I did put nine seeds in a couple and they did fine.  I just had to soak the plants to loosen the medium from around the roots).  Then there was the coup d' gras.....they have outwardly sloping sides.  This made it easy to wet the root ball and slide it right out of the container. 

The containers I am referring to are the ones in the opening picture of this article.  As you can see we also use cut down activia containers.  These work well but they have to be put in a plastic bag to keep moist in the propagation chamber. 

The following blogs are blogs I've written about previous gardening of tomatoes:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-seed-tomato-grows.html
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2010/07/perfect-tomato.html
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-on-quest.html

For more blogs by me, visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,

New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

New Blog about dolls.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Not a garden blog.

There are articles which have nothing to do

with creating or gardening.

There are blogs on the new born baby kittens

we found and mothered.

It is a blog where I voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

 Credit has been given to contributions not my own.

 Please do not use without permission.