Weekly Gardening Thread – 2009 Vol.8 – July 03

FreeRepublic | 7-03-09 | Red_Devil 232

[JerseyJohn61]

Sorry. Can't help you with info on a source for blossom
bags. One great place to try might be Tomato Growers
Supplies in Ft. Myers, FL. www.tomatogrowers.com .

Excellent company that deals in a wide variety of tomato,
peppers and eggplant seeds and equipment.

JJ61

[MtnClimber]

For the heirloom Marion tomatoes, do you buy seeds or do you collect seeds from tomatoes to plant next year? I am researching the seed collection process and am planning on trying many heirloom varieties (if I can get them to grow here).

[gardengirl]

It’s so hard to make people understand that technically, all plants are weeds.
A “weed” is just a plant that’s growing where you don’t want it.

Most “weeds” have properties we’ll never understand, and the more invasive they are, probably the better properties they have. We lost that knowledge when we got kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Aren’t we going to feel stupid when we get to Heaven and ask God Why and he tells us—well that one cures cancer and that one... LOL Like dandelions and cattails—some of the best all around plants, foodwise and medicinally, and we expend more effort to eradicate them than most would believe.

It’s even harder to make people understand that Roundup doesn’t care whether it’s a weed you want or a weed you don’t. In the Roundup book, all must die. :)

[gardengirl]

No figs on yours yet?

Our first year cuttings we took in Dec/Jan are about 3-4 feet tall and loaded with figs. They ripen later, I guess b/c they are cuttings instead of est plants, but they’ll bear all summer, right up until frost. Water seems to be the key. We’re not selling any of our plants until Aug. I’ve sold them too many times and had the most people come back and tell me they died while ours in pots are still thriving. Not sure most people can accurately judge how much/well they water.

[Red_Devil 232]

I do have a few figs forming on each tree. They are about the size of a pencil eraser.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

They DO love the selective grass killing herbicide, though. I think that is a modern miracle, myself.

Nothing weedier than a strawberry or asparagus patch, Eh?

[gardengirl]

Yay!

[gardengirl]

Ah. Now, if they’d just develop one that kills nutgrass. :)

OTOH, it probably cures world hunger or something. LOL

[Red_Devil 232]

The Marion and Arkansas Traveler tomatoes I planted this year I bought in flats and transplanted them. I will be saving some of the seeds.

[Petronski]

Petronski here, posting on cyborg's computer. I didn't know where to put this so I thought I'd share it with my gardening friends.

Gimme a break
Gimme a break
Bite me off a piece of that kit kat ma!

[Red_Devil 232]

If you are going to save your own tomato seeds this site gives a step by step procedure.

Saving Heirloom Tomato Seeds

[KYGrandma]

Before the first frost, I go out and pull off all the green tomatoes. Fry them up, and eat until I am sick. Do that every year!!

[MtnClimber]

William, Thanks for the link!. I knew that there was a fermentation process to collect tomatoe seeds, but never saw it described. I also read another link on that site about the differences between self-pollinating plants and plants that will cross. I need to look at my winter squash plans to limit to one variety. I will probably pick butternut squash.

[Red_Devil 232]

Butternut squash is scary!

[abner]

Here are a couple photos of the mystery fruit from today. The fruit is about an inch in diameter now and has a split in the side that wasn't there yesterday. :-(

[CH3CN]

That sure looks like a Brandywine. I have two in my garden and the leaves are completely different from the other tomatoes. (I just picked my first 3 tomatoes just now, and one pepper...HooHoo!)

[abner]

Yes, it does. Here is a random one I found on the net..

[Diana in Wisconsin]

If it ever becomes useful as a bio-fuel you’ll be rich, rich, RICH! :)

[MaxMax]

Steady supply of Okra coming in, it's really good roasted too

[gorush]

...looks alot like one of our spring tulips.