[greeneyes]

The sky's are a bit gray here in Missouri, but the temps are moderate 50s. We actually hit 80 degrees earlier this week, and then plunged to freezing that night with a light dusting of snow.

I started prepping a small potato bed, by turning under the winter rye. My indoor tomato plant has 4 tomatoes about as big around as quarters, 2 pea size, and several flowers. I flip the stems as I walk by them for pollination.

I am thinking I will set this tomato (pot and all) into the ground. Then main stem has curved over the pot and hangs down to the bottom of the pot, so I can get some more roots by burying that piece in the ground and see how it works.

I have a tentative garden plan noted on my garden space sheets. Will probably plant a few seeds indoors next week.

When I got out my planning file, I ran across some interesting material that I thought might be of interest to some:

http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06201.pdf

The above link has a nice 1 page planner giving some nutrional information and the amount needed for one person for fresh vegetables and additional for processing. It also has the days from planting to eating stage. The rest of the Guide gives specifics for brands that grow particularly well in Missouri.

http://grandpappy.org/gvegetab.htm

This link provides Vegetable Recommendations for New Gardners. He also has several artiles and guides for survival in hard times which may be of interest to some of you who are also interested in preparing to be self sufficient, or how to survive on a modest budget etc.

Have a great weekend. God Bless.

[tflabo]

Indoor tomato plant already has some fruits on it? You must have started from seed back in Dec or early January.
What variety are they?

[greeneyes]

Pinging the list.

[MiddleEarth]

Yes, when did you start the tomatoes?? I only have some seedlings right now.

[patriot08]

Dale Nelson, local weatherman at Kris TV, Corpus Christi, Tx is a master gardener and is huge demand at gardening symposiums.

There are two Tomato formulas... One formula for sandy soil and one for clay soil. The first time you use the tomato formula use the "Original" formula no matter what type of soil you have.

Original Formula / Sandy Soil 1 cup 10-20-10 (1-2-1 ratio) fertilizer 1/4 cup super phosphate 1/2 cup gypsum 2 cups cow manure Dig a hole and mix ingredients. Then, add regular dirt on top of formula before placing tomato plant in hole. Otherwise, formula will burn the roots of the plant. Don't let formula touch the roots when they are first planted. Let the plant grow into the formula. Water regularly. Stand back and watch them grow! Best varieties are Sonny, Bingo, Carnival, Heatwave, Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy and President. Best cherry tomatoes to use are small Fry and Cherry Grande. Everything needed is available at any local nursery.

Caution: Please be aware that excessive use of phosphorus in our clay soil over a long period of time can be non beneficial to your plants.

Clay Soil* 1 Cup 21-0-0 (1-0-0 Ratio) Ammonium Sulphate 3/4 Cup Gypsum 2 Cups Cow Manure Mix these ingredients together with existing garden soil and plant one tomato plant per hole mixture.

*Most clay soils in this area already have too much super phosphate, which tends to stay in the soil for a long period of time. The local nursery people tell me, the best way to correct this is by adding ammonium sulphate which is 21-0-0.

http://www.kristv.com/pages/dales-tomato-formula/

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you for links!!!

[tflabo]

Well here's my top 2 'maters experiment from seed planted on Feb 1. These seeds were from a store bought Roma (I think) and to be planted mid April or so here in N. Tx. Maybe next year I will do heirloom seeds. Like my cheapskate pots style? (;

[KGeorge]

greeneyes, well, you’re off to a roaring start. brrr snow! It’s nice here, today.

Carrots, turnips, & spinach up & running (made a huge difference to get the carrots in earlier) +assorted herbs & flowers started.

Finally made it to Fanick’s Tuesday & got a flat of ValleyCats, a San Marzano as a replacement for the Romas I sought, & a Big Bertha Pepper plant. Trying to go back Sunday as they hadn’t gotten their trucks yet- :-/ will probably be wiped out again.

Thank you, greeneyes, Marcella, & patriot08, for the links. Needing a cherry tomato.

patriot08- Is there anything going on at Turner’s that I/ we should know about?

Wishing everyone a great weekend, too!

[bgill]

This morning, picked some asparagus and lettuce and doing some pre-planting maintenance in the garden this afternoon. Going to be sore tomorrow.

This week, replanted the seed pots that didn’t come up because the house was too cold with the HVAC dying. The last indoor things to be started are the peanuts this weekend. After this, anything will be direct sowed.

This week’s cold snap got some of the chamomille and did a number on the ginger and cilantro.

The tomatillo has two flowers but it can’t go outside for another month.

[Arrowhead1952]

Have a great weekend. God Bless.

Back at 'cha. Got the garden cleaned out and ready to till and plant the spring veggies. Hope we get the rain forecast for central Texas, even though I'll be on the road tomorrow morning and afternoon.

[Two Kids' Dad]

Hey all. Do any of you have a recommendation for a gardening book that has ‘recipes’ for good soil for various different vegetables and such? Right now I’m just using Miracle Grow and mixing in some sphagnum moss and mycorrhizae to improve drainage but I have no idea which plants need a higher ph or a lower ph and which ones need good drainage versus needing to hold moisture. Is there a comprehensive book that’s considered better than the rest? Or should I just pick a gardening book based on what I’m growing?

Thanks in advance.

[mom3boys]

Spring gardening season is in full swing here in the Phoenix area. In fact, if I don't put some stuff in the ground the next couple of days, it may be too late. The 100 degree weather would fry them before they mature!

In addition to my regular raised beds outside, I'm trying hydroponics this year. I have one Black Krim tomato plant that is about to flower. I also have different types of lettuces in a very simple hydroponics setup. Believe it or not, it's too late to plant out lettuce outside.

Here are my black cherry tomatoes I started from seed and put in an Earthbox the middle of January. There are two plants in there - lots of flowers but no fruit yet. I'm looking forward to tasting these.

[Ellendra]

There’s a good chance that a horse ranch near my land will be for sale soon. I won’t say how close it is to my land. But, if any FReepers are thinking of buying a farm, please, please, please buy it! I’ll post information as soon as it’s announced.

For the last 8 years or so this ranch has been owned by a string of nasties, the latest has a warrant out for his arrest for animal cruelty. These are beautiful horses, they deserve better than to go hungry as often as they do.

[TEXOKIE]

Hello greeneyes and everyone!

This week Darlin and I went to Lowes to check out their early vegetable offerings. We bought one each of Cherokee Purple, and Red Beefsteak heirloom tomato plants, and for Darlin a “SuperFantastick” hybrid tomato plant. A couple of them have the beginnings of baby ‘maters blossom buds!

We are waiting to plant them since we don’t think we are quite out of the frost season. However, since it did not freeze last night, Darlin urged me to let them stay outside. It rained buckets, which was good, and I just checked on them and they do seem happy. We will bring them in if the temps nosedive.

The sprouted onion is putting out lots of leaves and I have been assured that it is time to begin trimming them back a bit for cooking! How exciting!

While at Lowes we began our examination of different trellis materials for our trombone squash and other climbers. We also found some blocks that may be appropriate for temporary raised beds.

The garden lady said that if we begin our seed sprouting about now, then in about 3 weeks to a month it will be a good time to plant in our area.

[Augie]

I made some major strides towards the gardening season over the weekend. Rented a dump trailer Saturday and hauled in 15 loads of horse poo from the neighbor lady's stable. Cleaned out all of the coarse dead stuff from my patch yesterday, then took my big trailer back for another load of poo. Took the garden fence down and parked the trailer inside. If the wind lays down this week I'll get started putting down paper/cardboard and covering it up with the poo.

Moved the poo pile from our dry lot out to the spot that is going to be the permanent home for my compost heap. The big pile is what I got from the neighbor lady. Both piles are over 6' tall.

Also spent a few hours cleaning out the pond. At the rate I'm going on that I'll be ready by mid summer for Dirt Guy to close the dam.

[Racehorse]

Need advice on fruit trees in San Antonio, tx. How to care for them.

In ground . . . Ein Shemer apple with blossoms and Granny Smith alive but no new growth. Both transplanted during February.

In 15 gallon pots: two north star cherry trees. Doing well. New growth. Two honey crisp apple trees. Doing well. New growth. Two tangerine trees. Doing well. Maybe. No new growth. Cold hardy.

Thanks.
R.