Rita, I am also very happy that you (finally) decided to join us seed starters!

In fact, I'm so happy that I'm sending you acorns to buy a shiny new seed starter microbadge (if you don't already have one; if you do, then you just have 5 shiny new acorns )

mom2goldens said:Yep--planning ahead is an admirable quality, Rita.

I have to admit that I love planning for not only our plant sale selections, but also our demonstration herb bed and my own personal garden. Sometimes it seems overwhelming, but I also love the chance to try something new each year and try to introduce the public to something they may not be familiar with. I always try to highlight a new herb, or some special "container-type" veggies, or some unique heirloom tomatoes. I love when repeat customers come to our plant sale and says "what do you have new for me this year?" So I'm always on the lookout for something new.

I know we tease you Rita (and you take it in stride)--but you just express what so many of us already do. I love your enthusiasm, and hope you don't lose that any time soon. We need more enthusiastic home gardeners. I so enjoy your excitement at learning to start seeds this year! Starting plants from seeds is my favorite thing to do, too.

Hey anyone that started as many tomatoes as I did this year and plants as many tomato plants in their own home garden deserves to be teased about it!

I love to grow tomatoes. Honestly it is my favorite plant of anything to grow. Fortunately I don't have to do without my other veggies and flowers and plants. I do love my garden and simply can not imagine not having a garden.

I can't imagine not having a garden either, Rita !

Weedwhacker said:Rita, I am also very happy that you (finally) decided to join us seed starters!

In fact, I'm so happy that I'm sending you acorns to buy a shiny new seed starter microbadge (if you don't already have one; if you do, then you just have 5 shiny new acorns )

Thank you!! Hey look, new badge in my profile lineup!!

Newyorkrita said:

Thank you!! Hey look, new badge in my profile lineup!!

Appropriately the Seed Starter Badge is right next to the big Tomato Head Badge. Right where it belongs!

Yep---you have definitely earned that seed-starter badge, RIta. Way to go

mom2goldens said:Yep---you have definitely earned that seed-starter badge, RIta. Way to go

Well, I have learned a lot from this massive growing of the tomato plants this spring. Should go even better next season.

Wow, the thread I started turned into a fun conversation! I got a SMRfrom a friend but it looks sickly

But my Belmonte Pear tomatoes are looking great! I potted them up last week. They were about 2-3". Being so far north you can still start seeds May 1 and be OK. If you starto I early they get so tall and thick. I like a short stocky about 8" tomato plant to to go in the ground.

Dakota Sport is one of the most vigorous ones I started. It is a medium slicer from Prairie Road Seeds.

Fargo Yellow Pear also looks good.

Great thread, Reid!!!

Isn't it fun to hear what everyone is growing and sharing the challenges we face?

Reid, don't give up on the SMR too soon -- last year I grew them for the first time (from seed), and the plants were at first WAY behind all my other tomato plants and seemed very spindly and weak; then, the next thing I knew, they took off and became very nice, bushy plants, with a lot of (big!) tomatoes.

Not sure how much you can tell from these photos, but...

Thanks Linda and Sandy. Yes, it is great to hear about everyone's gardens. Nice pics!

I am so behind but boy did I laugh! I'm sorry to have missed all that.

My tomatoes continue to do well. I still have them in the house under lights, but was able to take them out in the sun and breeze almost all last week while it was nice.

billyporter said:I am so behind but boy did I laugh! I'm sorry to have missed all that.

My tomatoes continue to do well. I still have them in the house under lights, but was able to take them out in the sun and breeze almost all last week while it was nice.

Don't they love it when they can go outside for a nice warm day!!

April is done, today is the last day of May. Almost all my tomatoes that I need to plant out are done. Only a very few left that where held back cause they need to grow out.

Rita,
I do too. The breeze blows the stink off them and makes the stems stronger. I like the smell of tomato leaves but DH doesn't, lol, so they come in refreshed.
I can't believe you are a whole zone behind me. I can't even try and set mine out till the middle of May.

billyporter said:Rita,
I do too. The breeze blows the stink off them and makes the stems stronger. I like the smell of tomato leaves but DH doesn't, lol, so they come in refreshed.
I can't believe you are a whole zone behind me. I can't even try and set mine out till the middle of May.

It is because we are so close to Long Island Sound. Of course out at the end of Long Island it is colder than we are here. We are closer to NYC.

I've ''flown'' over Long Island on Google Earth before. It's a strange concept and I can't believe it doesn't flood, lol!

billyporter said:I've ''flown'' over Long Island on Google Earth before. It's a strange concept and I can't believe it doesn't flood, lol!

If the seas swept up and swallowed Long Island then the state of Florida would be long gone!!

ROTFL! Yes Florida too, and I've actually been there, on the coast. It was in April, the ocean was choppy and it was COLD!!

Hey remember my paste tomato area? They have already grown over the tops of the cages!





Here they are from the other direction.