July 31, 2009 Tomato Report

210 Tomatoes Harvested as of today!!!!

76 Yellow Pear-thanks Tomato Fest for the free seeds

New Vickers Family Salsa Recipe (Jeremy's experimental salsa)

1 Mortgage Lifter Tomato

1/2 Vidalia onion

1/2 red pepper

2 banana peppers

1/2 teaspoon jalapeno pepper

1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic

1 tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon of cilantro

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon lime juice

Blend well!

And of course, was have canned:

Sweet Pickles

Pepper Relish

And working on Cinnamon Cucumber Rings

FAVORITE TOMATO SO FAR IS STILL- The Black Zebra

MOST DISAPPOINTING TOMATO- Mortgage Lifter (hence, the use in salsa recipe)

July 11, 2009 Garden Report

A total of 35 tomatoes have been harvested.

67 Cucumbers- ready for pickling.

55 potatoes

9 Okra

45 onions

8 peppers

67 yellow beans

The heirlooms are doing really well this year. Absolutely beautiful. We anticipate the last week of July to be the BIG harvest.

Heirlooms- Giveaways- Bunnies

As of yesterday we have given away 105 tomato plants, mostly heirlooms. The plants grew well on our shelves with the grow lights purchased from Westlake. Almost every tomato plant has done great, except the Aussie and the Blue Ridge Mountain. The Aussie seems to be a late grower and we have two plants doing much better. So we will hopefully see a few Aussie tomatoes this year. As for the Blue Ridge Mountain, we have one plant in the ground and it's not going to make it. We do have one under our grow lights that might be able to replace the one already in the garden. We hope. Right now we have 40 tomatoes growing quite well. 30 different varieties. Last year we harvested 369 tomatoes.

We are trying to reach 500 this year, which we might easily do if the weather cooperates. We have already had to spray for blight once. Now all we have to do is feed, water and keep the plants safe from bunnies. Several of you have told me that bunnies have already destroyed a few of your tomato plants. Sorry to hear that. We are more than happy to share the harvest. So throughout July, August and September there will several tomatoes at the church during the week and on Sundays. Hope to also take some to Restart if they harvest falls correctly.

We have seen one baby bunny running around the yard but that poor thing has no chance against the mighty Rheau (roo).

She stand guard over her backyard like no one else. Bunnies have a very small chance of taking out the garden, as do squirrels or another other rodent. She chases them and when she catches them, it's playtime!

Here are the tomatoes we can't wait to harvest- Whopper (6 plants in), Valencia, Church, Grandfather Ashlock, Yellow Pear, Aussie and the Black Zebra. Very unique sounding eh?

Alright, good gardening to all.

Garden Continues for 2009- April 24, 2009

28 Tomatoes went in this weekend. We grew them from seed. They were ready to be planted before we wanted them in the ground but, we had to put them in because they outgrew their little planters. We will probably plant another 14 tomatoes. Potatoes are looking great, as are onions and spinach. Here are a few pics of today. What a beautiful day, despite the wind.