TIME FOR A NEW SEASON

I am a very lucky guy to still be here after my significent heart attack of 6/6 caused by mowing my lawn at mid day in 95* humid heat. As you can see I have a lot to live for as my little partner does all or most of the fetching for me saving me very precious steps as my post polio has become much more severe by weakening my legs.
I have devised a system with my hand truck and a crow bar to reach over the hand truck and grab the lip of a ready to plant EB by slipping the bent end of the crow bar and gripping it under the lip of the EB. Works like a charm but I only work on cloudy days or the cool of the evening. Meanwhile let me show you in the next picture what I have planted for the 2010 season!

This message was edited Aug 14, 2009 10:41 AM

My tomato seeds planted in BocaBobs seed planting kit. Not as many as last year as I will take it a little easier this season. First let me say all those picked are excellent in flavor. Seeds planted are:
1) Chapman - A very nice size and highly productive tomato equal to my Sudduth Brandywine but out producing Sudduth.
2) Gregori's Altai - Fairly large good producer
3)Stupice - A 2-3 oz very sweet tomato that rarely makes it into my home.
4) Sudduth Brandywine - No need for explanation as most of you know this is my favorite and a permanent home in my garden.
5) Golden Sweet (hybrid) A very sweet cherry tomato for my grandson.
6)Giant Belgium - A challenge for me as I've never had much luck with this variety. It is a big tomato and the few I had were excellent.
7) Big Zebra - Not only a pretty tomato but good tasting and medium production.
8) New Big Dwarf - Never grew this one as it is a determinate and should be the first to produce. It supposedly will grow to about 2'.
9) Copia - A large pretty tomato with orange stripes. It is an off shoot of the zebra family . Very colorful and sweet tasting.
10) Finally, though not a tomato,Rosita an eggplant. I don't particularily care for eggplant but I'm growing the tomatos and eggplant for my friends from the EMS that rushed me to the hospital in less than 18 minutes from placing 911 call.

Looking good my friend !!!!!

Hey Paw,
That's a mighty fine set of helpers you got there.

I'm curious. Roughly, when will you pick your first tomatoes from those seeds you just sowed?

I am almost exactly one month ahead of Tplant. I always take a chance and start early. I, of course have started some addtional seeds as back up this week in case my earliness doesn't pay off. The pic is a BHN444 VFF Hybrid. This one is resistant to a nasty disease whiteflies spread last year.

Hi Bob ---- Hope I'm not a SPOILSPORT BUT THE 444'S are really not worth it as they really lack flavor and are the ones the supermarkets sell. I know as I grew them but perhaps with your terrific fertilizer, which I so do wish it was for EBs, you will have better luck.

Gymgirl --- I feel as though you were one of my students and as such, feel very proud of your accomplishments. You've come a long way as so many others pertaining to EBs and plant culture. I still can't get over that head of cabbage? I will still be as vocally active as ever but limited to time in the garden. If it weren't for EBs and BocaBob's light weight coir I would definetly be out of the garden. This second heart attack definetly has taken away a lot of the strength of my lower limbs and I walk on the lawn with great difficulty but my trusty garden scooter, which you used to joke about, has kept me in the garden but today I got a flat in the left wheel. Have to take it to Goodyear for repair. Can't wait to hear their jokes?

Hey Tplant

Been wondering about you. I see you've been working and have a full crew helping you. Glad you're doing better.

TPlant: It's good to see you posting again. So; the giant belgium is a difficult tomato to grow? That is one I had planned to grow this Spring and if you are having problems with it (sweat sweat) I may change my mind. You seem to be the expert in tomatoes so here is what I'm planning to plant and you can tell me if I will have difficulty with any of them ok? A. Potato Top B. Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter C. Celebrity D. Bush Beefsteak E. Maskootka and F. Giant Belgium. I bought the Brandy Boy tomato I grew this past Spring and Summer from Burpees as a plant and it didn't produce a lot of tomatoes but they were very tasty.

In cleaning up the boxes, I noticed that the ones that had coir in them were the easiest to clean. You could just grab the root of the plant and shake it over a container and you would wind up with just the root in the hand; but, not that easy with potting mix and not that clean either. LOL I have 14 containers with plants left in them, 4 eggplants (2 fairy tales and two black slender ones), 3 containers of okra, 5 of tomatoes the rest bell peppers.
joy

Yes sir...let the fun begin. I planted some late season, heat tolerant plants yesterday. They might not win a taste test...but they will beat out Publix any day. Cheaper too!

Blessings and a happy and healthy fall gardening season to you and all.

Sorry to be so slow on posting this season but I've got to take it easy in this heat but next month should bring a little cooler weather and get me active again,
Going in for upper and lower GI Wednesday as my doctors think it would be a good idea because of my reaction to some of my heart medication. Fasting and cleaning myself out starting tomorrow but the worst part is an enema the day of my surgery. YUK! After all this I'll need a couple of days of bed rest but soon after will be PLANTING MY SEEDLINGS in my EBs as they will be ready and hopefully so will I? May not have all of my 19 EBs in production but it depends on my strength and of course the weather. (HEAT)

Well I hear you on the heat. Its been so humid it just makes you sick to your stomach to be out. I have really let things go the last three months. That, I hope, will all change today. Our first cool morning of the fall. The real blessing is the 60% humidity. Much nicer to work in. I think I even caught a 59 for one night this week ahead, on the weather station.
I have about 300 daylily seedling to find a home for and I want to get some brocoli and that type of thing in my EB's, A few weeks ago Joy had gotten such nice starts, I went out to get my EB;s ready. Nope, to hot and buggy, back in for a few more weeks lol.

Hope the GI's are over quickly and your back in the garden PDQ Been there, done that, Im surprised with all the machines these days, they cant find a better way. I guess its pretty straight forward, as far as finding issues tho. Just follow the food.

This message was edited Sep 29, 2009 9:57 AM

TPlant: Take care of yourself, as I will be coming down there in November to spank you if not. LOL I'm looking forward to seeing your tomatoes though. I'm going to miss tomatoes this fall/winter, as you know, I can't plant them here til the end of February, and only then because of the greenhouse. Like you, most of my garden will be tomatoes. I gave Mike some seeds for tomatoes and am waiting and hoping he plants them soon, as he lives in south FL hisself.

Gymgirl: My broccoli, cauliflower are doing well, my lettuce has been really putting out, got my first harvest off it already; but, my lawn gets mowed this week and that will scatter bugs everywhere I'm sure, so I will have to spray after that I'm sure. I am going to be picking up my strawberry plants the middle of October and planting them.
joy

Well, its Wednesday, we will be hoping it goes fast and ends up with good news.

Hey Joy, et al!
So far, my attempt at starting my cole crops earlier have failed miserably. All of the broccoli seedlings I bought and planted in my colander eBuckets have croaked (I don't think it was the eBucket design this time). They just sorta shriveled up and died. One got clipped by a cutworm. Not sure if there's time to start them again from seeds, but, hey, a wish beats a try, so I might just throw a few seeds out and see what happens.

I did put all the mustard, collard, and cabbage seedlings I bought outside before I left town for the weekend. I figured they'd have a better chance outside with light and some chance of rain, than inside where my DH would totally ignore then. And they're doing just great! They're in 4" nursery pots still, so have to move them into the eBuckets.

However, I need to spend time getting the INSIDE of my house together. I'd truly rather live outdoors than in, but the DH ain't having it. Have considered abandoning this season to catch up my neglected interior. Will keep you posted.

Gymgirl: I failed miserably at peas and beans if it makes you feel better. I tried starting broccoli and cauliflower from seed myself and failed, so bought the plants instead, so far, so good, I did spray with all season oil though, as the bugs did start to try and attack my plants, I'm not having that now. LOL My cabbage don't seem to be doing as well as they did when I planted them the wrong time of the year???? They are shriveling up from the sun, but it's 51 degrees here now so they should perk up I hope.
joy

gardenglory --- Just got back from ny tests and do have some minor bacterial infection in my digestive tract and have to go for another test. This involves a "Breath test" which is not invasive and can be cured by antibiotics. Dr could not do a biopsy because of my heart meds to discover type of infection because I'm on plavix and biopsy may cause excessive bleed so everything is really minor and will be working my beautiful garden tomorrow as our weather is cooling. Today I must rest which is good as I am rather tired but it is wonderful to know all is minor and not serious. Thank you and all again for your concern over my welfare. Kind of groggy so will sleep now!

Paw,
Take it easy!

Hi Gymgirl -- Feeling terrific today and the weather is cool so I will be able to do some light work outside today which I am so looking forward to. Must go to Walmart now and get some supplies. Wish I had more money??? LOL

TPlant: I'm headed your way in November around the 23rd or so; if I can help in anyway I'd be happy to, I'll be there for about a week or so this time. Maybe I can learn something important about tomatoes while helping you out too? I've found I'm gonna miss mine, as I can't plant them til the end of February here, it's 51 degrees out here already. Brrrrr.
joy

Just got back from Walmart and spent $120 for odds and ends but I like their own brand of weed killer. Now I need to go to Lowes and get the Dupont weed cloth to expand my garden. The weed killer is a concentrae and costs about $20 but you use one ounce to the gallon so it goes a long way just don't use the same sprayer for fertilizing or you will kill your plants. I kill my grass every season but it does grow back off season which is fine by me in case I don't plant that area at that time.

Hey TP - glad to hear you're feeling better. Hope your family is well also. How's your maters doin'?

I met up with B Bob and am trying out his coir for my containers this season. I have two in the eb you gave a few years ago and have another 10 or so in very large pots? (55 gal drums cut in thirds). Seems like they need a lot more fertilizer than the potting soil provides but they're doing ok. Have about 25 in the ground also.

I'm growing carrots and onions in the same large containers. Also have pole beans, hot and sweet peppers and radishes going well in the garden. Still have another 10-15 maters to go in the ground and a few more for the left over pots.

Talk to you soon,

Flip

Hi Ya Flip! Glad to see you over here! I still used the same amount of fertilizer (10-10-10) like I always do with my EBs and add a cup of dolomite. In my rose pots I mixed it into the coir and added cedar mulch to keep the coir moist cause our dry cool winter weather dries everything that is not covered although the coir stays moist below the surface as I have moisture meters to double check but the mulch aids me with watering which I only have to do every three days depending on size of plant. Tomatos every two days. Also you will find weeding a heck of a lot easier as they pull out very easy and are not to quick to return.
My seedlings are almost ready for my EBs but I am only working late in the afternoon when it is cooler. Still have some clean up with three or four of my EBs and weed kill an area to place a weed mat so I can benefit from all my EBs. I'll take pictures today as I am feeling much stronger but I'll not overdue it. As soon as I feel a little weak I stop. This gives me about two hours per evening to work until our weather gets a lot less cooler and humid. Very happy to see you posting here! Say HI to the Family.....

TPlant: You only use a cup of dolomite lime? I use 2 heaping cups when I plant my maters in EBs and use 2 cups of 10-10-10 also???? Is this something new?
joy

I test the mix first to see how much I need. An extra cup will not hurt. These meters are available at Lowes. Virgin mix requires two cups but AFTER SEASON WHEN I REPLANT FOR NEW CROP I ALWAYS TEST TO SEE HOW MUCH LIME I NEED. SOMETIMES I NEED TWO CUPS. I'll keep my PH at 6-7.

TPlant: Aha, I see. I know Bob's fertilizer has calcium and magnesium in it and I use it after my seedlings start to grow right on through til they get bigger, I think that is probably why I didn't have BER at all this past Spring and the bury the stem experiment helped make them strong and healthy. I'm seriously thinking about growing nothing but tomatoes this Spring, about 40 them.
joy

Seems like I'll never get out to my garden as my tomato plants are in 4" containers and doing fine but long overdue to plant in my EBs. I now have the flu and a mild case of shingles. Luckily I've had the shots for both so it is mild but still I can not go to my garden.
Also had a post polio problem whereas my left leg went totally numb and felt like a bowl of jello flopping around but completely useless. This lasted about 30 minutes so I made an appointment with my neruologist but i doubt if he can do anything for me. Will I ever get my tomatos planted?

Hey TP - sorry to hear you're still having some health problems. Is the dirt in your eb's? If so, why don't you be the teacher/supervisor and get your son and/or grandson to help get your tomatos in? I'll bet under your guidance they could make it happen. Just get out under an umbrella or yell out the window! Maybe I could come up and help. Plz let me know.

Flip

Thank You Flip but I'm feeling better today as the doctor gave me a very strong antibiotic that has worked magically.
My seedlings are doing great. As far as my son is concerned he has been off for three weeks after a boil became infested and he could not do anything after surgery. He is now back to work but must be on light duty. My little guy is to young to do the job by himself. All it means is my tomatos will be a little late this season. I will soon be able to go out at 5pm when it is a lot cooler. I've developed a lot of minor medical problems and have gone threw a lot of tests and really all my symptoms were minor except for my Post Polio which has made my good leg very weak. Don't worry "ILL BE BACK"

ATLAST!!! COOL WEATHER!! Finally I can work outside at my leisure as the highest temp today will be 78*. It is around 68* just now and it feels wonderful. I put on my long sleeve sweat shirt and sat out on my deck this morning and enjoyed my Folgers coffee. No doubt today that I shall finish my tomato garden.

Go Ted !!!!!!!!!!!

Such a beautiful day to be gardening. Hope you are feeling better, TPlant!!

Glad to hear you're feeling better T-Plant. Hope you had a good day planting your tomatoes.

I'm out there today with 68* temps. You can't ask for better weather and it feels really good with cool dry air and a warm sun.

Same type of weather today so I should have all of my tomato plants set in their EBs, Not as many as last year. I'll only set ten EBs which will equal twenty plants but I do intend to plant cucumbers, corn and stringbeans and ,oh yes, okra for my DIL. I am not fond of okra but they sure have pretty flowers.
Yesterday I filled ten with coir and set six plants in three EBs. I should be able to finish today as the hard part has been completed and Thanks Again Flip for your offer of help. What say we grow some beauties this season?

TPlant: I'm all eyes.
joy

Hi TP - anytime I can help you know I will.

I'm definitely ready to grow some veggies. For tomatos I have about 12 containers filled with coir and a few with my potting mix. And, I have about 30 in the ground. Many are flowering and growth seems pretty good so far. Pole beans are flowering, snap beans are up, radishes are ripening, onions and lettuce are very young.

I've seen whiteflies. The weather's been so hot they're hanging around a lot longer than last year. I've been spraying fairly often to see if I can keep them at bay,

Also, I had a couple of packs of Messenger left and I sprayed everything with it yesterday. Hope it helps some.

This weekend I'll post a few pics of the gardens over on my tomato thread. See ya...

Flip

Thank You Everyone for your offers of help but I'm doing OK. Yesterday I set up 10 EBs for twenty tomato plants. This picture shows part of my work as it is raining and when it stops, which it always does in Fl except in hurricanes, I intend to plant one more EB of tomatos and then two corn,(32) one stringbean which will actually be 16 in one EB and four cucumbers for a total of five more EBs. I will have about six more EBs left but I don't think I'll be able to use them at this time because of that darn drainage ditch which really is useless as we are and always have been on high ground and any water seeps into the ground quickly.

TPlant: Looking good.
joy

Thanks Joy! Will try to finish up with the planting today but we may have more rain before I can get started. I'll have to wait and see?

TPlant: The heavens opened up and drenched us good today. Just got my pest control in is the reason right? LOL Darn, will just have to wait now.
joy