Lord knows that plenty of tomato pictures have been displayed on the blog this year, but the two in this post are actually quite special - well to me at least...You'll understand my excitement after reading. In this first photo is a Brandywine tomato which is being grown in a 3.5 gallon swp, and came from a sucker that was rooted from the large plants in the big box. The fact that a decent sized tomato came from a plant growing in such a small swp makes me quite happy, and the plant itself is growing like crazy....
Photo below - while checking on the sweet potato plantings the other day, I noticed a tuber protruding from the soil. That's always a good sign, and expect that several more are beneath the surface. Sweet potatoes are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to grow, especially since I seem to do well with them.....
Photo below - here's the remaining watermelon that is supported with knee highs. After removing this one from the vine, the cleanup in this area will begin. I continue to learn about melon growing, and have a feeling that next year's results will be the best so far.
Photo below - the one that fell from the trellis a while back continues to get larger, and should be ready in about 3 more weeks. It's growing on the same vine that produced the even bigger one from 2 weeks ago, and needless to say - there is something special about this particular vine. The best part, is that I know what it is, and will try my best to duplicate it in future plantings. Woo Doggie!!!
And lastly, here's the first Kellogg's Breakfast tomato of the year! I just hope the stinkin' squirrels don't get it. It's located in the area where the squirrels have hit the hardest, and i'm planning on growing corn here next year. Hopefully the trap that's being constructed will turn out well, because they like corn too.....
In other news, more leaves have been added to the compost bin that's got a batch cooking in it right now, and it looks like at least 1 more bag of grass clippings will be needed to heat things back up again. The other 2 bins are completely finished now, and will likely be covered with plastic until next spring.
I'll likely go ahead and accumulate several bags of curbside leaves this fall, and do some no-turn composting in the remaining 3 bins. Afterall, I've got enough finished compost to last for 2-3 years, and can let them just sit for that amount of time. Yep, my composting situation is gonna be smooth sailing from here on out...Hehe.
Also, the melon vines growing in the 18 gallon swc by Jude's pen have new life! New growth began to appear about 3 weeks ago, and now has a small melon on it. With about 7-8 weeks left before the first frost arrives, there just might be enough time for it to reach maturity. We'll certainly give it a shot!
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
15 comments:
I had to laugh at the leaf accumulation... leaf season is almost upon us and I will be doing drive-bys as well and stuffing bags of leaves into the trusty Subaru... my kids always laugh at me for "stealing compost"!
Thats a lot of compost! Nice maters! Hope the squirrels are good to you.
Everything just grows, grows, grows in your garden.
Such a large tomato growing in a 3.5 gallon bucket is really awesome! I love seeing your melons all slung up like that. Do you do that only for your watermelons, or also for cantaloupe, if you have any? I'm wondering if I have to worry about that for my one baby cantaloupe growing right now.
Wow, I feel special with that announcement.
Plenty of tomato pics or not, I still enjoy them.
Never heard about the Kellogg's breakfast tomato before. So many funny names out there. I'm growing a tomato called Clint Eastwood, it is said that is not for sissies. I have yet to harvest it.
You got me curious about sweet potato now, think I'd like to try then next year.
That's terrific. I'm so envious of your sweet potatoes.
Good luck with those melons! I'm waiting on my Sugar Babies to ripen too! Your tomatoes looks good! Our problem with tomatoes are voles. They've eaten a fair share of all low lying tomatoes. I'd be surprised, if their population didn't quadruple, with all the yummy eatings they get in our yard.
Our Brandywines have been performing well, being their first year in our garden. This is a must for next year!
Erin - indeed it is! You can bet that my truck will be piled high with bagged leaves...
ShawnAnn - thanks. Yep, lots and lots of compost.
Gardener - I do pretty well with it, but it takes alot of work to keep it this way.
thyme2garden - I sling watermelons, cantaloupe, pumpkins, and winter squash if they grow big.
Annelie - think nothing of it, i'm just glad to have you interested in my gardening/composting/building/propagation/southern living blog!
That clint eastwood sounds like my type of tomato!
stefaneener - well, you should try them at your place!
randomgardener - thanks. Oh yes, brandywine is a keeper!
I'm excited about my sweet potatoes, too! I can't wait to unearth the ones I did in the containers. I'm hopeful that they're growing deeper than just at the surface.
Oh EG you are taunting us. You tell us you know what made your watermelon grow so well, but you don't tell us why.
I have sweet potato envy. I'm growing them for the first time this year. I gave them lots of fertilizer before reading that they produce better tubers if the soil isn't rich. I've dug down and all I have are roots thinner than a pencil. But boy is the foliage lush. And I also have watermelon envy. I don't have the room and it really isn't hot enough here on the coast of southern California to make good melons.
ribbit - it's gonna be great!
Daphne - hehe...well, let's call it a theory, then. I don't want to steer anyone wrong until I know for sure.
Lou - yeah, the sweets do best in a mix amended with composted manure. Oh well, you'll do better next year.
Your portion about the corn reminds me of my mom. She feeds her squirrels on purpose, and they planted corn in her garden last year. They harvested it themself as well! Good luck on trying to keep them out of your corn next year, they are tricky little critters!
Squirrels, HATE them. I hope your trap works and you can get a few of them.
I did you sucker method with the brandywine and the cherry tomatoes. The cherries are making babies, but the brandywines died. When you did yours, do you remember how big/long of a sucker you used? I'm thinking ahead for next year.
Oh the melon looks nice! I have a bunch of KB tomatoes from granny growing. All green still, I'm looking forward to trying them as well.
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