tomato check

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These are photos of tomatoes today in other garden plots at the Rock Meadow Victory Garden. I have no red tomatoes yet, but I’m really looking forward to one soon. I took a walk around the community gardens today to see if anyone has ripe tomatoes yet. I found lots of green ones and one garden that has one beautiful big red that looks very close to ripe. Here are photos of my green tomatoes: Looks to me like there are all sorts of issues with my community garden tomato…
 
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tomato supports

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While I was searching the community gardens for ripe tomatoes, I took pictures of all the different methods of supporting tomato vines that are in use in the plots. We have 100+ active lots now and its a great source of gardening information. I think the best are the top photo. A traditional Italian design. (Its Gino’s garden.) Simple. The wood posts hold the metal pipe and strings wrap around the vines. This is what I would like to try next year. I always like the tepee structures too. The…
 
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watching and waiting….

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The great tomato anticipation. The count down on my side bar says this weekend I should have a ripe tomato. I’m not sure exactly why I picked this timing …. It seemed good. But I guess it was wishful thinking. Last year, my first ripe tomato was July 31 2007 (a tiny split cherry tom on July 26 didn’t really count). The previous year, the exact same date: July 31 2006. There’s no red yet in my home garden. I haven’t been out to my community plot in a couple…
 
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sowing for fall

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I got some fall seeds planted this morning. Lettuce, Red Summer Crisp, 1 6-packEscarole, Bionda A Cuore Pieno, 1 6-packBeets, Lutz, 1 6-packBroccoli, Green Goliath, 2 6-packsBroccoli, Green Sprouting Calabrese, 1 6-packDill, Dukat, 2 6-packs
 
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a new crop of chile peppers

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It really must be summer! Chile peppers are a heat-loving, full-sun crop. I have young fruits on the plants of my cayenne and Anaheim chile plants. I planted 5 varieties of peppers in big pots next to my house this year. A beautiful cayenne plant was raised and given to me by Amelia (of Gradually Greener). I sowed seeds for Anaheim, Poblano, sweet Canary and chocolate bell peppers. Lots of flowers, but no fruits yet on the last three varieties. The photo on the left is cayenne, on the right…
 
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apples on the tree

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I planted a nice little Fugi apple tree in my back yard about 3 or 4 years ago. It gets too much shade and I didn’t think it was blooming at all. But today I noticed four small apples! I’d like these to ripen without bug or squirrel damage. Do they need a spray or net here in the NE US? Please leave me your advice!
 
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rye seed heads

 
 
I am enjoying watching some plump seed heads mature in my garden. I think these are probably rye, which I plant as a winter annual cover crop. I’d love to be able to prepare edible seed from these. I know nothing about grains, but they are interesting to watch.
 
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overabundance

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Overabundance, excess, surplus, flood, overload, surfeit, glut, oversupply, extra, excessive, too much ……. I was able to keep up with my spring lettuce this year even though there was a lot of it. And there has been a lot of broccoli, but not too much. But the favas and the summer squash are another story. They just won’t stop. Vicia faba Cucurbita pepo (squash)
 
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cooking fava beans

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My favas continue to produce lots of beans! A prolific crop. I am experimenting with recipes to see what I like best. Here is my favorite so far: ——– Favas, spring onions and corn Prepare favas by shelling larger beans and cutting smaller ones into 1 inch lengths. Sauté favas in butter and olive oil until they start to brown, about 2 minutes on high heat. Add fresh corn cut off the cob and chopped green onions. Sauté another minute or so. Vicia faba Fabaceae
 
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fall planting schedule

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I’m starting to think about planting fall crops. I’d like to try fall broccoli again (I planted too late last year.) Also lettuce, beets, spinach and radish. I like this fall planting chart at Heirloom Seeds. It lists fall planting dates for vegetables according to your average last frost date. For the past two years, my first frost has been mid November for my home garden. I’m sure the community plot will frost earlier. Probably mid October. I’m thinking of the following schedule for fall planting: Carrots and beets (community…
 
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Kathy Martin
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy


weeks and counting until my last spring frost

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

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Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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