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[padre29]

WE've had a massivae amount of rain this year, so much so everything is Green already and the trees are close to blooming.

[Jebur27]

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Interestingly, the tomatoes that we bought already started are an heirloom variety called Homestead, so I need to learn how to save the seeds. 
...

Here's a question that someone may be able to help me answer. 

When I look up the Homestead tomato plant online, some say they are determinate and some say indeterminate.  Does anybody know how to tell from the way a tomato plant grows which it is? 

[Who...me?]

When I look up the Homestead tomato plant online, some say they are determinate and some say indeterminate.  Does anybody know how to tell from the way a tomato plant grows which it is?

Generally  determinate tomatoes grow on a small bush and reach a height of about 4 feet or so. They also produce most of their fruit around the same time then are done.

Indeterminate Tomatoes grow on a vine and keep growing and producing fruit until the frost kills them.

So if you look at a plant and it is a bush in it determinate.

[amagi]

Today I planted what I think are the last of the seedlings.  I hope they grow.  Brocoli and cabbage, yarrow, eccinacia,two kinds of melon.  and onions.  Does anyone know if melons like being started indoors and transplanted?  If they don't, I have plenty more seed to start direct.  Do cucumbers?  Other squash?
Then I tested our emergency reaction times by getting cut pretty bad while adjusting the grow lights.  We did great.  And I didn't even need stiches.

[crepemyrtle357]

Does anyone know if melons like being started indoors and transplanted?  If they don't, I have plenty more seed to start direct.  Do cucumbers?  Other squash?

You should be able to plant them either way with success. It depends on where you live and your're preference.

[Who...me?]

For anyone that kinda new to gardening. Do not forget to give your plants plenty of room. Certain types get very large taking up allot of space.

Especially all types of squash, melons, cucumbers and some cabbages. Melons are a vine type plant and will spread out quite a bit. Like 150 square feet or more. Last year my zucchini plants were 6 feet across, plant them  at least 5 feet apart. You want to have some space so you can walk around your garden for weeding and harvesting. Also you don't want your plants choking out each other.

Anyway treat your garden just you would want to live. Give "everyone" plenty of elbow room.

[Johann I]

.anyone have experience with these things? She described how to set them up, but I think I need to be an octopus first... or recruit at least three other people to help with it. Also, she indicated they are fairly fragile and she didn't have any "repair kits." Can they be repaired like a plastic swimming pool or

How much earlier can tomatoes be put out with these things? She wasn't clear on that either.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Use a small funnel; fill about 1/3 full then another third, etc.  If a tube leaks, sacrifice a unit.  Carefully slice out one tube, slip it into the leaking tube, and fill.  You can repair 9 or 10 units this way.  You can start about a month early using these;  snow and frost don't hurt unless it's a 3-4 day continuous thing.

[mutti]

Up: Potatoes, garlic, onions, strawberries, perennial herbs, rhubarb, fruit trees, berry canes, worm wood, bee balm, lettuce, sorrel, Globe Artichokes, Cardoon, sweet potatoes (slips)

Ladies in waiting (to be transferred to the garden): tomatoes, peppers, Poppy,

Waiting (Tapping foot): Jerusalem Artichokes, Sunflowers, Pro-sorrel, mint (?)

I missed a few - ND?

mutti

[amagi]

I used toilet paper tubes to plant seedlings in.  I wasn't too surprised when they got white fuzz growing around the bottom. I didn't steralize the dirt or anything.  I just used comercial potting soil and compost.  My seedlings mostly came up.  The real surprise were the tiny brown MUSHROOMS that cam up a little later.  They ran thier life in about three days.  Probably will start another cycle I imagine.  They were terribly cute though.

[MamaLiberty]

Thanks, Johann I.

Here is the saga so far:

I knew it was too early, but around the first of March I put some of my saved tomato seed in a window box just to test germination. They grew like wildfire. By April 22 they were more than two feet tall and suddenly started to fall over. The temp outside had been in the 70s during the day for a week, nights about 40 - so, I got out the wall-o-water things and planted the tomatoes. I had no problem filling the tubes with the hose.

April 23 - rain
April 24 - snow, night temp. below freezing
April 25 - snow    "
April 26 - snow    "

When the time is right I'll probably buy some tomato plants like I did last year.

Maybe next year I'll get it right. 

[Klapton Isgod]

A small, makeshift greenhouse, along with the wall o water thing might have done the trick.

[MamaLiberty]

Indeed, Klapton. Sure wish I was able to build such a thing. I can't put tinker toys together to any practical purpose. sigh... we all have our separate gifts. At times like these it is very frustrating to be a widow alone. My husband would have made a wonderful garden for me by this time. Oh well.

Actually, I want a greenhouse very badly, and some friends here are talking about going in with me to build one. I had one for more than 20 years and know well how to operate it... just can't build one.

If I can get some help, I'll move my tire container garden things to a side yard where they would be better protected from wind yet get full sun. I made a mistake of putting them in the front yard and now can't move them myself.

I'll get if figured out one of these days.

[amagi]

Two out of nine pea plants came up, probably today.  It has been warm and dry here, now it is raining.  YAY!  I watered, but it isn't the same.  Stinky city water.

[mutti]

Happy dance -

 Jerusalem Artichokes have decided to joint "Garden 2009", Mountain Mint is back strong, little walnut seedlings are leafing out, watched/assisted ND in grafting more walnuts (fascinating - used a different method this time), Comfry is about 12" tall (goats are happy about that),  Pro-Sorrel is finally joining the happy dance.

New things this year: Strawberry Spinach This is supposed to produce seed easy and it would be nice to have variety in our salads. (Note: I did not purchase them here, but this site has a nice image).

Trying again:  Purple Millet

Mutti

[dogsledder54]

HOPEFULLY, tonight's freeze will be the last of the year. Garden time !  Woo-hoo !