Gardening
Related: About this forumAnd I did everything wrong!...
Last autumn we still had some tomato plants that sprung up in the compost pile that were still granting us their fruits. It was a cherry-tomato like fruit from some hybrid we tried or the failed Million Bell plant that wound up in the compost. They were really good…thought I’d save some seeds. Immediately went to NewHendoLib’s tutorial on seed saving.
Started good…then stuff happened and the seeds were forgotten about…checked in on them and thought I’d left them in the water too long…whew, they were mostly ok…laid out to dry…again…stuff on the homestead needed doing…forgot them. When remembered the seeds looked like a whole-grain communion host.
I kept them…why?…
Well here they are…
Ready for the greenhouse…
The Basil cloning is still coming along…we’re companion planting basil with various other veggies.
Speaking of the others…here’s the starts of various peppers and some roma tomatoes. Potatoes have been planted in the greenhouse already along with the cabbage.
Next Wednesday the low is forecast to be 33, lowest temp for a while…greenhouse should be safe.
Could this be the second year in a row frost may not be a big concern? The plots will thicken…with veggies.
Tomorrow is my wife’s birthday…how many guys would gift their spouse of 52 years a wheelbarrow full of custom mixed soil…and have her ecstatic over her present?
My compost pile awaits…

Scrivener7
(55,781 posts)
twodogsbarking
(13,764 posts)MiHale
(11,697 posts)
Diamond_Dog
(37,111 posts)They just weren’t ready to quit on you. 😄
Nothing better than a home grown tomato.
Ours are about a foot tall (sprouted from seed) and ready to go in the garden, but I totally hear you about other chores taking priority.
Enjoy your gardening and Happy Birthday to Mrs. MiHale!
MiHale
(11,697 posts)Potatoes from your own dirt are next.
58Sunliner
(5,777 posts)mountain grammy
(27,832 posts)that basil is beautiful!!! Everything else looks great too.
MiHale
(11,697 posts)That’s the next crop going in…May first.
JMCKUSICK
(2,476 posts)I loved the pun too.
MiHale
(11,697 posts)
QED
(3,146 posts)In AZ, things are a bit out of control right now. I bought this little $5 tomato plant 2 months ago and now it's pretty much taken over. It's loaded with blossoms and ripening tomatoes. The mammoth sunflowers are providing afternoon shade and will be a tasty treat for our rosy faced lovebirds. I just hope the birds will leave the tomatoes alone.
MiHale
(11,697 posts)At the 44th parallel we have to wait a little…ground temperature is about 50 in some areas. Beautiful raised bed.
FormerOstrich
(2,814 posts)I have been getting a bumper crop of tomato from the seedlings I transplanted out of our compost. I retired in February and have applied to the Master Gardener program for our county. The always have more applicants than open slots. I'll know if I made round 1 on May 2nd.
Thank you so much for the tale and pics!!
MiHale
(11,697 posts)was butternut squash…huge fruits…about 5 pounds each. Dehydrated most.
Trueblue Texan
(3,345 posts)Also where is the tutorial you mention for seed starting? Thanks for posting and sharing!
MiHale
(11,697 posts)well not so much a garage as the indoor grow room.
The tutorials are pinned at the top of the Gardening forum.
NewHendoLib is the host. He is a very accomplished gardener. The first link is to the seed saving tutorial, the second is the seed starting one.
Before the last name change his name was…NRaleighLiberal…same guy. Tons of info.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/115968
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1159211
Trueblue Texan
(3,345 posts)erronis
(19,848 posts)MiHale
(11,697 posts)we eat them.
calimary
(86,421 posts)What’s the one in the top photo with the BEAUTIFUL leaves?
I look forward to more updates!
MiHale
(11,697 posts)They’re like little trees.
calimary
(86,421 posts)


You're well on your way!
Sometimes volunteer plants are the best.
MiHale
(11,697 posts)Thanks, 2na. Yes volunteers are the most fun.
Move delayed? Plans are hard to make when the ground is constantly shifting.
QED
(3,146 posts)and the next year I had baby basil plants all over the yard. Like that's a bad thing, right?
MiHale
(11,697 posts)I was lucky one year and caught the seeds at harvest. Tons of them. Grew with them for years…not so much luck lately.
True Dough
(23,121 posts)I've seen so many social media posts declaring, "You're doing it wrong!"
I thought it was directed at me. Now I know it was all about you!
Happy growing season, good sir!
MiHale
(11,697 posts)It will be a great outdoor growing season…looking forward to this year.