I am an inveterate note maker. It gets me through life from notes at work or notes at home. Lists to do. Items to purchase. Things to research.
Many times in the garden, I have neglected to make notes so hopefully this will be my list.
This is the first year using earth boxes. I like them but learned
• USE MOSQUITO BITS IN THE WATER RESERVOIR.
Lots of BER on the tomatoes in the earth boxes. Not a problem on the tomatoes in ground. Next season Calcium Nitrate added to the water reservoir. 1 tsp. in the water reservoir weekly.
In 2023 I trialed a few tomatoes in the earth boxes.
•Kewalo SPRAWLS TOO MUCH.
Sleeping lady is stocky and LISTS even when tied up.
First ripe tomatoes were delivered by Sleeping Lady.
Bella Rosa is a nice sized plant and loaded with fruit.
I like the posture of the Jamestown tomato but it ended up as a monster plant.
On the raised beds, the one that stands out is the yellow Brandywine. Few blooms and no pollination. •DO NOT GROW AGAIN.
•WASPS LIKE THE WIND CHIME AND THE BOTTLES ON THE BOTTLE TREE.
BUSH CUCUMBERS ARE NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE IN THIS CLIMATE. THEY PROVIDED EATERS BUT NOTHING MORE.
•GOING BACK TO THE OLD STANDBY EARLY CLUSTER.
•CUMIN GERMINÀTED WELL AND MELTED. I DON'T KNOW IF HEAT, HUMIDITY OR RAIN DID IT IN.
•FAVORITE ROSELLE ~ ST. KITTS
• BEGONIAS HAVE SOME COMPETITION THIS YEAR. I LOVE THE BRIGHT COLORS of ZINNIAS, especially Zahara.
A synopsis for the tomato crop this year:
Jamestown. Dealt me misery with BER. One plant, 26 nice sized fruit. Would have been better if I hadn't had to discard the BER damaged.
Kewalo Two plants delivered 32 tomatoes. The sizes were erratic from big to small. Inconsistent.
Sleeping Lady. I love the mellow taste of this gal. Two plants delivered 95 tomatoes. They ate and canned well.
Bella Rosa. 2 well behaved size plants gave me 34 fruit. A good deal of BER.
Sweet Florida Orange 23 fruit a pleasant mild taste and smaller fruit. In ground.
Yellow Brandywine in ground. No production and nevermore.
Garden Peach. 25 fruit in ground.
Summer Best 5 fruit. This was a pretty, well shaped flawless tomato of moderate size
LA Red. In ground, 9 fruit. Small size.
LA Pink in ground, 4 fruit. Small size.
LA Gulf State in ground, 9 fruit. Small size.
No discernable difference between any of the LA tomatoes.
Hillbilly is a beautiful color. Yellow with red streaks. A delightful, clear taste. Not sure why but reminiscent of citrus.
So seeds have been started for the 2024 season.
I will be growing two of the Hillbillies in earth boxes. I am planning on six of the Sleeping Ladies in earth boxes. I also started twelve Sleeping Ladies for a friend who loved them when I shared last year.
In the greenhouse this winter I have two plants of Black Gum Drop which is more cold sensitive, less productive and a bit too tart for my tastes. I also have two Black Cherries which I adore. The same temperature and the same treatment as the Gum Drop but these are not as sensitive to colder temps and far more willing to produce. The fruits of the Black Cherry have a mellow taste that doesn't assault the taste buds when I nibble them. I haven't decided to try a summer crop of cherry tomatoes yet.
I do have my mind made up and the rest of the seeds in hand for the summer planting season ahead. For now, it is just a waiting game.
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