May 29 - Memorial Day - Tomatoes and Roses

Thought I'd share with you the size of two of my tomato plants. They're huge. They far surpass the neighbors' who have only once, in eleven years, had fruit on the plant before me. You guessed it. We do have a little rivalry going.

Then there are those that haven't made it to the garden to be planted yet .....


I was in Fayetteville on Thursday of this past week and stopped to smell the roses. Literally. The rose garden there has 1,000 bushes with more than 3 dozen varieties. I've been doing some work in that area and had seen the plants last winter when they were dormant. I'd not had a chance to see them in full bloom.

This is a picture of my "Double Delight," a tea rose with a very strong smell. I learned about it while working at Chinqua-Penn Plantation, in Reidsville. (That facility is owned by NC State University - who closed the house a couple of years ago. )

While at the Fayetteville Rose Garden, I met the rose expert who said roses like to be fed, watered and groomed. He said roses need 6-7 gallons of water per week, should be fertilized (there are different kinds - read directions) and dead headed. That means the roses, just as they're beginning to fall apart, need to be clipped off. Clippping, watering and feeding are essential to keeping your roses blooming all summer long.

He also said roses don't like wet feed. No, I didn't say cold feet, just wet ones. So, he suggested making sure roses have really good drainage and good soil. He recommended planting them in a raised bed.

He added it's imperative to prune the plants in late fall, early winter. They'll be happier, live longer and bloom more if you do.

May 24 - Creating a Garden for the Road

I celebrated Mother's Day this past weekend. I had a project and couldn't break away, so we postponed the celebration. She was a real trouper. We went shopping, went out to dinner and had fun.

Each year, I try to plant something at my parents' house that will bloom around Mother's Day. Well, I didn't get there this year. But, I did something better. I took them tomato plants - already planted in rich, black composte - straight from my pile!

Joel drilled holes 3-4 inches above the bottom of 5-gallon pails. A friend of mine said that was a good way to container plant tomatoes. You still have drainage, but you never lose the moisture. Hope it works! I filtered the weeds and roots out of it. That should cut down on the nasty week population in each of the pails.

Later this summer, they'll have a bounty of juicy, meaty red tomatoes. I planted Mortgage Lifters. The old saying is that if you plant this type of tomato, you'll be able to save enough money to pay the mortgage - or something like that. Anyway, that variety is a heavy producer.

And, I planted some pink pentas on the patio. My mom can watch the butterflies dance around the petals this summer.

As for my own garden, well, I'm late in getting everything else planted. But, I now have 2 large tomatoes and a few more on the way!

May 10 - I HAVE A TOMATO!

It's tiny, but this is May 10, 2006 and I have a tiny tomato. It's either a German Johnson or a German Pink. The mayo is in the cupboard and the bread is at the store along with the cold milk. I'm waiting!

I'm so excited!

May 10 - and to think it was just a tiny little plant, NOT one of those already 3 feet high and loaded with big fruit!

Guess that lime, fertilzer, deep hole and the plastic to warm the dirt is paying off!

May 6 - Tomatoes are in bloom!

After wrapping up three major projects, I took today off. OFF. I think today was the first full day I've had OFF in months. Now I have a clearer mind to proceed with my next projects, all of which are fun ones!

(By the way, I've got two other blogs. For some reason, people have been having trouble getting to the marketing tips. So, click on MY COMPLETE PROFILE and you'll find two other blogs - travel story tips and marketing tips. )

The tomatoes we planted on Good Friday are in full bloom with big, sturdy stalks. In the past, I always dug a hole and laid tomatoes down on their side, with the tops popping up through the dirt. Joel's dad showed me a different way - and it looks to be paying off!

We dug a hole about a foot deep, added a quart of lime and a little granulated fertilizer, the plant and some water. The result appears to be very happy plants!

Today, Joel, his dad and I finished putting down the black plastic in the garden and planted some more German Johnson pink tomatoes (oh, one slice is all you need for a good, thick 'mater sandwich!), some basil, okra and a few cantelopes. I purchased some Mortgage Lifters and Mountain Pride, both heavy tomatoe producers. They're not in the ground yet, but will be next week after today's steady rain. And, I'll probably put the Sweet Chelsea (http://www.tomatogrowers.com/small.htm) and yellow tomatoes in the garden shortly after the 15th. They're still under grow lights in the basement. Yea, I know....

For Mother's Day, I'm going to plant some tomatoes in containers and take to my folks. They live 90 minutes away. Health issues prevent them from doing much gardening anymore. My mom loved digging in dirt and my dad didn't mind using a shovel. I suppose that's where I picked up my desire to do the same.

So, today's Sunday, May 7 and I'm back on the clock. A good, solid day's work in the garden - not the office - is just what the doctor ordered!