The Hilarious Little Tomato

Thought I posted this. Anyway, I grabbed a pen and put some eyes and a mouth on this funny tomato.

Today's Picks Atlanta's Hottest Day Ever

No doubt there is a link between excessive heat and smaller vegetable size. I will be addressing this issue tomorrow with sun deflection techniques. I want each vegetable to grow to its maximum size.

I will separate  the interesting white eggplant for its own picture.

MUST SEE WEATHER FORECAST!!!!!!!!!!

Researchers isolate reason market tomatoes don't taste as good as homegrown | McClatchy

Researchers isolate reason market tomatoes don't taste as good as homegrown | McClatchy

STUNNING PLANT WILTING REBOUND

I have discovered a time lapse photography Android app to show you how incredibly fast my plants fully recover from wilt. This incredible wilt recovery ability is due to each plant having maximum root structure. Trust me, when you watch the time lapse video, you will be impressed!!!!

Epic Heat Problems

I am currently experiencing epic heat related problems in EG2012. The worst is I cannot think straight I am so hot. Second, my plants are struggling to get the water they need even though I water daily. The heat which is now above 100, plus relatively low humidity plus maximum water drainage of every plant container plus maximum plant water requirements has created a Code Red garden emergency. I WILL NOT ALLOW PLANTS TO BE DAMAGED. Although I cannot afford a NASA spacesuit to wear to ensure my safety working in this historic, epic heat (LOL) or should I say ROTGL (first person to decipher that acronym wins)  I do have a strategy to minimize all heat related challenges. THAT STRATEGY I WILL SHARE WHEN I GET TO A COOL PLACE LATER.

A PLANT WITH A TWITTER ACCOUNT

This is very exciting. I would like nothing more than to collaborate with others on projects like the ones shown in this video, especially regarding plants

Watch "Massimo Banzi: How Arduino is open-sourcing imagination" on YouTube

Coming: The Winter Organic Experiment

When summer ends and Fall arrives, I will not let go of my garden easily. I have a sun room. It gets fantastic winter sun through 3 walls of windows. Trust me, I will do all I can to save as many plants as possible by moving them into the sun room. Can I achieve tomato production through the winter months without overhead, high intensity lights? WE SHALL SEE! I have seen many many indoor tomato plants seemingly thriving in what appears to be very poor lighting. Of course there will be a reduction in yield. But is it worth it? Tune in this fall/winter because INDOOR WINTER GARDEN will be done. 

Imagine...if all the people...did THIS

What a wonderful world it would be.

Photo credit: rense.com

Today's Picks

I need to find and pick the okra when they are smaller. I like to lightly steam them. The big ones are very tough and require longer steaming.

The "Unicorn Tomato"

Odd looking. No explanation yet for what this "horn" is.

Fried Green Tomatoes Tonight

These are accounted for in previous Today's Picks

The Tomato Sandwich w/Jalapeno!!

I ate this before I wrote this. I can report this was awesome. Adds a crunch and a pepper kick. My new favorite. Highly recommend trying it. I am always trying new spices to add to my olive oil mayonnaise.

Today's Picks

Day after day I am fascinated how fast these tomatoes go from dark green to showing the ripening colors of light green, orange/pink, and reds.

4th of July - Getting Away with Being a Pyro

Great timing! 4th of July gives me a one week window to use smoke bombs and firecrackers to keep mosquitoes and other annoying bugs and animals at bay in the garden. Nothing makes a mosquito drop to the ground like smoke! Plus a little firecracker terror in the garden will work wonders to scare the hell out of squirrels and chipmunks that have yet to discover and damge the crop. I DID find two half eaten apples in the garden, and at first glance, assumed they were tomatoes. Oh yes, I was instantly mad. The apple trees are far away and for apples to be found IN the garden is a heads up for me that the squirrels remain a threat to my veggies. For years, I have wondered why the apple trees put out apples that have the taste of paper. But I have enormous fig trees as well and they are absolutely delicious. I have a friend on standby to make fig preserves with this year's fig production. Perhaps someone can share other uses for figs! When they are really really ripe, they are extremely sweet and tasty.

Tomato Stellar Health

I have grown tomatoes many many times before. But this time is different. This is my first organic crop and first above ground potted crop. I am truly stunned at the lack of leaf disease and lack of bug damage. Trying to figure out exactly what I am doing specifically to achieve these results. I will share pictures of what I am talking about soon. Worried about imminent 100+ air temperatures. I have heard for years that tomatoes struggle to grow with temps in the 90's. Is this affecting tomato final size??? I do not believe 90 degree+ temps harm tomato plants, but I am concerned about soil temperatures limiting growth of plant size and fruit size. My plants are grown in large and ENORMOUS pots and they are black. With sun exposure I know they are heating up to cause the soil within to reach temperatures FAR ABOVE what soil temps would be if planted in the ground. Looking into using white reflective methods whether paint or fabric to keep soil temps to a minimum given that soil temps are relatively MUCH higher than the ground soil temps would be.

Today's Picks

Going to investigate any link between air temp and ground temp and tomato size. I think these tomatoes should be bigger. I know I pick them early, but I know without doubt that growth had stopped when I pick them because of color.

The Love Tomato

....on a knife.

Today's Picks

Zinnia, my favorite flower.

Today's Picks

98% of the little little dark tomatoes come from ONE massive plant

Today's Picks

Had to pick some okra....one of my favorites

Benefits of Staggered Plant Growth

Utilizing multiple vegetable varieties at different stages of growth gives you a full season of vegetables. In other words, have plants that are at different stages of development. As you have plants producing yields, have younger plants planted later that have yet to produce a yield. The more staggered the plants' maturity level, the longer you can expect to have some plants producing all season long. I sure hope that makes sense.

Today's Picks

Various varieties. Just keeps getting better.

Today's Picks

All plants have been moved so that no plant shadows another which had become a significant growth deterrent.

Father's Day, First Eggplant

Took several sources online to reach a decision made with confidence to pick it which turns out to be "you cut an eggplant".

We Have a Winner!!

For days I have been patiently looking for THE tomato plant that clearly stands out from all the rest for a specific reason I like and would like to duplicate. This plant was just seen from the right angle to so impressive me, I will be making cuttings from it tonight. I want more of this plant.

Learned a Big Lesson with Neem Oil

Any kind of oil or insecticidal soap can burn a leaf in bright sun. The oil magnifies the sun that passes though it and can literally turn chlorophyll from green to white overnight. I learned a big lesson with this. I had to cut off a depressing amount of leaves. But they grow back fast. Found powdery mildew under some leaves and thought the neem oil would not only help kill it and bugs, but also help hold the sulphur to the underside of the leaf. To spray under leaves, just take a spray bottle and remove the inner tube. I will attach a photo of the yellow spots on squash leaves that made me look.

Second photo literally shows you how oil and sometimes water in a few few circumstances can turn chlorophyll bleach white. Not brown as in dead, bleach white. When sunlight hits frost that does not rapidly thaw, same thing can happen....intense magnifying effect of sunlight.

Banana Pepper Plant....Second Yield

Two photos below. This plant was planted April 1.

On the left, photo taken May 21, 2012.
On the right, photo of same plant June 17, 2012. Looks like the plant will fully replace its first yield in four weeks.

Today's Picks

Whoops! Added the picks of today to the group yet to be eaten.  In an effort to accurately document my garden yield, I will do my best not to let this happen again. Although this year's organic garden adventure seems to be overwhelming at times please understand two things. I think it is totally worth it. Next year will be so much easier because my soil, containers, sticks and poles, lessons learned, etc. will be reused and ready to go next warm weather grow season.

Heat Dome Thunderstorm Atlanta

Took these photos off phone.

The Black Prince Heirloom Tomato

Very unique taste. Not my favorite. The sandwich photo has a Big Boy for comparison.

Today's Picks

With plants spaced further out, I expect existing tomatoes to grow and ripen even faster. Should see a double basket soon.

Powdery Mildew Part II

I stopped it dead on the leaves, now it is starting to show up under the leaf. Will use sulphur in the morning. It seems to single handedly kill it.

Growth Impediment Identified

Plants have gotten so big that each one had to be spaced further apart. Each plant was shading the other (bad). Remember, each plant is in its own container. This took away 100% of available space in area #1. Taking cuttings from favorite plants and doubling size of garden would be an act of insanity. But that is exactly my style. Have space, will plant.

Attack of the Bumble Bees

I do not know what to do about the bees. Given that most people think they are extinct, I will continue dancing and cussing at them. Twice they managed to land on my arm but no sting yet. Never had this problem before. Perhaps I will pull the grill around and smoke some chicken wings to push them away while I work.

Today's Picks

Was going to double my plants via making cuttings this weekend but the rain won me over.

Today's Picks April 8

Excited about making a collage of all "Today's Picks" at the end of this season. Trust me, it is going to be a long one!

Mystery Solved Re: White Eggplants

Most of my plants are producing the purple eggplants I expected. Did not know there was a white variety until I searched for it on Google. Do not know how this ended up in the group at purchase April 1.

Siamese Squash

I have been watching these two for a while. At first it bothered me, then I realized they simply developed too closely together.

Today´s Picks

I am still wondering if and why rain is preferred by plants over hose water. It is either my total imagination or a total fact rain makes plants visibly happier.

Zinnias Are Blooming!

This means that my whole picture garden photo is coming soon.

Things Are Literally Stacking Up Now..WoooHooo

Tomatoes are stacking up faster than I am eating them but hey, that's where friends and family can help

Here Come The Eggplants

Why is one albino and one purple? hmmmm...

Today's Picks

Output is picking up but I am realizing my garden in Alabama on a real farm got TWICE the direct sunlight as this above ground organic garden does. I MAY have a spot that gets enough additional sunlight to justify the unbelievable work necessary to move everything to a new spot. Don't want to think about that right now.

Smaller Tomatoes, Rainbow of Colors

Some are ripening dark red, almost black, some deep red, some yellow.

Okra Now In Formation

This is the spineless organic variety.

Looks Like Snow in June

Using sulphur to ward off damn bugs, birds, and other garden terrorists. Using my hand is probably not the best method so I need to find some panty hose (like I have that lying around). Think I remember my grandad using that method. I will call it the " Fill & Spank" method versus throwing it with bare hand.

Today's Picks

Biggest tomatoes yet still coming, smaller ones more frequently

Zucchini Growing Fast Now

This had been hiding behind a leaf since flowering. Happy to see it grow like the yellow squash.