Dawn's Garden 2020

[Dawn]

Hello! It's almost spring, and I'm 8 weeks from planting in the ground here, so I'm starting seeds now. I decided on a whim 2 years ago to start some extra plants and sell them locally, I sold all 68 in less than 2 hours, so I'm going to do a bunch more this year.

This is what I did today, these are all of my non-dwarf tomatoes, and a random bunch of other weird stuff. The red tags are tomatoes, yellow tags are other stuff (except for the tomatillos, they slipped in with a red tag). I started all the seeds for each type in one pot, some have just a few seeds, some have lots.

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[Whwoz]

Nice neatly done and good luck with the selling

[PlainJane]

Looks really good!

[MissS]

Good luck with the seedlings and the sales. It looks like you are also trialing two different seeds starting mediums. Please keep us posted on your results.

[Dawn]

That was an accident. I bought one bag of jiffy seed starting mix, and apparently that's only enough for one tray, I don't know why I thought that would be enough. So I went and got the coco fiber brick from the garage for the rest. I used the coco fiber for my peppers and dwarf tomatoes, so I know it works fine.

[Texgal]

I am considering selling my extras this year too. I have never done it before. Would you share any advice or tips?

[Dawn]

I am considering selling my extras this year too. I have never done it before. Would you share any advice or tips?

I've only done it once, so I'm not an expert, but I did learn that people want Romas and Cherokee purple (and anything red), but nothing too weird (I was able to rehome the Lucky Tigers, but it took some convincing).

I have a few that I started only for the sale, Beefsteak, Large Red Cherry, Blush, Cherokee Purple, Reverend Michael Keyes (a small red multiflora grape), and Barry's Crazy Cherry, but I'll pot up the extras from my weird mish-mash of tomatoes and offer them too.

I also have a few kinds of peppers and some eggplants.

Bonnie plants from walmart are the only other option here.

[Texgal]

I am considering selling my extras this year too. I have never done it before. Would you share any advice or tips?

I've only done it once, so I'm not an expert, but I did learn that people want Romas and Cherokee purple (and anything red), but nothing too weird (I was able to rehome the Lucky Tigers, but it took some convincing).

I have a few that I started only for the sale, Beefsteak, Large Red Cherry, Blush, Cherokee Purple, Reverend Michael Keyes (a small red multiflora grape), and Barry's Crazy Cherry, but I'll pot up the extras from my weird mish-mash of tomatoes and offer them too.

I also have a few kinds of peppers and some eggplants.

Bonnie plants from walmart are the only other option here.

I getcha, most folks want what they're used to. Same here, mostly Bonnie but We do have a few small independent nurseries that offer a few other selections. I'm very excited to try the dwarf varieties this year so I thought I might sell extras and you confirmed my thinking on it. Planned to try Rosella Purple (like Cherokee Purple) and a red that I havent decided yet. Thanks for your feedback.

[Dawn]

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All the tomatoes are up! Most of the other stuff is too. The delicata squash seeds are a billion years old, so this is pretty much a germination test.

Peppers, eggplants and dwarf tomatoes have been up for a while, and are already potted up separately.

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Jalapeno, Cayenne, Buena Mulata, Purple Beauty (bell), and Coral Bell for peppers. Black Beauty and Japanese White Egg Eggplant. Dwarf tomatoes are Tennessee Suited, New Big Dwarf, and Dwarf Mr. Snow.

[PlainJane]

Looks great!

[arnorrian]

Really nice.

[Ginger2778]

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All the tomatoes are up! Most of the other stuff is too. The delicata squash seeds are a billion years old, so this is pretty much a germination test.

Peppers, eggplants and dwarf tomatoes have been up for a while, and are already potted up separately.

20200307_151709.jpg20200307_151720.jpg

Jalapeno, Cayenne, Buena Mulata, Purple Beauty (bell), and Coral Bell for peppers. Black Beauty and Japanese White Egg Eggplant. Dwarf tomatoes are Tennessee Suited, New Big Dwarf, and Dwarf Mr. Snow.

Great to see these strong babies, and great to see the germination too! You really know what you are doing.

[GoDawgs]

Looks like you're off to a good start!

[AZGardener]

Looks great! Good luck with your sale. Hope this is a good growing year for all of us.

[Dawn]

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They're growing up. I think it's about time to pot them up in their own containers. The cells that have tons of tomatoes are beefsteak, cherokee purple and roma, they're all for the plant sale.

[Ginger2778]

Looking so pretty. Time to pot up!

[Whwoz]

Someone's got a busy day ahead...

[Dawn]

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Getting closer . I should be able to plant tomatoes in about 3 weeks!

I have tons for the plant sale that might not happen now, it was planned for the beginning of May, but no one knows what will be happening then.

I've moved the tomato garden to the back yard, for fear of thievery (they were going to be in the front yard, but there's a small grocery store across the street, and usually lots of foot traffic), but we have 5 dogs. I have cardboard and straw down, and I'll build a fence when the supplies get here from amazon.

The side yard will have the rest of the garden. There's a spot against the house that was just a little too hot for tomatoes last year, the peppers will go there this year. I should be planting peas and greens now, but I haven't yet. Maybe that will be tomorrow. I'm planning to grow tons of greens mostly for the rabbits. I usually have a farmers market spot, so I'll plan sell some too, if the market goes on like normal.

My sister has a big spot in the front yard ready for herbs, and some started. She makes infused oils and balms with the herbs.

Happy to have my garden in these uncertain times, no matter what happens, tomatoes still grow.

[MissS]

Your plants look great. I bet that you have an amazing garden this year.

What kind of lights do you use?

[Ginger2778]

20200330_075004.jpg

Getting closer . I should be able to plant tomatoes in about 3 weeks!

I have tons for the plant sale that might not happen now, it was planned for the beginning of May, but no one knows what will be happening then.

I've moved the tomato garden to the back yard, for fear of thievery (they were going to be in the front yard, but there's a small grocery store across the street, and usually lots of foot traffic), but we have 5 dogs. I have cardboard and straw down, and I'll build a fence when the supplies get here from amazon.

The side yard will have the rest of the garden. There's a spot against the house that was just a little too hot for tomatoes last year, the peppers will go there this year. I should be planting peas and greens now, but I haven't yet. Maybe that will be tomorrow. I'm planning to grow tons of greens mostly for the rabbits. I usually have a farmers market spot, so I'll plan sell some too, if the market goes on like normal.

My sister has a big spot in the front yard ready for herbs, and some started. She makes infused oils and balms with the herbs.

Happy to have my garden in these uncertain times, no matter what happens, tomatoes still grow.

Dawn, the plants look so gorgeous. I hope the sale happens because people will be so lucky to get those healthy and uncommon plants.