TOMATO EXPERIMENT

WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO GROW TOMATOES ON THE MOUNTAIN OVER THE YEARS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS GETTING THE PLANTS ENOUGH SUNSHINE WITH ALL THE TREES OF THE FOREST.

FRANKLY, I WAS READY TO GIVE UP, BUT THIS YEAR MARY GOT SOME HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS FROM TODD AND STARTED THE SEEDS DOWN ON DESERT IN MOHAVE VALLEY IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

GROWING ANYTHING ON THE DESERT IS TUFF. THE YOUNG PLANTS JUST DRY OUT, WITHER AND DIE IN A MATTER OF HOURS. WE DEVELOPED A SYSTEM OF PLANTING THE SEEDS IN STYROFOAM CUPS WITH A SERIES OF HOLES ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP. THE CUPS ARE THEN SET INTO A DISH PAN AND WE KEEP THE PAN FLOODED WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER.

IN MAY, ON THE MOUNTAIN, WE TRANSPLANTED TWO TOMATO PLANTS PER GREEN PLASTIC POT. WE PLACED THE POTS IN THE SUNNYEST SPOT IN THE YARD. WITH ENOUGH SUN THE PLANTS TOOK OFF AND GREW INTO SIX FOOT BUSHES. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STARTED IN FEBUARY THE BUSHES WERE VERY SLOW TO FLOWER.

 

NOW WE HAVE A NEW SET OF PROBLEMS. THE PLASTIC GREEN POTS ARE JUST TOO UNSTABLE. THEY TAPER DOWN MAKING THE BOTTOM OF THE POT SMALLER THAN THE TOP. THE SIX FOOT BUSHES MAKE THE MESS TOP HEAVY AND THEY ARE PRONE TO FALLING OVER IN THE WIND. THE PLANT PICTURED ABOVE, AFTER BEENING SLOW TO FLOWER, HAS OVER 60 GREEN TOMATOES.

IT’S NOT A SUCCESS YET. WE HAVEN’T HAD ONE RED RIPE TOMATO, AND WE’RE NOT SURE THAT WE WILL BEFORE THE GROWING SEASON ENDS HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN.

TO SOLVE THE POT PROBLEM FOR NEXT YEAR MARY GOT TWO BARREL PLANTERS FROM A NEIGHBOR, AND THE PROJECT THIS WEEK HAS BEEN TO PAINT AND PLACE THEM IN THE YARD FOR NEXT YEARS TRY AT A TOMATO CROP.

WE HAD STAIN LEFT FROM THE FENCE PROJECT SO WE PAINTED THEM UP AND HAVE THEM LEVELED AND PLACED IN THE YARD.

THAT’S NOT A TREE TO THE RIGHT OF THE BARRELL, BUT THE FOUR TOMATO PLANTS IN THE TWO PLASTIC POTS. AS LONG AS WE HAD THE PAINT OUT I REDID THE BIRD HOUSE WITH A NEW BOTTOM AND FRESH COAT OF PAINT.

READY FOR NEXT YEAR WE HOPE.

STAY TUNED FOR A PICTURE OF RED RIPE TOMATOES, WE HOPE.

“SUNNY & 80”