Thursday, May 23, 2013

Tomatoes are in and grape planting party!

We're a little late posting this, but we planted our 120 tomatoes out of the greenhouse about a week ago.  We have several varieties -

Arkansas Traveler (excellent heat tolerance),
Ilini Star (testing for heat tolerance, is an early bearing variety),
Red Cherry Tomato (garden snack),
Amish Paste (salsa and sauce, have tried this one before without luck but thought I'd give it another go)
Brandywine (best tasting tomato! not super prolific though)
Mortgage lifter (trying it, has a good reputation)
Ozark Pink (testing for heat tolerance)

First tomato tunnel
 
second tomato tunnel
 
Another 60 planted along the fence
 
I still have 65 pepper plants in the greenhouse to put out, but they aren't as root bound as the tomatoes were.  In other garden news, many of Catherine's flowers are coming up, so the north side of the garden should bloom beautifully this year.  Our cabbages are looking fabulous!  I thought we'd lost them all right after we transplanted them, but the long cool and wet spring has really brought them around.  I'm hoping they keep going so that we can make some kraut this year.  The onions and potatoes are super healthy and the vast majority of our transplanted asparagus is coming up wonderfully. 

This week we had a garden shed delivered.  We bought it from a local craftsman who is, unfortunately, moving away.  It is very well built and will work perfectly to hold all our garden tools out of the weather.  It also provides a roof to collect some rain water.  It is sitting on the hill above the greenhouse right now.  We'll be moving it (somehow) down into the garden tomorrow if we're lucky.

6'x8' handmade shed
 
Next Friday afternoon (May 31st), we will be planting the first row of grapes in the swales behind the hoop house.  Anyone who wants to learn about planting and growing grapes is welcome to come and participate.  We will start at our house at 12:30 and will hopefully be at the farm by 3:00.  We will be digging up the 4 large, established grapes at our house, loading them up along with another dozen or so cuttings I rooted last year, then taking them to the farm and planting them.  It will be a fun day and hopefully the weather will cooperate. 

Lastly, we've started getting bids to do the foundation for the cabin at the farm.  We are really hoping to get to break ground soon, but there are several things left to nail down.  The pressure is on since we have to be out of our house by mid July (no, we won't have it built by then).  Keep watching to see how it goes!


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