NFR 2025 Gardening Growing Thread

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Yeah overdue starting a new thread. Not much news other than i have dug up all our begonia bulb and put in the greenhouse . Raked swept the balance of leaves . Digging another yard of my compost tomorrow and planning greenhouse starting dates . Still have a lot of parsley and oregano growing and shallots , winter stuff all growing swiftly. Favas and biennial broccoli from Sept planting about 30” tall. Temps very very mild . Lowest temp here so far since winter began is about 38-40 degrees. Garlic is taller than usual for January. Narcissus , and other bulbs on there way. Have made a soil amendment list. Will get it in the ground/ raised beds in the next month- 50 lbs cottonseed meal, 25lbs kelp meal, 12 lbs bonemeal , some worm castings(12. Lg bags) maybe ght grab 30 lbs of alfafa pellets. Happy gardening!

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Had the first Momotaro of the season today on my lunch sandwich. The first Brandywine (my all-time favorite) is a couple days from being ready for picking.

Was a little concern with potential splitting with the rain earlier in the week (1.5 inches). One of the Black Krim and one Brandywine did split. Fortunately, my larger tomatoes (Black Krim, Momotaro, and Brandywine) are looking like a bumper crop with dozens of fruits developing per plant.

Less than 2 weeks from my favorite summer diner, a BLT (with a Brandywine) and fresh corn on the cob (both the tomato and corn picks within minutes of diner!

My Old German. Costoluto Genovese great Red, black Sea Man, Black Prince, orange Strawberry and Bosc are going to nbe pickable in the next few weeks and into Sept as always san Marzano has been ready to pick just have not yet

 

[Stonedfish]

Golden Jubilees
SF

 

[Salmon123]

I am so tired of picking tomatoes, I have canned more salsa this year then in the past 5 years. Truth be told it wouldn't hurt my feelings if it froze tonight and killed them all. The neighbors that dont have gardens are almost tired of taking them as well.

 

[Mike Cline]

Dahlias are coming along fine for a beautiful Fall show. The Japanese Anemones are really going strong this year. These fellows die back to the ground each winter and grow enormously fast all summer for a Fall show. Somewhat invasive as this bunch started with just one small potted plant about 6 years ago.

Got about 30+ pounds of sweet onions and shallots out the raised bed. Fixed for onions until late Spring 2026.

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

As per usual my tomatoes pick late. All are long season heirlooms and with less sun than could be more ideal. Picking overthe last weeks -these are Cherokee Purple and Old German and a pic of where they grew in our alley

 

[Gary Knowels]

What's up with these tomatoes? only 5 of the 40ish fruit on this lemon boy plant have this brown spotting on them

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

What's up with these tomatoes? only 5 of the 40ish fruit on this lemon boy plant have this brown spotting on them
View attachment 164968

Watering method?

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Todays picking …Black Sea Man, old German ( vary from yellow to red exterior) San Marzano. Black Prince, and the tar this year in a sunnier alley spot in Cherokee Purple. And my small sentimental favorite Great Red

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Cutting up saving seed labling and ssa ing rough cut tomatoes in a large container and use daily to stay on top of the tomatoes. Really do not want to can as much as zi usually do-40 quarts of marinara. Not this year… wanna eat a lot more fresh and share with neighbors and family.

 

[Dave Boyle]

We got a pair of tomatillos, man do they grow and the bees love them so win win there and I see a salsa verde pic in the ‘whatchya eating?’ thread to come

Dave

 

[Gary Knowels]

Watering method?

By hand on the soil every 1-2 days depending on weather and my unscientific observations of soil and plant quality.

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

By hand on the soil every 1-2 days depending on weather and my unscientific observations of soil and plant quality.

Same soil as last year ? If so any chance of fungal disease transfer in soil? Was there any jungal disease in previous … even blossom end rot? Soil ph? Lime apication this fall and additional calcium. I had a bit of blossom wnd rot this year from wTering the base of lants but temps here have been hot!for downtown vancouver… beginning to think it is the new normal in my gardening here in clark county 3 zone changes since 1980-7a, 7b and now 8a

 

[Gary Knowels]

Same soil as last year ? If so any chance of fungal disease transfer in soil? Was there any jungal disease in previous … even blossom end rot? Soil ph? Lime apication this fall and additional calcium. I had a bit of blossom wnd rot this year from wTering the base of lants but temps here have been hot!for downtown vancouver… beginning to think it is the new normal in my gardening here in clark county 3 zone changes since 1980-7a, 7b and now 8a

Same soil, raised bed. No clue on pH, never tested. Never had blossom end rot on any tomatoes, but I do get it every year on zucchini in a different bed.

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Same soil, raised bed. No clue on pH, never tested. Never had blossom end rot on any tomatoes, but I do get it every year on zucchini in a different bed.

You have reason to wonder then. Based on what you have said I really do not know what the spotting is about. Unless a varietal weakness or characteristic

 

[Gary Knowels]

You have reason to wonder then. Based on what you have said I really do not know what the spotting is about. Unless a varietal weakness or characteristic

Thanks for the noodling and suggestions, safe to eat, or should I toss them?

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Thanks for the noodling and suggestions, safe to eat, or should I toss them?

Cut to see if spotted tomatoes show any continuation into the internal flesh of thetomato then google search with a carefully worded tomato disease query

 

[Salmon123]

Had to go over to my neighbors house and raid some corn to put of for the freezer this year.

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

I grew a bonus seed pack of tomatoes Bosque Blue Bumblebee. It is an heirloom. I have 5 large plants loaded with ripening fruit. They are weird turn dark purple almost black then enlarge turning yellow with rust markings. 1-2 ounce fruit buttery and sweet so unusual. First ripened
this morning

 

[goinoregon]

Cut to see if spotted tomatoes show any continuation into the internal flesh of thetomato then google search with a carefully worded tomato disease query

hey captn - i have some type of larvae going in my compost pile - is the compost going to be ok? or toast ? noticed some black flies when i opened the lid recently. thx. go

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

hey captn - i have some type of larvae going in my compost pile - is the compost going to be ok? or toast ? noticed some black flies when i opened the lid recently. thx. go

It rots larvae are there tobreakit down. Is your pile anaerobic? Try buying alfafa meal pellets for animal feed layeredlike you use earth untreatedlawn grass, scraps whatever you use . Never meat or attractants for fly maggots. If not enough aeration try a drilled (3/8”+. Holes) abs drain pipe in the center . Compost pile should heat up for a few days after the material is added if not improve aeration