But now comes the time I always dread a bit - bleaching the pots! Off I go....with bleach, 55 gallon waste barrel, and a scrub brush. I am going to do the big pots today - those that will, by sundown, hold our large pot, tall growth driveway indeterminate tomatoes. If I feel especially ambitious I will start on the 5 gallon grow bags and various sized plastic pots that will hold tomatoes. I've had little disease problems with peppers or eggplant so I tend to not bleach those.
(Updated: So I did bleach the large (10-15 gallon pots), and they are now guests for my indeterminate varieties that I will grow to full production - close to 30 big pots (meaning a lot of potting medium...yikes!). Later on I will edit this with the varieties I planted. Now I need to replenish the potting mix, and continue to bleach and plant - first priority are the small pot, extreme prune indeterminates, since they are at the perfect planting stage and need to escape the 3.5 inch pots. Following that will be all of the Dwarfs - that will be a big job, and they too are planting size. The eggplant, hot and sweet peppers will be planted last, since some of them are still small - and to tell the truth, tomatoes always take priority!)
I won't do more in the big garden - dig and prepare the bean and basil rows, and the squash and cuke hills - for a week or so, as little happens until the ground really heats up (which it is certainly doing this week). They grow so quickly - it is more important to try to hit the sweet spot on the tomatoes, and get them going well before the endless 90 degree days settle in and impact the fruit set.
It is, by the way, very warm outside - certainly over 90, but not all that humid. I am working in the shade!
and as promised....pictures.
Top row: Dwarf project plants for local volunteers (to separate), remaining seedlings, and my hot pepper project seedlings.
row 2 - my large pot indeterminate tomatoes, small pot indet. tomatoes, and Dwarf tomatoes (all to be potted up!)
row 3 - a front row cherry tomato (Sungold Select II), back row greens, and lettuce
row 4 - beets, my potting work area, and Buddy and Mocha on the deck
bottom row - female Rose Breasted Grosbeak (at last), and a Great Crested Flycatcher (got lucky with that shot)