It's been a long 4 years since I've grown any tomatoes. Life gets in the way, sometimes. I took care of my dear mother, who was afflicted with Alzheimers, for the last 6 years, until her passing in September, 2010. We had a very cold, rainy winter here in Southern California. And while we all breathed a collective sigh of relief that the years of drought had finally been quenched, many were wondering if the sun would shine again. But, of course, the seasons change, as does our lives.
After the last storm a few weeks ago finished adding to the rain total and dumping yet even more snow on the local mountains, the temperatures slowly began to rise. It has been in the '60's here during the day (with a brief 90 degree interlude last week) and the weeds and wildflowers are in full array. What is the strange itching I feel? (besides the allergies, that is) Yes, it is my soul stirring, responding to the calling of nature to once again plunge my hands into the earth, and become part of the circle of life.
So, I went to the Green Scene plant show and sale at the California State Fullerton Arboreteum last Sunday. My sons and I oohed and ahhed over the gorgeous flowers, wild and domesticated, that put on quite a show. We wandered through the community gardens and wondered if we could grow the varieties of vegetables and flowers we saw. (we live further inland where it is hotter in the summer). I knew I had to jump back into my tomato obsession. This being the second day of the sale, there was not much to choose from in the tomato and pepper sale area. I was fortunate to find a Lucky Cross tomato, a variety which originated from Craig's yard and knew that if the weather gods blessed my area, I would once again be enjoying fresh tomato nirvana.
My son and I bought t-shirts at another vendor's booth. We both liked this shirt, especially since my environmental engineering son is both a gardener and a math whiz.
"Home grown > Store bought"
The perfect t-shirt for a gardener! As a bonus for buying a shirt, we got to pick out free green tomato plants. I advised my son that since we were getting close to the deadline for planting out tomatoes (due to summer heat right around the corner), perhaps we should get cherry tomatoes, that stalwart of the lycopersicum gang. I picked Green Drs and he got Aunt Ruby's German Green cherry. While I'm usually not a big fan of cherry tomatoes, (I just love biting into a nice big juicy tomato) I felt this would give me better odds, regardless of what kind of weather was in store for us, of getting ripe tomatoes to savor.
Backyard Dilemma - I now have chickens. My chickens are spoiled and range the whole 2/3 acre below my main backyard...the place where I formerly gardened. I will have to figure out a way to keep these mini-rototillers from dismantling what I build/plant. I am fortunate to have a large area of composted rabbit droppings in which to plant my tomatoes and the one token squash plant. I am sure the chickens will test my every attempt at keeping them out. OH! I almost forgot the gophers! Not to be ignored, for sure. I will have to dig down and line the area with hardware cloth. But, the sun is peeking through the clouds and it is 66 degrees...with birds singing and pollen floating and I need to get started!
Barbara Anderson
Corona, California
After the last storm a few weeks ago finished adding to the rain total and dumping yet even more snow on the local mountains, the temperatures slowly began to rise. It has been in the '60's here during the day (with a brief 90 degree interlude last week) and the weeds and wildflowers are in full array. What is the strange itching I feel? (besides the allergies, that is) Yes, it is my soul stirring, responding to the calling of nature to once again plunge my hands into the earth, and become part of the circle of life.
So, I went to the Green Scene plant show and sale at the California State Fullerton Arboreteum last Sunday. My sons and I oohed and ahhed over the gorgeous flowers, wild and domesticated, that put on quite a show. We wandered through the community gardens and wondered if we could grow the varieties of vegetables and flowers we saw. (we live further inland where it is hotter in the summer). I knew I had to jump back into my tomato obsession. This being the second day of the sale, there was not much to choose from in the tomato and pepper sale area. I was fortunate to find a Lucky Cross tomato, a variety which originated from Craig's yard and knew that if the weather gods blessed my area, I would once again be enjoying fresh tomato nirvana.
My son and I bought t-shirts at another vendor's booth. We both liked this shirt, especially since my environmental engineering son is both a gardener and a math whiz.
"Home grown > Store bought"
The perfect t-shirt for a gardener! As a bonus for buying a shirt, we got to pick out free green tomato plants. I advised my son that since we were getting close to the deadline for planting out tomatoes (due to summer heat right around the corner), perhaps we should get cherry tomatoes, that stalwart of the lycopersicum gang. I picked Green Drs and he got Aunt Ruby's German Green cherry. While I'm usually not a big fan of cherry tomatoes, (I just love biting into a nice big juicy tomato) I felt this would give me better odds, regardless of what kind of weather was in store for us, of getting ripe tomatoes to savor.
Backyard Dilemma - I now have chickens. My chickens are spoiled and range the whole 2/3 acre below my main backyard...the place where I formerly gardened. I will have to figure out a way to keep these mini-rototillers from dismantling what I build/plant. I am fortunate to have a large area of composted rabbit droppings in which to plant my tomatoes and the one token squash plant. I am sure the chickens will test my every attempt at keeping them out. OH! I almost forgot the gophers! Not to be ignored, for sure. I will have to dig down and line the area with hardware cloth. But, the sun is peeking through the clouds and it is 66 degrees...with birds singing and pollen floating and I need to get started!
Barbara Anderson
Corona, California
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