A Gardener's Notebook » Tomato

Topsy Turvy planter finally put to use

Douglas E. Welch — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:20:17 +0000

We finally got around to planting this Topsy Turvy tomato planter that our friends gave us last season. It took a fortuitous combination of events to make it happen, though.

First, I made a batch of homemade potting soil to use in the planter. Second, our local Orchard Supply Warehouse had a sale on all edible plants and third, we had planned to spend a lot of time in the garden this weekend working on our big path mulching project. See the post from yesterday for more info on that. )

With all our mature trees, we don’t get a lot of sun, but I tried to place this in the sunniest area I had that also gave somewhere to hang it.

There are 2 plants in this planter — one a Early Girl and one a Celebrity.

Topsy Turvy planter finally put to use is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Project: DIY upside down tomato grower

Douglas E. Welch — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:12:49 +0000

I have been toying around with various container ideas in order to get the most out of my heavily shaded property. We are surrounded by mature trees, so sunlight can be hard to come buy. One way around this is to use containers, large and small, that allow me to move things into the sunniest part of the yard on demand.

This DIY upside down tomato planter caught my eye for just this reason. It could be hung in a variety of areas and even perhaps put on wheels so it could be moved at will. Looking at the design it might be a bit heavy to move around too much, but I think I would have to make one first just to be sure.

Do you have creative ideas for getting the most out of the sun in your garden? Please share them in the comments.

Source: attainable-sustainable.net via Douglas on Pinterest

Project: DIY upside down tomato grower is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Updated: Coming this weekend! — Tomatomania 2012 dates announced!

Douglas E. Welch — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:10:17 +0000

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Tomatomania, the annual tomato seedling extravaganza has just announced it’s dates for 2012. It looks like they have added a few new locations, too.

Each Tomatomania has hundreds of different varieties of tomatoes ready to take home to your own garden and kick start your Summer growing.

Here is a video I shot last year with Tomatomania founder, Scott Daigre.

Download “Tomatomania 2011: Scenes and Interview” – iPod Ready format

My local Tomatomania, at Tapia Bros. Farm in Encino, CA will be held on March 23-25, 2012.

Updated: Coming this weekend! — Tomatomania 2012 dates announced! is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Photo: Tomatoes in February?!?!

Douglas E. Welch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:52:03 +0000

Our little volunteer tomato plant is kicking up production this week. I don’t know if it the mild weather or a bit more sun, but I count around 20 new flowers on the plant and I am already seeing new fruit being set. Hard to believe we can have this much production in February, even here in Los Angeles.

This tomato was a volunteer that sprouted from the homemade compost I used to start some other seeds. I left in several seedlings until I could identify them and was so happy when I spotted this tomato. It continues to surprise me everyday with its vigor, even stuck in a pot like it is.

Photo: Tomatoes in February?!?! is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Photo: Incipient Tomato

Douglas E. Welch — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:11:57 +0000

Tomatoes are about to arrive here in our garden. This volunteer tomato which sprouted from some compost I used for potting has been putting out flowers and today I noticed a small, cherry tomato already forming.

Our volunteer tomato

A closeup from the same shot

It is always such fun to see things go from seed to fruit in your own garden, even if you do it in a pot, like this one.

Photo: Incipient Tomato is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Photo: Heirloom tomatoes at Farmer’s Market

Douglas E. Welch — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:55:45 +0000

I found this lovely tableau of heirloom tomatoes at the Fashion Square Farmer’s Market on Tuesday night.

This is quite a striking indicator of what the tomato world must once had been before the over-large, over-red, easily transportable varieties hit found their way to market.

Photo: Heirloom tomatoes at Farmer’s Market is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Photo: Microgreens – You can try this yourself

Video: Tomatomania 2011: Scenes and Interview

Douglas E. Welch — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:02:26 +0000

Douglas E. Welch from A Gardener’s Notebook visits Tomatomania 2011 in Encino, California. He interviews Scott Daigre, organizer of Tomoatomania at a dozen locations across the country and chats with a few of the tomato buyers, many who come back year after year. Tomatomania hosts over 250 varieties for sale at each location from beefsteak, to plum, to cherry tomotoes and everything in-between.

Despite grey skies in usually sunny Encino, seedings were flying off the lot by the cartload. All ages were represented from long-time growers to kids eager to help Mom and Dad select just the right plants.

See http://Tomatomania. com for more information on future events in California and on the East Coast of America.

Download “Tomatomania 2011: Scenes and Interview” – iPod Ready format

Video: Tomatomania 2011: Scenes and Interview is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Event: Tomatomania 2011 – Encino – March 25-27

Douglas E. Welch — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:53:04 +0000

It is almost time for Tomatomania again. This yearly event with both California and New England locations kicks off the growing season with tomato seedlings in hundreds of varieties, from heirloom to modern hybrids.

We are lucky in that one of the major locations is within a mile of our house and garden, so it is always easy to check out “the mania” and see what is new and cool this year.

Here is a video with Tomatomania founder, Scott Daigre, from 2008. I am going to try and get a new video with him during this year’s event, so what AGN for more updates.

Current confirmed dates include…

Encinitas (San Diego), CA – March 19 – 20 San Diego Botanic Garden
Encino (Los Angeles), CA – March 25 – 27 Tapia Brothers’ Farm Stand
Fillmore, CA – April 1 – 2 Otto and Sons Nursery
La Canada Flintridge, CA – April 2 – 3 Descanso Gardens
Ojai, CA – April 8 – 10 Flora Gardens Nursery
Sonoma, CA – April 16 -17Cornerstone Sonoma
Fullerton, CA – April 16 -17Green Scene
Lothian, MD -April 29 – May 1 Greenstreet Growers
Litchfield, CT – May 20 – 22 White Flower Farm
Boston, MA – May 22 only Mass Hort’s Elm Bank

**Dates confirmed as of February 15th, 2011.
Exciting new additions to the sales schedule will be announced as confirmed!

Event: Tomatomania 2011 – Encino – March 25-27 is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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Event: Tomatomania 2010

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:33:02 +0000

Tomatomania is coming again to Encino, California and other locations both east and west. Check out the web site for complete information.

From the Tomatomania web site…

One of Los Angeles’ oldest garden traditions meets one of its newest sensations as Tapia Brothers Farm Stand hosts the largest of the TOMATOMANIA! seedling sales.

To get there drive north on the Ventura Freeway (101N), pass the 405 fwy and exit at HAYVENHURST. Turn right at the stop, then make a quick left into the very busy parking lot.

If you’re driving south on the 101 exit at BALBOA, turn left at the stoplight, go under the freeway and then turn right on BURBANK BLVD. Turn right on HAYVENHURST and right again into the parking lot.

We’ll be open from open 9-5 all three days and there’s plenty of parking available. How many seedlings do you need? We’ll have almost 300 tomato varieties and everything you’ll need to have the most successful tomato season ever!

Wear your TOMATOMANIA! t-shirt and get 10% off your purchase!

March 26 – 28

Tapia Brothers’ Farm Stand
5251 Hayvenhurst Ave.
Encino, CA 91436
818.905.6155

Here is a video from an earlier Tomatomania event.

If you can’t see the video, click here to watch it on YouTube

Event: Tomatomania 2010 is a post from: A Gardener's Notebook

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