My 2014 garden, from start to finish.

madddawg · February 8, 2014

This year I am going to try to post pictures of every step of the way. To show my progress and for my records for next year.
MY lighting set up

640 full cells planted on Feb 6th

From seeds I got from Tomato Growers Supply
72 red rocket, 36 Paul Robeson, 36 First Prize, 30 Big Beef, 48 Jet star, 36 BHN 640, 36 Charger, 36 BNH 589, Ace, 36 Sioux, (promo seeds that came with order) 48 Eva Purple Ball, 54 Homestead, and 72 Rutgers. There are a few empty cells there but not many. and also a few that have an extra seed in, to finish off a package
And from the seeds I saved from last year 18 big cherry, and 30 of a crossbred I had last year I am calling Big Orange. I think it a cross between a Kentucky Yellow Beefsteak and a Brandywine Pink. A sweet low acid tomato. I still have to plant some more Rutgers and waiting For my Heidie seeds.
I only need about 300, and the rest I will pull my veggie stand down to the street and sell. or give away to friends and family.

New years day, the last time we had a warm day, I started getting my green house out, I did manage to get the walls up but not the top. I forgot to take a picture of that.

I forget the measurements but I think its like10' by 32'. I cover it with some 10 mil plastic

greenthumbomaha · February 9, 2014

To keep count, document, and take photos is very organized. Extra work, but fun to have a resource to review when its cold next winter. Have a good season.
-Lisa

madddawg · February 11, 2014

Stay tuned....
I feel, hope, it will be. I just hope I didnt jump the gun on planting my seeds. A local nursery said I did..I have the ways, means, and time to babysit them to a few weeks if need be.. time will tell

Judging from the number of clicks {121 in a few days} on this. I see there are a lot of people itching to get out. I am sorry if I led People with just a few picts of not so much. Next time I will try to post something more meaningful.

madddawg · February 15, 2014

Seeds started sprouting yesterday. About 80% are up. I have them all cover with 1 sheet of clear plastic. I think I will give them 1 more day before uncovering them and putting them under my light set up.

[

I will also plant Heidi, Big Cherries and Chocolate Cherries tomorrow.

MissS · February 28, 2014

I am so envious that you can even see the ground. Here in Wisconsin we are under snow and right now it is -6 degrees. I can not even dream of starting a tomato seed today. That is quite OK since I have not finished my grow list.
And so... What was started here?

madddawg · March 2, 2014

Patti, I am not sure what you you meant by what was started here. And yes I coukd see the ground,That day. But we have had a light snow that day. And today we are expeting an inch or more of sleet/freezing rain and then 4 to 6 inches of snow. Old man winter is back

Here is how I built my greenhouse
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=31250

And my plants are looking good. I don't have a picture but they are coming along nicely. 12 to 14 hours of light a day. Temps in the 60s during the day and I fire up the stove at night and get it up into the 70s then let the fire burn out. and repeat the process the next day.

MissS · March 2, 2014

Oh, I'm sorry. I was just asking what varieties of seeds that you started this year. Also, how many plants are you growing this season? What seed starting medium do you use?

madddawg · March 3, 2014

Red Rocket, Paul Robeson, First Prize, Big Beef, Jet star, BHN 640,Charger, BNH 589, Ace, Sioux, Eva Purple Ball, Homestead, Rutgers, Big Cherry, Chocolate Cherry. And a few Celebrity. and a crossbred I had last year I am calling Big Orange. I think it a cross between a Kentucky Yellow Beefsteak and a Brandywine Pink. A sweet low acid tomato. As for how many? Well it depends on how many I can stuff into my garden. Last year I had 300 But I think I can get a few more in by planting a little closer. Seed medium.. I just use Miracle Grow Potting mix. Its kinda hard to get the water to soak in though. Next year I think I will try mixing it with Diatomaceous Earth, Learned that from here...

MissS · March 5, 2014

It sounds as if you will be keeping your hands full. Nice list too.
I used the DE as a starting medium and some blended with my mix. I really liked the results that I had.
Keep us posted.
Patti

katkoot · March 6, 2014

That is a lot of tomatoes-- and sounds like a lot of fun! So you sell your extras? That ice and snow a few days ago was totally unnecessary.

BucksCountyGirl · March 10, 2014

Wow...300 plants! I'm so jealous

I have very little in ground space and do most of mine in SWC so I can only fit about 23 'maters.
Best of luck to you this season!

casino · March 10, 2014

Taking pictures is a good think, it also helps with the memory.

madddawg · March 16, 2014

I am out of control! I have added more variety's thanks to a few t-villions, Worth, Ginger, Sun City Linda and Ozark.
Special C-Tex, Lucky cross, Japanese trifle, Lucky Cross, Black Cherokee, And Ozark... Planting them today.
and planted last Sunday... Lemon Jubilee, Lemon Boy, Orange Rush, Orange Banana...

Heres a up date on how my plants are doing so far..

Under the grow lights. I have to rebuild it a bit. my lights cant go any higher so i need to drop the shelves down. This is just the bottom shelf. The top one has 4 trays on.

Chocolate Cherry and Big cherry planted 4 weeks ago.

Heidi.

First Prize and Sioux. I think I better get out my 4" pots...

Here is what my garden looks like today.
The left side is 30'x 60' but i may stretch it abit more if I can. BTW to the far left is our pet cemetery.

The right side is a bit of a mess right now but you can see my greenhouse that will let me get an earlier start. Yesterday soil temp was 65 inside and 55 outside. Also yesterday we had a sunny 80 degree day and today highs in the mid 30s and freezing rain sleet and flurries.
You can also see all my cages and my veggie stand.
The buckets hanging was an attempt to grow hanging tomatoes, Fail!

The fence, I grew cucumbers on. this season I will be adding the fence you see under the tree. My plan is to put that up and grow Green beans and what ever else I can get in there, inside the fenced in area so the bunnies don't eat them

Also my wife won't let me cut that tree down so I can have more ground..

Here is what My garden looked like last year
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28974

madddawg · March 17, 2014

Well I did it Tilled in the greenhouse today. Oops on the fingr

And installed the stove.

I got a few more things to do yet. Even tho thats a double wall pipe on the outside I still want to put a piece of sheet metal on there. I have a squirrel cage fan to instal in there somehow. Powered thru a programmable outlet thermostat. http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-Co...pr_product_top. (ordered today)

I also have to put some vents in the other end to draw air in when fan is on, Or turn fan off at night is also an option.
I also want to build some shelves on the left side to put the ones I don't plant, on. And yes I am going to plant this week when I get everything done!
I will probably find a few more things to tweek...

Worth1 · March 17, 2014

Everything looks great.

Are you going to have enough room for all of those plants?

Worth

February 8, 2014	#1
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	My 2014 garden, from start to finish. This year I am going to try to post pictures of every step of the way. To show my progress and for my records for next year. MY lighting set up 640 full cells planted on Feb 6th From seeds I got from Tomato Growers Supply 72 red rocket, 36 Paul Robeson, 36 First Prize, 30 Big Beef, 48 Jet star, 36 BHN 640, 36 Charger, 36 BNH 589, Ace, 36 Sioux, (promo seeds that came with order) 48 Eva Purple Ball, 54 Homestead, and 72 Rutgers. There are a few empty cells there but not many. and also a few that have an extra seed in, to finish off a package And from the seeds I saved from last year 18 big cherry, and 30 of a crossbred I had last year I am calling Big Orange. I think it a cross between a Kentucky Yellow Beefsteak and a Brandywine Pink. A sweet low acid tomato. I still have to plant some more Rutgers and waiting For my Heidie seeds. I only need about 300, and the rest I will pull my veggie stand down to the street and sell. or give away to friends and family. New years day, the last time we had a warm day, I started getting my green house out, I did manage to get the walls up but not the top. I forgot to take a picture of that. I forget the measurements but I think its like10' by 32'. I cover it with some 10 mil plastic __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

February 11, 2014	#3
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Stay tuned.... I feel, hope, it will be. I just hope I didnt jump the gun on planting my seeds. A local nursery said I did..I have the ways, means, and time to babysit them to a few weeks if need be.. time will tell Judging from the number of clicks {121 in a few days} on this. I see there are a lot of people itching to get out. I am sorry if I led People with just a few picts of not so much. Next time I will try to post something more meaningful. __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

February 15, 2014	#4
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Seeds started sprouting yesterday. About 80% are up. I have them all cover with 1 sheet of clear plastic. I think I will give them 1 more day before uncovering them and putting them under my light set up. [ I will also plant Heidi, Big Cherries and Chocolate Cherries tomorrow. __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

February 28, 2014	#5
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,146	I am so envious that you can even see the ground. Here in Wisconsin we are under snow and right now it is -6 degrees. I can not even dream of starting a tomato seed today. That is quite OK since I have not finished my grow list. And so... What was started here? __________________ ~ Patti ~

March 2, 2014	#6
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Patti, I am not sure what you you meant by what was started here. And yes I coukd see the ground,That day. But we have had a light snow that day. And today we are expeting an inch or more of sleet/freezing rain and then 4 to 6 inches of snow. Old man winter is back Here is how I built my greenhouse http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=31250 And my plants are looking good. I don't have a picture but they are coming along nicely. 12 to 14 hours of light a day. Temps in the 60s during the day and I fire up the stove at night and get it up into the 70s then let the fire burn out. and repeat the process the next day. __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

February 9, 2014	#2
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	To keep count, document, and take photos is very organized. Extra work, but fun to have a resource to review when its cold next winter. Have a good season. -Lisa

March 3, 2014	#8
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Red Rocket, Paul Robeson, First Prize, Big Beef, Jet star, BHN 640,Charger, BNH 589, Ace, Sioux, Eva Purple Ball, Homestead, Rutgers, Big Cherry, Chocolate Cherry. And a few Celebrity. and a crossbred I had last year I am calling Big Orange. I think it a cross between a Kentucky Yellow Beefsteak and a Brandywine Pink. A sweet low acid tomato. As for how many? Well it depends on how many I can stuff into my garden. Last year I had 300 But I think I can get a few more in by planting a little closer. Seed medium.. I just use Miracle Grow Potting mix. Its kinda hard to get the water to soak in though. Next year I think I will try mixing it with Diatomaceous Earth, Learned that from here... __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

March 5, 2014	#9
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,146	It sounds as if you will be keeping your hands full. Nice list too. I used the DE as a starting medium and some blended with my mix. I really liked the results that I had. Keep us posted. Patti __________________ ~ Patti ~

March 6, 2014	#10
katkoot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 69	That is a lot of tomatoes-- and sounds like a lot of fun! So you sell your extras? That ice and snow a few days ago was totally unnecessary.

March 10, 2014	#11
BucksCountyGirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Holland, PA/Zone 7A Posts: 692	Wow...300 plants! I'm so jealous I have very little in ground space and do most of mine in SWC so I can only fit about 23 'maters. Best of luck to you this season! __________________ - Kelli Life's a climb...but the view is fantastic

March 10, 2014	#12
casino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 318	Taking pictures is a good think, it also helps with the memory.

March 16, 2014	#13
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	I am out of control! I have added more variety's thanks to a few t-villions, Worth, Ginger, Sun City Linda and Ozark. Special C-Tex, Lucky cross, Japanese trifle, Lucky Cross, Black Cherokee, And Ozark... Planting them today. and planted last Sunday... Lemon Jubilee, Lemon Boy, Orange Rush, Orange Banana... Heres a up date on how my plants are doing so far.. Under the grow lights. I have to rebuild it a bit. my lights cant go any higher so i need to drop the shelves down. This is just the bottom shelf. The top one has 4 trays on. Chocolate Cherry and Big cherry planted 4 weeks ago. Heidi. First Prize and Sioux. I think I better get out my 4" pots... Here is what my garden looks like today. The left side is 30'x 60' but i may stretch it abit more if I can. BTW to the far left is our pet cemetery. The right side is a bit of a mess right now but you can see my greenhouse that will let me get an earlier start. Yesterday soil temp was 65 inside and 55 outside. Also yesterday we had a sunny 80 degree day and today highs in the mid 30s and freezing rain sleet and flurries. You can also see all my cages and my veggie stand. The buckets hanging was an attempt to grow hanging tomatoes, Fail! The fence, I grew cucumbers on. this season I will be adding the fence you see under the tree. My plan is to put that up and grow Green beans and what ever else I can get in there, inside the fenced in area so the bunnies don't eat them Also my wife won't let me cut that tree down so I can have more ground.. Here is what My garden looked like last year http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28974 __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash Last edited by madddawg; March 16, 2014 at 12:37 PM.

March 17, 2014	#14
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Well I did it Tilled in the greenhouse today. Oops on the fingr And installed the stove. I got a few more things to do yet. Even tho thats a double wall pipe on the outside I still want to put a piece of sheet metal on there. I have a squirrel cage fan to instal in there somehow. Powered thru a programmable outlet thermostat. http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-Co...pr_product_top. (ordered today) I also have to put some vents in the other end to draw air in when fan is on, Or turn fan off at night is also an option. I also want to build some shelves on the left side to put the ones I don't plant, on. And yes I am going to plant this week when I get everything done! I will probably find a few more things to tweek... __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash Last edited by madddawg; March 17, 2014 at 05:15 PM.

March 17, 2014	#15
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Everything looks great. Are you going to have enough room for all of those plants? Worth