The Bucket Farm 2009

[ContainerTed]

Well, the tomatoes are out there in the mix. I'll be setting out the peppers this weekend. Most of them will go over with the tomatillos. We've had a constant 82/62 weather spell and the forecast is for more of the same.

I've given out more than 150 plants so far and will have about 60 more going out in the next few days. That will finish the giveaways for this season. Phew, it's been a lot of work, but the smiles I got back somehow make it feel good. Some of the recipients were salivating in anticipation of tomatoes that might not be "cardboard".

The first two are from inside my screened-in porch. I use this shelf which gets a couple hours of sun each day to harden them off and stage plants to the outside. It's also convenient to bring them inside if the temperature falls.

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The third is Tumbling Tom Red and Yellow with a little tree I'm trying to save for one of my neighbors who has a bad case of "terminal ignorance".
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The fourth is for Andrey. These are progeny from his seed stocks. The fifth pix is Belyi Nalive Blooms.
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Six and seven are for Ami. Cherokee Gold (left) with Spudakee. The megabloom is on the top of the Cher Gold.
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Eight is Mini Gold with Italian Tree in the background. Nine, ten, and eleven are sunny spots around the birdbath area.
MiniGold.JPGNewDogwood.JPGBirdbath.JPGSunspot1.JPG

Twelve is the main area which faces the South-Southeast and catches the sun for about 7 hours a day total. The wire fencing was free for the hauling. That whole upper support setup cost me less than $12.00. The larger indeterminates are on that back row and the compact and determinates are on the front row. The plants in the front line will get cages or stakes as needed. SWC's are 5 gallon types down there next to the huge hickory tree (my nemesis and constant nightmare)
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Thirteen and fourteen are the tomatillos (two plants in each tub) with a bloom from the "Purple Tomatillo".
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Fifteen is the variety I had asked about and no one had any info on. The Miracle BPF turns out to be regular leaf and quite vigorous so far. Carolyn thought it might be a commemorative.
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Lastly, is my usual cherry barrel. In there are Dr. Carolyn, Dr. Carolyn Pink, Baby Beefsteak, and Isis Candy.
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Hope you liked the tour. I'm off to trim some more tree limbs and make some blossom bags.

Ted.

[Barbee]

Very nice! I especially like the way you have the tomatoes in the back on risers. Like a lil tomato graduation ceremony. Tallest kids in the back and shortest kids in the front, so everyone can be seen by Mr Sun.
I'm humming pomp and circumstance right now

[newatthiskat]

Barbee. I remember my 6th grade graduation picture when I was in the back row because I was one of the tallest. Should I say I have not grown since then??? (taller anyway)
Ted it is a nice looking setup! I really enjoy seeing what others are doing and how they compensate for their nemesis. I will expecially enjoy seeing futher how the plants grow and produce.
The only plant I have grown before that you are growing is Italian Tree. I am growing Isis Candy this year. Will be cool to compare! Italian tree if it is the same one I grew tollerated heat but did not really produce in the middle of it. After the heat decreased it began producing and I had some wonderful pasta sauce and soup from it. Should I add it survived a hurricane and about anything else mother nature threw at it?
Love your pics and keep them comming!
Kat

[stormymater]

Surviving a hurricane is pretty good testimonial to handling Southern weather - heat, humidity, lashing rain & wind out the kazoo! Have to remember that for next year.
Awesome pics Container Ted!

[veggie babe]

great pics Ted, it looks like a great year.

neva

[kevokie]

Those plants look great. Good job!

[ContainerTed]

Well, it's first harvest for 2009. Today I finally plucked that ripe Tiny Tim. I WILL save seeds from this one. I have fruit set on roughly half of the varieties planted. It is looking like a good year, so far.

Fruit set pics tomorrow.

Ted

edit: The little tomato weighed in at .42 ounce. Looks like 44 seeds and it was delicious.

[veggie babe]

I can almost taste it just looking at the pics. My Tiny Tim has a pot full of fire ants that I discovered over the week-end. The plant still looks good so hopefully I found it in time. I only have the 1 TT that Kat gave me, it is sooooooo cute.

neva

[amideutch]

Ted, good stuff on the first red one. I'm looking at July for my first one. That thread over at GW on 5-gal containers is becoming a real hoot. Especially after Timmy1 blindsided them with his photo's. Ami

[ContainerTed]

Thanks, Ted. The Spudakee and Cherokee Gold plants in the above pix (seed from you) are in full gallop now - half again the size in the picture above. VERY vigorous.

And yes, I think that other thread is a giggle. I was on my second beer yesterday and couldn't resist. Those timmy1 pics had me laughing so hard that I almost spilled my frosty glass.

Ted

[newatthiskat]

Ya'll had me going to look. You know it is impossible to grow tomatoes in 5 gallons (so kidding)
Kat

[ContainerTed]

This is to show the robust quality of plants I have gotten from the seeds sent to me by Ami in Germany and Sue in Alaska . Golden Cherokee of the left and Spudakee on the right in pix #1. These two pictures are 11 days apart. In pix #2, the plant on the far left is Kimberley - seeds from Sue in Alaska. It already has fruit set.

Ami and Sue, the words "Thank You" seem inadequate.

Ted

[ContainerTed]

Robin303, you may have had something to do with these two photos. They are Peppadew and Red Sweet Cherry Peppers.

Again, thank you to the source of the seeds.

Ted

[ContainerTed]

Andrey, These pix's are for you. Thanks for trading with me. They are: Belyi Nalive, Mini Gold, Rosalinda, Shchelkovskiy Ranniy, Siberskiy Skorospelyi, and Zagadka. The other varieties you sent all have mature blooms and are VERY vigorous plants. Many of my seniors have plants from these varieties - thanks to you. Compact/more manageable plants.

Thanks to you. And let us know how things are going for you and your wife. She must be very close to delivery time.

Ted

[ContainerTed]

How about some "Glamour Shots". It's still raining and cloudy here. Need to dry out and get the sun to burn off the clouds. I have fruit set on 56 of 89 varieties planted. Most of the late varieties are still to come.

So far, so good.