by Jo C.
Member since:
August 4, 2007

Out here on the Urban Homestead, Things are Hopping with our Tomatoes and Eggplants and Green Peppers and....

June 09, 2008 11:25 PM EDT (Updated: June 10, 2008 01:42 PM EDT)
views: 92 | rating: 9.7/10 (35 votes) | comments: 33
We are gardening in a big way this year and....amazingly...everything is doing well. I've been a bit worried about how much sun to give my tomatoes and I'm discovering that the cherry tomatoes and the Roma tomatoes seem to vary widely in their sun and water requirements. Also, I can easily grow the cherry tomatoes in a container, even an upside down one. The branches automatically thicken and it all works out.

The big news around here? Too much rain! Days and days of it and even a tornado or two. Record amoutns of rain. So I wonder: how will my tomatoes be affected? Will they get too much water? If anyone has dealt with this, I'd appreciate any info. Usually we have to worry about watering our plants now and then but I think they are getting way too much water.

If all works out, we'll have a bumper crop of tomatoes and green peppers and herbs and eggplant and even some squash :) and we'll save on our groceries. I'm spending so much time keeping track of the plants that I haven't been driving or using gas, a good thing.
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 33

Beth H. Jun 9, 2008, 11:29pm EDT
Sounds good. I don't know anyone who's ever grown eggplant, but I'd love to have it handy. I love a good eggplant.

Good luck with the growing.
B F. Jun 9, 2008, 11:30pm EDT
Hope you have a great crop despite the rain!!!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Jun 9, 2008, 11:30pm EDT
I'm thinking that your upside-down tomatoes should do just fine with the extra rain. Around here, in the Pacific Northwest, it's rain all of the time practically (and then a few glorious sunny days). The garden doesn't seem to be affected negatively though, if I recall. Just insure that all the potted plants have enough drainage, and I'm thinking you should be good to go.

Oh, and please can you publish this to frugaliving.gather and Frugal Eats? This is the perfect conversation for those groups.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Jun 9, 2008, 11:31pm EDT
Jo, as long as they get some sun ones in a while, I'm sure they will do good. You might even get a much better crop.

I hope you are done with the tomatoes for now.
Willa W. Jun 9, 2008, 11:37pm EDT
Wow! All those veggies, home-grown right in your back yard. How great! You don't have to worry about salmonella, either.
Kimberly Ripley Jun 9, 2008, 11:41pm EDT
I'm growing patio tomatoes for the first time this year. I'm a novice so can't lend any advice! Now a hearty eggplant parmisan sounds delicious!!
Sassy Cat Jun 10, 2008, 12:16am EDT
I find that too much water makes the tomatoes crack open, even if they are still green, then the bugs get into them.
Jenna is around here somewhere s. Jun 10, 2008, 1:17am EDT
we have been getting heavy doses of rain too, as long as they are not fruiting and are getting a decent amount of sun, my neighbors garden went underwater 2 years ago, no fruit on it and it survied... the thing I hate is we have a hail storm, it tears up the plants and fruit something aweful we have to pick off all the damaged fruit cut the leaves that got broken in half to help it regrow, I hope that don't happen-I only happened with the hail one time...alot of wasted stuff half grown..
Sophie S. Jun 10, 2008, 4:00am EDT
Just make sure that your tomatoes are in a well drained spot, if the water sits there and the ground stays really soggy that can become a problem. Otherwise dont worry about it, tomatoes need tons of water and sunlight, the more they get the better.
Connie C. Jun 10, 2008, 4:05am EDT
It is impossible to predict how your tomatoes will fare with the rain. It also depends on the temperatures and the kind of soil you have. Good luck with your garden. I am glad it is doing well so far. Fresh food from your garden is wonderful and so rewarding.
Marianne R. Jun 10, 2008, 7:37am EDT
Good luck with your gardening.

We got a little rain last night. I am hoping for more today. We need it. So send it here!
LaRue B. Jun 10, 2008, 8:20am EDT
I want one of the really big tomatoes. You know, the ones that one slice covers a slice of bread. Put some mayonnaise on the bread, a little salt and pepper. Slice the tomato about half inch thick or more. Oh! yum! Alas, I can't have the seeds in the tomato, therefore the sandwich is only in my dreams.
Paul M. Jun 10, 2008, 8:49am EDT
What you really need is a greenhouse so you can control the climate more.
John F Walter Jun 10, 2008, 9:13am EDT
Good for you, Jo C, growing your own garden!
Kathryn E. Jun 10, 2008, 10:01am EDT
good for you, Jo!
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Jun 10, 2008, 10:25am EDT
Sounds like you're doing well with your garden! With the new tomato recall, it's looking more and more like we should be either growing our own stuff or at least buying local.
Sue * Jun 10, 2008, 10:34am EDT
I'm with you on the "too much rain" as our area is flooded. I am trying not to complain after watching Indiana and Wisconsin destroyed by the flood waters. Today, is supposed to be dry...finally.
Phyllis R. Jun 10, 2008, 1:06pm EDT
Love those tomatoes...I hope I do not loose any plants! Very hot and dry!
Jo C. Jun 10, 2008, 1:45pm EDT
If all goes well this year, we may (gulp) expand our gardening into half the yard and cut down on lawn mowing but up the weeding. Ah, well, really enjoyed getting FRESH lettuce from our garden today :) and fresh dill, rosemary, parsley, etc. I'm tossing it together, throwing in a tomato and some grated cheese and calling that a salad, plus a simple oil and vinegar dressing. No driving today!
Digital Diva S. Jun 10, 2008, 2:20pm EDT
Gardens are tough. I've never had one get too much water. Too little water, yes but too much, I think not.
Vivian A. Jun 10, 2008, 3:46pm EDT
Following the comments, though I have the opposite with little rain in So Cal. Eggplants are awesome and I love tomato sandwiches. Can't wait for mine to start producing, especially after the recall.
Beaker (just Beaker) Jun 10, 2008, 3:52pm EDT
Hi there, Jo. I didn't even plant a garden this year (getting ready to move, remember?), but I'll have raspberries in a week or two. I'll miss the blueberries and grapes later in the summer. But the rhubarb is ready now. I'll give that to my mother!
Diana Raabe Jun 10, 2008, 8:43pm EDT
Good luck with your gardening efforts. With all the hype about salmonella and tomatoes these days, gardening at home will undoubtedly be on the rise.
lynn a. Jun 11, 2008, 1:59am EDT
Sad to say we haven't even started a garden this year yet, but in years past we grew tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, okra, hot peppers. The Romas we grew on purpose last year because they do not require as much space and they seem to be so resistant to disease. The eggplants seem to take care of themselves and provide well. Zucchini we use as a cucumber in salads, eat it raw or fry it. Love fried zucchini. Zucchini is another vegetable that we just don't ever have any problems with. If the rains don't persist more than likely your plants will be fine. Hope you post a photo essay soon. Can't wait to see your garden.
Kathy D. Jun 11, 2008, 8:42am EDT
Good luck with your garden!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Jun 11, 2008, 4:50pm EDT
Thanks Jo C. I received this in the Frugal Eats group, but not at frugaliving.gather.com. Thanks for pinging me to see if it arrived!
Wilma M. Jun 12, 2008, 12:06pm EDT
Sounds like your garden is doing pretty well. I really miss having one. We had a big one when I was growing up, huge in fact. I'm just not much of a gardener myself.
Sarah (I want points) Jun 12, 2008, 1:06pm EDT
I hope you have LOTS of stuff coming up soon!
Rose H. Jun 12, 2008, 6:06pm EDT
I'm proud of you, Jane!
So now where are those pics? I wonna see those goodies!
Next year I will try corn and water melon!
Lucky Stars Jun 12, 2008, 8:31pm EDT
I love gardening, Jo but my forte is flowers and shrubs.
I think tomatoes crack when they have a dry and then wet period. I could be wrong though.........
Cindy K. Jun 12, 2008, 8:51pm EDT
I think you should be ok, as long as your soil drains well. I just planted my warm weather crops this week. I had planted peas and lettuce earlier in the season, but a pesky groundhog ate them as soon as they came up! I think I ran him off now, but too late for more lettuce and peas. I'll try again towards the fall.
Ashley P. Jun 13, 2008, 9:41pm EDT
Gardens are divine. I hope that you enjoy it and that the rain does not cause too much trouble.

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16811, "Oz"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.