I was so proud of the fact that this year I was going to start my tomato plants from seed. I ordered the seed from Tomato Growers Supply Company and I ordered “speedling” transplant trays from Grow Organic. Everything was going oh-so-well until stupidness entered the room. I sowed the seeds right as the weather took a turn from warm temperatures in the 80s, dropping down to the 60s. The seeds did not germinate so I … well rather than repeating this sad story I will send you to the April 12 post, What’s happening in Wild Suburbia. Let’s just say I have now picked up a few tomato plants from local nurseries.
I planted them yesterday in our sunny front yard (sun courtesy the demise of the avocado tree). In a year or two we will plant a new tree in the front yard. Right now I just want to wait for the ground to settle and the roots to start decomposing, so I am taking advantage of the sunny conditions and planting a few vegetables and herbs.
Vegetable gardening is not my forte but I have been reading up on it. This is what I have learned. First, remove the lower stems of tomato seedlings, then plant the seedling deep so that much of the stem is buried. This is definitely not the way to plant natives but for tomatoes this results in the growth of new adventitious roots along the stem, and sturdier plants.
The soil is full of wood chips from the fallen avocado. I planted the seedlings in the soil beneath the mulch but I am not sure how it will work out with all of this organic matter. We will see!
