Coastal Tomatoes

Question No. 4, Pests

GARDEN SPROUTS

Welcome to Garden Sprouts.

Each month I will post a question that will be directed to you, my readers.  The question posed will be one that directly relates to my Coastal Tomatoes garden.  Your combined ideas will formulate the decision that I make and implement into my garden.   

Even if you don't have an idea relating to my question, you should read the article.  You may learn a thing or two.  I do with every question I put out there and your generous responses.

Question No. 4:  Pest control. What methods do you use to control those nasty gophers, moles, voles, slugs and so forth? It sure is disappointing to go out to your garden and find that plant is a little shorter than yesterday, or is it? The next day it IS shorter. What to do?

Your responses will be included below at the end of April. 

Question No. 3

GARDEN SPROUTS

Welcome to Garden Sprouts.

Each month I will post a question that will be directed to you, my readers.  The question posed will be one that directly relates to my Coastal Tomatoes garden.  Your combined ideas will formulate the decision that I make and implement into my garden.   

Even if you don't have an idea relating to my question, you should read the article.  You may learn a thing or two.  I do with every question I put out there and your generous responses.

Question No. 3:  Irrigation. Water is at a premium around here. How do you save water and fertilize your plants? Soaker hose, T-Tape, raised bed flooding, collect rain water in barrels and use gravity flow, injectors, in-line fertilizer bottles…get and give ideas. Keep them coming, you guys are great! Linda

Your responses will be included below at the end of the month

Question No. 2, Propagation

GARDEN SPROUTS

Welcome to Garden Sprouts.

Each month I will post a question that will be directed to you, my readers.  The question posed will be one that directly relates to my Coastal Tomatoes garden.  Your combined ideas will formulate the decision that I make and implement into my garden.   

Even if you don't have an idea relating to my question, you should read the article.  You may learn a thing or two.  I do with every question I put out there and your generous responses.

Question No. 2:  What method do you use to propagate your seeds, in/out of a greenhouse?  Pic’s welcome.

There are many DIY’rs out there and I know that there are many different/ingenious methods that you use to propagate your seeds. Last year I used a PVC frame to hold my lights. The lights could be raised as needed.  I also used a spray bottle to water so my seeds would not float away.  I planted in cardboard egg cartons…… Give yourself credit for your ideas.  Share and help your fellow gardeners.

Your responses will be included below at the end of the month.

Out With The Old and In With the New

It is time to start thinking about that summer garden.  Between raindrops, snow and hail, Frank and I have been outside cleaning up our garden area so that we can build and use the new tunnel.  The tunnel will be 20' x 35' with a 12' high center.  The bottom perimeter has been placed and one-half of the blocks have been placed to level the frame.   

Frank is bringing home large cardboard boxes from work to place on the lawn as a weed barrier.  Then we will build 3 raised beds (18" high, 3' wide) that will be erected on top of the cardboard.  The beds will be constructed from scrap wood that we discovered on our treks to visit Dad in Medford.  We discovered a small wood mill business that has a huge pile of scraps and contacted the owner.  John offered all the wood we can take for $20.  That is a great deal as some of the scraps are quite large. Recycle, recycle, recycle is the way to go. 

The aisles will be covered with either gravel or wood chips.... don't know yet.  That will materialize as time passes. 

Take a peek at the 2 pictures below.  One is of the tunnel, and one is of the beached whale which is last year's PVC tunnel after the last storm.

Question No. 1 - Raised Beds

GARDEN SPROUTS

Welcome to Garden Sprouts.

Each month I will post a question that will be directed to you, my readers.  The question posed will be one that directly relates to my Coastal Tomatoes garden.  Your combined ideas will formulate the decision that I make and implement into my garden. 

This month I posted a question about the placement, size, and so on for raised beds that will be built in my new tunnel.  The responses and decision made are posted below.  Soon Question No. 2 will be posted and I can't wait to see your ideas.

Even if you don't have an idea relating to my question, you should read the article.  You may learn a thing or two.  I do with every question. 

QUESTION No.1, RESPONSES AND DECISION

Question No. 1:  I will be erecting a 20’ x 35’ grow tunnel with sides that roll up and there will be raised beds inside. The beds will be18” high. Let’s design beds that will maximize the number of tomato plants grown.  What width, length and orientation should the raised beds be? Tomatoes will be planted 4’apart.

America's Favorite Tomatoes, Mother Earth News

This link will take you directly to the article by Mother Earth News.  I find it to be very informative and you will recognize many of the varieties that are discussed. 

In 2007 I grew a few of these varieties (Green Zebra, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Sungold and Brandywine. Aunt Ruby's did not produce well.  Maybe next year I will give Aunt Ruby's another chance.)

This year I will be growing a few of the tomatoes discussed below: Amish Paste, Green Zebra, Brandywine and Sungold. Yum!  Everyone loves the sweet flavor of Sungold. This is the one of the few hybrids that I grow, but I must admit, that this is the exception to the rule.   Talk about sweet! 

I will also try Caruso for the first time. This hybrid tomato was brought to the 2007 Blind Tomato Taste competition that I held for the Curry County Master Gardeners and was picked as one of their favorites.  What a great way to get feedback on tomatoes that are new to the area.   

In addition to the above, I will grow Italian Heirloom, Striped Cavern (praised for the ability to make stuffed tomatoes), Gold Rush Currant, Austin's Red Pear and Tommy Toe.  These are all new to me and to this area. 

I love gardening.  I get to experiment and meet lots of great people. 

Enjoy the article, I did and will keep you posted as my garden grows.

Linda Correia