04.10.07 REACH FOR THE LIGHT

I always get a big smile when seedlings sprout! Here are the tomatoes I planted eight days ago. This variety is described in the seed catalog:

#41401 POLISH LINGUISA TOMATO (78 days) - $0.95
A huge, sausage shaped tomato that weighs two thirds of a pound. A New York state heirloom from the 19th century, the flavor is why it is still around. It can be used for salads but you'll probably want to concentrate on sauces. Polish Linguisa provides heavy yields on indeterminate vines.

04.02.07 TOMATO SEEDS

Its time. Tomato seedlings are fast growers and shouldn't be started too early. Our average last frost date is April 30, so seedlings begun now will be a good size for planting out in the garden at the beginning of May. (Two years ago we had a hard frost in mid-May and lost almost every seedling we had planted out!)

Plant a number of tomato varieties, mostly paste tomatoes. I am trying out three heirloom paste varieties: Opalka, Polish Linguisa, and San Marzano La Padino. For my wife's kitchen garden we also start some Costoluto Genovese, an Italian heirloom tomato with superb taste and an awesome old-fashioned lobed shape. None of these tomatoes are hybrids, it is always interesting to see how they will grow.

Last year I successfully froze enough tomato sauce and roasted tomatoes to last us the year. If the weather and the bugs cooperate, we may do the same this year.

03.23.07 SPINACH SEEDLINGS

The spinach I planted February 24 is up and growing well. Looks like we'll have a good crop. Needs water!