Garden 2022

[TheGrey]

I typically grow 6-8 tomato plants.

One of my absolute favorites for canning is called Amish Paste. WAY better than standard Roma. Bigger, more productive, thicker flesh. If you want to can tomatoes, that's one you want to try. It's not uncommon to get Amish Paste tomatoes that are 12+ oz each, and tons of them. Only need a half dozen of them or so to make an entire batch of salsa. (My batches are 6-7 pints). That's how big they run, basically one tomato makes a pint jar of salsa.

I've seen seeds for Amish Paste! And yes, I DO can tomatoes. Usually I just purchase some cases from Sprouts and do it that way. I'll see if I can't get some of those seed packets from Baker's Creek- I need to fill out my herb beds and have one more order to make from them. Thanks for the heads-up.

[def90]

So,.as far as planting stuff in the Denver/Boulder metro area goes when do you guys usually start your seeds and then plant in the ground? 2 years ago I bought some potted pepper and tomato plants in July and had a ton of tomatoes and a decent number of peppers by mid August. Last year I decided to plant a bunch of seeds indoors and then plant them outside at what I thought was an appropriate time. We had a ton of late snow and cold weather last year with my seedlings getting hit by snow/slush at least twice and things didn't turn out so well. What's the best game plan around here?

[hollohas]

Start seeds in late Feb if you have room for some bigger plants inside and have enough light. Start your peppers before everything else. They take a while to germinate.

I was late this year and only started mine this weekend. They'll be a lot smaller than I like come May, but they'll do. However, I use heat mats and LOTS of artificial light. That's like starting seeds on steroids.




About ten years ago I started growing some small yellow cherry tomatoes. They were a heirloom and VERY, VERY prolific. Buckets of tomatoes. I don't even know what they are, they came in a mixed pack. But I saved the seeds of the earliest producing and most productive plants and replanted over a few years.

With tomatoes and peppers, I always pinch off all the flowers until the plants get big and established so they don't waste energy on producing fruit until I'm ready. I give up light, early harvests in favor of later extremely productive harvests. When I decide it's time to allow fruit to set, I mark the first fruits on the plant with yarn and let them ripen and save those exact fruits for seed. I don't know if it matters, but I figured our growing season is short so saving seeds from the earliest fruits over years may eventually produce early producing plants. Who knows.

Anyway, Sunday I dug out my seed collection and started my tomatoes and peppers. A few weeks late, but what the heck. I found a package marked "Hollohas Garden yellow tomato 2014" and planted some. I put a bunch of seeds in each spot because I figured 8 year old seeds would likely be a bit dead and the germination rate would be low. I was wrong.

Heat mat, humidity dome and 3 days later, here they are, germinated and strong. Kicking the ass of brand new seeds from the commercial suppliers. (Typical tomatoes take 6-8 days)

Look at those little Yellow 14's. Whoa.

[TheGrey]

Starting seeds indoors is a must, but I've also been bitten by the unexpected Spring Snow to the point that I wait until a week after Mother's Day to plant outdoors.

[hollohas]

Year-round hydroponic tomatoes don't just come from the grocery aisle

[tactical_2012]

Ok so my pops tilled and set up my Garden this year as I'm unable too. I wasn't able to start from seed this year and like to grow heirloom varieties of plants. I have most covered already but am still looking for Good Heirloom tomatoes does anyone know of someone selling any beside a nursery?

[TheGrey]

Ok so my pops tilled and set up my Garden this year as I'm unable too. I wasn't able to start from seed this year and like to grow heirloom varieties of plants. I have most covered already but am still looking for Good Heirloom tomatoes does anyone know of someone selling any beside a nursery?

Are you looking for local sources, or reputable seed places online?