Why do you need to have the first tomatoes?

Thats my question. I wish I could plant now, it will be April before I can attempt it.

You can go to the store and buy anything better than you can grow in your garden except home grown tomatoes. You simply can not buy home grown tomatoes.

That's Bill

You know how much preservatives they put in those vegetables. They don't taste better and never will.

and why do you need to have the first tomatoes?

Don't give me your bitter cucumbers and lettuce. I threw some lettuce out my wife brough home from a friend about a month ago. Last year was my first year to grow better bell peppers than store bought. I buy tomatoes about four times a year. Some stuff ingrow that I never buy.

Because of my limited amout of space I usually plant; tomotoes in buckets, bell peppers, jalapenos, 1 habenaro, crookneck squash, cucumbers and potatoes (mainly mid-late March from transplants). This year I am starting more from seeds.



I have broccolli, onions and bussells sprouts in the garden currently.

Not to change the subject, but my asperagus (sp?) is starting to come up already. The plants are 1 and 2 years old.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2010/10/E-503_asparagus.pdf



looks good phat

My neighbor and I both tried asparagus several years. It simply would not produce in our area. My sister has it up in Arkansas and it does great.

I've had some in the ground for three years, finally got some this year.

Bill, bitterness in cucumbers comes from poor watering practices. Also, if you plant the Armenian variety, they will never be bitter, and stay crisp as well. I tried them once, but still prefer the National Pickling variety.

Made my rows today







Used the four wheeler to mark the rows








Need to lay the soaker hoses down and add the fabric.

Nice, I use National Pickling also

HAHAHa...Im not one for or against any truck; Chevy, Ford, even the Toyota....but that made me laugh when I read it.

I own a Ford



Great thread guys! Looks like I need to head to Bill's first for my tomatoes.

Great looking beds Payne. Looks as if you could even grow sweet carrots in those raised beds. Most Texas carrots have a yellow core.

Payne- did you use a tractor to make those rows so perfect or ole fashion shovel?

shovel and a hoe

Always enjoy seeing the pic's and work you put in Payne. Bill and I will be starting our 1st garden ever in a few weeks. Nothing fancy.

A few carrots, onions and tomatoes. Sure I'll be back with questions and seeking advice.

Hey Payne, have a bunch of stuff in a small greenhouse. Onions , peppers, lettuces, tomatoes, etc.. I planted seeds a month ago in peat pots. Most everything is coming up but now have a bit of mold in the soil. Wondering if I should increase airflow and light. This is a small portable greenhouse, I have kept it enclosed, so maybe too much humidity? Since I kept this outside I kept it enclosed to get soil temp up. Everything has sprouted including heirloom toms, but my Rio Grande toms never sprouted. Anyway question is about the mold. Ideas?

I would do what you said, increase light and airflow plus don't over water the seedlings. You don't want them sitting in water.
I use a turkey baster to water, easier to control the volume.



Good Luck Janie, post pics.

How deep does a raised bed need to be for tomatoes and peppers?

Four inches will do, but deeper is better.

Onions will take a hard freeze.