tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967623240421279757.post4930195363543942842..comments2023-10-23T06:41:24.218-07:00Comments on notes from La Mancha: ...garden-to-be...catsingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02527167700079425025noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967623240421279757.post-29767814462211024152009-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:002009-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00...we're supposed to get up to 96 today... the......we're supposed to get up to 96 today... then 94...79...69...67...<br />typical for April/May here...where we can have weeks in the summer of 100+<br />:P...that's why pots are hard here...<br />things in the sun get dried-out real fast...I love the flavors of Brandywine & Pink Caspian...but I also like the "better beef" too...<br />love those big meaty slices...yum !catsingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02527167700079425025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967623240421279757.post-91738672239991781262009-04-20T07:42:00.000-07:002009-04-20T07:42:00.000-07:00The good thing about pot gardening is that I can d...The good thing about pot gardening is that I can dump out all the soil and replenish as required on a yearly basis. It all gets put on a large tarp and mixed with fresh soil, slow release fertilizer and amendments, then repotted. These are big pots, and hold a lot of soil. Since the pots are that foam-y resin fake pottery sort, they have the added benefit of insulating value - the roots don't get too warm. I have had great yields in the past, but the last two varieties of plants didn't perform as expected. I could go back to Better Bush, which is good for cooking but not as good for eating raw. I don't know. And they amended the end-of-week forecast by a whole 10 deg warmer for the lows. I am definitely preparing pots next weekend and planting next week.The Calico Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01772374749065425388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967623240421279757.post-43200079788259721882009-04-19T16:23:00.000-07:002009-04-19T16:23:00.000-07:00...now I'm jealous...haven't found the Bra......now I'm jealous...haven't found the Brandywines yet...<br />my mom would remind me that you can't put tomatoes in the same ground for successive years & expect a decent crop...[nematodes]<br />more important is the amount of direct sun...a big pot is good if you don't let it dry out, but they hate getting their feet "hot" & dry...[don't forget to amend the soil...]<br />varieties are so regional...just remember that the heirlooms taste wonderful...but have very little disease resistance...that's why they created the hybrids...<br />it is suddenly hot here...<br />in a couple of weeks, it could be cool & overcast...you never know...<br />good luck & happy gardening...catsingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02527167700079425025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967623240421279757.post-27168504746437522052009-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:002009-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00Oh, rats, I am so jealous - can't put in my tomato...Oh, rats, I am so jealous - can't put in my tomatoes yet, Thursday is supposed to get back down to 31 degrees. We just can't seem to give up and have Spring here. Since you seem to know your 'maters, what would be a good kind to grow in an enormous pot...around 24 inches in diameter. I have two that flank my annual flower bed/birdbath area, and have bought varieties in the past supposedly good for pot growing, but am not impressed. Do you think heirlooms would do better? I saw Brandywines at the hardware yesterday.The Calico Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01772374749065425388noreply@blogger.com