Happy Fourth everyone!
Just three weeks after planting tomatoes, eggplants and peppers in my new beds, I can confidently state that the growth is amazing. You can read about the transformation of useless shrubs into productive soil and see how small the veggie plants were by clicking here.
Not only are the plants tall, they’re burly. I have never had tomato stalks this thick. I’m a bit surprised by all this unbridled “phyto enthusiasm,” because everyone I talk to has been whining about all the rain and how it’s been messing up their tomato crops.
These are the eggplants and peppers. I have fed the plants just once, with seaweed emulsion. I figure they are getting plenty of nutrients from the soil, which is mostly compost.
So the experiment has been a rousing success thus far. I’ll keep you posted.
Digging RI 
Wow, amazing! Looks like you’ve got quite the bumper crop going. All the rain is doing these plants good. My garden is growing like mad the same way. A little more sun would have been nice, but I’d rather have the rain and less sun than the relentless heat and drought of last year!
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I agree. It’s so nice not to have to water. We’re on odd/even restrictions already.
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Great googly-moogly, dn! That’s some good gardening!
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Can’t take the credit, CJ. That has to go to those micro critters living in the compost – and to the sun, of course.
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Looking good, Cynthia, and SO much better than shrubs! My tomatoes and eggplant are super this year too although mine are in Earth Boxes. I actually have a zillion green tomatoes on the plants, and I swear it’s because they water is controlled. I can’t wait for the first of the crop; there is absolutely nothing like a garden tomato fresh from the vine!
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Kathy, I looked at them again this morning, and while I could add some plants to the eggplant-pepper bed, the tomatoes have grown so quickly that they’re shading the weeds!
Finding veggie plants to add to the eggplant bed is problematic.I guess the nurseries didn’t want to be caught short with inventory this year, so they didn’t stock a lot of plants.
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Looks to me as if you have plenty! What varieties are you growing? Mine are Romas and Celebrities with Husky cherry tomatoes in pots. I have to say that this is the first year for Celebrity, and I’m impressed! I can’t even see the eggplant tags anymore so they’re who knows what until the boxes are emptied, but they are huge with lots of pretty purple flowers! 🙂 I have never had luck with eggplant so my fingers are crossed.
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Four Amish paste, which I am told is more prolific than San Marzano, which I have grown in the past with mixed results. (I really think they need that volcanic Mount Vesuvius soil, which we definitely do not have in RI.) Sungold which I cannot resist. Pineapple, and one other whose name I don’t have on hand. An heirloom, probably black or purple. That’s it, though – just 7 plants. I tried growing Celebrity once and it didn’t do much for me. Good luck with the eggplants…
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I’ve never had luck with San Marzanos either, but I have gotten at least 15 lbs. of Romas from one plant so I stick with them now. I’m told Celebrity is great for salads etc. I only have the 8 plants on my deck, 6 in earth boxes and the 2 cherries in pots. That’s plenty for
the 4 of us, even putting by a bunch. Let us know how Pineapple fares; I’ve never heard of it. I love the look of heirlooms, but they’re not big producers for me (except for the Roma variety).
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Nope, heirlooms aren’t big producers. I faithfully grew “Brandywine” for years until I came to my senses and realized that two of three fruits – usually with large cracks – was not sufficient return on my time investment.
That said, the IDEA of heirlooms appeals to me, especially the seed-saving part. And some are strangely beautiful and delicious. I enjoy the experimenting though….and try to grow something different every year.
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those are serious tomato plants! Reminds me that i need to get out there with the fish/seaweed stuff. it’s been raining for like 2 weeks though!
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It’s been so hot here, I’d be happy with some rain. We’re on odd/even watering now too because of all the summer people who absolutely must wash their cars and water their lawns.
That fish-seaweed fert is awesome.
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