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MiHale

(11,598 posts)
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 08:38 AM Apr 25

And I did everything wrong!...

Last autumn we still had some tomato plants that sprung up in the compost pile that were still granting us their fruits. It was a cherry-tomato like fruit from some hybrid we tried or the failed Million Bell plant that wound up in the compost. They were really good…thought I’d save some seeds. Immediately went to NewHendoLib’s tutorial on seed saving.
Started good…then stuff happened and the seeds were forgotten about…checked in on them and thought I’d left them in the water too long…whew, they were mostly ok…laid out to dry…again…stuff on the homestead needed doing…forgot them. When remembered the seeds looked like a whole-grain communion host.
I kept them…why?…

Well here they are…
Ready for the greenhouse…



The Basil cloning is still coming along…we’re companion planting basil with various other veggies.



Speaking of the others…here’s the starts of various peppers and some roma tomatoes. Potatoes have been planted in the greenhouse already along with the cabbage.




Next Wednesday the low is forecast to be 33, lowest temp for a while…greenhouse should be safe.
Could this be the second year in a row frost may not be a big concern? The plots will thicken…with veggies.

Tomorrow is my wife’s birthday…how many guys would gift their spouse of 52 years a wheelbarrow full of custom mixed soil…and have her ecstatic over her present?
My compost pile awaits…







29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
And I did everything wrong!... (Original Post) MiHale Apr 25 OP
Beautiful! Scrivener7 Apr 25 #1
Thanks. MiHale Apr 25 #2
All looks great. I have a row of lettuce planted. Much more to come.Herbs are fun. twodogsbarking Apr 25 #3
Thanks...fun for sure! MiHale Apr 25 #4
Your plants look beautiful! Diamond_Dog Apr 25 #5
With ya on the home grown tomatoes...❤️'em... MiHale Apr 25 #15
Very nice!! 58Sunliner Apr 25 #6
Looks like my old marijuana grow tent! mountain grammy Apr 25 #7
That is my cannabis grow tent!... MiHale Apr 25 #16
Everything looks great MiHale, JMCKUSICK Apr 25 #8
Thanks...👍 MiHale Apr 25 #17
You're off to a good start! QED Apr 25 #9
Wowsa!..whatta beast... MiHale Apr 25 #18
I loved loved your post! FormerOstrich Apr 25 #10
Last year our biggest compost producer ... MiHale Apr 25 #19
Gorgeous! What kind of structure is that your plants are growing in? Trueblue Texan Apr 25 #11
That's my grow tent I've set up in our garage... MiHale Apr 25 #20
Thanks, MiHale! nt Trueblue Texan Saturday #29
Those seeds really wanted to live! Just like the ones that survive the sewage treatment plants.... erronis Apr 25 #12
Sometimes we learn from our mistakes...sometimes... MiHale Apr 25 #21
Sounds like the best kind of present a gardener or garden lover could want! calimary Apr 25 #13
Those are the tomatoes... MiHale Apr 25 #22
LOVE those leaves! calimary Apr 25 #28
Wow! 2naSalit Apr 25 #14
And sometimes ya get inedible squash...🤣🤪 MiHale Apr 25 #23
I had a basil plant that bolted... QED Apr 25 #24
Bad to the bone!...🤣👍 MiHale Apr 25 #25
This is such a relief, MiHale! True Dough Apr 25 #26
Got a good laugh from that one, True... MiHale Apr 25 #27

Diamond_Dog

(36,775 posts)
5. Your plants look beautiful!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 09:08 AM
Apr 25

They just weren’t ready to quit on you. 😄

Nothing better than a home grown tomato.

Ours are about a foot tall (sprouted from seed) and ready to go in the garden, but I totally hear you about other chores taking priority.

Enjoy your gardening and Happy Birthday to Mrs. MiHale!

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
15. With ya on the home grown tomatoes...❤️'em...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:29 PM
Apr 25

Potatoes from your own dirt are next.

mountain grammy

(27,756 posts)
7. Looks like my old marijuana grow tent!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:03 AM
Apr 25

that basil is beautiful!!! Everything else looks great too.

QED

(3,141 posts)
9. You're off to a good start!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:31 AM
Apr 25

In AZ, things are a bit out of control right now. I bought this little $5 tomato plant 2 months ago and now it's pretty much taken over. It's loaded with blossoms and ripening tomatoes. The mammoth sunflowers are providing afternoon shade and will be a tasty treat for our rosy faced lovebirds. I just hope the birds will leave the tomatoes alone.

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
18. Wowsa!..whatta beast...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:36 PM
Apr 25

At the 44th parallel we have to wait a little…ground temperature is about 50 in some areas. Beautiful raised bed.

FormerOstrich

(2,813 posts)
10. I loved loved your post!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:32 AM
Apr 25

I have been getting a bumper crop of tomato from the seedlings I transplanted out of our compost. I retired in February and have applied to the Master Gardener program for our county. The always have more applicants than open slots. I'll know if I made round 1 on May 2nd.

Thank you so much for the tale and pics!!

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
19. Last year our biggest compost producer ...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:39 PM
Apr 25

was butternut squash…huge fruits…about 5 pounds each. Dehydrated most.

Trueblue Texan

(3,305 posts)
11. Gorgeous! What kind of structure is that your plants are growing in?
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:38 AM
Apr 25

Also where is the tutorial you mention for seed starting? Thanks for posting and sharing!

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
20. That's my grow tent I've set up in our garage...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:48 PM
Apr 25

well not so much a garage as the indoor grow room.

The tutorials are pinned at the top of the Gardening forum.
NewHendoLib is the host. He is a very accomplished gardener. The first link is to the seed saving tutorial, the second is the seed starting one.
Before the last name change his name was…NRaleighLiberal…same guy. Tons of info.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/115968

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1159211



erronis

(19,352 posts)
12. Those seeds really wanted to live! Just like the ones that survive the sewage treatment plants....
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:39 AM
Apr 25

calimary

(86,053 posts)
13. Sounds like the best kind of present a gardener or garden lover could want!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:40 AM
Apr 25

What’s the one in the top photo with the BEAUTIFUL leaves?

I look forward to more updates!

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
23. And sometimes ya get inedible squash...🤣🤪
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:59 PM
Apr 25

Thanks, 2na. Yes volunteers are the most fun.
Move delayed? Plans are hard to make when the ground is constantly shifting.

QED

(3,141 posts)
24. I had a basil plant that bolted...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 01:32 PM
Apr 25

and the next year I had baby basil plants all over the yard. Like that's a bad thing, right?

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
25. Bad to the bone!...🤣👍
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:01 PM
Apr 25

I was lucky one year and caught the seeds at harvest. Tons of them. Grew with them for years…not so much luck lately.

True Dough

(22,854 posts)
26. This is such a relief, MiHale!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:04 PM
Apr 25

I've seen so many social media posts declaring, "You're doing it wrong!"

I thought it was directed at me. Now I know it was all about you!



Happy growing season, good sir!

MiHale

(11,598 posts)
27. Got a good laugh from that one, True...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:34 PM
Apr 25

It will be a great outdoor growing season…looking forward to this year.

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