wow -- I cant believe that . . .

Well, you know, I HAD all kinds of plans. Between the weather conditions, and the kitty cat who somehow got tangled up in the barbed wire fence (necessitating a trip to the vet), my plans went all to pieces. The kitty is going to be fine and I can plant today in the (hopefully) better weather conditions.

The wind was so fierce, though, that I didn't plant a darn thing outside or in containers. By 3 p.m., it was 83.3 degrees here at our house, the wind was blowing like crazy (although it would, in fact, get drastically worse after dark) and we had 10% humidity.

I'm going to try today to get the plants into the pots, but might not plant into the ground until Thursday. It depends on what the wind is doing. I can't put them in the ground if the winds are too high or the winds will beat them to death in just a couple of hours. Young plants are very prone to wind damage.

Since I couldn't work outside, I "potted up" tiny tomato plants from their peat pellets (6 to 16 plants per pellet) to small Dixie cups filled with dirt. I got 40 or 50 done in between monitoring the fires and keeping DH and DS apprised of the temp/humdity/wind speed, etc.

I also carried out all my baby plants and let them get a few hours of real sunlight during the morning hours BEFORE the worst of the winds arrived. Then, I carried them onto the screened-in back porch, where they had filtered sun, and finally I carried them back inside to the plant shelf shortly before sunset.

Today I also hope to pot up basils and peppers into their paper cups as they are outgrowing their peat pellets.

Dawn

I managed to plant about 1/3 of our onion crop yesterday. That entailed a lot of work in soil preparation. Now, I understand that temps are going down to about 25 F. tonight. I hope they are going to be okay!

Dawn, everyone keeps telling you that you ought to write a book. I haven't said anything. But I figure I ought to... I agree. You could do an informative book, perhaps with some good anecdotes and aim for helping those in Oklahoma and the Ozarks. I think it would be a hit.

George

George,

Y'all are going to give me a big head, but thanks for the lovely compliment.

Personally, I think YOU should do a book about all the heirloom seeds (and poultry) you grow and save. I feel like such a lazy slacker compared to you.....buying my seeds instead of saving them!

I think your onions will be OK but I hope they were smaller than 1/4" in diameter. (I don't know why but onions that are larger than 1/4" in diameter when planted often will bolt and set seed after being exposed to temps below 45 degrees, but onions that were smaller when planted do not react that way.)

The incessant wind, wildfires and cold nights this week are cramping my style. I am REALLY ready to plant, plant, plant, and it is too, too cold.

Nothing here is on fire tonight, so it is quiet and relaxing, unlike last night.

Dawn

Dawn, What variety of grape tomatoes do you grow?

It is just one called "Grape". Not a huge favorite taste-wise (Black Cherry and Rosalita taste better, as do SunGold and Riesentraube) but it produces very early.

Yes, my onions were quite small. I still have to get the rest out. I've noticed that the ones sold in local stores are about 2 to 3 times thicker (but no where near as green). Yesterday, in the time I had, I got one of my wife's birthday presents planted, a peach tree. Jerreth is SO EXCITED about our little orchard that she asked for trees this year.

Last summer friend gave us some grape tomatoes, which had volunteered from his previous year's planting. They were pretty good. Fact is, my wife and daughters preferred them over my tomatoes, at least for snacking. So, this year I started a bunch from seed we saved (Now F3 generation). I suspect these will breed true. Jerreth and I balance each other out. I tend to grow for historical interest, genetics and preservation. She wants what she uses and tastes good to her, regardless if the plant is unique or not! So, this year I'm putting in Roma and Grape tomatoes :)

George

George,

Well, I agree with Jerreth that the plants that produce crops that she uses and which taste good should be a priority! (Don't you hate it when 'the women' gang up on you!) And, believe me, I also do know it is important to maintain certain seedlines for historical purposes, genetics and preservation. Luckily, you have both the space and the energy to plant, maintain and harvest both!

Grape tomatoes are tasty. The best ones I ever tasted were the original Santa which, as you probably know, are not commercially available as seed for reasons I won't bother repeating.

What kind of peach did you plant? And, also, do you have any of the native plums growing on your property? We have sand plums and Mexican plums and both (although their fruit is too small for fresh eating) make a great plum jelly.

I bet it was cold there last night, and I hope the onions are OK. Our low here was 19 degrees.

Dawn