June 23, 2012
My tomatoes are finally in the ground, though not until June 18–three weeks later than last year and well past the date they were planted when I lived in Massachusetts. (Bi-coastal moment)
I planted Cherokee Purple and Green Zebra again this year and I’m still looking for Stupice since it is reliable here in the fogbelt. Any tomatoes with Russian parentage do well in my coastal location, so I’m trying Debaro, a black plum that hails from Siberia. Japanese Trifele came with glowing descriptions from my Point Loma tomato peddler who raises 1100 tomato plants in her backyard every year. I couldn’t resist a very stout looking Black Cherry tomato at the nursery. Indigo Rose, a purple tomato plant will be featured in an upcoming post.
Here’s how I ensure the tomatoes get off to a good start. I dig a deep hole and loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole.
Then I put my special soil mixture in the bottom of the hole and layer it along with the soil as I fill in around the plant.
I keep a small worm bin and use a trowel full of the worm compost along with my garden compost and Dr. Earth’s All Purpose Fertilizer. I also strip the lower tomato leaves so that roots will grow along the stem that is underground.
Today, the sun was out most of the day. The tomatoes seemed to drink in the sunshine and warmth. I’m done with June gloom, though we still have another week of June.
