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MiHale

(11,581 posts)
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 08:38 AM Friday

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 Friday OP
Beautiful! Scrivener7 Friday #1
Thanks. MiHale Friday #2
All looks great. I have a row of lettuce planted. Much more to come.Herbs are fun. twodogsbarking Friday #3
Thanks...fun for sure! MiHale Friday #4
Your plants look beautiful! Diamond_Dog Friday #5
With ya on the home grown tomatoes...❤️'em... MiHale Friday #15
Very nice!! 58Sunliner Friday #6
Looks like my old marijuana grow tent! mountain grammy Friday #7
That is my cannabis grow tent!... MiHale Friday #16
Everything looks great MiHale, JMCKUSICK Friday #8
Thanks...👍 MiHale Friday #17
You're off to a good start! QED Friday #9
Wowsa!..whatta beast... MiHale Friday #18
I loved loved your post! FormerOstrich Friday #10
Last year our biggest compost producer ... MiHale Friday #19
Gorgeous! What kind of structure is that your plants are growing in? Trueblue Texan Friday #11
That's my grow tent I've set up in our garage... MiHale Friday #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 Friday #12
Sometimes we learn from our mistakes...sometimes... MiHale Friday #21
Sounds like the best kind of present a gardener or garden lover could want! calimary Friday #13
Those are the tomatoes... MiHale Friday #22
LOVE those leaves! calimary Friday #28
Wow! 2naSalit Friday #14
And sometimes ya get inedible squash...🤣🤪 MiHale Friday #23
I had a basil plant that bolted... QED Friday #24
Bad to the bone!...🤣👍 MiHale Friday #25
This is such a relief, MiHale! True Dough Friday #26
Got a good laugh from that one, True... MiHale Friday #27

Diamond_Dog

(36,744 posts)
5. Your plants look beautiful!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 09:08 AM
Friday

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

(11,581 posts)
15. With ya on the home grown tomatoes...❤️'em...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:29 PM
Friday

Potatoes from your own dirt are next.

mountain grammy

(27,734 posts)
7. Looks like my old marijuana grow tent!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:03 AM
Friday

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

QED

(3,139 posts)
9. You're off to a good start!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:31 AM
Friday

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

(11,581 posts)
18. Wowsa!..whatta beast...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:36 PM
Friday

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
Friday

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

(11,581 posts)
19. Last year our biggest compost producer ...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:39 PM
Friday

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

Trueblue Texan

(3,300 posts)
11. Gorgeous! What kind of structure is that your plants are growing in?
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:38 AM
Friday

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

MiHale

(11,581 posts)
20. That's my grow tent I've set up in our garage...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:48 PM
Friday

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

(19,282 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
Friday

calimary

(85,992 posts)
13. Sounds like the best kind of present a gardener or garden lover could want!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 10:40 AM
Friday

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

I look forward to more updates!

MiHale

(11,581 posts)
23. And sometimes ya get inedible squash...🤣🤪
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 12:59 PM
Friday

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

QED

(3,139 posts)
24. I had a basil plant that bolted...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 01:32 PM
Friday

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

MiHale

(11,581 posts)
25. Bad to the bone!...🤣👍
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:01 PM
Friday

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

(22,838 posts)
26. This is such a relief, MiHale!
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:04 PM
Friday

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

(11,581 posts)
27. Got a good laugh from that one, True...
Fri Apr 25, 2025, 03:34 PM
Friday

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

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