The maters are in
 

It was a long weekend folks, but the maters are finally in the ground!
We moved in December and I had to start from scratch on the tomato patch.
First I picked a corner of the yard near the fence that gets about 12+ hours of
sun a day.
Second, my dad and I spent a few gruelling hours hand digging the 6 week old
SOD up from a 100+ square foot area.
Next, we hand dug and broke up the existing soil/red clay to a depth of 6~12".
(This red clay is great as it is not very dense, breaks up easy, and hold tons of
moisture!)
Then we mixed in organic soil from the local garden supply, along with a few
bags of cow manure, some lime, and organic fertilizer. This raised the height about 10" above grade.
Finally I topped the border of this new 5x18' bed with cyprus mulch to make a
nice weed/mud free border around the perimeter.

It is now supporting 18 of the finest tomato plants around, with hopes that a
lot of sun, great soil, and constant attention will lead to the largest & best harvest I have ever had!

Now, guess what variety got put in the garden first.

The first one to get it right will win a no-expenses paid trip for two to Tomatopalooza[tm] VI this July, where they will get the pleasue of sampling a
tomato from said first planted variety! ;)

Lee

OK. I guess I should be fair and tell you what I planted to make the guess easier.

Dreamy F2 x2
Dwarf Emerald Giant F4
Summertime Gold F4
Tasmanian Chocolate x2 F4
Cuostralee
BW x Tad F6 (Gotta name this sucker this year!)
Big Beef
Spear's Tennessee Green
Large Barred Boar
Orange Heirloom
Sungold Select II
Witty F4 - Big Yellow (Gotta name this one too!)
Ferris Wheel
Stokes County
Tidwell German
Djenna Lee's Golden Girl
Pale Leaf Mortgage Lifter
KBX
Gary O'Sena
Joe Thieneman's Austrailian Heart

Awesome Lee... but for some strange reason I read the headline and was preparing myself for a visual assault, with Lee pictured reclining amid a veritable sea of red, pink, orange, yellow and green orbs. Ah, well, my day will come soon enough. Now, grow you suckers... g-r-o-w!

And you planted Green Giant first.

Sorry Grub, didn't mean to mislead. Once the rain stops, (~ 2" in 12 hours!) I'll
snap & post some photos of the bed.

Also, you get another guess as I should've posted what I was growing to be
fair. Although it shouldn't be necessary for a correct response, hint, hint!

Lee

Cuostralee, what else?:lol:

Djenna [B]Lee[/B]'s Golden Girl?

Did I win? Did I win? Did I win?!?!

Greg

Stokes county ?!?!?

-Jimmy

Cuostralee, what else? :))


Since I know Carolyn won, and you said 'for two', can I be the second person? I would be honored to join Dr.M on this all-expenses paid trip (and with the chocolate included I hope you have a large bank roll Lee!)

Duane

OK, as the suspense is too much...

Yes, it was Cuostralee. My fave mater had to be the first in
the garden!

So Duane, you can be the second person, but re-read the post. This is a no-expenses paid trip! I didn't want to have
to put any tax liability on you if you won! :)

Lee

So Duane, you can be the second person

****

No, no, since I can't make it to Tpalooza b/c of my current physical disability problems I cede FIRST PLACE to Duane for this NO-expense trip to Tpalooza, and he can take anyone he wants to as the second NO EXPENSE person.;)

Duane, you can contact me about what you might wish to pay me off with for ceding to you.:lol:

Carolyn, thanks for ceding the win. The check is in the mail. :twisted:

Lee, no-expense trip means I pay no expenses and you pay all the expenses :P !!!

Thanks!

PM and I will send you my Paypal info. $1000.00 should cover the weekend. Your generosity is so very much appreciated!


Glad you got the garden in. Another 3 weeks for me here, but we are finally getting there. Long winter here in the northland.

Duane

Good one Lee. Looking forward to the pics.