Saturday, February 09, 2008

A very disappointing year for tomatoes


This is my fourth year planting tomatoes in my winter garden. The first two years were a success. The last two years have been a disappointment, especially this year.
I have room for 6 to 7 plants and I always buy the cherry, grape and fat boy types. This year I added compost, peat moss, fertilized before planting and I turned the soil over. I did everything the experts tell you to do. I made sure the plants were watered plentifully during our drought conditions.
What was my reward? Only a few grape tomatoes, not worth the effort.
I have come to the conclusion that gardening is like everything else in life-- sometimes you succeed and sometimes you don’t. From now on I think I’ll stick to what works in the garden, and get my tomatoes at my super market or the local U-pick farms.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I know about challenges of tomatoes...though it's a problem with cool and wet, not hot and dry...they're just a heartbreaker of a plant, aren't they?

Surya said...

Don't give up. Why don't try to plant tomatoes in pots? Change the soil everytime you sow seeds. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

When plants don't grow as I expect them to, I, too, am disappointed. However, I always look at this as an opportunity to grow something else.

Jan Always Growing

Jeanette said...

Hi Rusty. I put in 2 Roma tomatoe plants and kept my 2 friends supplied over xmas. i throw a bag of dryed "Moo Poo" (thats what its called when you buy it)on the ground gentle dig it in then plant works wonders... i have just blogged a few bromiliads.. Jen

Tira said...

Don't give up, this is my fourth year, too. The first and third years were prolific, the second very poor. I realize it was because of lack of fruit set due to poor weather and few insects to pollinate. My tomato plants were just transplanted a couple weeks ago and I am hoping for a good harvest in 3 months.

Danielles Garden said...

I'm with you. I wonder if the plants got leaf curl or wilt. Oh well. Keep trying.

Not Hannah said...

My father recommends changing up where you plant your tomatoes every year or two. If you're short on space, could you put them in pots and move them to another location?

Oh. Hey! I surfed on from a Green Thumb Sunday person's blog!