Pics of my 2013 Gardening Season in NJ.

[efisakov]

I got the bag of seeds, but the only one that I tried turned to be a wrong seed, so I am questioning whether to try it again/or is it worth it? I do have few pink tomatoes that are of a good production. This year many of my tomatoes do not have consistent taste. In general I prefer black and trying few pinks to compare. So far black tomatoes are winning.

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by efisakov

I got the bag of seeds, but the only one that I tried turned to be a wrong seed, so I am questioning whether to try it again/or is it worth it? I do have few pink tomatoes that are of a good production. This year many of my tomatoes do not have consistent taste. In general I prefer black and trying few pinks to compare. So far black tomatoes are winning.

Ah ok. Did you get the seeds in a trade or from a seedhouse/company? Those errors with seeds happen from time to time you know. But I wouldn't stop trying to grow out the intended variety you wanted just because someone or a seed company sent you the wrong one by mistake (whether due to them or some mutation in the seed). That's happened to me before too and many I'm sure.

I would get another set of Pruden's Purple seeds and try it again. But that's just me. And from looking at your gardening thread this season/year, it looks like you've been getting a good harvest of tomatoes already.

~Alfredo

[gssgarden]

Very impressive selection there!! Everything looks like it should be in a magazine!! lol

Great job!!

Greg

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by gssgarden

Very impressive selection there!! Everything looks like it should be in a magazine!! lol

Great job!!

Greg

Thanks for the compliment Greg!

~Alfredo

[Alfredo]

Hello Tomatoville,

Some pics:

IMG_0956.jpg Moreton F1 Hybrid tomatoes.

IMG_0958.jpg Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash.

IMG_0959.jpg Zinnias.

IMG_0960.jpg Zinnias growing with the Jaune Flamme tomatoes.

IMG_0961.jpg Heirloom Grandpa Ott's Morning Glories.

IMG_0962.jpg Wildflower Garden.

IMG_0971.jpg Pruden's Purple tomatoes.

IMG_0975.jpg Morning Glories and Marigolds.

IMG_0977.jpg End of driveway where Wildflower garden area and Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash is.

IMG_0981.jpg "California Dreamin" Rose.

IMG_0982.jpg

IMG_0983.jpg

IMG_0984.jpg Elephant's Ear plant.

IMG_0985.jpg

IMG_0988.jpg Sunpatiens and Lemon Balm.

IMG_0992.jpg Bird's Nest Fern.

IMG_0993.jpg Hosta and Ferns.

IMG_0998.jpg Castor Bean.

IMG_0999.jpg

IMG_1000.jpg Elephant's Ear.

IMG_1002.jpg Heirloom Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory.

IMG_1008.jpg My daily morning walk through the garden around the house.

IMG_1009.jpg

~Alfredo

[Alfredo]

Another round of photos:

IMG_1010.jpg Heirloom Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory climbing up the house.

IMG_1019.jpg Lemon plant.

IMG_1024.jpg "California Dreamin" Rose.

IMG_1036.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomato.

IMG_1038.jpg KC-146 tomatoes.

IMG_1039.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomatoes.

IMG_1040.jpg Kosovo flower blossoms.

IMG_1042.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomato.

IMG_1044.jpg Scarlet Runner Bean.

IMG_1046.jpg Belle Blanche Datura flowering.

IMG_1048.jpg Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash taking over.

IMG_1049.jpg Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash flower.

IMG_1053.jpg About to bloom in the wildflower garden area.

IMG_1056.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomato.

IMG_1058.jpg Rose of Sharon.

IMG_1059.jpg Zinnias.

IMG_1060.jpg Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash.

IMG_1065.jpg "California Dreamin" Roses.

IMG_1066.jpg Belle Blanch Datura flowering.

IMG_1067.jpg Hosta about to flower.

IMG_1068.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomato.

IMG_1070.jpg Borage flowering.

IMG_1071.jpg Borage flowering.

IMG_1073.jpg Heirloom Pruden's Purple tomato.

IMG_1075.jpg Rosita Eggplant forming.

IMG_1076.jpg Scarlet Runner Bean.

IMG_1077.jpg Heirloom Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory.

IMG_1078.jpg "California Dreamin" Roses.

IMG_1079.jpg Kosovo tomato, weighing 1 lb 2 5/8 ounces.

~Alfredo

[Mojave]

Beautiful garden Alfredo!

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by Mojave

Beautiful garden Alfredo!

Thanks Mojave (Bill)!

~Alfredo

[Salsacharley]

Alfredo,

Watch out for that Grandpa Ott. He's going to climb over your roof and start stealing neighborhood pets.

Your Rose of Sharon is beautiful.

Thank you for showing us what it is like not living in a drought.

By the way...what do you do in your spare time? Oil Paint?

Your place is a wonderful place to hang out.

Charley

[MissS]

Wow, things are really looking great. Other than the beautiful way that you have laid things out, I also find it amazing that you have not any insect damage on your plants. No snails or slugs on the zinnia or hosta's. No Japanese Beetles feeding on the Roses or Rose of Sharon. Everything looks so pristine.
What do you use for insect control?

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

Alfredo,

Watch out for that Grandpa Ott. He's going to climb over your roof and start stealing neighborhood pets.

Your Rose of Sharon is beautiful.

Thank you for showing us what it is like not living in a drought.

By the way...what do you do in your spare time? Oil Paint?

Your place is a wonderful place to hang out.

Charley

Thanks Charley,
I hope Grandpa Ott would take some of the neighborhood pets .
I love the Rose of Sharon, it's a reliable late flowering bush that's low maintenance, and more importantly for me, reseeds itself so I get to transplant more to other parts of the garden or to give away. We have had a good amount of rain up here in NJ oooops sorry for rubbing it in. Just kidding.

And yes I do Oil paint... I'm a Freelance/Fine Artist (and I do some landscaping and housepainting jobs on the side). I fortunately and thankfully receive requests for commissioned portraits and landscapes often.

I also exhibit my oil paintings throughout the year when I get the opportunity to. The next exhibition I have a couple paintings in, will be this upcoming November, in the Historical Museum of Ponce in Puerto Rico. So if any tomatovillians reside in Puerto Rico or happen to be vacationing there in November, you're ALL invited to come.

By the way, if anyone is curious, you can see my artwork on my website here:

http://www.alfredogomezjr.com

~Alfredo

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by MissS

Wow, things are really looking great. Other than the beautiful way that you have laid things out, I also find it amazing that you have not any insect damage on your plants. No snails or slugs on the zinnia or hosta's. No Japanese Beetles feeding on the Roses or Rose of Sharon. Everything looks so pristine.
What do you use for insect control?

Hey MissS (Patti),

Thanks, so far the season has been pretty good for me.

I actually don't use any kind of commercial sprays for insect control. I just rely on attracting as many beneficial insects as possible by planting a diverse array of flowering plants/herbs.

So for example, I always sow A LOT of parsley and cilantro throughout the garden/house and leave a good portion of it to go to flower, and that attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, assassin bugs and lacewings. There's a lot of plants that when left free to flower will bring in a whole bunch of the beneficial bugs to help control the bad bugs that attack several vegetables. That's really all I do to control insects.

Well that and I've been known to catch a spider or two in the house and carry it out to the garden.

~Alfredo

[newatthiskat]

I have really enjoyed looking through your garden thread! Beautiful pic and way more than just tomatoes and peppers. Just gorgeous.

[Alfredo]

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

I have really enjoyed looking through your garden thread! Beautiful pic and way more than just tomatoes and peppers. Just gorgeous.

Thank you newatthiskat!

~Alfredo

[TNTiger]

Such beautiful gardens! It looks so inviting and peaceful.

Sorry about your pine tree but I had to laugh because I tend to see every available spot as a new place to plant something! As some of my summer plants are nearing their end I am not as sad when I realize I can start a new plant in that spot!