First year on the farm: 2016 Kansas City Missouri Garden Pics - Page 3

MajorTom · July 21, 2016

The whole week has been forecasts like this one:
"HEAT INDICES... RANGING FROM 105 TO 110 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON. FRIDAY COULD SEE HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGE FROM 110 TO 115 IN SOME LOCATIONS."
I can deal with 95-105 degree heat, no problem, but the humidity is just killing me. I've been in Phoenix when it's 110-115 and that was easier to be outside in. So far the plants are doing ok, but they aren't growing like they were. I water every night or morning now just to keep them going.

That said, I got a few dozen more toms out of the garden this morning, including this enormous, beautiful Brandywine. I also saw my first wheel bug. I had no clue they could be so painful (bite is worse than hornets, scorpions, many snakes) until I looked it up. Ain't nature cool?

bower · July 22, 2016

What a beautiful world for your beautiful kids to grow up in.

As for the heat... I can't even imagine it. I have lived in hot climates but that was so long ago. We're enjoying a spell of summer weather now too, with normal highs in the low and mid 70's, humidex in the 80's is hard to endure.

The record high temperature where I live (not counting humidex) is around 88 F.

Randall · July 22, 2016

Beautiful. What a great place!

MissS · July 23, 2016

Enjoy the Brandywine. I think they are great.

MajorTom · July 30, 2016

Update: Finally had a break in the heat.The last three days the highs have been between 85-90 which has been fantastic for the plants. Yes, 90 is a huge improvement on the wicked humidity and heat we had last week. I'm getting lots of production right now, somewhere between 40 and 50 tomatoes a day. (Including the cherry toms) I'm also getting cantaloupes, melba melons, hot peppers, various herbs, zucchinis, and a few carrots. Considering this was an experiment to see if gardening could work for me out here this has been a huge success. The whole thing could fall apart tomorrow and I'd still give it a thumbs up. Pics attached!

pixlpush · July 30, 2016

Beautiful all the way around! The fruit, the kids, the horse, the salads and the photos. keep them coming and thanks for sharing.

Ricky Shaw · July 30, 2016

A wonderful thread, and very nice work.

bower · July 30, 2016

Very sweet... and what a bounty! Glad you're getting a 'break' from the heat.

Hellmanns · July 30, 2016

I love what you are doing. Thanks for the pictures!

heirloomtomaguy · July 31, 2016

MajorTom i really look forward to your pictures. You have a artists eye and real knack for photography. Keep the pictures coming because i cant get enough.

MajorTom · August 1, 2016

Thanks for the kind words everyone. We actually had rain today. At last, after 3 weeks of humid hot heat we had a little over an inch at the house today. Kids had a blast in the rain. My three year old felt she needed a coat for 80 degree weather... not really sure why. Production on the tomatoes continues to be great. My melons and pumpkins have been hit hard by bugs, but I'm trying to stay on top of it. I'm starting to make tomatoes up anyway I can think of, including drying them out in the oven. Delicious.

MajorTom · August 8, 2016

Update: The weather has made a big shift the last couple of days and it has been gorgeous. The tomatoes are still showing signs of the extreme heat that hit them for all of July. We got a little rain, which helps too. I continue my nightly battle with the squash bugs and a couple beetles. We are cooking meals daily with the herbs, tomatoes, peppers, carrots and zucchini that keeps on giving. Really the only setback I've had is an accident that happened tonight. I managed to cut the tip of my left pointer finger off with a pair of kitchen scissors. I have logged thousands of hours of use with exacto blades and kitchen knives and never once cut myself the way I did tonight with a simple pair of scissors. LOL. Anyway, pics of farm life, cooking, gardening and kids are below!

MajorTom · August 8, 2016

We've been making salsa's, ketchup, red sauce, stir-fry's, etc. Anything we can think of for these amazing tomatoes!

Salsacharley · August 8, 2016

Sorry about your finger. Your photos are world class! Thanks for sharing the bounty and the beauty.

greyghost · August 8, 2016

All of your photos are beautiful-I enjoyed them very much. What a wonderful
experience for your children! Hope your finger heals quickly!

July 23, 2016	#34
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	Enjoy the Brandywine. I think they are great. __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 30, 2016	#36
pixlpush Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 99	Beautiful all the way around! The fruit, the kids, the horse, the salads and the photos. keep them coming and thanks for sharing. __________________ Leaping Dachshund Farms Zone 11a Manhattan Beach, CA

July 31, 2016	#40
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	MajorTom i really look forward to your pictures. You have a artists eye and real knack for photography. Keep the pictures coming because i cant get enough. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

July 22, 2016	#32
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	What a beautiful world for your beautiful kids to grow up in. As for the heat... I can't even imagine it. I have lived in hot climates but that was so long ago. We're enjoying a spell of summer weather now too, with normal highs in the low and mid 70's, humidex in the 80's is hard to endure. The record high temperature where I live (not counting humidex) is around 88 F.

July 22, 2016	#33
Randall Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: 6a Posts: 396	Beautiful. What a great place!

July 30, 2016	#37
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	A wonderful thread, and very nice work.

July 30, 2016	#39
Hellmanns Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,116	I love what you are doing. Thanks for the pictures!

August 8, 2016	#44
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	Sorry about your finger. Your photos are world class! Thanks for sharing the bounty and the beauty.

August 8, 2016	#45
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	All of your photos are beautiful-I enjoyed them very much. What a wonderful experience for your children! Hope your finger heals quickly!