Dwarfs at the garden center

[Susan66]

I heard that a local garden center had a sale on mushroom compost, (buy one get one) so I went down there to get a few bags. While I was there I checked out their selection of vegetables. While they had all the regular stuff (Celebrities, Romas, Sweet 100's), I also noticed they had some obvious dwarfs- without any variety names. They called them "Patio tomatoes" and left it at that. They were gorgeous plants, sturdy, short, rugose leaves, nice and broad. Textbook. But frustrating, since I didn't have a clue which one (s) they were offering. Not that I need any more tomato plants this year - I have around 200 plants now, which is downright ridiculous for two people to start with, but then, we have a lot of jars and canner and a dehydrator, so we'll deal. But they wanted $8 a plant for the dwarfs. I was tempted, but think I'll put a few varieties on my grow list and buy seeds instead, for next year.
Susan

[dmforcier]

I'm growing some patio dwarfage this year. I don't think I could stand not knowing what I was growing, though. Fortunately, seeds are readily available.




200 plants!?! What do you do, bathe in tomato juice? <wink>

[Jeannine Anne]

There is a variety called Patio and they are just what you describe, I grow a couple every year.They have been around a good long time.

[Susan66]

Originally Posted by Jeannine Anne

There is a variety called Patio and they are just what you describe, I grow a couple every year.They have been around a good long time.

Thanks Jeanine, it relieves my mind to know that this is a named variety. It is a change for this particular garden center to have much in the way of op varieties.

[dmforcier]

So you going to try one now?

[Susan66]

(Snicker) This is the first time I have ever grown this many plants, and the first time in close to 30 years that I have started my own plants from seed. Long story- I recently retired (not my own idea) and moved in with my sister where I have gardened for many years. We inherited my parents house and 13 acres, as opposed to the 1/3 acre of shade I've had for the last 10 years. Just going a little nuts with the freedom to work in my garden!

[Susan66]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

So you going to try one now?

Maybe. Pretty pricey. Do I really need one more plant,

[Susan66]

I may be putting baskets of tomatoes out by the road with a coffee can with a slot in the top for a self serve veggie stand.....

[BigVanVader]

Lol, I basically did the same thing when we bought our house last year. I had never had the freedom to do what I wanted or enough space. If I was retired I'd go even bigger. Good luck with it, I planted 150 tomatoes last year and it was overwhelming to say the least, but I learned a ton and it was great fun.

[Deborah]

I gave mine away. It pumps out lots of fruit and the taste is OK, very mild, but after two chews it becomes soft and cold creamy. UGH!

[Susan66]

I am having fun. Learning how to save my own seeds, making blossom bags (no way am I paying what they charge in the catalogs. I have a sewing machine and I know how to use it. ) Now all I have to do is learn how to use them... reading a bunch of different threads on tville about all different aspects of growing stuff.
Bought Craig's book Epic Tomatoes and the Straw Bale one also. Getting my act together to buy Carolyn's book also. But I'm not the best at purchasing books online.
And I'm growing lots of things besides tomatoes. But because I went so far overboard, I have made three raised beds and planted some of the overflow out into the spots in what used to be lawn where we dumped leaves last fall. In addition to the main garden - about 40' x 85' of fenced in garden probably 300 or 400 ft from the house. Still looking for spots to put the rest of my filderkraut.
And mulching like mad, working on the flower gardens, etc.etc.
(Giggle)
Susan

[Susan66]

Realize - I will not have nearly the production in WNY that you have in South Carolina. In Missouri I never had to raise more than a dozen plants to can 100 quarts of tomatoes when I lived there back in the 80's. Here, with 40 plants last year, we canned 50 quarts before running out of season.

[Susan66]

Of course last year was a pretty poor growing year- kind of like what some of the tville folks in a couple of spots in the country are going through this year-- rain rain rain. The only things we could grow last year were plants. All our seeds except Nasturtiums, of all things, rotted in the ground. Replanted 3 times. Finally the seeds we put in in late June, early July, sprouted. Crazy.
Susan

[Susan66]

Part of the reason I started so many seeds inside this year. Sheer frustration.

[Jeannine Anne]

Well if you want to try some from seeds I have some and you are welcome to them. It is a hybrid by the way, I believe there is a dehybridised one but mine is the original Patio