The children

I planted the children (read: tomato seedlings) about 10 days ago, but the weather took a quick turn for the worse:  really windy and really cold.    Windy enough to snap the poor kids necks, and too cold to flourish.  You know, kinda like ... "winter."  So I brought them back inside after only a couple of days outside on the deck.

Finally, the high winds have calmed down and temperatures have moderated, so it's time for the kids to move out again and live under the bright glare of the unfiltered sun, climate change and all that.  

Our latest batch of tomato patch kids, are, from A to Z:

Bella Rosa - a determinate, standard-shaped variety producing red fruit 2" to 4" across.  This one should be mature around mid-May.   We like green tomatoes almost as much as mature red tomatoes.  Almost.

Early Girl - an indeterminate favorite every year, this "early season" beauty should produce red fruit 4oz to 5oz in weight by around mid-April.  Looking at her size now, we may have to push that back a bit.  We grew this one last year and had an ok crop.  Last year, we let the suckers run wild and had some very thick plants.  This year, we are on full-time Sucker Patrol.

Marglobe - a new heirloom variety for us, this determinate bush baby should produce large (8oz to 10oz) red fruit after June 1.  This one will be the old man of the bunch.  I think I see some BLGT's in this one's future. (Bacon-Lettuce-Green Tomato)  

Pati-O - we have tried a Patio bush-type a couple of times before; neither too satisfying, so, what the hell, give it another shot.  This is a determinate variety that should produce 4oz red fruit by the end of April.

The Sun Gold twins - there were two plants in this starter pot, and I couldn't bring myself to separate a couple of cute twins, so we'll see how they do side-by-side.  Sun Gold is an indeterminate variety producing orange-colored, cherry-sized fruit about 1" across.  We've grown this one well for the past couple of years.  These fruits are almost as perfect as Snow Whites.  We should be munching on these babies by the end of April.

and Sweet Chelsea - another new variety for us, this indeterminate sweetie comes highly recommended by that old guy at Buchanan's.  Can't remember his name, but when we follow his tips, we have good luck.  We should be popping these 1oz cherry-sized fruits around the first weeks of May.

We are looking forward to a tasty Spring this year.  We had a protracted battle with army worms last year on the deck, so this year I will be spraying Bt early and often.  When we remember to do that, we have better crops.  When we forget, we pay for it.

Happy gardening everyone, whatever you are growing, wherever you are.