A Pleasant Distraction

   

   I decided to throw caution to the wind and to wait no longer!  I started jalapeno, Shepherd (a sweet, red, pointed pepper), and tomato seeds on March 19 (determinates) and March 24 (indeterminates).  I also started some greens (kale, cabbage, Swiss chard) and cosmos around March 20 in milk jug greenhouses, which are lined against the south side of the house.  I could have - likely should have - waited another two or three weeks to start most things.  As a calorie-free stress-buster and pleasant distraction, though (both things I needed this month), seed-starting and garden planning can't be beat. 

The tomato varieties started this year (all but 3 are new-to-me):

 

INDETERMINATE:

Andes/Andean/Cornue des Andes  (SEMI-DET, red, horn-shape, productive, meaty, ~75DTM, paste tomato, few seeds, rich flavour, brought to France/Europe from the Andes)

Reinhard’s Chocolate Heart (INDET, brown oxheart, rare, rich flavour, 80-85DTM, 300-400g, German origin, cross between Cherokee Green x a pink oxheart)

Monomakh’s Hat (INDET or SEMI-DET, large pink oxheart, productive, 70-80DTM, Russian origin)

Indigo Pear Drop (INDET, large cherry, heavy yields, golden yellow with purple/antho shoulders, sweet, 65-70DTM)

Japanese Black Trifele (INDET, mahogany/brown with dark green shoulders, 4-6 oz fruit, pear-shaped, crack resistant, rich smoky flavour, productive, fairly rare, origin: Estonia/Russia, 80-85DTM)

 

DETERMINATE

EM-Champion (DET, red/meaty, 3-4’ tall, early-midseason, can grow in large pots)

Black Sea Man (DET, brown/black, heirloom, beefsteak, 8-12 oz, rich flavour, slicer, determinate, can be grown in large containers, early, ~ 75 DTM)

Clear Pink Early (DET, round, pink fruit, compact, heavy yields, bushy growth, 3-6oz round, slicer, sweet, Russian heirloom)

Early Annie  (DET., red, heirloom, medium fruit, 3-inch round, early 60-70 DTM, prolific, slicer/canner)

Emalia  (DET, saladette, long, curved point, caramel brown with green shading, sweet flavour, rare, 3.5-5’ tall, high yields, mid-season, French origin, open-pollinated, cross between Lucky Tiger x Orange Walk)

Dina  (DET, open-pollinated, apricot/creamsicle colour, high carotene content, round, medium size, 100-150g, midseason ~80 DTM, productive, Russian/Ukraine/Belarus origin)

Beauty King Dwarf  (Indet. DWARF, open-pollinated, red w/ vertical gold stripes, oblate/beefsteak, productive, few seeds, 3 – 4’ tall, 75 DTM, balanced/rich flavour)

Doucet’s Petitbec (DET, Quebec heirloom, large red cherry, compact plant 16-24”, ~65DTM, crack-resistant, keeps well, tangy flavour)

 

 

   This is the rosemary plant I've overwintered indoors for two or three years.  Its summers are spent outside.  It has become like another houseplant.  It's so nice to have fresh rosemary year 'round.