May 16, 2009
Take That, Mother Nature!
Combine an out-of-character gardening streak and a weekend of unseasonably sunny, warm weather and a girl goes all giddy and buys herself a tomato start. Which means, ‘natch, that the night-time temperatures immediately plunge into the low 40s. Urk. So what’s a girl to do when she needs to keep a tomato warm but is determined not to be the sort who spends $100 to get $5 worth of tomatoes? She goes all MacGyver, is what.
Covering: A drop cloth. Cost: 50 cents, because it's just part of one roll out of three rolls that didn't cost very much in the first place.
Fasteners: Snack-bag clips. Cost: Have had them around for years so the creative financier in me declares their depreciated value to be $0.
Fish: A hot-water bottle given as a gift by Big Sister. Cost to me, if not to her: $0
Tomato that grows an inch during cold weather: Priceless.
(And if things don't go 100% well and the cheap-o drop cloth develops holes?
Tape.
)
Unfortunately, my apparent brilliance was short-lived. Today was unseasonably sunny and warm. Guess what I bought today? Guess what happens Tuesday night?
You go, girl! Way to Macgyver it! Lessee, you bought a pepper start? Frost on Tuesday? Anywhere close?
Posted by: Kristen on May 16, 2009 08:48 PMWe're getting into the 40's at night and I'm just leaving my tomato seedlings outside without any help. I figure they need to harden off and the cool weather should help. Besides, I live in Maine, so it's just par for the course here.
Posted by: Mel on May 16, 2009 09:15 PMMel, are you trying to tell me I didn't have to do this AT ALL? Drat.
Kristen, you're close. I bought four more tomato starts. You know how things fall into your basket when you're in a yarn store? Same thing. And keep in mind that I'm still the President of the Black Thumb Club. I have no idea what I'm thinking.
Posted by: Ryan on May 16, 2009 09:36 PMYou might be thinking that tasty home grown tomatoes are better than buying a pack of sad mealy tomatoes at 3-4$ a package, which is what I've been doing as soon as I realized that I might be able to grow things this year!
Posted by: Seanna Lea on May 17, 2009 03:43 AMOh, dear. It always starts with a couple of tomato plants. You think how nice it will be and almost effortless to grow a couple on the patio. Then it's a few herbs for a planter. Next thing you know you are wearing garden clogs as every day footwear, looking at acreage in the real estate section and seed catalogs are piled beside the comfy chair.
Posted by: carlarey on May 17, 2009 05:42 AMIt's so damn hot here, our little plants in pots outside are looking pretty sad and scorched! Shouldn't sunflowers LIKE the sun?!
I feel like the heat of summer is a nice change, but I fear I will be over it and longing for 40 degree nights before too long, and well before this heat is over!
Posted by: cordeliaknits on May 17, 2009 11:44 AMTomatoes are actually fairly cold hardy, unlike peppers. They do take forever to set and ripen fruit in our cool climate, though, so you'll need to be patient.
I will probably set my seedlings out into the garden this week while it is overcast (to ease the transition). Enjoy your garden!
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on May 18, 2009 07:57 AMRy - you're an INSPIRATION! (I've been away, and I have MISSED you....) Anyway, I really need to be growing something intentional. My violets are wild (heh), my lilies-of-the-valley are marching toward the house (I examine them for tiny pitchforks and torches) and the day lilies are muttering near the garage, but I want something EDIBLE this year. I'll keep you posted if there's anything posted-able.......
Posted by: dale-harriet in WI on May 23, 2009 10:12 AMOhhhhhh, tell me about crazy Spring weather! I put my tomatoes in yesterday and hoping for the best. Last year it snowed on Memorial Day in Reno...EKKKKKKK.
Posted by: cgReno on May 24, 2009 04:41 AM