Tomato Plants

The tomato plants I started last month are going great guns. I transplanted them to little pots and put them all on my windowsill. Have I started them too soon? They are getting big, some almost 3 inches high. I hope they last and stay healthy "till May 3. May 3 was my father's birthday, and every year I would buy him tomato plants for his birthday presents. He never lost any to poor weather, and they always did very well. So even tho most books and articles advise people to put out tomatoes after the May long weekend, I usually go with May 3rd. This year I will have quite a few.

This is the first time I have grown them from seed, but I was frustrated with buying mis labeled tomatoes last year. The label said they were Early Girls and instead they turned out to be some kind of cherry tomatoes. Plus the plants are getting pricey here in the lower mainland, with most people charging 99 cents a plant. Now that is not very much if you think of all the tomatoes you get off a plant, however, it is a bit frustrating when you purchase a variety that turns out to be totally different than what you want. So we went for the seeds this year, and they sprouted beautifully. I am looking forward to tending to plants I started from seed, it actually is quite a thrill. I wonder if I will be able to carry the seeds over to next year.

Also, budget minded and interest minded, I have decided to plant the garlic that sprouted in my cupboard. Garlic does pretty well here on the coast I understand, so why not grow my own organic garlic?

The first full day of Spring, and the sun is out. I survey the yard looking at the muddy wet ground, full of weeds. My mind is on one weed. It is my focus point right now. It has taken over the entire west border. Its the Bishopsweed. I must get rid of it. I put on my grey gloves, I get my spade.

It is overwhelming, but I have a positive outlook. Hey if I can get out here every few days and weed for a while, maybe this can be beaten. The blackberries sidetrack me a while though, and I dig up the roots of a few long shooters that have pushed through the fence from the no man's land behind my neighbour's shed. I peek over the fence. Her garden is immaculate.

Bishopsweed is a bad bad plant to have in your garden. I foolishly planted it in a little clump, 15 years ago, when I was a keen and active gardener. I dug it up from a garden from a house that was to be demolished. I also brought home some autumn crocus that day. The last crocus croaked last fall. The bishopsweed flourishes.