JUNE 2023
Wednesday 2023.6.28
Getting Ready
Sunday is the beginning of the Tour de France cycling race. I watch it every year. Back in former days when I had a job I could only watch highlights broadcast in the evening. Each stage of the race begins in the morning in Europe. It starts around 5:00AM here on the West Coast — I didn't have a DVR to record it back then. Now I'm retired, but I still record it because who wants to get out of bed at 5:00 in the morning? Not me.
I am preparing my DVR this week by watching and deleting shows I recorded during the past year. All the college football games are gone. So are the LEGO Masters and BattleBots TV shows. I don't know that I'll have my DVR completely empty by Sunday, but there should be plenty of room. Besides, after I watch a stage of the race I usually delete the recording.
Starting in July, expect me to blog about the Tour as well as my tomato plants. Speaking of which…
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
This week I started a regimen of daily watering. How much is too much? Overwatering is not good for the plants. If they suck up too much water the tomatoes on the vine can crack. And there are plenty of tomatoes to crack.
With that in mind, I'm not pouring a full watering can of water into the planter right now. Later I can do more as the plants grow taller. The soil moisture meter is still my best guide. I check the soil daily.
And I'm already thinking of next year. In an earlier blog entry I wrote about learning how some sprigs cut from the plant can be started in water, allowed to root, and then nurtured in a cup of potting mix on a windowsill until hearty enough to transplant outdoors. That process won't be attempted until December or maybe January. I'll need to watch the weather reports for any prediction of frost, although that is hardly ever a concern here in SoCal. But I have another idea.
If these three plants thrive well in the large planter (see below) I might start a few Early Girl clippings over the winter and then transplant the best one in late February / early March. Around that same time I might buy one or two different tomato varieties at the garden shop at Home Depot — to see how well they do and what their flavor might be like.
The planter is probably large enough to accommodate three plants. Two years ago I grew an Early Girl in a plastic five-gallon bucket and it did well until powdery mildew attacked the plant. If one plant can thrive in a five-gallon bucket, three should do well enough in a 27-gallon planter. And with proper feeding and spraying with neem oil, I should be able to keep the plants healthy through an entire season.
It might be worth mentioning that growing different varieties of tomato plants in close proximity is not a good idea if someone wants to gather seeds for use next year. Cross-pollination becomes an issue. Some people enclose tomato flowers in little silk bags to keep insects off them until the tomatoes start to develop.
As I wrote on the 14th of this month, seeds aren't an issue for me. They're a lot of work to clean and prepare for storage until needed. That process is useful for those who want to start dozens, maybe hundreds, of tomato plants, or who want to sell the seeds. In my case, I live on a little space in a mobile home park. I have one planter in which to grow something. I suppose I could buy more pots and expand my gardening, but I don't want to end up with an overabundance of produce that I need to discard.
The Catheter Chronicles
I haven't written much about this issue lately because there hasn't been much of anything new to report. Things have been proceeding comfortably. I have, however, seen one improvement, and maybe this is too much information: Back in the really awful days I was lucky to cath twice a day. I'd drain 600, 700, sometimes 800cc. Since using the better catheters, I've slowly been feeling the urge to void more often and seeing 200, 300, maybe 400cc. Maybe my bladder is shrinking back down to a normal size again. And maybe that gives me a tiny kind of hope that someday I might be able to drain my bladder naturally again.
I still have all of my last order of 450 pocket catheters. I wasn't using them because they fail me half the time. The straight, more rigid cath works much better. It never fails. However, I don't have a supply of them yet. I am still using the same one, rinsed well after each use and then sterilized in alcohol before storing it.
That will all change next month. On July 21st I will be eligible to order another 90-day supply of catheters. I won't order the pocket caths; I'll order the rigid ones. In the meantime, I'm using the pocket catheters to reduce my supply. When one works well, that's good. When it fails me, I discard it and use the straight cath instead. When the new, better catheters arrive around the end of July, I'll continue to use the pocket caths. I'll use the new ones only when necessary. That way, I will set aside an extra supply like I did with the pocket caths. And I'll work toward using up all these pocket catheters. It's a plan.
A Surprise
A little before 9:00PM on Monday the electricity went off. I like being prepared with oil lamps. I lit them and positioned them in my livingroom, then the power came back on. Oh well, it would have been boring without the TV on.
A Craving
Lately I've been craving Flautas / Taquitos again. It's amazing how much can go wrong when making something as simple as a corn tortilla. I salute the cooks who can make them without hardly thinking about it. I get it. It's about feel. Those who make tortillas often can simply tell with their hands when the dough has the perfect moisture content. I have to rely on measurements and those are not always accurate.
Nonetheless, I made my taquitos and cooked them in my airy fryer — not traditional, I know, but easy because the fryer was already on the kitchen counter. I plated them with guacamole and enjoyed a delicious, if late (because of the problems) lunch.
Finally, an Observance
Tomorrow is somewhat of a day for me to celebrate. On that date in 2011 I worked my last day at my job. I didn't do much that day. I packed up a few things I hadn't taken home earlier. The department took me out to lunch. I can't remember if they let me go home early that day. It doesn't matter.
I never regretted going into retirement. I used to ride my bike to work everyday. I enjoyed the morning ride, but the ride home wasn't as pleasant. Usually I rode against a wind coming out of the west. There was one point in my ride, halfway between work and home, when I always thought, "A day is coming, a day is coming." It would be the day I would no longer need to do that ride. On my last day I thought, "A day is coming, and that day is here."
I don't know if I'll cook anything special tomorrow. If anything, I'll make a full version of my Pizza — all the toppings. That's always a fun and tasty way to celebrate something.
Sunday 2023.6.25
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
Harvest nears. I am waiting patiently for the first of my tomatoes to be ripe for harvest. Some are beginning to change color from green to yellow. The first tomato to appear on my vines is now turning orange. I imagine it won't be too much longer before this one becomes red and ready for tasting.
That's actually fairly good progress. I planted these tomato vines three months ago, on March 23rd. The Early Girl variety is supposed to produce ripe fruit as early as two months after planting. I pinched off most of the early flowers in favor of vine growth, which I now see was the right thing to do. The vines are getting tall.
Meanwhile, the plants are getting water regularly, as needed according to my soil moisture meter. I put two gallons of water into the planter yesterday and I saw no water drain out the bottom. That's a sign I need to water the plants everyday. The sun is shining more and the air is drier. The plants are growing well, too. Even more water will be necessary soon. How much water?
Could a time come when the plants near their expected eight feet of height and therefore they need water twice a day, morning and evening? That's a possibility. They're growing in an enclosed space, a planter, which has a volume of about 27 gallons. I did more research online. The recommendation is to water tomato plants in containers everyday, especially in the warm summer months. Twice a day will probably be necessary in late summer / early fall.
This being near the end of June, they were also due for another spray of neem oil, which I did yesterday. I do occasionally see some aphids, but there are very few. The spray appears to be working. My biggest concern is powdery mildew. I saw what it did to my tomato plant two years ago. It's a killer. So far, this time around I don't see any sign of mildew. Neem oil is supposed to be a good protection against it. One person in a YouTube video recommended spraying the plants every other week.
Yesterday I saw the highest leaf almost up to the next rung of the tomato cage. And I learned something new this week. Early Girl tomatoes are known as "slicing" tomatoes, popular for sandwiches, salads, and other foods that make use of raw ripe tomatoes such as salsa. I still plan to use some to make sauce or soup because as we get into the late summer and early fall months I'll probably have too many tomatoes to use for sandwiches. Speaking of which…
A week or so ago I mentioned the deli sub sandwiches I enjoy. I've been thinking it might be fun, and delicious, to make some using those square rolls I buy at Costco. The days are almost warm enough now to make me want to avoid cooking. A sandwich might be the thing.
And, finally, I'm thinking July 1st might be the day to photograph myself standing next to my tall tomato plant. By then, the uppermost leaves should be just a little above my head.
Wednesday 2023.6.21
Happy Summer Solstice
Today is the first day of summer, and it is manifest here where I live in SoCal. The sun has been shining all day every day and there isn't a cloud in the sky. There is no guarantee that the pattern of late night and early morning low clouds and fog won't return, but for now the tomato plants and I are enjoying it.
I sat out on the deck drinking my coffee this week. I hadn't been able to do that without wearing a sweater or my hoodie. It's great weather.
Happy Other Things
One year ago yesterday was my first surgery to remove stones from my bladder. The surgeon used a laser and there was a lot of bleeding afterward. He had to drive to the hospital in the evening to flush out my bladder. Then one year ago this Friday was when I had my TURP (TransUrethral Resection of the Prostate) to make it easier to pee. I haven't been able to pee normally since. I'm still using catheters. If had known, I would never have agreed to the surgeries. Oh well. No one said getting old is easy.
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
Something I blogged about on Sunday turned out to true. I suspected a time might come when the plants need to be watered more often than every four days. I used my soil meter to check the planter two days after watering and some of the spots were normal, some were dry. I poured two more gallons of water into the soil. That meter, though inexpensive (only about $25 on Amazon) has been very useful.
One issue with tomato plants is cracking of the tomato skins when the soil is allowed to become too try and then a lot of water is dumped onto the soil. The tomato quickly absorbs the water and the skin breaks, unable to stretch. I want to prevent that from happening by always making sure the plants have enough water to grow at a normal pace.
I observed something new this week. Usually when a sprig of flowers develops it is its own separate branch. There could be half a dozen flowers on it, but no leaves. It is a unique part of the plant. There are branches of leaves and branches of tomatoes. However, on Monday I looked at a developing branch of tomatoes and a branch of leaves with more flowers was growing from the end of it, all on the same one branch. Twins? I never saw that before.
I looked at other branches of tomatoes. They're all the same, just tomatoes, no leaves. I doubt my discovery would ever make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. This probably happens, but not often. Nonetheless, it intrigued me and I'll be watching this branch closely in the future.
One improvement I feel like bragging about: To see the topmost leaves I must now look up. I'm 5'-10" tall and the top of the plant is 70 inches above the ground. It's as tall as I am. There is, however, one caveat. The planter is 15 inches deep and it is raised 9 inches above the ground; so, technically, the plants are 46 inches tall. Still, I'm one step closer to photographing my plants when the top leaves are well above my head.
One Other Thing
I heard from an internet friend. He told me about his making some chocolate pudding. I hadn't made pudding in a long time and when I did it was usually vanilla. So I went onto the internet to do some research. Most pudding recipes require sugar, corn starch, milk and some flavoring. I felt like experimenting. I have corn starch, but I wanted to try some of my sweet rice flour. It worked well. Rice flour supposedly holds moisture longer. The flavor was delicious. The recipe will go into my kitchen binder of permanent keepers.
Sunday 2023.6.18
Happy Father's Day
Today is the day to give your dad that necktie or those cufflinks he always wanted. Or, maybe something else. Socks?
Happy Juneteenth
Tomorrow is Juneteenth, a celebration of the emancipation of enslaved people here in the USA.
Too Much Bounty?
I'm reminded of past friends who decided to cultivate a garden. They planted a row of zucchini seeds and weeks later they were begging people to take some zucchinis.
I look at all the green tomatoes on my plants and wonder if I will quickly tire of eating tomatoes. The first tomato was on a branch of its own. There was only the one. It's still there, still green. Now I'm seeing branches with five, six, seven, even eight tomatoes developing on each branch. There are dozens of tomatoes out there. Thankfully these are not determinate plants, in which case all the tomatoes would ripen around the same time. As indeterminates, they'll produce tomatoes all season, some ripening while others are just beginning to develop.
I do wonder what I'll do with too many tomatoes. I can make sauce and freeze it for later. Marinara is one staple I always keep in my freezer. I also want to make a pot of Tomato Basil Soup. That can also be portioned and frozen for winter.
Of course, when the weather becomes too hot to cook, there is always the deli sub I enjoy so much. In New England we called them grinders. Some French bread, cotto salami, provolone cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, garnished with salt, pepper, and plenty of olive oil.
Smoked Salmon Quiche Revisited
As planned, on Thursday I made another Smoked Salmon Quiche. The packages of smoked salmon sold at Costo have the right amount for three quiches. I had only two pie shells. I used the second one on Thursday. That leaves one portion of smoked salmon still to be used. I'll make Mini Quiches to use the last of it. Those will be fun because I use my tortilla press to flatten each pastry dough ball to fit in my muffin pan.
Hash Browns
I've been craving potatoes lately. I did some research on YouTube and found a video that seemed to answer my questions. There are a lot of hash browns videos on YouTube; so I don't know that I can recommend any one over the others. The one I liked made delicious crispy hash browns that I plated with two poached eggs I cooked in my egg poacher. A simple and delicious brunch. Easy too.
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
If the weather forecast can be trusted, this week we'll see an end, at least temporarily, to June Gloom. The prediction is for a week of sunshine. My tomato plants will be happy. They haven't seen much of the sun since early May. This week they'll be getting the direct sun so often recommended for most gardening.
Otherwise, there isn't anything extra special to report. They continue to grow, now just entering the second tomato cage I attached to the top. I've given up trying to count, or even estimate, the number of tomatoes on the plants. They're all still green and most of them are either small or tiny.
The goal now, especially with warm sunny weather coming, is to make certain they have sufficient water. I have a soil meter I use to check the moisture. I look for either Normal or Wet. With the plants getting so large and the air dryer, I'm thinking I'll need to pour water into the planter every three days rather than four. And as we get into August and September I might be watering them every other day. The meter will be my guide.
Wednesday 2023.6.14
I Learned Something New This Week
As you know, I am practically obsessed with my tomato plants (see below). I wondered how best to "winter over" the plants so that I could enjoy tomatoes next summer. Where to look? The internet, of course — especially YouTube.
I learned that tomato plants are very easy to start from clippings. They can be started in water, survive well and root easily. I have some of those red 18-ounce Solo cups so popular among frat boys. I purchased them when I wanted to start a lot of basil plants (but which never amounted to a lot of fresh basil).
The procedure would be to take some clippings during the late fall, before any chance of frost (which almost never happens here in SoCal) and start them in water. Then, when a healthy amount of roots form, transfer them to plastic cups filled with potting mix. During the early part of spring, like March, transfer the best ones outside to the planter after the previous year's tomato plants have been removed and the soil is refreshed with some organic fertilizer.
It is possible to keep this year's plants alive through the winter and enjoy more tomatoes next year. However, they supposedly don't do as well in their second year. Maybe it will be worth an experiment?
LOL!
I told an internet friend about the idea of rooting a few tomato plant cuttings this fall. He told me to save my time and save seeds from my tomatoes instead. I went onto YouTube and watched videos about saving seeds. Now that's what I call a lot of work! Saving seeds is fine for people who need hundreds of them. I need only two or three little plants for next spring. I can buy them at Home Depot for about $5 each. Why root clippings? Because I thought it might be fun to experiment with rooting tomato plant clippings on a sunny windowsill.
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
The tallest leaves are up to the top of the tomato cage. I decided I should secure the second cage to the top. I was concerned that while fumbling with the cage (at 72, my hands aren't as good as they were when I was young) I might break a branch. According to what I learned on the internet, a broken branch ends the growth of that part of a tomato plant. Therefore, I didn't want to wait until the top branches were well above the cage. Thankfully, it wasn't windy. The cage was easy to position and attach with zip ties.
When the leaves reach the next rung of the tomato cage, they will be above my head.
Something new: In my research about tomato plants one "authority" talked about the little sprouts that start at the intersection of a branch and the main stem. He called them "suckers" and said to pinch them off because they never produce any fruit. I let a few grow and they are developing flower buds.
As for tomatoes, quite a few are easily visible. Others are somewhat hidden inside. When they turn red they'll be easy to see. The largest ones are showing a hint of yellow in their skin. I am still anticipating July to be the month when I can taste my first ripe tomato.
As usual, I inspected the leaves and branches for insects. There were a few, but certainly not the infestation when I first saw the need to spray with neem oil.
Easy Pizza?
I mentioned them about a year ago. The square rolls sold at Costo, separated and garnished with pizza toppings. Back then, I put them under the broiler. I did something different this time.
First I toasted the bread in the air fryer. That gets it really crispy. Then I added the pizza toppings and returned them to the air fryer. It was good for a snack. I certainly wouldn't recommend it in place of a good homemade Pizza, but for something to nibble while watching a football game on TV, they're good enough. And, actually, I'd rather save those rolls for cheeseburgers.
Meanwhile…
I moved a package of smoked salmon from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw. I want to make another Smoked Salmon Quiche while I have the ingredients.
Sunday 2023.6.11
The Tomato Plant Chronicles
Another name for this part of my blog came to mind. This is building into a history; so maybe Chronicles is better?
With that in mind, there really isn't very much to report. The topmost leaves are nearly up to the fourth and final rung of the tomato cage, as expected. This week I'll attach the second cage to the top, providing more support as the plants grow taller.
I don't know what I'll do if these plants grow to be more than 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall. Buy another cage? Or just let the top branches grow outward? It probably won't be a concern until September, and by then it might be nearing the end of the growing season anyway. So, I'll worry about it then, if it ever becomes an issue. And if it does become something to deal with, I'll be using my stepladder to reach the upper branches.
I tied three more branches, training them up the cage. Over time, some branches grow outward, which looks good, but if they become laden with tomatoes they'll need support, lest they bend and break. By training them close to the cage, it's easier to keep them safe.
I've given up trying to count the little green tomatoes. They're aren't hundreds, but I probably have close to two dozen now. There are only two that are getting fairly large. I expect them to be ripe for picking in early July. Meanwhile, I try to exercise patience.
The Orange Elephant with the Comb-over in the Room
Unless you are very new to planet Earth, like in the past 30 minutes or so, you probably know about the latest indictment of ex-president Donald Trump. All schadenfreude aside, there are many of us who have been expecting this day for a long time. So much has been said in the news already, I don't have much to add.
I have a copy of the indictment. I read it. It's shocking that a former president could have engaged so brazenly in criminal behavior. Toward the end of the document are where the surprises end. Cases 37 and 38 are "false statements and representations" to government authorities. Was anyone surprised? Every time he gave a speech as a candidate or as the president, it was followed by those doing the fact checking. This time, however, the lies resulted in an indictment. It's not a crime to lie to the American people. Politicians do it all the time. But it is a crime to lie to the FBI and a grand jury.
He will, of course, keep his hardcore (some might say rabid) base of voters, but that base has been dwindling and it was never enough to get him elected. He needs many of the independent voters. They're not lining up behind him as they did in 2016.
And there is still the January 6th investigation in Washington and the tampering with an election investigation in Georgia, either of which could lead to yet more indictments.
It's difficult to believe he could win the Republican presidential nomination, let alone a general election. It might be worth watching to see what he will do if he doesn't get the nomination. Would he run as a third party candidate? What might that do to others in the race? The next 15 months will probably be interesting to watch.
Wednesday 2023.6.7
June Gloom
It's a seasonal weather pattern here — late night and early morning overcast as a marine layer of low clouds and fog moves in from the Pacific Ocean overnight. We're used to it, even though it drags on for weeks. Some people suffer depression during the time. Although we often get sunshine in the afternoon, it's not unusual not to see the sun for days, even weeks. I don't mind it. And my tomato plants don't see to care.
Sewing Machine Grrr
It shouldn't be necessary to nearly disassemble a sewing machine to thread it. My Juki MO-103 overlock is such a machine. I really like it, but threading it is nearly impossible, especially with my old hands. Why do I care about the machine? Because…
Inflation
I don't buy the kitchen paper towels sold in the stores. Instead, I purchase the commercial rolls. The paper is flatter and therefore there is more paper on each roll. It's more economical, although now I am beginning to wonder. When I first started buying the towels a box of 12 rolls was about $40. I bought a carton yesterday at Costco and the price, with tax, was almost $70!
I've been wanting to downsize lately. I have too much stuff. Among the first items to go are some old shirts I never wear anymore. Rather than throw them in the trash, I removed the buttons (for future tailored shirts) and cut up the fabric to make rags. I then overlocked the raw edges. The rags are good for a few uses and then they go into the trash.
During the pandemic I downsized some of my many trousers. I used to wear them to work, but they didn't fit anymore and they were too worn to donate to a charity thrift store. I cut them up into hand rags and overlocked the edges. I even sewed a buttonhole in one corner so that I could hang them next to the sink. Believe it or not, I filled two large plastic storage bins with those rags. I probably have several hundred. It's time to use them instead of the paper towels that are becoming too expensive.
On the positive side, Costco is selling the 48-pack of Chicken Top Ramen again. I know there is almost no nutritive value unless you add diced chicken and mixed vegetables. However, the price, about 28¢ per pack, is still good. And they make a quick and easy snack when I don't feel like doing much cooking.
Now, here's a question: Can ramen be cooked in an Instant Pot? I placed the noodles in a stainless steel bowl with some chopped frozen chicken and some water. I used about half of the flavoring packet that comes with the ramen. Then I placed the bowl on a trivet in the IP bowl after pouring about a cup of water in the bottom. I used pressure cook for 1 minute.
It took longer than cooking on the stove, but there was no tending. Just set it up and walk away. The result, however, was unsatisfactory.
Now here's the thing: A couple years ago I bought a little aluminum nonstick saucepan specifically for cooking ramen because of egg, which sticks in a stainless steel pan. It's a Calphalon "Select" and the quality is better than average. So why use the Instant Pot? No reason. The pan is quicker and the results are better. It's easy to clean too. The egg doesn't stick.
Sausages
As planned, on Sunday I made more Italian Sausages.
I was hungry all afternoon. Some sausage meat remains in the stuffer and tube after the sausages are made. I used to try to force that into casings, but it's too difficult. I came up with a better idea. I use it to make something I like to call Pizza Pasta. I sauté the extra meat and combine it with cooked pasta, Marinara, mozzarella and Romano cheese. It's good.
Quiche
Do real men not eat quiche? I eat quiche and I believe I am a real man — at least I was the last time I looked.
A friend who is a good cook sent me a photo of some quiche he made. He lives "off grid" on the East Coast and he does all his cooking on a barbecue grill. I am often amazed at what he can cook over charcoal. His quiche inspired me. So, yesterday I made Smoked Salmon Quiche.
I cheated a little. I didn't make my own pastry shell. I occasionally wondered how well those frozen pie shells work. I figured they must work well; otherwise, why would the stores keep selling them? I bought a package of Marie Callender's frozen pie shells, two to a package. The shell was just deep enough to accommodate all the filling my recipe prepares.
The taste? Delicious. After all, the shell isn't the highlight of the pie. It's the filling. The problem: It's too delicious. I nibbled on it all day, even though I tried to stay away. By bedtime half the pie was gone.
I still have that second pie shell in the freezer and there is plenty of smoked salmon — enough for two more pies. I might use the last of the salmon to make Mini Quiches.
Sunday 2023.6.4
The Catheter Diaries
Dare I go there? Actually, as I said in an earlier blog, things have returned almost to normal, at least to what "normal" was after my surgery. I'm comfortable during the day and I am able to sleep well through the night. No more worries.
Cooking
Feeling more comfortable and more positive about my plumbing issues, I felt like doing some cooking on Friday. I used the last of the Lamb Sausages I made and froze. I boiled some small pasta shells, cooked the lamb sausage meat (the casing removed) and then blended it with the pasta and some homemade Pesto. That was delicious. There is something about the flavor of lamb that seems to go so well with the flavor of pesto.
I also made more Marinara with some of those San Marzano tomatoes I bought last month. Actually, cooking doesn't seem like an appropriate word because I only set up the Instant Pot and then walked away and waited until the pressure cooking cycle was finished. I ended up with six 8-ounce (227g) portions, five of which I froze. One went into the refrigerator. Pasta sauce is a staple in my home. I always have it.
More laborious would be sausages. Last month I also wrote about buying more pork shoulder and pork belly, which I portioned and froze. On Friday I removed one of the frozen portions to thaw in my refrigerator. It takes a couple days. So today, if I continue to feel comfortable and relaxed (which I should because I have been enjoying a string of successes) I'll probably make more Italian Sausages this afternoon.
I can't predict, but these might be the best textured sausages I have made yet. The reason: There was more pork belly than I needed for the ratio of meat to fat. However, the pork belly is not solid fat. There is some meat in it. So, adding more of the pork belly might actually get me close to the ideal ratio I need.
The Tomato Plant Diaries
There isn't much to report that's new. One thing: the leaves have grown up to the third rung of the tomato cage. It has been only two weeks since they were up to the second rung. The rungs are ten inches (25cm) apart; so that amounts to 5 inches of growth per week. In two or three weeks I will probably need to attach the second tomato cage, when I expect the branches might be up to the fourth and final rung.
I think pruning off the bottom branches encouraged the plants to devote more of their resources to the upper leaves. I am also noticing a lot more flowers at the top and there are too many little green tomatoes to count. If all those flowers produce fruit too, July should be a month of bounty — maybe August and September too.
Meanwhile, the plants got their first feeding of tomato fertilizer yesterday. I also sprayed them again with neem oil. There weren't many aphids, but they're starting to move in again as the previous treatment is wearing off.
Seeking a Better Way
As I've said several times in this blog, I am training the tomato plants up the cage. In the wild the vines would spread along the ground and where the stems rest against moist soil new roots would develop.
I don't get along well with string. It's my hands. At nearly 72 years of age my hands are less precise than they were during those years when I repaired typewriters for a living. After stapling a loose piece of plant tape around a stalk, I tried to tie it to the cage with a knot that was secure enough to hold when it's windy, but which could easily be loosened when I need to train a stem closer to the cage. Upward, not outward.
I got a little frustrated with my hands on Friday. Then a better idea came to me. I have green zip ties I bought for my tomatoes two years ago. However, the ties are known for damaging tomato stalks; so I switched to gardening tape. What if I were to combine both? Staple a loop of tape around a stalk, then use a zip tie to hold the tape near the cage. Later, if I need to, I can zip the tie a little tighter to train a stalk more upward. But I doubt that will ever be necessary.
It appears to be working well so far. No fumbling with string. And the tape and ties are UV resistant. The sun won't destroy them.
Now that I think about it, I could simply staple the tape around the stalk and the rung, like those professional taping guns do — no need for zip ties at all. That's definitely a future possibility.