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June 30, 2010
Early morning pruning
Looks like my onion turrets are flower buds. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow. I'm not so sure about these mushrooms.
For the first time I'm pruning my tomatoes severely. I'm trying to keep the gap between the soil and the square foot strips clear of vegetation so there's good air circulation around the base of the tomatoes. Everything is just so lush it seems I'm pruning my tomatoes at least twice a week.
Pruning is also supposed to promote more fruit. Right now my goal is to avoid fungal diseases, which my mature plants are prone to in the Fall. This is the first time though I've actually seen mushrooms, cup mushrooms to be exact, form under my tomatoes. Not all mind you. Just the Black Cherry tomatoes.
I need to identify them and research their effect, if any, on tomatoes. I'm also ambivalent about severe pruning on ALL of my tomato plants. I planted a variety so their growth habits are really different. I wonder if different varieities call for different approaches? The only exception is Tiny Tim which is so compact and well mannered, it doesn't appear to need anything at all from me. At the very least, the pruning helped the sun loving interplantings of basil. I've got four varieties so far. Pictures will follow along with an attempt at pesto.
Which reminds me, I need to find a really good way to start preserving my herbs. This weekend I made melt and pour glycerin soaps with spearmint. I just chopped some spearmint, freshly picked of course, and blended it in with the glycerin. The soap turned a lovely green, saponfies nicely and releases the mildest of scents. Next time I think I'll add some essential oil.
