Do as I say, not as I do. This is what happens when pruning your tomatoes is just not a thing during a super busy spring and summer. All is not lost! With some light pruning now and some more aggressive pruning in a few weeks, I still think I’m going to have a pretty awesome harvest.
Tag: gardening
Fall Veggie Gardening in the Treasure Valley
Fall is my favorite gardening season. As the temperatures cool, veggies we may have struggled with during an unpredictable spring, become much easier to grow.
We will be covering how and what to grow in cool Fall months, to maximize harvest this year. Including site selection, appropriate plants and season extension techniques.
Free Class. Class size limited to 30 attendees. Please call 208-389-4769 to reserve your spot!
Class will also be Live Streamed on Facebook!
Fall Veggie Gardening in the Treasure Valley
Fall is my favorite gardening season. As the temperatures cool, veggies we may have struggled with during an unpredictable spring, become much easier to grow.
We will be covering how and what to grow in cool Fall months, to maximize harvest this year. Including site selection, appropriate plants and season extension techniques.
Free Class. Class size limited to 30 attendees. Please call 208-389-4769 to reserve your spot!
Class will also be Live Streamed on Facebook!
Why Won’t My Green Tomatoes Turn Color?
Tomatoes not ripening on the vine?
Lindsay, owner of North End Organic Nursery, explains the process required for tomatoes to turn from green to red.
She also offers a surprising tip for ripening tomatoes that have already begun to change color.
Shaking Tomatoes For Better Fruit Set
Are your tomato plants refusing to set fruit?
Lindsay, owner of North End Organic Nursery in Garden City Idaho, explains the pollination process required for tomato flowers to produce fruit. She also offers tips for getting the most fruit possible from your tomato plants.
It’s so easy!
Celebrate Pollinators!
Celebrate pollinators of all kinds with us at NEON! This interactive event is designed to be a fun way to both educate ourselves about our critical role in pollinator health, as well as celebrate all the cool things we can do to make a difference daily!
All ages scavenger hunt with prizes, as well as educational booths.
Build your own Mason bee house with The ReUse Market, then create your own native flower seed “bomb” to spread pollinator fodder throughout our urbanscapes.
Free event, grab your friends and family and head on down to enjoy all the activities!
Growing Great Garlic: Spring Edition
If you planted garlic this fall, I am sure it’s up and looking great right now!
Lindsay, owner of North End Organic Nursery in Garden City Idaho, explains some of the things that can be done to make sure you produce large fragrant heads of garlic for all of your fall meals.
Garlic should likely be ready to harvest in July!!
Get to Know: Hill Marmande
Get to know tomatoes!!
Today’s featured variety: Hill Marmande
Certified organic plants available at NEON, grown from seed from Snake River Seed Cooperative!
Meaty French heirloom tomato with excellent eating qualities. Superb slicer.
This is a selection of the famous French heirloom market variety done by discerning grower Kristi Appelhans. Fruits produce heavy yields of hearty, meaty fruits excellent for slicing. On the earlier side for a medium-large slicer, and mighty pretty to boot!
Get to Know: Aunt Ruby’s German Green
Get to know tomatoes!
Today’s featured variety: Aunt Ruby’s German Green
No, I know many people have an aversion to green tomatoes because they look unripe, and they fear they will not know when to harvest them… But don’t worry, it’s not that tricky. Most green tomatoes don’t stay completely green, they will turn hues of Golden and pink.
“The biggest surprise I’ve ever experienced in tomatoes,” said the late Chuck Wyatt, vintage tomato collector. Until you try it, you won’t believe a green tomato could be this good. I rate it second only to Brandywine for flavor and it is on just about everyone’s top-ten list. Oblate 12–16 oz fruits blush lightly yellow and develop an amber-pink tinge on the blossom end when ripe. Don’t allow them to get too soft before picking. The green flesh of this beefsteak is faintly marbled with pink. Flavor sweet and tart, rich and spicy.
(85 days) Open-pollinated. Indeterminate.
Get to Know: Mortgage Lifter
Get to know tomatoes!
Today’s featured tomato is: Mortgage Lifter
Also known as radiator Charlie’s mortgage lifter, the tomato has a fun backstory of it being developed by the owner of a radiator shop located at the bottom of a steep hill in West Virginia. Over six years, he bred and developed this tomato, and sold them to customers and passersby for one dollar per plant back in the 1930s. Legend has it that he paid off his repair shops mortgage through the sale of the plants, not by fixing radiators!
Mortgage Lifter is an abundant and dependable producer of dark pink beefsteak tomatoes weighing around a pound each. We’ve been impressed at the variety’s ability to produce beautiful tomatoes under a myriad of challenging conditions. The flavor is exceptional and the large size makes them perfect for sandwiches—one slice more than covers a slice of bread!
80-90 days from transplant.