Kingbird's Garden 2023

[Kingbird]

Hello Tomato Junction!

I am going to start a grow log and see if I can document a season of my crazy world. I will do my best to.see this through.

My day job is Superintendent of a golf course. I planned on last year being the end of that but here I am again working 70 hrs a week. Money talks I guess. Also the thought of someone else tending that 200 acres, that is so dear to me, gives me the creeps lol.

My other job is my garden and produce stand. We grow what we can and purchase the rest from friends or our produce auction. We sell at the stand, to a friend who has a very busy retail outlet and bumper crops go to auction.

Neither is actually a job because I love what I do. At a year shy of 50 these 100+ hour weeks are getting harder and harder to pull off. Luckily the golf course is 2 miles away so I don't waste time commuting.

My property is 20 acres of field, hardwoods and trails in upstate New York Finger Lakes region. Imho the most beautiful place in the world for 4 seasons.

This season we are opening new ground for our tomato garden. The previous areas are a quarter mile from the house. I need to be closer to be more efficient with watering and everything else that goes along with a large garden. So off we go..

I have a 6' wide rototiller that is powered by a Bobcat 30 hp diesel tractor. It does a fine job but is slow due to our ground being riddled with enough cobble to build a dozen castles. I decided to upgrade my tilling game..

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My beautiful Wifey took right to the excavator and I couldn't get her off it lol rain and darkness was not a problem for her!

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[Kingbird]

And the clearing of the area which is 200 yards by 50 yards.. is coming along..

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[Kingbird]

In 2018 I was gifted a bulging mailer from Tormato jam packed with tomato seeds. What fun I had cataloging and growing out those seeds.

Fast forward to 2023 and although I keep those seeds in a refrigerator dedicated to seeds, I need to do an increase. We have 100 variety started at least. My main goal is to return the favor and send back fresh seed of these lovely varieties.

Yesterday at the auction I scored 260 tomato plants, Better Boy, Jet Star, and Red Duece. I needed red round tomatoes to fill out my tomato rainbow.

I picked up 6 Bristol Blackberry plants for 4$ ea as well.

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[Kingbird]

Thursday looks like our last chance of frost. I need to get the tiller on the newly opened ground, build the fencing as we have a MASSIVE deer population, and get water run to the garden. Hopefully plant next week.

We also grow:

Cantaloupe
Squash
Cucumber
Green beans
Watermelons
Peppers

Here is two trays of Heirlooms from the great Tormato package.

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[bower]

That is some fine looking dirt, @Kingbird .
Nice tomato list too.

[MissS]

That's going to be one heck of a tomato garden! You are going to be busy.

[PlainJane]

Wow, really nice looking garden - soil looks wonderful.