Spring 2014!!

I know we haven't even celebrated Christmas yet so there is no way that you can be thinking about planting tomato plants but I do! I order seeds and trays and all the other good stuff now so that in just a few weeks the first of the seedlings can be started! This year I am working with Ben Beadore who will be helping me sell at the Homegrown Market on Thursdays from 3-6 and new this year at the River Market on Saturdays from 7-12! We are finalizing this years list now so feel free to early order or just come on down and see us this spring!

New places to buy!

You can now find the amazing locally saved heirloom seeds at two great locations around town! The Southern Letterpress in downtown Northport and the Makers Market in downtown Tuscaloosa. Help support your amazing city and get some great seeds while you are at it! Check out the list for available seeds.

Seed Packets

They are here! I am so excited! They will be available for purchase for $4 each at the Homegrown Alabama Farmer's Market or I am happy to drop them in the mail to you just send me an email. I will list the available varieties on the tabs on the main page. They are all heirloom seeds that I have grown and saved myself. Enjoy the wonderful handprinted envelopes (a work of art all by themselves!) by the very talented Mo Fiorella (toothsomeprint@gmail.com and www.toothsome-print.com)

Roots!

When I see them I know it's time to pot them up!

They grow up so fast!

5 days after sowing the seeds

2 weeks old

It really is amazing to watch how fast tomato seedlings grow. I've had tomato seeds sprout in a mere 3 days which is fast compared to the normal week is usually takes them. When they first sprout it seems like it takes forever for them to get their first true leaves but after that things really start to take off. In the time it takes me to pot up 360 tomato plants the last ones usually are quite big. I do always wonder if they will be big enough for the market and at the market I always tell myself they are too big and I should have started them later! (Smaller tomato plants are so much easier to transport!) And mine are usually smaller than what you can find at Lowe's or Home Depot but mine have deep root systems and not only catch up quickly to theirs but usually surpass them. It should take me about 2 weeks (hopefully less) to pot up all the tomato and pepper plants and then about 2 more weeks to harden them off assuming it doesn't drop below 40 too many times. Until then I will enjoy watching my seedlings grow.

John Baer

John Baer

Spotlight on John Baer tomato. I grew this tomato for the first time last year and I think it is one that I will grow for many years to come. A perfect tasting tomato that slices up wonderfully for tomato basil sandwiches. It is a perfectly round tomato with a vivid red interior. This was a high yield tomato in my garden which is great if you want to can tomatoes. It was introduced in 1914 by J. Bolgiano and Sons of Baltimore. Others may call this tomato Bonny Best. This was one of the first tomatoes that was ripe in my garden and continued to delight me until the first frost! Enjoy!