Saving Tomato Seeds

Well, I've never done this before, but I remember seeing my Dad dry seeds like this. These yellow cherry tomatoes were spectacular in a very bad tomato season, so I'm trying it. I also bought a perennial Hibiscus yesterday on sale--now is the time for garden center bargains! Lowes says they will have some fall seeds in around the second week of August. They are the only source I have found locally who restock for fall, and fall is my favorite season in the garden: lettuce season!

Out with the old...in with the pumpkins

Today I threw out the tomato vines and planted pumpkins in my raised beds. I hope to grow the Jack-Be-Little ones on the fence where some cucumbers remain. It will take a lot of water to produce big pumpkins in these beds because they dry out so quickly. We shall see! I also planted popcorn for fall decor, and sunflowers for fall. I hope my timing is not too late.

Heart-Shaped Tomato

This tomato came up in between my Cherokee chocolate plants; it is heart-shaped and colored like a "black" variety. Can anyone identify it?

Yellow cherry tomato

This yellow cherry has the best taste of any small tomato I have grown, and is a big producer. It was labeled "Yellow" but I think it may be "Sungold." Love to eat them off of the vine!

Angel Trumpet

Usually a reliable herald of "back-to-school time," my pink Angel Trumpet has been blooming since June. It's been a very cool wet spring in Alabama.

Heirloom Okra and bitter cucumbers

This blog is for the gardening friends I don't see every day, my old friends at Jefcoed plus anyone who loves to talk about gardening.  All morning I heard rumbles of thunder, but we only got a few splashes of rain here in Oneonta, AL.  I planted English cucumbers this year which were delicious until this recent June dry spell.  Will the rain take away the bitterness and make the new ones edible again?  Also, I planted one of my raised beds in heirloom okra seed and have watered it every day.  The pods are large and pale, but remain tender when cut at longer lengths.  Alas, they are too big for pickling, so I will have to buy some to try making one of my favorites--okra pickles.  I have yet to harvest a red tomato (except for cherries) as a result of the setback my plants received from the April frost we had here.  I have been able to keep two new hydrangeas alive:  Bluebell and Vince Dooley.  Thanks, Jeremiah Posey for starting those at the PVHS greenhouse!