Tax Day and too much Tomatoes???

Last year on tax day (April 15th) we got almost a foot of snow and then in May - the 19th to be exact - we got another 6 inches of snow!  This year on tax day we turned our furnace off, quit using the dryer, and I was able to move my tomatoes out into the greenhouse!  It has been a steady 63 degrees in Big Lake during the day and not below 38 overnight.   It never fails that I get so hankering for fresh tomatoes that I end up planting a plethora of them and running out of room in the greenhouse even.

Yes those are almost all tomatoes!  We do have a little dill and fennel, and some of these tomatoes will go to a neighbor, my in laws, and some to the school for our garden project and for some of the staff members there.  It is so much fun to share the bounty that comes from a seed!

Houston High School was awarded a grant from the State of Alaska, Department of Agriculture, Farm To School program so that we can expand the schools garden that I discussed in some prior blogs (Houston High and the Great Potato Project I and II, and the Ultimate Upcycle - Those Tired Tires).  We are so excited for this opportunity to show the kids how much we can do with a small space and with free items, with a little hard work and a lotta love!  Ill keep you apprised of the greatness as we go along and keep you posted!

Some of these tomatoes will go to the school project and show how easy it is to grow them, and after they produce, green, gold, red, pink, black or orange, how to use them to make delicious food with them!
Even those hanging baskets have tomatoes in them (Balcony, Sungold, Sweet 100, and Better Bush).  This year I have the most varieties of tomatoes we have ever tried.  We even saved some seed from a tomato that we loved last season and we are calling them Humphreys Early Sun.  It is one that we crossed from a Sun Gold and an Early Girl and they produce prolifically a medium sized tomato that has wonderful flavor, color and texture. Ill let you know how true they come back this year from the saved seed - hopefully with pictures!

You don't have to have a greenhouse to start your garden - I also have the kitchen table covered with Reeds cabbages (Kraut recipe coming in the fall),squash, pumpkins, some herbs, and a few new lemon trees ( sadly my largest lemon tree didn't make it through this winter).  As long as you have a window or two to put your starts in and you water them often, you too can have a too full greenhouse and garden!  Happy Planting 2014!