eleventh

So you guys were very forgiving when I missed a day of blogging but I wonder how you'd feel if I told you that we're half way through summer here and I still haven't got all of my tomato plants in the ground? 

I KNOW!

When we got home from Europe at the end of October I knew how late I was and planted tomatoes obsessively. I planted hundreds of seeds in every weird and wonderful variety that I could find. Tomatoes are one of our staples and I couldn't afford to risk not planting enough to last the year's distance.

So I planted, and watered, and chatted to, and pricked out, and watered, and repotted, and watered, and watered and sang to and eventually planted just over 130 tomato plants in the kitchen garden, in a poly tunnel, behind the poly tunnel and over in the bed near the big wood pile. Each of those plants was planted with a big stake that they were tied to and gradually they flowered and set fruit. Lots of lovely green promises of delicious things to come.

But still I had another 120 or so plants but no space up here to plant them. So I waited, not always so patiently, for some help and finally yesterday I got my dream team!

Farmer Bren worked the gorgeous soil, he lay out the irrigation lines and connected them to water, he helped put up the fences and generally made sure everyone knew what they were doing.

His Dad John helped put up the fences that we're using as trellises.

And he dug every single one of the 78 holes we planted into.

I planted and spoke a secret wish to each tomato as I planted them deep as they'd gotten a bit leggy after their long wait. Then I tucked the top tips behind the fence to hold them up and give them some support. So far this new way of trellising is looking like a winner.

Then Miss Pepper followed behind me with a handful of seaweed and mineral rock dust for each plant.

And then Bren's Mum Rene brought us some icy cold water to drink, collected all the pots and watered all the tomatoes in.

What a team! I am so grateful for the help our families give us. Now that it's just me and Bren working here it's sometimes difficult to get through all the jobs that need doing. Having so many hard working hands on deck is a very big and appreciated blessing indeed.

I'm hoping to get the last 50 plants in in the next day or so and then bring on the tomatoes!!

Thanks to you guys for your cucumber suggestions yesterday, we plan to work our way through them starting with tzatsiki which is being made in the kitchen as I type.

And thanks for sticking with me, who knows where we'll go next.

So how many tomatoes do you plant out of interest? And do you have a fave variety? And when is the latest you've ever planted them?

Love Kate
xoxo


PS Thanks Farmer Bren for the photos with me in them, feels kinda weird but good too xx