Hot Time for Winter Garden

I’m trying for a fall crop of tomatoes this year.  Today I planted 5 plants, 2 Defiant, 2 Talladega and one Better Boy.  I also put in an eggplant.

The planters I use are plastic water basins.  I make a reservoir in the bottom  by cutting the bottom of a basin off and inverting it inside a whole basin.  Then I cut out a hole in the center and stick a plastic flower pot in it for a place where soil and roots can get below the waterline.  Finally I use PVC pipe to carry the water to the reservoir.

Next  the basin is filled and watered and the plants are added.

Finally I run a couple water lines to the PVC pipe and run the water until water pours out the drain hole I made in the side of the basin at the top of the reservoir.

The water line is one of the zones  of my sprinkler system so I can set it and forget it.  The plants get watered twice a day. The water fills from the bottom up.  Excess water drains out the hole.  The plants can drink all they want when they want and the soil never gets too wet for them.

I’m hoping for tomatoes in 70-90 days – early November. This is the first time I’m trying a second crop.  Wish me luck.

I went out to the shed to put a coat of polyurethane on the bookcase and I discovered I hadn’t stained one whole side of it .  So instead of poly I stained that side.  I haven’t had enough experience using stain to do what I consider a good job.  The side and shelf tops came out acceptable but the inside sides show wipe marks.  Fortunately that area will not be readily visible when the shelves are full.

I gained some useful experience on this project so the next time I use stain I hope to do a better job.

I was then going to put a coat of poly on it this evening.  When I opened the can I had I found it was too old to use.  So finishing will be delayed.

Tomorrow is my doctors appointment with the hand surgeon in Pensacola.  Everybody is hoping I do have de Quervain’s Tendonitis, including me.  It’s something that can be fixed.  Keep your thumbs crossed for me.