A Southern Grace: garden update--good news and bad news

June 11, 2008

garden update--good news and bad news

Yum

It was hard for me to leave my new babies unattended for even two days, but it had to be done. It turned out to be a bad move.


I'll start with the good news--we have color!


My first cherry-colored cherry tomato. Ain't she a beaut?

I'm also getting some romas...


...two golden jubilees....


...and an early girl bush hybrid:


Here's the bad news. My pepper plants were pummelled by heavy rains, and that gorgeous jalapeno from the last update is no more.


No sign of it at all.

I was also getting some poblanos:


They broke off as well. They were so young--a promising life cut tragically short.

Eulogies for the peppers that would've contributed to some awesomely spicy dishes and words of encouragement for me are greatly appreciated.

30 comments:

Tabby said...

So sorry about the loss of your peppers...two days after we put in our garden, deer came along and ate the tops off all our tomato plants except 1, and we had to start all over with new plants, so I feel your pain.

Nic said...

Oh no! Having a veggie garden ourselves, I know this must be so upsetting for you. :(

I also know that young Poblano would have added a very spicy, exquisite flavour to one or more dishes, had his life not been cut short so tragically. I'll remember him with fondness as I tuck into my next stuffed pepper.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear! Gardening is a lot like love... lots of work and plenty of joys and sorrows. :-)

Elle said...

As we gather here today, we remember with such fondness, our spicy friends--Po B. Lano and J. Al Apeno.

They were with us for such a short time, but gave us great joy while they spent time in the garden, along with their friends, the Tomatoes, who will also miss them dearly. Especially in the salsa that Grace had been planning.

Sorry to see you go, peppery friends.

RecipeGirl said...

I lost nearly all of my tomatoes last year. It was so very sad. This year, I'm yanking them off the vines already (which is a good thing, since that tomato-ban is going on.)

Hey, I have a little award for you to pick up on my blog. I'm quite sure you've already received it, but in any case it's the thought, right?

Sharon said...

I hate to go out of town because the garden always suffers. My husband thinks I'm more in love with my plants than him at some times.

Sorry about the pepps. At least you have salmonella free tomatoes!

My Sweet & Saucy said...

Your garden looks like so much fun! I wish I could have one, but my tiny apartment in CA just doesn't allow for room. Can't wait to see more photos of your delicious bounty!

April was in CA now MA said...

Rest in peace. Although your spiciness will be missed we know you're in a better place (probably a birds stomach...watch out for a fly by as revenge).

I'm doing tomatoes and bell peppers for my first time and I really hope I can actually eat something I've grown. It's fun to follow along with you so thank you for sharing!

krysta said...

Jalapeno Pepper lived a short life that would have been very promising if he made it through the tragic rain storm of 2008. Jalapeno was survived by his companion, Cherry Tomato, and his best friend, Cilantro. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The United Salsa Foundation or Tragic Tomato Loss Center.

LyB said...

Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. Your tomatoes look like they're in good shape though, they're tough ones aren't they! Keep us up to date, alright. :)

Anonymous said...

Ah, Mother Nature, she keeps us humble. Here in So Cal we had a few blistering days that totally destroyed some of the herbs I had growing in my garden, I feel your pain.
But,I'm envious of those tomatoes! I've had nothing but a black thumb when it's comes to mine, awful!
The good news? There's always next year.

Anonymous said...

How sad, pablo and jalo were such good friends, it's a shame they were tragically lost in a natural diaster. I hope child protective services will not be knockin' on your door.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Sorry to hear about the peppers. This is a problem I am sadly familiar with. Or what's worse is when it grows and looks beautiful and ready for picking...then you bring it inside, cut it open, and its totally rotten on the inside. :-/

Gigi said...

aahhhh! How exciting and sad. I am so excited to see color in your tomatoes. And it's sad that the rains ruined the peppers. I did plant jalopeno peppers after seeing yours. You're inspiring the gardener in me!

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

How sad for you. I truly feel your loss. Here in FL our tomato planting season is September so we generally lose a bunch to tropical storms or hurricanes. You will recover from this terrible loss. Plant more and hurry!!!

Susan @ SGCC said...

Boo! I'm sorry about your peppers. I know how heartbreaking that can be, especially when you've spent so much time nurturing them.

I got so inspired when I read about your garden that I went out and planted one of my own. I've got 6 kinds of tomatoes, zucchini, red and purple peppers, radishes and green beans. It will probably be a flop, but I'm trying to follow in my Dad's footsteps.

giz said...

Awww so sad - there is a reason they didn't survive....you needed to make room for the zucchini plants

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your peppers, but seeing those photos of those gorgeous tomatoes makes me a lot less sympathetic;-P

KJ said...

Commiserations on your peppers. But looking good on the tomatoes.

Albany Jane said...

Oh, that reminds me... I should probably check on mine...

And *jealous* - my tomatoes haven't even produced one little green blob yet!

Deborah said...

I'm impressed - I see no tomatoes at all yet here! And I lost 2 plants - cucumbers and yellow squash - I'm soooo sad!!

Katie said...

Im So Jealous. I tried to do Tomatoes last year and my dogs ate them all before I even got a red tomato. So no more tomatoes for me.

pam said...

Sorry about your peppers. But those tomatoes do look promising!

Anonymous said...

RIP lovely peppers! But congratulations on your new babies, they look so sweet!

Emily said...

What out for the tomatoes...salmonella, you know.

Just kidding. I'm really tired.

Anna said...

Oh no! More untimely vegetable deaths! Will my sources of poetic inspiration never end?

I could recite something at the funeral, if you like?

Beautiful cherry tomato though. They will live a fuller life on behalf of your peppers, who will not have died in vain.

eatme_delicious said...

Sorry to hear about the peppers! I'm most envious of the tomatoes.

Vera said...

Grace, I'm sorry for your loss.But tomatoes look wonderful! Unfortunately, I'm not a gardener myself. I tried but failed, and felt like a killer. Didn't like that feeling...

Leslie said...

FYI...yes the bacon is the Key to my meatloaf! Its very moist and not greasy at all!

brian said...

tomatoes look good enough to eat!
always taste best fresh out of the garden!