Thunderstorms building behind Davis Mountain, behind our deck geraniums

I am going to take a time out from reporting on specific varieties (already - I just started covering the new hybrids) to chat just a bit about what this particular garden is about. I’ve been gardening for 40 years and rarely have I had so much fun. And…rarely have I been so on top of things.

The 2021 garden is really a combination of show garden, research garden and passion garden. The course that is being created with Joe Lamp’l, Growing Epic Tomatoes, puts my tomato growing expertise up front and on display. It is being video documented throughout, and that video, combined with material from Joe’s garden in Georgia, is the foundation of the course. For the first time, I get to - I must! - practice what I preach, and utilize the suggestions and techniques I’ve used throughout my gardening years - hence the stress!

evening view of the garden - sans chaos!

There is a heavy amount of research and development going on in the garden. The new hybrids I created last year, and being grown this year, are evenly split between investigating what happens when two great heirloom indeterminate varieties are crossed, and the creation of 8 new dwarf families. There are growouts of hybrids I created two years ago - using microdwarfs, a fuzzy leaf determinate, and selections from two new dwarf families to hunt for interesting things. I will be doing some new crosses - one of which (Dester X Dwarf Gloria’s Treat - the Glory family) seems to have succeeded. I am also continuing dehybridization work on sweet peppers and eggplants.

There is also confirmed joy that will emerge from the garden, as I am growing a nice collection of our favorite eating tomatoes, as well as some with sentimental value. Add to that summer squash and green beans, garlic and lettuce, spinach and collards, cucumbers and a wide range of flowers (both annual and perennial) and it all adds up to very satisfying fun.

Aunt Gladys blossoms waving in the breeze

I’ve been posting some video tours of my garden on my Instagram TV channel - I am @nctomatoman there. I am becoming a bit more active on Facebook as well, but spend most time there in a private group for the tomato course. I also hope to increase my Instagram Live sessions - often impromptu, but saved to my Instagram TV channel as well.

I love this time of year - I love growing tomatoes - I love gardening in general, spending hours outside with my wife Susan as we assess our flowers, relocate unhappy specimens, or just lay in the hammock and view the garden and experience the wonder of growing things.