Cherokee Purple and Cherokee Chocolate on May 22 - planting date was May 8

On April 19, my last blog entry, I was just at the beginning of selling some seedlings. Here we are, on May 28, and not only is my garden planted, but we just caged 115 different tomato plants at the Veterans Healing Farm greenhouse.

Veterans Healing Farm greenhouse, which I’ve been granted use of for this year - one minute drive from my house!

My “Team Tomato” crew after fitting cages over the tomato plants - May 26 task

I have so much more to say about both my garden, and the Veterans Healing Farm greenhouse - I will get a look at so many different tomato varieties, many of which I’ve not grown in some time. I will leave that for a future - and very soon! - blog entry.

Over the last month I’ve had the chance to do some great local workshops, including 2 for Sow True Seeds in Asheville. Up next are June 8 at the Carriage Park neighborhood in Hendersonville, on tomatoes, June 10 at the Veterans Healing Farm in Horse Shoe, on the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, and June 13, at the Hendersonville Library, downtown, on tomatoes.

Here’s an exciting news item to share - Epic Tomatoes was chosen as one of 11 Best Gardening Books of 2023, by The Spruce. I so appreciate this recognition!

I am behind on answering emails, sending seeds, staking my tomatoes, and many other things. We have been short of rainy days, meaning lots of opportunities for hiking. Sue and I are finding lots of asparagus and strawberries at local farmers markets, so cooking (and eating) delightfully saps some of our time as well.

I hope to start reporting on what I am growing here at my house, and at the Veterans Healing Farm, with lots of pictures - maybe starting later today. If all goes well, I will start to get caught up (but don’t bet on it!)