Beginning to plant...

We always mark the start of spring planning season by when DeBaggio's Herb Farm puts out their awesome heirloom tomato seedlings. Of course, you can put in your lettuce, spinach, and potatos before then, but on our farm, we worship at the leaves of the perfect tomato.



We plant ours in Straw Bales, and we feel it's the best way for lazy people like us to plant tomatos (because you don't have to till). We had read on the amazing internet that the very best way to start your straw bales rotting was with Ammonium Nitrate, which prompted Margie and I to run all around the DC Metro Area for Ammonium Nitrate. Which, um, they don't really sell here. In fact, in spite of the fact that it is a PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE FERTILIZER, all the clerks at the garden centers looked at us as if we'd grown two heads and as if us seedling-toting women were quite clearly terrorists.

"Well, I've NEVER heard of it and I DON'T recommend it," snarled the portly gentleman running the show at the garden center in Davidsonville, MD. We refrained from comment.



That was the year with, I believe, 8 tomato plants. The best year we had. This year, Margie went a little crazy in DeBaggio's and walked out with 32 plants. Hopefully they'll grow. Sometimes we screw up, and they don't.



I also harvested my lettuce tonight. It was starting to bolt.



Bolting means it is getting warm. We like warm.