I'm just trying to feed myself!!
I moved here (zone 5) from zone 9.
I need all the help I can get!

Our teensy little first harvest here in southern California, gardening in pots on the patio - I'm new in the region, new at this! Still feels like magic to have even two ripe little tomatoes that we grew!

My husband looked at me puzzled, tasting the tomato sauce: What's that interesting flavor I've not tasted before?
Me: I think that's the taste of fresh herbs!
(I chop 'em up & stick 'em in the freezer in snack ziplocs -- anyone got a better idea?)

Happy New Years, you'all!

Very, nice, JulieB. The first of many harvests to come, I suspect.

@SongofJoy Thank you! I suspect you are very right!

I've got herbs growing -- purple sage, spicy & unspicy (?) oregano, thyme, trailing & untrailing (?) rosemary, cilantro, dill, flat-leafed Italian parsley, sweet marjoram, chives, catnip, basil -- one tomato plant (next season I'm planning on cherry tomatoes -- I had no idea how much space even one tomato plant requires!) & a globe artichoke, mostly for the flower! I'm needing to add hot peppers in the "spring" but now know not to try & grow them with the tomatoes -- who's got a favorite small hot pepper that likes growing in a container ... in the desert...?

Happy New Year!

Nothing growing in the veggie garden here as we are having a snowstorm. I can only dream about spring.

@JulieB , I can't go in and hunt it down right now but I KNOW I saw at least one while I was in Seed Savers' Exchange website yesterday.

Julie, I like Hungarian Hot Wax (aka Hot Banana) Peppers. Good in containers and easy to grow. At least here anyway.

Here you go -

1) http://www.seedsavers.org/onli...
2) http://www.seedsavers.org/onli...
3) http://www.seedsavers.org/onli...
4) http://www.seedsavers.org/onli...

I can not even get up the back stairs to get a picture of my backyard veggie beds all covered in snow. Here is a picture off the patio, which is as far as I got on that side of the house!

Oh look it is Cold weather Crops Week starting now and running all week.

I see Dave is doing double acorns all this week for comments in the plant database for cold weather crops. So get 2 acorns per comment instead of one on those cold weather veggies.

I am looking at Territorial Seed and see that Oregon Spring is a determinate Parthenocarpic tomato. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a Parthenocarpic tomato.

And they also have two other ultra early tomatoes from the Beverlodge series. I have a whole bunch of tomato plants there at Territorial in my shopping cart and am just trying to make up my mind on my finial choices.

You already have enough tomato seeds! If you buy more, you'll have to promise to plant some!

I got 14 seed catalogs while I was away so I have lots of reading today. Placed my order with Burpee last night, free shipping until Wed.

I just looked. Don't see free shipping at Burpee. I would like to order when there is free shipping.

Not online, got an email. Use promo code NY2014. Only good until Wed.

Oh thank you so much. You saved me $9.00 in shipping.

I bought 3 plants Fairy Tale Eggplant. I had one plant last year and it was my favorite of all the eggplants that I grew. Then I went to mix and match and I bought three tomato plants. All new ones, or at least new to me. I bought SteakHouse Hybrid, Porterhouse Hybrid and Razzle Dazzle.

Tee Hee, I am getting seeds for the new Steakhouse hybrid! Thought about plants but decided to do seeds and plant them all and sell the plants at market!

Good idea to grow lots of plants and sell them at market.

I just couldn't resist that SteakHouse Hybrid. The picture of that huge tomato is just too much to pass up. I would love to grow really big tomatoes like that.

I have seeds. I have lots and lots of tomato seeds and plan on trying to grow some for myself. I think it is my year for trying lots of different and new to me tomato plants.

I know! That photo is a real seller! So for $7 for 25 seeds, if 20 germinate and I sell for $5 each, I've made $93. Not bad!

I have all kinds of tomato seeds as well so I needed the Steakhouse like I need a hole in the head but I couldn't resist! Otherwise I am actually cutting back on my varieties of tomatoes and just doing about five main ones I have found to be good producers and sellers.

Off to look at my other seed catalogs now!

I hope they all germinate!