On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:28:57 -0700 (PDT), sueb
wrote:

:On Mar 24, 1:22*pm, Dan Musicant wrote:
: On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:31:19 -0700, Dan Musicant
: wrote:
:
: :My main problem with the tomatoes at the moment is just that I can't
: :find a 6 pack of Early Girl. Seems that all the Orchard Supply Hardware
: :stores in the area aren't stocking them currently.
: :
: oes anyone know of a source of tomato 6 packs (Early Girl is what I'm
: :after) in the S.F. East Bay's I80 corridor? I'm driving from Berkeley to
: :Milpitas tomorrow and could make a stop for seedlings. Thanks for any
: :ideas. Suggest a store and I will call it.
: :
: an
:
: A manager at my local OSH just called me and told me that in 2 days
: (Friday) they will have 6 packs of Early Girl. He said the supplier was
: later than usual due to the heavy rains. I'm skeptical concerning that
: explanation (kept that to myself), but thanked him. I'll go in Friday
: (after calling them to confirm) and hope to finally score my seedlings.
:
: Dan
:
: Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net
:
:It's still too early for most places to have a wide variety of
:tomatoes in stock. I would *never* plant Ace - it's the same
:tasteless tomato that supermarkets stock. I usually rotate between
:Early Girl and Better Boy for an early fruiting plant. They both have
:small fruits but with good flavor.
:
:And don't add sand to your clay soil - build it up with organic
:amendments. The sand won't mix into the rest of the soil, it'll just
:form a horizon.
:
:Susan B.
:in Sunnyvale

Where I am, the 6 packs are usually out by a week or two prior to now.
I've never seen this much delay. However, I did plant 4 weeks later in
2006 (April 21) due to an exceptionally rainy spring. There was just no
chance to prepare and plant sooner.

I had decent luck with Better Boy some years ago, but have done so well
with Early Girl, I haven't been tempted to stray.

You wouldn't believe the size of the compost pile I had this year. I
could have put more in, but I know I'll get a great crop. It's about the
same amount of compost as last year (5+ wheelbarrows), which was the
first time I didn't add ANY commercial fertilizer (either at planting
time or later)! I think it was on Wild Billy's suggestion last year,
I've stopped using commercial fertilizer on my vegetables.

It's amazing, though, how thick, solid and muddy the soil gets a year
later even with all that organic matter added (one year before).

Dan


Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net