[Vision2020] Gardening

[Don Coombs]

J:

As others have indicated, tomatoes grow well in Moscow, 
but you can't just throw seed in the ground the way you 
can down low in California.

Full sun works well, and planting against a 
south-facing wall helps.

Some varieties work better than others. Most of the 
extra-early varieties produce small tomatoes and not 
many. Presently my favorites are Goliath (regular 
Goliath, not Bush Goliath or any other Goliath) and 
Legend and Early Girl. These are full-size and 
full-flavor tomotoes and they are almost as early as 
some of the Siberian and Arctic and Ice Tray (I made 
that one up) varieties. I used to plant a lot of 
Santiam, too. Early Girl is an old standby.

Some years ago May 15 was the average date for last 
killing frost in Moscow, and June 1 was a good date to 
set out tomatoes and other frost-sensitive plants. This 
year I am going to watch Al Gore and plant when he does.

Best regards, Don Coombs

Another observation: I keep mason bees to pollinate 
fruit trees, and yesterday there they were, out 
exploring. Pretty early. The ones in my refrigerator 
will stay there until the fruit trees show some blossoms.