On this post, easy ways to start your own tomato garden and how it can actually improve your health too.
Welcome to the Weekend Meander with Elizabeth and Juliet where we share favorites and current cool happenings.
Every few years I share a gardening post with a few tips. New thoughts on how to garden – and the incredible health benefits of it have come to light lately, so I thought this would be a good time to share the news, plus good ideas from my dear dad, who is a lifelong gardener.
It’s time for your summer garden to be planted!
We have had a cooler spring than normal and a fair bit of temperate weather. Still it’s not been time to plant the tomato garden of your dreams- until NOW. That’s right, my dad- aka Dig It With Ray, (family joke), says it’s go time. Previously we had a faux spring, yet cool temps at night. That can make new tomato plants rot before they have a chance to root themselves. Now evenings are warming and it’s not too hot yet. If you can, get your plants in asap.
I bought a few varietals from Emily Joubert’s garden in Woodside and my dad brought me more he started on a warming pad from seed. I also added a climbing zucchini. (They can go nuts and take over the garden space, so I am hoping this one can be trained up a trellis and a bit more controlled.) I have about 8 tomatoes and will add some Persian cucumber -and a cantaloupe which did so well last year. We got nearly ten little cantaloupes.
As a small girl, I grew up with my dad’s garden being outside the window.
Sometimes it annoyed my having green beans strung across the view during summer, but I learned to love eating all kind of veggies early on and how to plant them. I now know how lucky I was to grow up this way. My dad always had a greenhouse and even a compost pile. It kind of grossed me out as a kid, but I now realize dad making his own compost before it was cool. I still love the smell of wet dirt, (is that weird?) which would waft through my bedroom each evening when my dad watered after getting home from work on summer evenings. I am so grateful to still have my dad helping us with the garden each year when we put in our vegetable garden. He gives me inspiration to get out there.
Gardening is healthy for you
Gardening used to be a big pastime during past wars, and austere times. During the pandemic many went to the yard and garden for their sanity, and kept gardening. Something about being out, with the bird songs, the scent of earth and flowers can calm you. Being with nature lowers your stress cortisol levels and even depression. It also keeps you fit, as any older person who gardens can attest. My own dad is 86 and has a strong back, hands and is flexible. While gardening, you crouch, twist, dig and carry heavy bags. It keeps you pliable.
There is also new evidence getting your hands dirty can actually make you happier as a bacteria in the dirt alters your gut microbiome in a way that reduces stress and improves your mood!
Gardening is a bit of delayed gratification, and that is why many come to it later in life. You need patience, but there is no greater reward than seeing the work of your yard began to pay back with beauty and delicious veggies. Compare any yard tomato to a store bought and they aren’t the same species! There is joy in growing your own heirloom roses, and walking into the yard to get a lemon or lime for a recipe is pretty cool.
A patio can work too!
Even if you don’t have a garden space, you can start with patio containers, (tomatoes do well that way), or just herbs on a sunny window. I grew these basils last summer by keeping them in a shallow pot always filled with water.
My post on the basil method and the best summer ravioli here.
Getting a tomato garden in
This was my garden late fall a few years ago…and my tomatoes!
Dad and I at the garden center!
Ray’s Tomato Garden Tips:
- The new thought of gardening (dad always learning), is you no longer need to turn over your beds before planting. The topsoil is full of nutrients and organisms that feed your plants, so don’t bury it, just add the new plants in.
- Pluck the lower leaves from your tomato plant and plant it as deep as you can, up to the middle stem if you can, to give it a chance to root well.
- You want to start with a plant, not seeds at this point, to have a better chance in your garden. If you want to use seeds, start in small containers and transplant when they are at least 5 inches tall or so.
- The best time to plant is when the evenings start being warmer. In California that is usually mid to late May.
- Plant bush tomatoes like Early Girl, in the front of garden beds and the climbers against a wall, or where they can be trellised. (Is that a no duh? I didn’t think about that previously.)
- Have your garden on drip or like me soaker hoses in summer times, but make sure you do extra hand water during hot spells at morning or night.
- Hold back and stop watering the last few weeks of tomatoes for more flavor. (Early in the season you cannot do this, as you have more fruit forming. I do this the in late August and September.)
- Choose organic plants, soil and plant food. Keep your garden organic and stay away from chemical sprays and use a water hose to spray off insects (Sometimes you need to repeat a few days in a row.) Your garden will benefit from ladybugs, and bees if you don’t kill them with chemicals.
- Don’t count on drip. You can have irrigation, but to have a thriving garden you need to go out at least a few times a week to give water through the hose, pick weeds, and check for insects. Just doing that a few mornings and evenings kept plants that were drying becoming thrivers.
Last year Max built me new taller redwood beds…My garden is a work in progress and the vines along the fence have now grown more. I am hoping it’s going to look prettier this year with matching pots and all… Stay tuned.
A few garden things on my radar…
Loving these cute shorts with pockets, the hats I have, and a long sleeve button up – my usual garden go-to to prevent sun and scratches.
Other good things…
I’m in Hawaii right now for five days and trying to check out and read a few books. I’m staying at a new spot and riding a bike all over the place. I feel like a 10 year old and I can’t wait to share about it next week.
I was excited to see this London townhouse of Fiona Dreesman on Homeworthy. I follow Fiona Finds on Instagram where she shares gorgeous homewares she selects for her shop. She has tips for entertaining on here and a unique mix of traditional/ mod in her home with the best natural light and lovely wall colors. I particularly like the soft yellow space.
On last week’s post on the SF Decorator Showhouse (linked below), seeing the Chambre Bleu room with a quilted bed by Sausalito designers Jeanne Renee gave me deja vu…
I recalled an article and a stunning room by Mrs Wyatt Cooper -aka Gloria Vanderbilt, (or Anderson’s mom!), showcased in 1970 Vogue. It was spectacular as Gloria varnished quilts under the floor and covered the walls and ceilings with quilts too. It’s one of my favorites.
I found the original magazine article and photos by Horst online here in Vogue and it was something! Quilts are back in a big way, but Gloria was ahead of the curve before that whole Holly Hobbie folk art era came in the mid seventies. Anyone else remember that time? GV was always fabulous and a visionary. Did anyone else have a pair of her jeans? I remember them being quite pricey and I think I had to beg my mom for them also save my babysitting money.
Max and I plan to watch The Last Class, ( Thank you Liz), a film about the Robert Reich and specifically his last lecture at the UC Berkeley campus. This is supposed to funny and hopeful. Reich’s wisdom and experience is great and he wants the next generation to not accept that the world as it is. I so admire him! Watch it here.
Thanks to Nicole above, I just learned the hilarious Zach Galifianakis has a gardening show. This looks like a good one..
Last weekend I shared tips and ideas from the San Francisco Decorator Showcase with Juliet, and lunch at George Lucas Film Campus in the Presidio.
Wishing you a happy weekend,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
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This has me wanting to start my tomato garden! The thing is we might get too much rain in late summer (short afternoon showers). Thanks for the inspo!
I love your main picture. We have had gardened to various degrees throughout our marriage and our current garden is pretty big. I see that it really helps my husband (he works a very stressful, sometimes gritty job). I see he uses it to decompress and it is a great and healthy way to direct our kids’ energy and for them to bond. Have you seen that Zach Galifianakis show about gardening on Netflix? Oh there’s some dumb potty humor, but otherwise a very cute show and I want to think thay he’s right- that the future will be agrarian😂. I even got my husband a custom shirt with the quote from the show. Those quilt rooms are a symphony for the eyeballs! I love anything like that. I could not live in such a space, but I sure love seeing it! Riding a bike around a beautiful location sounds perfect. I will look into this Robert Reich thing. I volunteer at a local school and recently attended a meeting where student population decline and closing schools were discussed and I kept thinking about how hopeless that sounded, but also so hopeful because we have more power at this juncture than we realize to shape things the way we want for generations to thrive and have fulfilling lives that lead to better outcomes for all. Enjoy your time away.
Best,
Nicole
Thanks Nicole! I love that you have a gardening husband.. My dad used to do the same after work when we were growing up. It is such an excellent way to decompress.
I had not heard of the Zach Galifianakis show. I just looked it up and it looks fun. I will link it below! Thanks I don’t know how it escaped my notice. He cracks me up. I am going to send it to my dad too.
Love Gloria Vanderbilt and wish someone had kept that room intact. I know couldn’t live that way either..but love it.
I love the positive thinking that when we have less students, we have more ability to shape the future. Let’s hope we get smart, because right now we are in a timeline called stupid with this crew at the helm. Kids deserve better and the best most forward thinking schools. I love the idea of more thriving and fulfilled lives.
I always love your notes. Happy weekend ! x
Mary Ann you could try it in a container too! As long as you get warmth and sun, you should be okay, but then I am not a Floridian. xo
Good morning Kim,
I love all of your posts and especially the gardening tips from your dad. How special to have him along side you as your plant tomatoes and plan a garden each year. I laughed out loud at the beans strung across your window growing up.
We did not have a garden growing up, but we had friends that had a small farm and we would go and “help” them pick things sometimes and I remember one year they gave us a row to plant whatever we wanted.
My in-laws were prolific gardeners. I have a feeling my father in law and your dad would have enjoyed talking tomatoes.
Tell me your favorite ways to eat tomatoes. Patricia Wells has wonderful tomatoes recipes. https://www.patriciawells.com
As for Gloria Vanderbilt, she is an icon, an artist and a visionary. What an incredible life she lived.
Have a relaxing time in Hawaii, enjoy the bike rides and the beach.
xo
Elizabeth, How cool to have a friend with a farm and planting your own row!
Oh I bet my dad and you FIL would have a lot to chat about.
My favorite recipe is always a fresh caprese salad… I do like to make marinara with just tomatoes, butter and one onion by Marcella Hazan.
It’s fantastic.
I have a few Patricia Well’s books too. xo
Gardening and growing things is my therapy. In fact as I write this I am literally just back from a local village plant sale with lots of goodies to now plant in my own garden. I have not got any tomatoes yet this year but usually one of my gardening chums gives me a pot or two. This year I am growing strawberries and mange-tout but like you, it has been quite cold still so just waiting to plant them out. Happy gardening Kim, please do share your tomato harvest when the time comes!
Lesley, How wonderful your village has a plant sale! So neat.
I need to try strawberries. Maybe I’ll put a few on the edge of the bed. Thank you for the idea.
I had to look up mange tout- we call them snow peas! They are a great one and so yummy in salads. I planted some last fall and they did well.
I will share. Hoping it is a good year for tomatoes.
Happy growing to you too!
Happy vacationing Kim! I loved all the inspo today, especially your dad’s tomato tips. My dad was a gardener and I miss him telling me to get my tomatoes in the ground! Good thing we have a local organic farm. Nothing like eating tomatoes from the garden. Yes on Robert Reich, and we will be watching his film tonight. Thanks for posting that ravioli recipe again. I’ve got to get to TJ’s for ravioli and a basil plant. Have fun on that bike!
Oh Karen, your dad sounds like mine. I am sending you a hug.
I know we are so lucky to get good organic local tomatoes too.
I think the Robert Reich piece is supposed to be uplifting! We need it now.
I am getting one of those basil plants too.
Happy weekend! xo
We moved last summer and our new home came with planting beds! I am really enjoying tending to a garden again although I put my tomatoes in a couple of weeks ago so now I am worried because your Dad knows best. Maybe I will add another plant in case these don’t make it. Enjoy Hawaii! Can’t wait to hear about a new place.
I so look forward to all your posts. Thank you.
Hi Penelope! Yay for planting beds. The same thing happened when we bought our house 15 years ago. It inspired me to start mine too. We had to finally rebuild our beds last year.
I think you are going to be fine planting earlier this year because we did not have any frosty evenings – at least in California!
You will know soon if they are growing and getting little blossoms on them.
Good luck with the garden! I think you will love this spot in Hawaii!
Aw hank you. xo
Kim, your gardening post is inspiring me to do more work on my patio and backyard. The photo of you and your Dad is precious.
Aw Thanks Linda. I need to do more too! x
Hi Kim, it’s always lovely to see your dad on the blog, and thanks for sharing his wisdom about gardening! It’s Victoria Day weekend here in Canada, when most people start their gardens, but it seems a bit early this year. We just have a small back yard with a large deck, so we do containers. Will keep in mind your post about basil and your dad’s rules about tomato planting!
I loved last week’s post with Juliet but didn’t get around to commenting. Have a wonderful time in Hawaii!
Patricia Happy Victoria Day! I did not know that was a start of garden season for Canada, but makes sense. Great marker to remind folks.
Containers produce some of the best tomatoes! Try the basil water method. I cannot believe how well it works!
Aw thanks and happy weekend too. x
I’m long-time obsessed with Americana. Lately, it’s patchwork, appliqué, quilting used in new ways. Have y’all seen the Sezane X Sea collab? Swoon! Giving me ideas for my own DIY projects. Want a mini quilt/americana fix? Go pick up the Harriet Powers stamps at USPS! https://www.stampsforever.com/stamps/harriet-powers
Christine, I love the Sezane x Sea collab. Great jackets! So fun to see quilting used this way.
I had no idea about Harriet Powers. What a wonderful story and those stamps are beautiful ! I am going to pick some up if I can at our post.
Thank you for sharing all this. I will add them to the next post too. xo
Hi kim,
Have a gorgeous time in Hawaii!!! I just finished this fun whodunnit book you might love for the journey back i just downloaded on my Kindle called The Fine Art of Lying by Alexander Andrews. Lovely picture of you and your Dad and thank him please for all the tomato tips. I use to grow tomatoes but with all the wild animals around us we hardly got any! Aloha xo
I never met a tomato I didn’t love. It’s the best part of summertime
When we lived in a Kensington we used to see a Robert Reich down on 4th street in a week Wiley on the weekends. I wonder if he still lives in the old neighborhood. Cheers!
I am 78 years old and Gloria Vanderbilt “Amanda” jeans are still my go-to. I’ve been wearing them for years. They fit me well and are reasonably priced. I am definitely a jeans “girl”!
Kim, your Dad is so amazing! You are a lucky girl! I too love the smell of wet soil. We add a soil conditioner to our garden beds called soil pep. I love how it smells also! The smell of spring! And yes, gardening is good for the soul! Enjoy Hawaii!
Kim, your back yard is so gorgeous, it’s not too big (our entire yard is almost an acre) I love the pool with all the brick and the way you have it styled. I’ve asked my husband to get a gardener to at least help out with our yard but for now he says no for now. Growing up in a large family with a Hispanic dad, he used to make the kids do yard work and told them “we are our own Mexicans”! 😂 At least when he retires in 2 months he will have more time. I love the raised beds that Max built. We certainly have the space to grown veggies but the main flat area is down some steep stairs to the back yard so it’s not super convenient to access. For now we have some fruit trees and herbs. I can relate to the smell of dirt. My uncles had greenhouses as a business in Idaho and I used to love walking through them. When I smell carnations it brings me back to those days.
I had a pair of GV jeans in my early 20’s once I had a full time job. I used to babysit too prior to that and had to save up for things and chip in if I wanted something pricier my mom couldn’t afford to buy.
Enjoy your stay in Hawaii! 🏝️
Linda
Hi Kim,
Your father is a real pro, it’s wonderful that he is a natural in the garden. It must be special sharing time with him and absorbing all his knowledge. Great picture of you together. I admire his strength and that he is still able to pick up heavy bags, dig, and do everything that it takes to garden. It’s huge because I watch my husband and it’s not easy. Yes, I so agree it feels so good to decompress from life and play in the soil. The exciting part is to see the fruits of your labor.
Adorable picture of you riding your bicycle in Hawaii. A great place to vacation.
Kim! You know I always look to you (your dad) for the go-ahead to plant tomatoes. I won’t be doing it this year, but I’m already thinking about next. I appreciate your dad’s new tip about not needing to turn over soil. Wow, what a revelation … because it can be such a big chore. Also, love your idea of going vertical with veg that spread. What a great idea for smaller gardens … a strategy I’m going to need next spring. Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Hawaii and I can’t wait to hear about it next week. Also love that you send postcards. I used to love to send and receive postcards. Not sure why I stopped, but I think I’ll pick it up again … so thank you. Sorry, I’m late getting here. I was away for a long weekend and it’s taken me longer than planned to regroup and get busy. xoxo