DIY Garden Update - Spring Harvest

About a month ago, disaster struck with an unexpected plant kill. I lost my biggest and most developed tomato plants.

I start them while it is still winter so that they produce more later. - No worries. The smaller ones are now producing tons of cherry tomatoes.

We are just beginning to have consistent 70 to 80 degree temperatures now. We hit the high 80's for a few days and one day was 95 - with all that heat all the plants are flourishing nicely.

The plan is working. I have the lettuce and celery growing at the base level. And the tomatoes have taken over the entire twine lattice that I had tied together. There are dozens of tomatoes growing in groups of 6 to 15 in bunches according to the flowers I have been manually pollinating.

whole garden view from across the way

Today I saw my first sign of bees, so I may not have to climb ten feet high to reach the flowers at the top any longer. There have been very few bees over the last few years. Glad they are back.

Taking a look from left to right, we have the new squash plant with its huge leaves starting to work its way up to the top cable where it will line the balcony ceiling. It will be there in less than a week I am guessing.

There is so much being produced on a 5 by 2 foot area. The fertilized hydroponic system keeps water cycling though the bottom section of the pots.

At the base level there are carrots, chives, spinach, and lettuce which you can see overflowing in the middle area. I have been waiting for the lettuce to grow large leaves, but instead of growing into head lettuce, it has been starting to climb up into the domain of the tomato plants. It could be because I germinated them so early. I will have another go at lettuce from seeds when I harvest these.

Lastly, the celery which has amazed me. Here is a picture of the celery forest. I am able to cut what I need for cooking and they just grow more stalks from the base where I had cut them. The same goes for the chives which are overflowing the pots toward the neighbors downstairs.

Here are a few more photos of the tomatoes that are popping up. I am so glad I got them started early.

The biggest group (below) is so well guarded, it is hard to get near the ripe ones.

I poked the camera up between the stems and lattice and aimed, then I put my left hand back behind the bunch. You might see some fingers back there. The spot just to the right of the red one is where I plucked the cover photo from. It looks like several per day will be ripening from now on until... Who knows?

Lastly, I migrated my biggest carnivorous plant outside to control the gnats. You can see it all the way to the right on the 'whole garden view' photo. Here is one of its sticky leaves, dark red and taking its nutrition from a gnat.

I am hoping the bees will avoid landing on this plant. I will rescue any that do. They are desperately needed today

Here are some posts while building the garden.

Hydroponic System - Part One
Hydroponic System - Part Two
Hydroponic System - Part Three
Hydroponic System - Finishing touches