I am not done planting out because I have perennial flowers to pot up and a second sowing of cukes for succession planting to get started in a couple of weeks. Also, sowing broccoli, cabbage for fall because it usually gets too hot here too early for those to be a spring crop.

As for tomatoes, of the 3 I had under WOWs, the Anna Russian has a fruit and the others have blossoms. My others were wintersowed and are very tiny. In fact, I have 2 that aren't yet in the ground because they're only an inch or so high. Still, I'm sharing your wait for the first fruit. Can't come soon enough since I'm craving real tomatoes. The local Amish farmers have hothouse grown, and while they're better than store-bought they're not quite the same.

Summer is all about waiting. First leaves, then first flowers, first greens for salads, snap peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, then fruits and berries. It is easier to live if you have something to wish for, isn't it?

Currently on Day 18 after getting my bevy of plants in the ground. You know, passing time on the porch with some crossword puzzles, tuck them in with a little mulch on Day 10, maybe read the plants a bedtime story if they look a little down.

No, but seriously, folks - I agree that the waiting might just be almost as fun as the picking that comes later. I'm pretty new at this but the anticipation and the pride in just watching the plants come along is a real treat.

Got some snap beans and mini lettuces that are coming along well in the meantime, targeting early June for those to hit the kitchen counter. The wife and I signed up for a boiling-water canning demonstration at the local community center. Oh, and working on a small stack of tomato-related recipes that have already been making my mouth water in anticipation......

Yeah, mister-caldon,
Waiting is what we can do. Also checking and rechecking the flowers and bud. hehe
But it is nice that you have other spring crops going. I don't have much except some herbs, a little arugula and chives.
Today was a beautifule sunny 78F. I did some tying the plants to the stakes and water the ones in the pots. I had one Kumata, started from seeds a month late. Today I planted it in a containers and composted a few leftovers. Except the Kumato the rest of my plants have budd and some have been flowering for a while now. But I cannot yet see any fruits except on Hahms Gelbe Topftomate. Tomorrow will be abother nice day.

Sey

Mister Caledon I commend you and your wife on learning to can. I've been doing it for a long time and find it very rewarding. There's nothing like hearing the lids seal after you remove them from the water (you'll know what I mean after the demonstration :) )

Sey, I found dozens of volunteers in one of my cutouts yesterday (I have a 20x30 plot covered in black plastic that I re-use for a season. This is the second year so I've been clearing the cutouts of weeds as needed). I can't remember what variety grew there last year, but it was a red, round type. I'll definitely save a few of them. But it was amazing to see a one foot area just packed with volunteer tomato seedlings vying for space, and all as healthy or moreso than the ones I coddled. I'll try to get a picture before I transplant and clear them.

About mid 70's this week. That's real good for fruit set In the PNW.

I've been shaking the blossoms every morning!

I am just waiting for fruits to ripen up now. Also I would love to be able to fertilize without the rain washing it away.

Here is what I am looking at now.

Shaking , tapping the blossoms, that is what I do to. I know that it is not really necessary but that is part of my life after plant out. LOL
I see some bumble and honey bees. The bumbles don't care much to tomato flowers. Right now they dive into iris flowers. The like BIG flowers to relax on. I will need them later on for cucumbers. They love trumpet shaped flowers a lot.

Anyway, nice weather is with us till friday. Sa and Sunday will be rainy and highs in 60s. I sprayed my tomatoes 3 days ago (Fungicide) Good thing that it did not rain since then. I will repeat next Monday again.. I don't like mold.

Sey

Nate, you are a lucky person, picking ripe maters.

You don't fertilize because of rain ? How much rain are you expecting to get ? In rainy times maybe you can top dress granular ferts. My plant look mostly nice green But the new growth ( on some varieties) looks slightly pale. Should I fertilize ? I have not done a major fertilizing yet. But added some granula slow release in the planting holes.

Sey

"Life After Plant Out" must go on. hehe
It has not been easy. Smaller they are, the more attention the need.
My work started by designing/installing support system. Because I grow in various raised beds, (Not long rows) it take a lot more work. Also, because I DO NOT use cages it also adds to the work.
I make my own steaks from cedar boards. I get 1 5/8 by 4 boards and rip them on table saw. In a 3' x 6' bed ( for example) I plant 7 plants but use like 10 stakes ( 1 per plant plus 3 or more extra). This way I can do a weaving by running twine from each stake to others. .Also, to make the stakes stable, I screw horizontals to the stakes. It sort of ends like a big rectangular cage.... here it is.

All of these are part of the "Life After Plant Out" . Not an easy life. hehe
The next challenge is to keep the beast tamed. I cannot afford to have a jungle. Right now I am pruning more of the lower leaves as the higher ones are getting bigger. Got to get good air flow. Molds/bacteria can grow easily where it is moist and the air is stagnant. They hate dry environment.
.... I have a lot more work to do ...hahaha
How are you doing ?
Sey