April 09, 2009

Growing up and Twitter

One of the joys of living on a farm is the blessing of seeing how plants and animals grow and mature. Not long ago I posted about my vegetable sprouts, and I am happy to say most of them are growing by leaps and bounds. I have had to transplant many of them to larger containers already. My tomato seedlings are still spindly though. I can grow zucchini, cucumbers and most vegetables from seed like nobodies business but not tomatoes; they hate me. Tomatoes and me, it is like a bad relationship...so one sided...so disappointing. They all always start out well but then some of them will wither up and die before they ever get big enough to transplant outside in the garden. Once they are that big I have great luck growing them but it is just getting them all to that point that has been a challenge. So if anyone has any advice for growing tomatoes from seed I would love some tips while there is still hope for my poor, little tomato sprouts and me.

The goat kids are growing up fast. They look good this year and unlike the tomatoes... no love / hate relationship here! The pregnant does were due in two waves this year. The first half is over and the rest of the herd is due from now until the last week of April. The kids bounce around so much it is difficult to get decent pictures of them sometimes. I got this one at night when I caught a few of them sleeping on the overturned ramp to the milk stand.

In other news I have decided to try and get with the times and see what all this fuss about Twitter is. So if anyone would like to follow me on Twitter you can check out the sidebar of this blog and my user name is "ShilohPrairie" there. I am new to it and still figuring things out. Gosh I sound 72, not 32...shoot I mean...33, yea I tried to forget that birthday!

Edited to add: I am starting to realize today that my life might be entirely way too boring for twitter. LOL I also have a facebook page under the name Jennifer Fulton.

28 comments:

Unknown said...

What fun you must be having with all the new kids, and more coming! Can't help you with the tomatoes - I've never tried to grow any, even when I was a homeowner. As for Twitter - I'm still scared of it! I googled it, still don't understand it, probably will stick to reading your blog!!!

Nancy in Atlanta

Anonymous said...

I don't have Twitter, anyways you're the same age as one of my brother's but he is soon to be 34 on April 11th.

Jenny said...

It seems to me that I heard that if you gently brush your hand over seedlings, you can make them stronger because it simulates wind and makes them sturdier. I don't know if it actually works, but it doesn't sound too labor intensive to try out.
We've got to get our seeds going here for our second attempt at a garden--been way too busy!
~Jenny~

Anonymous said...

Nooooooo! Twitter has sucked someone else into it's vortex!

Kidding :) I am trying to resist. If I have another fun social networking thingy to do while I'm online I may never leave the computer. My husband will have to pry my fingers from the keyboard to get me to do any real socializing.

BTW...I am still 30 even though I was 32 on my last birthday. :)

ChristyACB said...

I'm still not on myspace, facebook or twitter. I can barely keep up a blog! LOL.

Tomatoes are often higher attrition seedlings depending on where you live. I always have some attrition.

Definitely blow on them while they are little to make them sturdier. Just a couple times a day will do. Also be sure they don't stay tooo damp as they will damp off. Yours look like they are getting plenty of light and are nice and green, but they'll get skinny and tall if they stop receiving enough light.

Remember to harden them off carefully and slowly. The rule of thumb is that you'll need to harden them off an extra day above the mason dixon line than below. Also, I've had much better luck if I don't plant them till 3 weeks after last spring frost date rather than 2 weeks.

Hope that is some help.

Christy said...

I've had no luck with starting tomatoes inside. They get too leggy and die. I try every year but usually end up starting my tomatoes directly outside.

Alison said...

Not sure what's the best approach with them 'maters. We try to put our seedlings outside as often as possible, to get them used to the light. Maters in particular need lots and LOTS of good light to develop well. If you do put them outside, be sure to water them frequently; those little peat pots dry out superfast.

As for Twitter: NOOOoooo! I have a Facebook page I visit every day, but I really don't need to know every thought and event of my friends' lives. On the other hand, I am approaching 40, so obviously...what do I know? :)

Grand Pooba said...

Oh my gosh! You little goat babies? That is awesome, they look so cute! Yeah, well I just joined twitter yesterday and have NO idea what I'm doing!

Twisted Fencepost said...

So far, my tomatoes seedlings are doing good. Better than most of the herbs I started. I've found that they do better if put outside during the day. I had the same problem as you, too spindly then die before planting.
Good luck!
I tried to find you on Twitter, no luck. See if you can find me. Look for Fencepost.

KathyB. said...

The sprouts and kids are growing fast, I think the kids are cuter and more fun though! I am afraid I am not a twitter talker and by the time I would figure it out, there will be something new....but good for you! I hope all this technology that enables us to communicate really does help!

Esther Garvi said...

The kids are so cute! They all look as if they are siblings!

DayPhoto said...

I must say it is alway fun coming here. There are some many happenings, new babies, funny new babies, cute mommas, and your seedlings. I think about going over to twitter (I'll check you out), but life is just too busy now to add more into it. I think I will just stay in blog land.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Kathleen said...

Hi Jennifer..thank you so much for stopping by my blog to say hi, and offer get well wishes. I had surgery on my hand on 4/03 for trigger finger in two fingers. I love your goats...all those adorable faces. I live iin Maine, and we still have some snow, and lots of frozen mud. Spring just isn't springing here fast enough. Before I moved to Northern Maine, I lived south about 150 miles. I had chickens, ducks, and rabbits when I lived there. I have always wanted a farm, but since I am way past your age, I don't think it will happen. How many goats do you have? Do you milk them? You were so ssweet to stop by! Nice to meet you....hugs, Kathleen

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

The sprouts look lovely (as far as sprouts go, I'm guessing. I have a brown thumb). The kids are so cute I want to eat them up! Not literally - that might be rude. But they are ever-so-cute!

Mary Humphrey said...

Jennifer, you made the statement as well on my blog about your life not be interesting enough for Twitter, shoot, I feel the same way. What in the world will I Twit about??? Ha ha ha...and is the word Twit the right one to use. I really feel old this week, and I normally do not. Perhaps it is more out of it than old?!

That is one neat kid goat photo!

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to say I can't Twitter,it's too much and I'm only 36 LOL Facebook makes my head hurt,people always sending or throwing something at me LOL The babies look great;)

BloggessJ said...

Dropping by from SITS to say hi. Your babies are super cute! Have a great holiday weekend! :)

Boozy Tooth said...

I'm with you... Twitter is for people who have nothing better to do than sit at their computer and document every breath they take. Bleh. I think the same of Facebook. I don't get the fascination of either.

Now blogging, that's a different story. Keep the awesome posts and photos coming Jennifer. I count on you for that, you know. Hugs and kisses from my goatless home in Florida.

PS: The kids are too cute for words. I would so be loving on them if they were mine.

Linda Hughes said...

Oh, the kids are sooo cute...would love to see them romp and play! Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a Happy Easter. BTW, I wouldn't even attempt tomatoes from seeds, have enough trouble with small plants! LOL!

Rhea said...

I've never grown tomatoes from the seed. Good luck! I'd love to give it a go.

Those kids are soo sweet looking! Interesting napping spot though...

I'm from the SITS Welcome Wagon! I've been a member since it's beginning, and I've met so many amazing women and read so many fun blogs. I'm so glad you've joined us, SITSta!

milton f said...

Jennifer,
Don't tell anyone(sssssssh it's a secret) but blowing on them 'maters, and talking soft and nice to them, as well as playing classical music will help them to reach full potential.

Enjoy your blog, and LOL my dear wife has been twentynine years young for as long as I can amember. Regards,

Callie Brady said...

I just found your blog while searching for info about our Brahma chickens. I'm looking forward to reading about your goats. I sure miss our goat dairy herd.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Twitter is too close to twit. I don't need to be called that. heh heh

Tomatoes are tough. I had to construct a foil-lined grow box to get mine going. I've been meaning to post about that ...

Jennifer said...

I want to thank everyone for the nice comments about the goat kids and especially for the fabulous suggestions and advice for growing tomato plants from seed! I will try them all. Hi Milton, thank you for visiting my blog. I was going to visit yours in return but you don't have one listed, so I will just say thanks for the advice here. I don't think I have any classical music, I wonder if Kenny G would work? Guess I could start by not playing rap music and verbally abusing them by calling them spindly all the time. LOL.

Melissa ~ Mom to 6 said...

I hear you about the tomato plants. Mine start out so good but I end up losing half of them. This year, the part of the stem (where it touched the sterile soiless soil) withered and the whole plant just keeled over and that was it. So frustrating. I haven't tried to start cukes or any other vining plants from seed but I just may do that. I'll look you up on FB and twitter. I fear my tweets are somewhat boring too, but I do like getting tweets. :)

Leslie Moore said...

I don't know anything I like better than baby goats! Yours are adorable! How many do you have? I hope you'll keep taking and posting pictures of them. I just posted an Anatolian Shepherd Dog on my blog. Have you ever had one on your farm? About tomatoes: we just buy seedlings!

Girl Tornado said...

I tried Twitter a few weeks ago too... and I decided the same thing as you. Plus I wasn't sure I wanted to be that "attached" to updating everyone on what was going on with me, minute by minute. I mean, I have a hard enough time just keeping up with blogging sometimes!! :-)

I think there are valid uses for Twitter, more so in the professional, business world perhaps. But not for me!

Girl Tornado said...

I tried Twitter a few weeks ago too... and I decided the same thing as you. Plus I wasn't sure I wanted to be that "attached" to updating everyone on what was going on with me, minute by minute. I mean, I have a hard enough time just keeping up with blogging sometimes!! :-)

I think there are valid uses for Twitter, more so in the professional, business world perhaps. But not for me!

(Judging by your comments, I'm not the only one who feels this way!)

Oh, and the goats are ADORABLE!!! :)