Here are the first tiny buds on our post heat-wave tomato clone neglect-lings:
This is a vine (read "indeterminate") type tomato grown from seed bought mainly for my root-from-cuttings experiments, but I had a little altercation with the neighbor's dog while re-potting them and got the labels mixed up. I won't know which kind they are until they bear fruit.
UPDATE November 15: OK, I think that is going to be a Red Currant Tomato. When I peered into those hollow looking "buds" I was sure nothing would come of them, but here they are now:
The kidney bean got its first flower today too:
This is just a reminder that the Hydroton grow rocks need to be rinsed before using:
I use the planting containers to rinse the rocks--same method as when growing in them. It takes quite a bit of sloshing to get all the clay dust off. Even after three rinses, look at that mucky water:
Here is the packaging:
You may recognize the Worm's Way logo on the shipping box! I have placed three orders with them so far and have been delighted each time. Wherever you buy them, I recommend the Hydroton brand rocks.
We have a really nice family-run pet store down the block and when they did not have Hydroton rocks, I tried the brand they were able to supply. I give the pet shop an A+ but the Hydro-Balls brand did not turn out to be very useful. They might be great for reptiles, but not for my plants!
People often ask which size Hydroton rocks to buy, and my answer would be both. Personally, I sort my grow rocks into 4 sizes, and save the smallest ones for tiny seedlings indoors. The large ones work well in the bottom of containers where I mix them with a few river rocks to cut costs, then I put a broad layer of the medium-large sized ones over that and fill in to the top with the medium small.
If you have to order online, the small diameter rocks are listed as 4-8 ml and the large ones are 8-16. I should have put a ruler next to the rocks up above to give you an idea of the size, but here is something better:
iRuler.net calculates the size of your display and shows you a ruler marked off in inches and millimeters. When you buy the large hydroton rocks, the biggest ones in the bag are a little over half an inch in diameter and the smallest ones are closer to a quarter of an inch.
