Comments on: Tomatoes In January http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/ A rich life without a lot of money Thu, 24 May 2012 11:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: rachel http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26969 rachel Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:13:07 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26969 Are the tomatoes honestly, truly as good as home-grown, summer tomatoes? Like, to-die-for good? If so, I seriously need to look into this. Are the tomatoes honestly, truly as good as home-grown, summer tomatoes? Like, to-die-for good?

If so, I seriously need to look into this.

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26970 FrugalBabe Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:36:44 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26970 Rachel - they're better than any tomatoes we've ever grown outside. They're juicy, sweet, and wonderful, and we pick a bowl full every few days. Rachel – they’re better than any tomatoes we’ve ever grown outside. They’re juicy, sweet, and wonderful, and we pick a bowl full every few days.

]]> By: Revanche http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26966 Revanche Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:28:34 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26966 Those look positively gorgeous! Now I long for a hydroponic garden ... Those look positively gorgeous! Now I long for a hydroponic garden …

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26964 FrugalBabe Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:38:28 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26964 Kristi, the ladybugs are awesome! They completely fixed the whitefly problem we were having. The whiteflies are very tiny little bugs (you have to look hard to even see them) but they were really stunting the growth of our greens. Now that the ladybugs have moved in, the plants are growing very quickly again. I'm able to harvest greens nearly every day again :) We also put some of the ladybugs in out cold frame outside, and they're doing great as well. Kristi, the ladybugs are awesome! They completely fixed the whitefly problem we were having. The whiteflies are very tiny little bugs (you have to look hard to even see them) but they were really stunting the growth of our greens. Now that the ladybugs have moved in, the plants are growing very quickly again. I’m able to harvest greens nearly every day again :) We also put some of the ladybugs in out cold frame outside, and they’re doing great as well.

]]> By: Kristi http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26963 Kristi Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:21:22 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26963 I'm guessing you are feeling pretty pleased to be contributing to your family's welfare in this special way. They are gorgeous. Didn't you release some lady bugs in there a few months ago? Could we get an update about that? I’m guessing you are feeling pretty pleased to be contributing to your family’s welfare in this special way. They are gorgeous. Didn’t you release some lady bugs in there a few months ago? Could we get an update about that?

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26960 FrugalBabe Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:44:15 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26960 I have read parts of Animal Vegetable Miracle, but not the whole thing. I love the concept though, and reading the whole book is on my to-do list! Our cold frame is doing great. We have a fluorescent light in it that has kept it from freezing, and amazingly enough there is plenty of growth going on in there, even in January. The arugula and mustard greens are doing great! The kale and swiss chard are growing, but slowly. I harvest greens from the cold frame about 1 - 2 times per week. We pay an additional $24/month to run the lights (hydroponic garden plus the cold frame outside). That price includes the extra surcharge we pay on our electricity bill for wind energy. As far as a fire hazard, we keep the area around the garden clean and free from debris, and keep the plants pruned back away from the lights. Nothing ever comes in contact with the lights, and they are designed for this purpose. So we feel quite safe with them. I have read parts of Animal Vegetable Miracle, but not the whole thing. I love the concept though, and reading the whole book is on my to-do list!

Our cold frame is doing great. We have a fluorescent light in it that has kept it from freezing, and amazingly enough there is plenty of growth going on in there, even in January. The arugula and mustard greens are doing great! The kale and swiss chard are growing, but slowly. I harvest greens from the cold frame about 1 – 2 times per week.

We pay an additional $24/month to run the lights (hydroponic garden plus the cold frame outside). That price includes the extra surcharge we pay on our electricity bill for wind energy.
As far as a fire hazard, we keep the area around the garden clean and free from debris, and keep the plants pruned back away from the lights. Nothing ever comes in contact with the lights, and they are designed for this purpose. So we feel quite safe with them.

]]> By: Carrie http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26958 Carrie Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:48:03 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26958 Wowie wow wow! I can't believe that! How much does the electricity cost to run the lights? Do you worry about the lights being a fire hazard? Wowie wow wow! I can’t believe that!

How much does the electricity cost to run the lights? Do you worry about the lights being a fire hazard?

]]> By: cindy brick http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26951 cindy brick Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:10:48 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26951 I have GOT to get me one of these! Seriously, this system is amazing. And I thought I was a smart cookie by getting the cold frame ready to plant. How's your cold frame doing, by the way? I have GOT to get me one of these!

Seriously, this system is amazing. And I thought I was a smart cookie by getting the cold frame ready to plant. How’s your cold frame doing, by the way?

]]> By: Morning Money Memo http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26949 Morning Money Memo Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:02:47 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/01/20/tomatoes-in-january/#comment-26949 Have you read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, yet? I just finished it and your post reminded of it. Have you read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, yet? I just finished it and your post reminded of it.

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