Herr Riesentraube

Remember our winter sowing experiment?

It was super easy to get started, almost effortless while they were sprouting, and it was so fun to keep peeking in on them and seeing how they've grown and celebrating when each new seed showed signs of life.  I can hardly wait to do it again next year and try more varieties of growing things.  I am filled with a child-like wonder that the seeds know the proper time to sprout.  I am very glad I started both peppers and tomatoes, though the peppers didn't continue to survive after sprouting.  If I hadn't done the tomatoes we wouldn't have any tomato plants at all this year.  I was intending to start a tray or two of tomatoes indoors after I got the peppers off to a good start but moving halted all of my gardening plans for awhile.

I was most excited to try the Riesentraube tomatoes because they just sounded delicious and the history intrigued me.  You can read about them here...http://www.rareseeds.com/riesentraube-tomato/

We had three Riesentraube seeds sprout, two that survived.

 I picked one of them to be my pet and potted him.  I affectionately call him Herr Riesentraube. 

He sits proudly on our back deck just outside baby Samuel's room so I get to peek in on him often.
 Look how big he's getting after just a couple of weeks!

I love to inhale his pungent, distinct scent bursting with all of his glorious tomato goodness.  I was planning on potting him into a larger pot but he is putting out blossoms and I think it might be too late now.  Besides, he is a bit unwieldy now.

We'll see how he does in his 12" pot this year.  So far he is thriving better than the ones that were transplanted into the garden.  One of these three tomato plants is the other surviving Riesentraube seedling.

I had Emily plant them for me in a last burst of energy at the end of a busy day while we all were moving furniture around and unpacking boxes and trying to find things we needed.  I can't do a direct comparison of Herr Riesentraube with his twin brother because I neglected to mention to Emily to take care to label the seedlings as she planted them so all of the peppers and tomatoes are all mixed up and it will be somewhat like a time release instant fun package as we wait to see what each plant ends up being!  What fun!

I love playing with my food!