More melons, second-string tomato plants

We have lost three tomato plants: The Red October which lived over the winter in a little cup did not make it in the garden. I replaced it with Stupice a while ago. The Winter Red which similarly lived over the winter was apparently eaten by a gopher. It was replaced today with an extra plant of "Barbara", which had developed a few lesions on the lower leaves while waiting to be planted, like some of our other remaining plants in pots. "Mortgage Lifter" (from Target, I think), was sickly yellow and had lesions which looked like the pictures of Alternaria. It was replaced today with either Sweet Million or Sweet Olive, depending on which tag you believe. I guess the plant habit will have to provide clues as to which one it is.

Also prepared mounds for and planted more melons: Oka, Sweet Honda, Extra Summer Sweet, Lilly, Early Sugarshaw. Had some help from a little boy for whom gophers were a great mystery. Kind of slowed me down, but that's what little kids are for.

More Planting - Melons

This is good melon country, and we probably won't have as much room as we have now forever, so I'm planting several varieties of melons.

On Saturday, the 17th, I paired 4 heirloom tomatoes with a Big Beef in pots, so I could try grafting in a disease-resistant rootstock again. The "Gary O Sena" I did not do a wonderful job on. The plant is already getting woody. I Improved a little with "Black Krim". The smaller plants were a little easier: Cherokee Purple and Brandywine (just purchased). I've decided that rubber bands to hold the grafts together, plus tape (just as for tree grafts) are the way to go. We'll have to see if any of the grafts "take". At least the plants are still alive.