Does anyone else plant orphans? I started Sungold cherry tomatoes from seed and ended up with about 18 plants. I managed to give 14 away, and wanted to plant two in our garden (Sungolds get really big and are very productive). That left two orphans. I tried to give them away--everyone either had one or didn't want a cherry tomato. They have been sitting in their pots for three weeks, unclaimed, unwanted, and gosh darn it, blossoming! This morning I gave up and put them in the garden on a make-shift trellis. Now I'll look for folks that want cherry tomatoes! Anyone else that just can't bear to toss a plant?
I can't even thin out the weakest seedlings without feeling that I'm murdering them. I pot them on and then give them away to whoever wants them. So you see I have orphans too. I seem to have more than my share of them as I simply cannot throw them away.
I am the mad woman on our allotment site who is slowely but surely planting a full hedge of mixed currant bushes because everytime she prunes them, she sticks the stems in the ground and the darn things grow. I wouldn't mind, but the birds don't eat those currants and instead, break into my fruit cage, scoff them and then panic as they can't escape. I always sow way to many seeds and end up giving away plants. We do have a couple of spring plant sales which helps me reduce my orphans, but yes, I am always trying to squeeze a plant or 3 onto the allotment where there is absolutely no room. Problem is, after spending time and love growing them, we don't want to just chuck them on the compost heap.
I'm guilty too! Last year I had WAY too many cherry tomato plants. I gave as many away as I could and ended up squeezing the rest into my garden. It seems to be WAY easier to give away cherry tomato's then plants...
Sungolds are excellent tomatoes. If nothing else donate the fruit to your local food bank. I do and can throw away plants when I feel they no longer have a chance in the garden to produce a crop for the season. I do try to give them away, to my neighbors, if I haven't sold them at one of my farmers markets by the middle of June (most gardens here, are planted by then)and my garden is full.
I always plant orphans. It is just too difficult for me to compost them without giving them a chance. I'll try to give away as much as I can but usually I end up planting them myself. Luckily the quantity is always very small and are mainly leafy veggies. For plants like okra, squash, gourds, egg plants ....., I only plant a single seed at a time because a single plant is enough for our needs. I'll always start a second plant before the first plant expire. I guess I am lucky I can plant all year round so timing is not a problem for me.
