Weather as predicted and potting up tomatoes

 The day broke clear and cold as befits a semi-arid area on the cusp of summer. I woke to the insistent and annoying sound of crows sounding the alarm due to the hawks being at the nest in the tree. They are mortal enemies because they will take opportunities to raid each others nests. 

 The tomato I planted only a few days ago already has roots showing against the cup wall and the peppers are going to town for sure. I pulled apart one of the bean pellets gently and saw a tiny bit of pale green so pushed it back together and put it back. I pulled another apart almost completely and saw the bean but no sign of sprout so trashed that one. I suspect they are colder than they want to be which is slowing them down.

My potting table. I chose that rather than the shaded pergola because no one sits here due to one of the benches being smashed. I used a phillips screwdriver heated on my stove to poke drainage holes in the cups after trying to cut holes in three of the five cups. Worked a lot better and judging from the drippage, they drain.

Different tomatoes after potting. I just used the bagged compost I bought so they should be fine. I knew I forgot to do something when I got them all back to the garden. Fertilizer in the mix. Dangit! 

Also forgot my watering nozzle so had to do that carefully by hand. I added a pinch of fertilizer on the top and watered best I could without knocking them over (minor fail) and splashing all the soil out.

I put them in the lettuce bed because it gets some shade from about noon on and is about the same amount they were getting in the window. I didn't cut or pull the lettuce but will try and do that tomorrow. Taking reference pictures for the tomato and all that, and noticed...movement.

 

 A caterpillar/cutworm same color as the compost in the raised bed! Headed right for the baby lettuce. Took a picture and then picked that sucker up with a few scraps of compost and yeeted it as far away as possible which was as far as the jade bush as I heard it impact the leaves. Far enough and plenty of fodder for it to eat there.

That little plant is now confirmed (by seeing the underside of the leaves) as being a tomato. Hard to see it in the picture so had to crop it to get a better look. Will have to see how well that one does compared to the other six (or fewer depending on if I trade some for other things). I only need that poultry wire/hardware cloth and the north bed will be all set to go for planting.

Wondering if that worm is responsible for how poorly those middle lettuce are doing in that row. I think I'll just scrap that entire row and be satisfied with the fuller row and clump behind the cilantro. I pulled the taller cilantro that was close to the trellis then realized I could have kept it for seed. It was shading the little tomato though and that was my reasoning for pulling it. It's getting warm enough they are starting to extend their center growth for a flower stalk so not too long and that side will be open for another tomato or peppers.  

The random things behind the peas I still have no idea. I thought I tossed some seed back there, maybe radishes? Maybe my imagination on that one but no matter what, if they turn out to be weeds they're easy to pull out.

 

 That's my gardening adventure for the day, hope to get other things done tomorrow...early of course since the weather is going to be warmer.