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Post by Fraze on May 5, 2020 5:57:21 GMT -5
whispers THEY'RE TAKING OVER THEY'RE COMING As I said, (Seriously we just online-bought 40 liters of soil and six lorge pots we aren't okay send help) They are indeed kitties who need a crash spray-bottle training not to eat the newly repotted tomatoes. The two white socks under the wicker sofa is Queenie, and the black cloud with eyes on the right is Amy. They are very good girls. |
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Post by Twillie on May 5, 2020 15:57:20 GMT -5
It's been a while since I checked in, but I'm glad to see the three tomatoes I put faith in before are still thriving! Good luck to you still Jeran, Tomato, and Epic Tomato Don't Eat!!! They are indeed kitties who need a crash spray-bottle training not to eat the newly repotted tomatoes. The two white socks under the wicker sofa is Queenie, and the black cloud with eyes on the right is Amy. They are very good girls. Kitties! Good girl content is always nice to see, glad that they're enjoying life :3 Also, in regards to them chewing on the plants, if you'd like I know of some other tips on preventing that kind of behavior! I figure having a diverse arsenal can be good just in case, seeing as cats come in all personalities and as such can be finicky in how they respond x3 For example, there are ways to ensure they don't chew on plants at all times, not just when people are in the room, as well as positive alternatives to distract them so you don't have to use a spray bottle. |
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Post by Huntress on May 9, 2020 13:47:20 GMT -5
Also, in regards to them chewing on the plants, if you'd like I know of some other tips on preventing that kind of behavior! I figure having a diverse arsenal can be good just in case, seeing as cats come in all personalities and as such can be finicky in how they respond x3 For example, there are ways to ensure they don't chew on plants at all times, not just when people are in the room, as well as positive alternatives to distract them so you don't have to use a spray bottle. So far they seem to have learned from the spray bottle extremely fast, especially considering we've only just started using one (our last plant-misting bottle was semi-broken and would take a lot of shaking and pumping and cursing to even produce some mist, which isn't exactly an effective way to react to a cat's shenanigans). I've also taken to keeping the balcony door shut for the night, just in case, because apparently tomato plants are toxic to cats and I also don't want to risk midnight zoomies upsetting the jungle. But I'm all up for hearing those tips, because they are two different personalities so the bigger the arsenal, the better, and would also rather not chase them around with a spray bottle if we can at all help it :3 |
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Post by Twillie on May 9, 2020 15:00:20 GMT -5
Also, in regards to them chewing on the plants, if you'd like I know of some other tips on preventing that kind of behavior! I figure having a diverse arsenal can be good just in case, seeing as cats come in all personalities and as such can be finicky in how they respond x3 For example, there are ways to ensure they don't chew on plants at all times, not just when people are in the room, as well as positive alternatives to distract them so you don't have to use a spray bottle. So far they seem to have learned from the spray bottle extremely fast, especially considering we've only just started using one (our last plant-misting bottle was semi-broken and would take a lot of shaking and pumping and cursing to even produce some mist, which isn't exactly an effective way to react to a cat's shenanigans). I've also taken to keeping the balcony door shut for the night, just in case, because apparently tomato plants are toxic to cats and I also don't want to risk midnight zoomies upsetting the jungle. But I'm all up for hearing those tips, because they are two different personalities so the bigger the arsenal, the better, and would also rather not chase them around with a spray bottle if we can at all help it :3 Haha, glad to hear they're learning to love the plant friends in a less violent way! (although oh dear, lol yeah at that point they may just think they're getting a cool breeze xD). And huh, I didn't realize that tomato plants were toxic to cats! Then again, I tend to forget most every plant bad for cats aside from lilies, since they're usually names I hadn't heard of anyway x3; The tips I've heard before usually fall into one of two categories: punishment, or the "no," and positive distraction. Starting with the no's, just like how people may stop their cats from scratching furniture, putting a citrus-y taste/smell on the plants will often keep cats away. They find the taste disgusting, so if it's on the plant, they'll soon learn that there's nothing good to be had from eating it. This one is also easy to diy, as it can be as simple as spraying lemon water on the plant. I've also heard of putting sticky notes around the plants for similar reason. Cat steps on sticky, and soon they associate that unpleasant sensation with the plants and avoid them. And if you wanna get fancy, there also exists a motion-sensor device that sprays a burst of air when a cat culprit gets too close! Similar idea to a spray-bottle, but it's on 24/7 duty and the cat will more likely associate the punishment with the plant rather than the owner. As for positive distraction, that can be something like waving a toy in front of the cat when you see them nearing the plants, and then they'll forget what they were about to do and go for the toy instead. There can also be a designated cat plant, one that's safe for cats (catnip plant is often a go-to) that they're free to chew on as they please. If they already have that plant for their entertainment, no need to bother the others. These techniques can be alone, or they can be done in any combination. Just whatever may sound most appropriate with your cats and what they best respond to :3 |
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Post by Ebil on May 25, 2020 1:38:51 GMT -5
Are these creatures well, Frunty? "Chet Flash" and "Epic Tomato Please Do Not Eat" are(/were, RIP Chet) especially endearing to me by virtue of both grabbing me by the lapel and bodily hurling me into a puddle of nostalgia
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Post by Fraze on May 26, 2020 5:39:05 GMT -5
Are these creatures well, Frunty? "Chet Flash" and "Epic Tomato Please Do Not Eat" are(/were, RIP Chet) especially endearing to me by virtue of both grabbing me by the lapel and bodily hurling me into a puddle of nostalgia Chet Flash was pulled during the final elimination round. As for the rest...  Epic Tomato Please Do Not Eat started as a bit of a runt about half the size of the others, so it got a spot right by the window. But it's catching up with the rest and living up to the "Epic" part of its name! Meanwhile, Salsa (Some Assembly Required) is growing nicely and getting all viney.  Tomato, on the other hand, was a chonk early on (so it got the spot farthest from the window), but the rest have caught up pretty well.  Jeran and Tomatosaurus Rex have become bros chilling side by side. But if you look closer you'll see - A cliffhanger because I've reached the attachment limit! Check out the next post! |
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Post by Fraze on May 26, 2020 5:47:10 GMT -5
In our last update, SOMEthing was about to be revealed. What could it be? Now we find out!  Jeran has FLOWERS! He's the first of the lot to get them, but some other plants aren't far behind.  You can just barely see Princess Sparkles getting her own flower buds as well.  Finally, a catto has taken up residence next to Epic Tomato. This is the same RAMPAGING CATTO who devoured Karen in an unexpected turn of events, although she seems less interested in devouring the tomatoes now and more interested in sitting next to them and floofing. |
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Post by Killix on May 26, 2020 10:30:17 GMT -5
Yes, bloom my pretties!! \ o /
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Post by Carolyn on May 28, 2020 14:10:35 GMT -5
WOO! Go, Jeran! Create lots of champion tomatoes!!  |
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Post by Fraze on May 30, 2020 5:21:22 GMT -5
WOO! Go, Jeran! Create lots of champion tomatoes!! Funny you should say that,  Jeran grew the VERY FIRST TOMATO of the batch! And he has four whole sprigs of flowers, so I think it's safe to say Jeran won this round. |
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Post by Celestial on May 30, 2020 7:15:03 GMT -5
WOO! Go, Jeran! Create lots of champion tomatoes!! Funny you should say that, View AttachmentJeran grew the VERY FIRST TOMATO of the batch! And he has four whole sprigs of flowers, so I think it's safe to say Jeran won this round. Though my heart forever remains with Princess Sparkles and Tomatosaurus Rex, I salute Jeran as the winner and progenitor of the first tomato. |
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Post by Huntress on Jun 26, 2020 6:58:29 GMT -5
ALRIGHT, I think we can officially crown Jeran as the Ultimate Champion of Tomato: ...it's not quite done yet as far as I'm concerned, but the kid keeps ogling at it every morning and asking if it's done yet so I figured it prudent to take some photos now. Odds are good he'll just yoink the First and Most Specialest of Tomatoes one of these upcoming mornings and there goes our nice chronicle. I'd like to rank the results of the rest of them, but, um:  Left to right: Jeran, Tomatosaurus Rex, Epic Tomato Please Do Not Eat, Salsa (Some Assembly Required)  Tomato (now colloquially referred to as La Tomate thanks to Liou's labels) and Princess Sparkles way back there in the corner. they're now a ginormous intertwined jungle and while they're all either growing wee tomatoes or flowering like there's no tomorrow, trying to trace who exactly is growing which trusses is like one of those maze puzzles for kids :'D I sort of try to keep them trimmed to four trusses per plant, so that they don't distribute their nutrients too thinly, but. look at them. I'd need a machete.Covid gardening is not to be undertaken lightly, kids. LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. But as a general attempted rundown: - Jeran is probably the most ambitious of the lot. Stands tall, is growing like a million tomatoes.
- Tomatosaurus Rex is a ninja hiding in the jungle of its brethren so it's pretty hard to tell what it's actually doing, but my superbly honed kid-maze-tracing skills can more or less determine that it's leaning on the others as well as the corner and sneakily reaching towards the ceiling. Focuses more on growth than tomatoing as of yet.
- Epic Tomato went full epic with tomato trusses and started bending under its own weight to the point where I had to tie it to the nails we have above the window for christmas lights. No, I've no idea how we're going to hang up christmas lights this year, I read that tomato plants can happily survive for like five years in good conditions. HALP.
- Salsa also started bending under its own weight and got propped up on its brethren as a result. So its stem ended up a bit cracked. Doesn't seem to bother it much and is also vigorously growing a new uncracked stem to eventually creep into the living room through the balcony door. This doesn't bode well.
- La Tomate Formerly Known as Tomato did that thing where it grew too tall for its own good and also bent double, got a bit of a cracked stem as a result and is now propped up partly on Princess Sparkles and partly on the IKEA greenhouse. Seems to be doing nicely despite the odds. A true fighter.
- Princess Sparkles is seemingly unknown and unnoticed in the corner, vigorously growing tomatoes under the shade of its neighbor while also giving cover to my basil plant that keeps creeping upward into heights basil normally has no business creeping into. Is probably up to something. Basil is also probably up to something.
And some bonus images for the interest of the garden-growingly inclined:  I can't take credit for growing this from scratch, but I can take credit for getting it to flower and grow strawberries after we got it from a store. Currently serves as a distraction for the kid to keep the tomatoes growing in relative peace.  And EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS POINTS for anyone who can guess what the lorge boi in the purple pot is. Hint: it's as edible as the rest of our balcony dwellers, and made its way into the pot after it started outright growing a stem while chilling in our fruitbowl. (The blue pot is a thyme plant, storebought and repotted.) |
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Post by Fraze on Jun 26, 2020 12:23:49 GMT -5
...it's not quite done yet as far as I'm concerned, but the kid keeps ogling at it every morning and asking if it's done yet so I figured it prudent to take some photos now. Odds are good he'll just yoink the First and Most Specialest of Tomatoes one of these upcoming mornings and there goes our nice chronicle. As far as moments of instant foreshadowing go, barely an hour after this post... Traveler: *Pads up to Hunty* I got the tomato! Hunty: Um? Traveler: I'm gonna eat it! Hunty: Um?? Traveler: *Stuffs it in his mouth* Hunty: Um??? We don't even know how it tasted, but there will be plenty more coming in about a week. Watch this space. |
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Post by Kat on Aug 1, 2020 6:49:39 GMT -5
Remember when I said I would write a tomato-inspired short story for the NT? Well. Here is a sneak preview. “What’s going on?”
A short striped Kougra in a rough brown tunic and with a bow and a quiver of arrows slung over his back strode toward the castle door. A red and blue shield badge bordered with gold and marked with a crown was pinned to the front of his tunic. Absalom’s eyes lit up and he ran toward the Kougra before Floralle or Bruce could stop him, and as he did so, he left a trail of dirt and tomato bits on the floor tiles.
“I am not cleaning that,” whispered the mutant Draik to his fellow guard.
“Sir Knight!”
“Whoa, whoa, where’s the fire?” the Kougra asked, extending his arms to stop the Kacheek from colliding into him – and potentially soiling his tunic. “And do you need a knight to put it out? Sir Oakley of Mulberry, certified knight of Meridell, at your service. I heard you were also looking for Sir Jeran, so…” He turned away from Absalom and cupped his hands around his mouth to yell down the hallway leading into the castle interior. “Jeraaaaaaan!” As he cried out for his colleague, Floralle and Bruce flinched.
“For a small knight he’s got a big mouth,” Floralle muttered softly. Bruce nodded sagely.
It didn’t take long for the blue Lupe to come running toward them, followed close behind by a yellow Lupe almost as solidly built as he. Both wore swords and were dressed for comfort in shirts, tunics, breeches, and boots, and had the same badges as Oakley. The yellow Lupe, however, also toted a large halberd. At the sight of the blue Lupe, Floralle and Bruce stood at attention and saluted.
“What’s going on, Oakley?” Jeran asked.
“And did you have to shout so loudly?” grumbled Tuffold, sticking one finger into his ear and wincing as he laid the halberd against the wall. “We could hear you all the way from the Corridor of Crowns.”
“This farmer guy has business!” said Oakley. Then he halted. “What’s your name again?”
“Absalom.”
“Right, right. Anyway…what’s your business?”
“I have a really bad batch of tomato plants,” said the red Kacheek gravely.
The three knights and the two guards traded looks ranging from confusion to irritated skepticism.
“O…kay?” said Tuffold tentatively, scratching his head. “I mean, I’m sorry that your tomatoes aren’t – “
“No, no, I mean they’ve gone wild!” Absalom flapped his arms.
“Aren’t there such things as wild tomatoes?” asked Oakley, turning to Jeran.
Absalom did a panicked jig in place as though needing to use the little knights’ room. “No, no, I mean they’re running wild and tearing up my farm and terrorizing the neighbors!” Also, I plan on covering Jeran in tomato flowers sometime later in the story. Not sure how to do it but I will find a way. |
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Post by Huntress on Oct 18, 2020 7:31:47 GMT -5
Yeah, so uh. Y'all remember this one, right? Our valiant tomatoes who are by now all nice jungle-y intertwined strapping young lads who produce the occasional grandtomato who we're all very proud of. Didn't get much of a big crop, I reckon I should've pruned them more so that more oomph would go into tomatoes and less into growing a jungle, but whatever, it's a learning process. One fine morning I'm going through their pots as usual, since they need a whole lot of water, and I see... this. *visible confusion* Dramatization of the following (the "drama" part may be a tiny bit variable): "SALSA, what the absolute HECK?" "* mumble mumble mumble*" "WHAT WAS THAT?" " i saaaid, it's all natural and organic." "OH, IS THAT IT? WE RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THAT, YOUNG MAN, WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER HEARS ABOUT THIS!" "*mumble mumble jeran mumble*" "SAY WHAT NOW?" "I saaaid, Jeran has mushrooms toooo." "...JERAN JERANOVITCH TOMATO, WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR SOIL?" And so we've been weeding out tiny yellow mushrooms on a semi-regular basis before they grow so big as to start spreading spores everywhere (which happens in like 24 hours). Well, until a few days ago, when Traveler's kindergarten made a post saying that they're currently studying mushrooms and could everyone please find a mushroom from the woods or gardens or wherever to take pictures with. So fine, one of Jeran's shroom buddies got to grow to full size. *cue smug tomato faces* |
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