What did you plant as an experiment this year that you WON"T be planting again?

[Acre4Me]

No Brads Atomic tomato. Weird things. They are oblong, and pointy at one end, and striped/streaked. But they stay HARD for weeks and then more weeks. Finally they turn color...well, brighter streaks that include some yellow and a tiny bit of orange red, and are still pretty hard. Wait longer, and they will split and rot or fall off. Eat them, and it’s not a familiar tomato experience. Their only value is in thei unique looks, but they aren’t big enough or bright enough to overcome the leaves, meaning, you aren’t going to see much eye candy when walking through the garden.

 

[Swiss]

SW Michigan here.
I might be done growing Pink Brandywine tomatoes. Granted, I did let my tomatoes grow really tall, but whenever a tomato started to get close to ripening the stem would bend, and that section of the plant would die, so the tomato would go wrinkly and soft. The birds and squirrels enjoyed them. When I had a plant in TN, I never got any flowers, don't know what went wrong there.
The only problem is that the seeds are in a mix of five different kinds of tomatoes, and I have most of the first packet AND a full second packet, so I might NOT be done growing them. I just need to experiment with pinching off the suckers and keeping the plants shorter.
I might also be done with leaf lettuces, or I need to try a different kind. I just never know when to harvest, and when I do harvest, the leaves aren't crisp... Not exactly adding much to my sandwiches, and who wants a floppy, rubbery, 5 leaves salad? We will see, as I am kind of a garden hoarder (Oh! Seeds for a plant I hate eating? I want to grow it!! Oh! Something that could possibly be used for gardening, but that I'll never get around to using? I'm sure I'll find a use for it!)....

 

[piminuse]

SW Michigan here.
I might be done growing Pink Brandywine tomatoes. Granted, I did let my tomatoes grow really tall, but whenever a tomato started to get close to ripening the stem would bend, and that section of the plant would die, so the tomato would go wrinkly and soft. The birds and squirrels enjoyed them. When I had a plant in TN, I never got any flowers, don't know what went wrong there.
The only problem is that the seeds are in a mix of five different kinds of tomatoes, and I have most of the first packet AND a full second packet, so I might NOT be done growing them. I just need to experiment with pinching off the suckers and keeping the plants shorter.
I might also be done with leaf lettuces, or I need to try a different kind. I just never know when to harvest, and when I do harvest, the leaves aren't crisp... Not exactly adding much to my sandwiches, and who wants a floppy, rubbery, 5 leaves salad? We will see, as I am kind of a garden hoarder (Oh! Seeds for a plant I hate eating? I want to grow it!! Oh! Something that could possibly be used for gardening, but that I'll never get around to using? I'm sure I'll find a use for it!)....

Re: the lettuce not being CRISP

It might be the time of day your harvesting. It's best to harvest early morning, especially the day after a watering so the moisture is there giving the leaf more structure. If you don't want to be bothered by planning the opportune time then let the lettuce leaves soak in cold water for 20+ minutes. Drain, shake and it should be nice and crispy!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Re: the lettuce not being CRISP

It might be the time of day your harvesting. It's best to harvest early morning, especially the day after a watering so the moisture is there giving the leaf more structure. If you don't want to be bothered by planning the opportune time then let the lettuce leaves soak in cold water for 20+ minutes. Drain, shake and it should be nice and crispy!

I think cold is key. I harvest while the plants are still small (maybe half the size of the heads you'd see at a farmer's market) and fairly delicate - I just pull them and chop off the roots. I rinse them in cool water immediately, then toss them in my salad spinner to shake off some of the excess water, then refrigerate inside the salad spinner. The cold + sealed spinner keeps them nicely crisp and fresh for a couple of days without issue.

 

[Swiss]

Re: the lettuce not being CRISP

It might be the time of day your harvesting. It's best to harvest early morning, especially the day after a watering so the moisture is there giving the leaf more structure. If you don't want to be bothered by planning the opportune time then let the lettuce leaves soak in cold water for 20+ minutes. Drain, shake and it should be nice and crispy!

I think cold is key. I harvest while the plants are still small (maybe half the size of the heads you'd see at a farmer's market) and fairly delicate - I just pull them and chop off the roots. I rinse them in cool water immediately, then toss them in my salad spinner to shake off some of the excess water, then refrigerate inside the salad spinner. The cold + sealed spinner keeps them nicely crisp and fresh for a couple of days without issue.

Thanks for the tips, I'll have to try that next time!

 

[NightingaleJen]

Shame you're having trouble with the Paul Robeson, @rosemarythyme, that's a favourite around here! If you can get them to grow well, they're amazing tomatoes.

Have had similar issues with Pink Brandywine, @Swiss. It's so frustrating! That's another I'll not grow again, though when I last tried, we lived in the mountain foothills of WV just above the Ohio River.

Also, just in general, so far as greens, after I rinse the leaves (no matter time of harvest—though morning does seem to be best!), I scatter them across a clean dish towel, then roll them up in it after about 20 minutes or so (AKA, when I remember/they're in the way). The damp towel seems to keep them fresher, longer.

Thank you for the warning about the Atomic, @Acre4Me, those have tempted me before but I couldn't bring myself to spring for them. Still, it's a shame they are disappointing for you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Shame you're having trouble with the Paul Robeson, @rosemarythyme, that's a favourite around here! If you can get them to grow well, they're amazing tomatoes.

There's a number of fruit on the plant, they're just taking their time to ripen. Still all green last I checked, sigh. I'll reserve judgement until I get to try one... I don't mind if a tomato is slow to ripen or not heavily fruiting as long as the result is good. Like Baker Creek had one called Lucid Gem that was really delicious... if you could get over the fact that each plant produced maybe 2 or 3 tomatoes.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

NE OH - Tavera bush beans! Only one germinated to fruition - the rest rotted in the ground while two other kinds of beans sprouted within 3' of them in the same bed.

Then it finally fruited only for it to be the smallest and worst tasting of the 3 "green" beans I grew this year. The KY wonders and dragon langerie right next to it did great and tasted WAY better.

 

[Crows-A-Lot]

I will not plant Sure Crop green beans. They were not a sure crop.

 

[dbtcowgirl]

I tried "Patio Eggplant" there was no real problems growing them I just wasn't crazy about the texture and flavor, I will go back to regular eggplant next year.