Chile negro pepper growing

Excited to see a real chile negro pepper growing. I don't know when to pick them but will cross that bridge later, I suppose.

aka Pasilla bajio or 'chilaca' or 'chile negro'

DIY Critter protectors for my tomatoes

Given the critter issue in our community gardens, I decided to take defensive action. Last year, a bulk of my tomatoes were eaten by an unknown critter, probably squirrel. Last year, I wrapped the tomatoes in the mesh bags that the garlic and tomatoes come in from the grocery store. The critters ate right through the mesh. This year, I decided to cut apart the plastic apple cartons and use the individual portions for each tomato. Not pretty but they seem to be working.

First Sungold on my balcony

Growing tomatoes on a balcony in a pot is a challenge, especially if the conditions are suboptimal. Total direct sun for my balcony is around 4-5 hours per day. Hence, with these limitations, it would only be cherry tomatoes, and I've chosen Sungold, my favorite. The first ones ripening are presented below. I have them in a 15 gallon container.