In this segment of the "We Planted 2,000 LBS of Tomatoes! (100 Plants)" series, the family returns for Day 2 of a massive tomato‑planting effort. Justin and Becky, along with their children and farm helpers, race against a three‑hour deadline to finish a planting row. They juggle several distractions: moving rabbits out of the hot, dusty yard; corralling cows, lambs, and other livestock; and wetting down the soil to reduce dust. While digging furrows, they discover the bedding is shallow and mixed with manure and wood chips, forcing them to plant higher than intended—a risky improvisation they acknowledge could cause the plants to either thrive or die. To keep morale high, they turn the remaining work into a playful egg‑throwing game, giving each participant an egg to toss at Justin as a reward for completing the row. The dialogue captures the blend of logistical challenges, spontaneous problem‑solving, and light‑hearted family interaction that defines the day’s planting experience.
Chapters
Day 2.
Didn't think it would take this long, but here we are.
It always takes longer.
Okay, how are your preciouses? There's 41.
Oh my gosh, oh, they're doing good. I told Justin, just for the record, that next year I won't— I won't do this to him again. So it'll be later, it'll be May when we start doing this. It's supposed to—
we only grow one batch, so why are we pushing the season? That's crazy.
They weren't supposed to be this big.
By the way, we only have about 3 hours, so we've got to make this happen today. Becky, okay, count our thingamajiggers and we'll add— make it 50.
We only need to add 7.
Distraction number 1: Rebecca noticed the rabbit water needs a little bit clean— cleaning. We're going to be moving these rabbits out to hair pins in the yard very soon. It's going to be 70-something today. Yeah, we're gonna have to get these rabbits out.
It's gonna be too hot in here.
3/4 of the way with one row. The ground is A bit hard under there, isn't it, Beck? Yeah, we're getting it with a shovel, but we're getting it. Mr. Brown's being a good help.
You suggested hole diggers, which would work.
Yeah, I'm thinking hole diggers. How's that working?
That's working good.
And that's gonna be a perfect little—
yeah.
Oh, distraction number 2. Cows got together while Jonah was moving them, putting Polly and Stud together. Come on. Come on, let's go. Go back together. Get the little lambs over. Good job, Mom. We got them in the top of the funnel. Now we should be able to hold it back up. Becky, try number 2. They do not want to go back in there. We're weaning them. They want to get back to Mom. We've got a chute, actually. There you go. Calm as can be. Sometimes you just have to take the time to set up. Minnie, you be nice. Don't, don't be chasing them. How's it going here, Beck?
We good. We only got the row planted.
This is a lot longer than we thought.
Well, I had to wet down everything because it's so dusty.
Now we have to get those rabbits out of here. Well, we got you guys out just in time. They're in the cool breeze under the nice shade. Until we get you on the grass, you guys will be all right right here. This afternoon, I think we're going to take advantage of the clouds It's not piping hot in here. Let's get the rest of this row done, babe. The moment we finish this, y'all can get eggs. Everybody gets one egg and you can throw them at me because we need to dig another furrow. I'm almost done with one row. They've got the furrow nearly done. If we teamwork and you guys get it cleared and I can dig the hole and you plant them, I think we can do it. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We've only got, what, 7, 6 more? We got 5 more minutes. I'm thinking we're gonna surprise Mom. I'm thinking we need to tell her, uh, we're gonna— we have a problem. Let's get finished and tell her we have a problem. She needs to come look at it. Only 5 after 5. Did take a shortcut in here. This bedding was so deep and nasty, we just planted right in it. We didn't go to the bottom of the bedding. Look at this, just, uh, just manure mixed with wood chips. It's either gonna thrive in here or die. We messed up.
I had a huge— I had a feeling that there was a huge problem.
We messed up big time.
Oh, I know, you guys got it all planted. I know what that huge problem is. Look at it, this looks so good.
We got in a groove.
Yeah, you did.
What do you think about this?
This is so good.
Now I gotta throw eggs. Now in here we didn't dig all the way to the bottom, it's nasty. We're just experimenting. With planting it in the top.
Okay, we'll see what happens.
It's gonna thrive or die.
So these are my—
were those the best ones? Thank you.
I wanted the most. It's okay, we'll see what happens.
Everybody get an egg, you get to throw it at me. Sure, one chance.
You use all 100 eggs? Yeah, I counted right.
Yeah, okay.
Okay, go ahead. Whoa, he hit me! I didn't think they'd hit me. Oh, you don't think so?
Oh, I missed.
Okay, I like that. Go ahead, Josiah. Oh, it bounced off, it bounced off. Too healthy. Oh, Jonah's gonna get hit. That's gonna sting. It's not even broken.
Okay, let me try. You get to go again.
Oh, ready? This is getting out of control. Wait, get behind the line. Get behind the line. Katie's yelling at me. Oh, I stopped the car. Okay, that's enough.
