tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post8436862716884627798..comments2024-03-19T00:54:49.043-05:00Comments on In My Kitchen Garden: Garden Journal 8/23/09:The First Tomato of the Year Is Finally Ripe!Farmgirl Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-3850402255195420342009-09-21T10:41:40.874-05:002009-09-21T10:41:40.874-05:00Hello!
I have had an incredible tomato year up he...Hello!<br /><br />I have had an incredible tomato year up here in NW Washington on the Olympic Peninsula. granted I started them from seed back in early April, and nursed them in the cold frame so I could set them out practically flowing in June.... but I have picked tens of pounds of them already, my first golden Nuggets in mid July, my first red heirloom something or other in the first week of August, in the last week or so, every few days I am bringing in a bucket full.<br /><br />Its been really hot (80's is hot here) and dry, I haven't watered them much at all, so I think that has encouraged them to ripen. <br /><br />Yum!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18340554776815486287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-49575373646021843962009-09-10T12:47:05.659-05:002009-09-10T12:47:05.659-05:00I'm writing from Utah. I've been harvestin...I'm writing from Utah. I've been harvesting so many tomatoes that I'm nearly to the point of being sick of tomatoes! Oh my...did I really say that? I planted 16 plants and though they seem to have some sort of wilt, there are an abundance of large, wonderful tomatoes. I've made and frozen salsa and stewed tomatoes and enjoyed eating many for dinner or lunch or just standing in the garden.<br /><br />My neighbors and friends have been kind enough to take baskets full of the things off my hands. I live alone and can't use this bounty.<br /><br />I worry about this wilt problem which is in my potatoes too. From what I've read, it can stay in the soil and unless you can rotate these crops to another area of the garden you will get it again and again. I really don't have another place to plant tomatoes. Anybody have an idea about wilt and how to get rid of it?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199537308486027046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-71045454372855748512009-09-08T21:57:26.400-05:002009-09-08T21:57:26.400-05:00Well, I picked my first tomato in mid July after p...Well, I picked my first tomato in mid July after planting starter plants in early June. Unfortunately, here in New Mexico it has just been too moody weather-wise for good tomatoes. We will have two weeks of sweltering dry windy heat, followed by another week of cooler weather. Occasionally there has even been some whole days of drizzling rain tossed in (which is very rare here). My poor tomato plants are still producing, but all 7 of them are rather slow this year... having to transplant them to pots did not help I am sure, but it was either that or leave them when I had to move houses.<br /><br />Luckily my CSA and local farmer's market is keeping my house well stocked even when my garden isn't.Castalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407553953656489236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-50137317370558774602009-09-06T11:06:18.025-05:002009-09-06T11:06:18.025-05:00Great blog! Found it while searching "green o...Great blog! Found it while searching "green onion what to do with them all" on google. Thanks!<br /><br />As for the tomato: here just north of Detroit they are few and slow to ripen and in my case get eaten as soon as they turn pink by some kind of creature. Don't think it's hornworms but a chipmunk that I used to think of as "cute."Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04720205745459726729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-43316764526007365922009-09-06T04:43:31.006-05:002009-09-06T04:43:31.006-05:00Seattle has had crazy early season temps resulting...Seattle has had crazy early season temps resulting in the best tomatoes I've ever had. Early girls and Romas are all I usually dare plant due to the short season and I'm picking at least 20 a day, lots of sauce for this winter! But until then, Turkey Bacon, bleu cheese and tomato paninis about every few days and also of course, yummy tomato basil napoleons!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-26865346298198953752009-09-05T06:32:55.319-05:002009-09-05T06:32:55.319-05:00Living in the tropics I get tomatoes year round. ...Living in the tropics I get tomatoes year round. Hee hee.<br /><br />This is a wonderful blog. Happy to find it.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08071740989565033354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-70749082579576910352009-09-04T12:41:56.978-05:002009-09-04T12:41:56.978-05:00I am in Ironton, MO, and have been picking a tomat...I am in Ironton, MO, and have been picking a tomato or two every day for a month. <br /><br />Last year, from the same number of plants, I was picking a five gallon bucket full 2 or 3 times a week.<br /><br />My favorites last year were Ananas Noir and Golden Sunray. The Golden Sunrays are heavy bearers, but the Ananas are not, and because the Ananas are green when ripe, it is easy to let them go too long. They are delicious and beautiful with pink and yellow streaks in the green flesh.sparrowgrassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-91618700904463470122009-08-31T15:17:35.861-05:002009-08-31T15:17:35.861-05:00It's been a cruddy tomato year here in Sacrame...It's been a cruddy tomato year here in Sacramento. My plants went in late--not until Memorial Day, which is almost a full month behind my usual planting--and then I lost a couple to sunscald, which has never happened before. Thought it was just me, but other friends have had the same problem. The cherry tomatoes were the earliest as always--first Sweet 100 in mid-July. But nothing seems to taste as rich this year as in the past. We've been chalking it up to weather, which has been kind of weird for Sacramento. Lots of wind, not a lot of heat.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348731625005200952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-21074287665175854062009-08-31T15:12:30.219-05:002009-08-31T15:12:30.219-05:00My best producers this year are my striped romas a...My best producers this year are my striped romas and "quick pick", both of which I bought from the farmers market after all of the tomatoes that I started from seed bit the dust immediately after being set out.<br /><br />My single best tomato so far this year (the one we named, "Big Mama") was an heirloom variety called Pineapple. Big Mama weighed in at 1 lb, 6 oz - a record for our family.<br /><br />By the way - I turned a bunch of my romas and principe borghese's into your lovely pizza sauce. Great recipe!<br /><br />I'm loving your blog! If you have a minute, stop by and check mine out sometime, as I'm a blogging newbie and would love your input. ;)<br /><br />Oh - writing you from beautiful Western Washington state. :)<br /><br /><i>Michelle</i><br /><a rel="nofollow">http://girlgonegranola.blogspot.com</a>Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667293599627184944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-67666185704240176372009-08-31T11:50:41.455-05:002009-08-31T11:50:41.455-05:00I go back and forth from Pennsylvania to New York ...I go back and forth from Pennsylvania to New York pretty much on a weekly basis. Fortunately, the PA tomato crop afforded me my first BLT of the season a few weeks ago. However, that DANG blight has wreaked havoc on the tomato crop here on Long Island in NY. <br /><br />Thanks for giving me a chance to blow off some steam I so LOVE fresh tomatoes!!! I brought back huge tomatoes for stuffing tonight. Tuna or Shrimp Salad, hmmm...~~louise~~https://www.blogger.com/profile/07335196139849995706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-25570144428793361142009-08-31T05:49:58.359-05:002009-08-31T05:49:58.359-05:00Tomatoes for months here, I guess the conservatory...Tomatoes for months here, I guess the conservatory must be working well for me. Sun dried or just sliced up on bread; also made a Pappa al Pomodoro.<br /><br />Oh, and I'm in the UKScott at Real Epicureanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935102352822407092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-58755341682593180362009-08-29T21:40:12.401-05:002009-08-29T21:40:12.401-05:00Our tomatoes in St. Louis were very slow, too--las...Our tomatoes in St. Louis were very slow, too--last week for first ripened. I tried to buy a few at a farmstand a month ago, but they wanted nearly $1.50/lb! So I decided to wait. Now, they are yummy and all mine!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14415438915357834544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-31053780877393058772009-08-27T05:54:31.869-05:002009-08-27T05:54:31.869-05:00Here in France the tomatoes are very slow in ripen...Here in France the tomatoes are very slow in ripening this year.<br /><br />My favourites this year are Pineapple - so pretty and tasty, and Green Velvet - lovely texture.syrahsuziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00696752759302952768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-49921153401015294452009-08-26T12:00:25.647-05:002009-08-26T12:00:25.647-05:00Sorry- forgot to add that I am in Massachusetts.Sorry- forgot to add that I am in Massachusetts.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457953816169352495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-53114406418145797222009-08-26T11:59:07.223-05:002009-08-26T11:59:07.223-05:00My tomatoes started coming in long ago, back in Ju...My tomatoes started coming in long ago, back in June....but they had been babied and protected since February. In contrast I have plants that are just now putting out ripened fruit, staggering those seedlings is paying off.<br /><br />The late blight has found my garden but hand picking the affected leaves has been working Ok for now. I am hoping to get another month out of the tomato plants before having to rip them out due blight.<br /><br />As for my favorites, Sungold cherry has great flavor; Juliet plum is tiny but super tasty; Big Beef makes a lovely BLT. <br /><br />Congrats on your first tomato, it sure is a beauty! Absolutely perfect!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457953816169352495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-45355772883861986232009-08-26T10:55:04.655-05:002009-08-26T10:55:04.655-05:00My mother used to make Tomato Jam when I was a chi...My mother used to make Tomato Jam when I was a child. Delicious. I made some in July with our first tomato crop. I thought mine was pretty good also.Dodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02184251401847004785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-869047276124980652009-08-25T21:49:55.523-05:002009-08-25T21:49:55.523-05:0035 beautiful tomato plants and not one ripe tomato...35 beautiful tomato plants and not one ripe tomato. The deer ate all of them in one night. The few remaining blooms produced seriously ill looking fruit. Probably the blight. The vines are beginning to die. What a year!<br />I am headed to the local produce stand tomorrow and hope I can get a bushel or two to process.cwisnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13309588804891152444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-41274655389065468802009-08-24T22:43:29.288-05:002009-08-24T22:43:29.288-05:00My tomato plants here in Central Arkansas barely e...My tomato plants here in Central Arkansas barely even grew! We were deluged with rain right after putting them in the ground, and it seems that they were completely drowned!Mom In a Boxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409123663683977251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-18470699648239488322009-08-24T22:16:47.057-05:002009-08-24T22:16:47.057-05:00mmm. There's really nothing like those first t...mmm. There's really nothing like those first tomatoes, is there? I always want to just kinda plop down right there in the garden and bite into them.<br /><br />I'm another up here in Wisconsin... and so far, all I'm getting are cherry tomatoes. LOTS of them (and they're fantastic), but I'm still waiting for that Big Old BLT tomato to turn. When it does, I'll try to wait long enough before eating it to snap a picture!Lohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02627131190832189839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-61373510747039680832009-08-24T19:05:14.655-05:002009-08-24T19:05:14.655-05:00We picked our first red tomato here in Washington ...We picked our first red tomato here in Washington State last week - a giant 'Oregon Spring' - and boy, was it ever good! We've since picked a couple more from that plant and will definitely use this variety again next year. Our other tomato plants are full of fruit but have yet to ripen, except for the yellow cherry-type I got from a friend...yum!Amy L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17013013895577702357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-67586749152096853132009-08-24T18:23:17.887-05:002009-08-24T18:23:17.887-05:00Gorgeous tomato - and lovely basil, too! My tomato...Gorgeous tomato - and lovely basil, too! My tomatoes aren't doing well. I blame myself; I planted them too close together. Not enough space, not enough sun. I'll do it better next year.<br />That's Northeastern Wisconsin, by the way.Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11647906900944224234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-35509646895508219202009-08-24T16:11:35.439-05:002009-08-24T16:11:35.439-05:00I live in Austin, Texas. I planted my tomatoes in...I live in Austin, Texas. I planted my tomatoes in March. The first hail storm hit in April and set me back a bit (branches broken, some plants needed to be replaced), the next hail storm (even worse) hit in May. It hailed for 20 minutes without stopping. Most of my plants already had tomatoes on them and there were holes in the tomatoes where the hail hit them. I finally pulled a few tomatoes in at the beginning of June.<br /><br />Unfortunately, we are in an "exceptional drought" (which is the worst classification for droughts) and we have had temperatures of 100 degrees plus for over 60 days this summer. Because of watering restrictions, my garden is pretty much dead.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07663889787027563496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-28841798299235334792009-08-24T15:32:51.203-05:002009-08-24T15:32:51.203-05:00Still waiting for that first tomato here in Sandia...Still waiting for that first tomato here in Sandia Park, New Mexico. They are a light shade of green at this late August date (8/24). I'm just east of Albuquerque at about 6900 ft. Have had wonderful zucchini, basil, brussel sprouts, broccoli, leeks, lettuce, radishes, green beans, but tomatoes have been lagging. I also have 5 pumpkins turning golden orange.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151347352054602839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-57061608660933550662009-08-24T12:28:42.949-05:002009-08-24T12:28:42.949-05:00We're in Southern CA, about 4 miles from the b...We're in Southern CA, about 4 miles from the beach. So we get a lot of morning fog/mist during the summer months.<br /><br />This is our first year growing, and it's been very fun. I got a little crazy and planted way-too many varieties--we had more tomatoes than we knew what to do with. A ton of Beefsteak, Green Zebra, Jubiliee, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, German Green and Brandywine. The only variety that didn't do well was the Mr. Stripey.<br /><br />We made your awesome pesto and froze many bags of it for use during the winter, and then also made and canned homeade chili sauce (recipe passed down for 4 generations), sphagetti sauce, and ate a ton of them in salads, with buffalo mozzarella, etc...<br /><br />My harvest is actually almost done--there are only a small handful of tomatoes left out there. <br /><br />Next year, I won't plant as many varieties, and will space them out a little more. I got carried away.<br /><br />Your blog is a great help.<br /><br />Best, <br />TommyTommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02055780951898979393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-89854807342395821712009-08-24T12:25:51.636-05:002009-08-24T12:25:51.636-05:00We're in Southern CA, about 4 miles from the b...We're in Southern CA, about 4 miles from the beach. So we get a lot of morning fog/mist during the summer months.<br /><br />This is our first year growing, and it's been very fun. I got a little crazy and planted way-too many varieties--we had more tomatoes than we knew what to do with. A ton of Beefsteak, Green Zebra, Jubiliee, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, German Green and Brandywine. The only variety that didn't do well was the Mr. Stripey.<br /><br />We made your awesome pesto and froze many bags of it for use during the winter, and then also made and canned homeade chili sauce (recipe passed down for 4 generations), sphagetti sauce, and ate a ton of them in salads, with buffalo mozzarella, etc...<br /><br />My harvest is actually almost done--there are only a small handful of tomatoes left out there. <br /><br />Next year, I won't plant as many varieties, and will space them out a little more. I got carried away.<br /><br />Your blog is a great help.<br /><br />Best, <br />TommyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com