Showing posts with label Tomatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tomatoes. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Last Frost Date
Always on my mind - when do I get to plant things? For Denver, looks like with an 80% confidence the last frost date is May 12 and with 90% confidence, it's May 18. Not being a gambler, I think I'll stick to the latter date. I have now calculated the weeks back and find that today I get to sprout my tomatoes!! And then I realize I'm leaving town for a week in April, and can seedlings really live for one week waterless? What to do?? As I agonize over my Excel chart of planting dates, I'm thinking the only solution is to wait and, once sprouted, stick them under a grow light and hope for the best. . .
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Winter Tomatoes
While I didn't write about it at the time, I wanted to share my success with extending my tomato crop this fall- we ate our last homegrown tomato December 15!!
In late September when DUG shut off the garden water and the threat of frost was in the air every night, my tomatoes had just gotten going. Most of them were full with big green fruits and I couldn't bear to lose them, especially after not having a huge crop during the summer. I just needed one more month!
I didn't have one more month, so from the smaller plants, I plucked off the really good tomatoes and threw these in a cardboard box (after washing). I didn't put them in a dark place or rinse them with a weak bleach solution like recommended - only because they started ripening before I had time to!
The large plants with a ton of fruit, I dug out of the ground and hung upside down in my garage. These ripened massive delicious tomatoes over the next two months - every time i drove into my garage, there was another delicious German Red Strawberry or Rose tomato waiting on the vine to be plucked and eaten.
The majority of these green tomatoes ripened and were almost as delicious as they had been in the summer (and certainly 10x better than anything available in the store).
When I brought in those last plants, I had a more ripe tomatoes than I could eat in a week available right then. I froze about 2 gallon size bags and, after I ran out of ripening green tomatoes in December, have been making stirfries and stews with the frozen ones. They add such a rich flavor -- so uniquely heirloom its ridiculous! We made tikka masala loaded with spices and the most distinct flavor was the tomatoes.
Last summer, I was worried that my choice of 8 heirlooms was not producing enough for the amount of work and space. Now I realize that it was actually just that the plants required a longer season than I have here in Denver (in an urban garden that the water line can't be turned on until June), even with starting seeds in milk jugs on the porch! In 2009, I will rely more heavily on starter plants. I, of course, will Have to get a couple seeds packs, because they are so fun, but without a lamp to get them growing big and healthy early on, plants might be the primary way to go. I love Tomato Fest for heirloom seeds, and they recommend Heirloom Plants for. . . well . . . heirloom plants. (Looks like i need to get my order in by February - just found something very fun to do today!)
In late September when DUG shut off the garden water and the threat of frost was in the air every night, my tomatoes had just gotten going. Most of them were full with big green fruits and I couldn't bear to lose them, especially after not having a huge crop during the summer. I just needed one more month!
I didn't have one more month, so from the smaller plants, I plucked off the really good tomatoes and threw these in a cardboard box (after washing). I didn't put them in a dark place or rinse them with a weak bleach solution like recommended - only because they started ripening before I had time to!
The large plants with a ton of fruit, I dug out of the ground and hung upside down in my garage. These ripened massive delicious tomatoes over the next two months - every time i drove into my garage, there was another delicious German Red Strawberry or Rose tomato waiting on the vine to be plucked and eaten.
The majority of these green tomatoes ripened and were almost as delicious as they had been in the summer (and certainly 10x better than anything available in the store).
When I brought in those last plants, I had a more ripe tomatoes than I could eat in a week available right then. I froze about 2 gallon size bags and, after I ran out of ripening green tomatoes in December, have been making stirfries and stews with the frozen ones. They add such a rich flavor -- so uniquely heirloom its ridiculous! We made tikka masala loaded with spices and the most distinct flavor was the tomatoes.
Last summer, I was worried that my choice of 8 heirlooms was not producing enough for the amount of work and space. Now I realize that it was actually just that the plants required a longer season than I have here in Denver (in an urban garden that the water line can't be turned on until June), even with starting seeds in milk jugs on the porch! In 2009, I will rely more heavily on starter plants. I, of course, will Have to get a couple seeds packs, because they are so fun, but without a lamp to get them growing big and healthy early on, plants might be the primary way to go. I love Tomato Fest for heirloom seeds, and they recommend Heirloom Plants for. . . well . . . heirloom plants. (Looks like i need to get my order in by February - just found something very fun to do today!)
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tomato Taste Off
Plucked the following tomatoes last week (probably a day too early-- but oh so yummy). Hubby and I taste tested each, with bread, cheese, and a fresh garden cuc as the perfect pallate cleanser. All were fantastic, but here are our thoughts on each (from left to right in the picture).*Rose - So much flavor. No tomato wateriness!
*Carbon - sweet and smooth - delish!
*Zogola (small and got tomatoes with black bottoms) - tangy and very tasty
I'll definitely regrow all of these!
Progress Photos
Monday, July 7, 2008
Cherokee Chocolate
Oh boy, the Cherokee Chocolate tomato plant might be in trouble. Tonight, its leaves were all curled up like the plant needed water. The leaves were crispy looking and paler in color than their neighbors. But the soil was moist and the tomatoes surrounding it are fine, which would suggest its not a water problem. I'm afraid that this baby might have the Curly Top Virus, apparently common in western Colorado and with no remedy. I watered tonight and will see if the plant is better in the morning. If not, I will probably have to remove it from the garden so the crazy beet leafhoppers don't spread it to other tomatoes and peppers.
In other tomato related news, I broke down and bought yet another tomato plant at the nursery yesterday! Tried so hard to grow Brandywine seeds, then later to track down Brandywine plants at the farmers market - so couldn't pass up my luck to find one 30% off at the local nursery :) Now just need to find a good spot. . .
In other tomato related news, I broke down and bought yet another tomato plant at the nursery yesterday! Tried so hard to grow Brandywine seeds, then later to track down Brandywine plants at the farmers market - so couldn't pass up my luck to find one 30% off at the local nursery :) Now just need to find a good spot. . .
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Climb Away
Nothing like a little middle of the night frame building. The climbers have room to grow now. This back row has 6 tomato plants (variety of tasty-looking heirlooms), 3 cucumbers, and a lot of beans. We need to build one more row of frames for 3 more tomies and a lot more beans. Word of advice: don't try to spray paint in an organic garden, in the dark, when a storm is blowing in . . .
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