Growing Tomatoes
4/24/2008
Go, Tomatoes go! If you're going to start tomato seeds indoors, I really can't recommend the APS-24 Self Watering seed trays enough.
This year I didn't buy any new tomato seeds and just used leftovers from previous years which I keep in a box in the garage. And look at the germination that I get with these trays. 23 out of 24 have sprouted and I still have hope for that last guy.
You may think these sprouts are pretty small for April and you're right. I like to plant outside when all possible chances of frost are gone and that usually means June 1st. Our last frost date is mid May but I give it an extra two weeks just to be safe. I don't trust myself to get my plants covered in case of a late frost so that's why I like to wait until my rhododendrons flower before I move my tomatoes outside. So according to that schedule, these tiny seedlings are right on track.
This year's tomato selection:
- San Marzano
- Black Krim
- Brandywine
- Brandy Boy
- Little Mama
- Big Mama
- Supersteak
- Mortgage Lifter
I usually get my first tomatoes (and first tomato sandwich) sometime around the end of July and that's fine with me. Good luck with your tomatoes this year.
Posted by Anthony 7:00 AM 6 comments
Labels: seeds, tomatoes, vegetable garden
Growing Tomatoes
10/08/2007
Looking back at the year in tomatoes, I have to say that it was an okay year. Not the greatest harvest of all times or anything but on the other hand, there were no problems with pests, diseases or drought. I grew a nice bunch of tomatoes and was able to make tomato sandwiches every weekend so I'm satisified.
I grew about 10 different kinds of tomatoes this year, some old favorites and some new ones too. But it was a newcomer that got my attention in the garden this season. I'm going to nominate Little Mama Paste Tomatoes from Burpee as the 2007 Tomato MVP.
The heirloom Brandywine tomatoes that I grow every year are the best tasting tomatoes known to all of mankind (in my opinion) but I just don't get enough production from my plants. And what good is excellent flavor if you only get to eat like 10 of them? And to tell you the truth, the hybrid Brandyboys aren't much better either.
My germination problems with Porterhouse Beefstake Tomatoes have already been well documented on this blog but at least the ones that I did get were quite tasty.
Cherry Tomatoes are great to throw in a quick salad and that's why I grew them right outside my back door. They taste pretty good, they have good production but they just aren't MVPs.
The Black Krims had their usual heirloomy issues, the supersonic were nothing to write home about and that leaves us with the Little Mamas.
Big Mamas have been my top producers for the past few years so I thought I give the Little Mamas a try this year. And I'm glad I did because they taste great, nice and meaty like a paste tomato should be and they produced tons of fruit. I love how they grow in clusters like grapes. I would cut one branch off of the plant and it would have enough tomatoes on it for several tomato sandwiches. And even now in October, I still have some that are ripening in the garden.
Little Mama, congratulations for winning the Compost Bin's 2007 Tomato MVP Award.
Posted by Anthony 9:52 AM 4 comments
Labels: tomatoes, vegetable garden
Glowing Tomato
8/15/2007
This isn't really gardening related but with all the tomato talk in the Garden Blogosphere at this time of year, I'm sure someone will find this interesting.
DIYLife has posted an article on how to make a glowing tomato.
The mad scientist in me finds this pretty amusing and the first thing I thought about after seeing it was could I do it with a watermelon? :)
Posted by Anthony 11:06 AM 2 comments
Porterhouse Tomato Update
8/01/2007
On the cover of the Burpee Catalog this year there's a picture of someone wearing overalls and holding 3 huge tomatoes in their hands. The tomatoes are plump and juicy looking and barely fit in those tiny hands. So when I placed my annual order, I put those Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomatoes on the top of my list.
Inside the catalog, they are described like this:
Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomato
NEW The greatest extra-large beefsteak we've ever bred. Plump fruits from 2 to 4 lbs. each-sure to beat any record in the neighborhood. The luscious flesh is deep red all the way through with just the right balance of meaty solids and succulent juice. Smooth texture and rich, old-fashioned flavor make this the greatest extra-large beefsteak we've ever bred.
As you can probably tell, I'm a sucker when it comes to advertising. The reality of these tomatoes is that they had big germination problems and I don't think any of them are going to make it over 2 pounds. They are nice sized, good looking tomatoes but I'm going to guess the average size will be about a pound a half. Certainly respectable but far from the 2-4 pound promise.
Taste will be the deciding factor. If they taste great then all will be worth it. If not, then I think I may have to skip the Burpee cover next season.
Posted by Anthony 6:47 AM 4 comments
Labels: tomatoes, vegetable garden
Thinning Tomato Seedlings
4/24/2007
With spring arriving almost instantly this year, I had better get my seeds ready to begin hardening off. That means it's time for me to decide which seedlings live and which seedlings are headed for the compost bin.
Thinning seedlings is never fun and it can actually be depressing.
Here lie the fallen. They gave their lives so that their brothers could someday become part of a delicious tomato sandwich. Yummy, a little olive oil, salt and pepper, some basil, mmmmm...
What was I talking about again?
Posted by Anthony 12:00 AM 10 comments
Labels: seeds, tomatoes, vegetable garden
Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomato Seedlings
4/20/2007
Vegetable Gardening can help you travel through time. Don't believe me? I'll prove it. As soon as I received my 2007 Burpee Catalog in the mail, I caught a glimpse of what was in store for me this summer. Just by looking at the Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomatoes that were right there on the cover, I knew that I would be eating them in the future.
The Burpee Catalog says:
Plump fruits from 2 to 4 lbs each - sure to beat any record in the neighborhood. The luscious flesh is deep red all the way through with just the right balance of meaty solids and succulent juice. Smooth texture and rich, old-fashioned flavor make this the greatest extra-large beefsteak we've ever bred.
But it seems like the future isn't written in stone. My germination rates were terrible for these porterhouse tomatoes. When I use my APS-24 Self Watering Seed Trays, I usually get close to 100% germination in each and every single tray. The 50% germination rate of these porterhouse tomatoes is just really poor.
Well, I'll just have to wait and see if they're worth it. I can be very forgiving if they taste good.
I wonder if Nostradamus was able to see the tomatoes of the future. Maybe he could have warned me about these Porterhouses.
Posted by Anthony 12:35 AM 6 comments
Labels: seeds, tomatoes, vegetable garden
Please Turn Red...
7/06/2006
... so I can eat you.
Posted by Anthony 3:27 PM 4 comments
Labels: tomatoes, vegetable garden
The Tomatoes Are Coming!!!
6/29/2006
I feel like Paul Revere after a trip to garden lately. I'm always announcing to my family what's growing by shouting things like, "The Tomatoes Are Coming!"
I haven't figured out how I will signal if they are coming by land or by sea yet though. :)
Posted by Anthony 2:41 PM 5 comments
Labels: tomatoes, vegetable garden
Tomato Growing
6/12/2006
We've got tomato flowers! And that means that tomato sandwiches are in our near future. We have a Summer Sunday tradition in my home it's all about tomato sandwiches.
We go to the Farmers Market in Ridgewood, NJ to pick up the special supplies for these beautiful sandwiches. The Market is very small, with only about 5 or 6 vendors who set up their tents in the parking lot of the Ridgewood train station. Besides the usual fruit and veggie stands that most markets have, there's also an Amish stand that sells all kinds of baked goods. We always purchase the semolina peasant loaf. The peasant loaf is a giant round crusty bread with a hole filled spongy middle. I think the holes are a sign that the dough is very sticky and it's also a sign of some good tasting bread. The Amish vendor at the Farmer's Market always sells out of it quickly so we try to get there early.
There's also a stand set up by an excellent deli in Glen Rock. I forget the name of it but they make fresh mozzarella that's still warm when you buy it. Their cannolis are also fantastic but I'm trying to cut back a little bit and besides I'm talking about my sandwich here. I'll save the cannoli talk for a dessert themed post.
With our bread and cheese in hand, we return home and I head right for the garden. I usually gather some basil and a few Supersonic tomatoes. This year, if all goes well I'll also have some Black Krim heirloom tomatoes to try.
The Burpee Catalog has this to say about Black Krim:
"This medium-sized, very dark maroon beefsteak, with wonderfully rich flavor, originated in Crimea, an island peninsula in the Black Sea with perfect "tomato summers". Extremely tasty."
Well I'm extremely ready to give it a taste.
Using a giant bread knife we cut 1/2" slices along the length of the loaf. Then comes the extra virgin olive oil. Drizzle it all over. Don't worry about being neat because this is a messy sandwich. Here's where my wife and I differ, she likes her tomato slices paper thin and I like the thick meaty slices. I appease her by cutting some of these freakish slices before I start cutting my own. Place a few whole basil leaves in the sandwich or chop them if you like. Then some sea salt and fresh ground pepper and your ready for a Sunday Tomato Sandwich.
Wow, now I'm hungry. It's only about 10:00 AM but I think may have some lunch.
Posted by Anthony 9:16 AM 2 comments
Labels: tomatoes, vegetable garden
