Tomatopalooza!

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I have 20 tomato plants in my raised beds and the family garden has over 30. We have been eating and canning tomatoes like mad. I have over 40 quarts of tomatoes and around 40 quarts of sauces (mexican, italian, relish). We've canned over 200 quarts for granny's house. If we have this off of 50 plants, can you guess what his basement looks like with over 3000 varieties?

 

[Smart Red]

Last year I planted 101 different heirloom varieties of tomato - not that all 101 kinds came up - 24 per bed and some in the butterfly garden. Thanks to my fowl girls who learned to love tomatoes, I had my smallest tomato harvest ever.

This year I forced myself to stick to five varieties. I did transplant a few of the volunteers from last year that popped up in the beds, though. Didn't get my favorite 'mater to grow this year and never got around to trying to germinate a few more seeds. Sigh! My own fault, of course.

 

[digitS']

You know I've visited the farmers market while he was there, he is a neighbor! Are you jealous Steve, are you jealous? HUH HUH HUH?! ROTFLMAO I'm just kidding.

(Other side of the continent! hahaha) . . .

I do feel a little left out, V. We have now learned that Petey has picked a ripe tomato at, what, 6 bazilion feet elevation in eastern Oregon. Of course, after her difficult morning with the animals, she deserves a ripe tomato.

Did you see the foliage on some of Craig LeHoullier's plants? That must be from having a comfortable environment. I was out hugging about 20 of my plants this morning and the color is real good, there's only the mystery plant's foliage problem as best as I can tell, but nowhere are there leaves as large as on Craig's plants.

With tying all the plants to stakes this year, I'm doing a better job at keeping track of varieties - ongoing. With the sprawl, there was sometimes no way to get to the center of the plant - & the plant stake - to learn what the variety was!

There are so many yellow and orange varieties in my garden this year. Craig has had good things to say about Casey's Pure Yellow and I've got one of those ! I pulled the stake up out of the dirt & confirmed it. It is a small plant and loaded with green fruit - something of an exception in that way. Originating in Calgary, Alberta - I'm really looking forward to seeing if it can ripen those early .

Steve