tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post8384532289285627481..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: End of Season Review - TomatoesMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-61019024022596298542016-03-08T17:06:39.347-05:002016-03-08T17:06:39.347-05:00I'm holding back a lot this year & only ad...I'm holding back a lot this year & only adding a few new varieties to the mix; a hard thing to do when it comes to tomatoes, as I'm sure you know! You must be so excited to start up your garden at your new place - the later start date will likely come in handy, as I'm sure there will not be a shortage of tasks to keep you occupied!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50371228905627119652016-03-08T12:01:19.845-05:002016-03-08T12:01:19.845-05:00Look at all these beautiful tomatoes! And these be...Look at all these beautiful tomatoes! And these beautiful charts - I love garden charts and I love how organized you are. There's lots of love happening here in this comment, but that's because it's tomato time! I can't wait to see what tomatoes you grow in the upcoming year. We'll be starting our seeds in a few weeks. This year we'll be changing zones so we'll be starting a bit later - either way, I'm excited!Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181507345380029703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-7928403400507805152016-03-08T07:26:05.414-05:002016-03-08T07:26:05.414-05:00Mushy & bland are definitely not attributes yo...Mushy & bland are definitely not attributes you want to see in a fresh eating tomato. I have so many other cherry, slicer and salad tomatoes to use fresh that the plan is save the paste tomatoes for cooking preparations, so we shall have to see how it works out on that front.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-71823282345413477802016-03-07T22:47:58.497-05:002016-03-07T22:47:58.497-05:00To clarify, my comment on the taste of Opalka was ...To clarify, my comment on the taste of Opalka was based on eating them fresh. I found them mushy and bland tasting (could just be the conditions I gre them in). Never got enough for sauce because of BER, and sauce can be doctored with herbs and garlic so you can always make it tasty.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-34807939591637486102016-03-05T11:12:20.331-05:002016-03-05T11:12:20.331-05:00Thanks, Tammy - Yes, tomatoes are wonderful but th...Thanks, Tammy - Yes, tomatoes are wonderful but they can be a challenge. By the end of August, it's not uncommon for them to have incited a few choice words out of me :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-46605763065305037162016-03-05T00:06:50.780-05:002016-03-05T00:06:50.780-05:00I broke up with my tomatoes. There was just too mu...I broke up with my tomatoes. There was just too much drama. No matter what I did there was some type of disease or a storm blew them over, etc. Now I just buy them at the farmers market. But yours do look amazing! :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54535378991130475022016-03-03T07:21:06.265-05:002016-03-03T07:21:06.265-05:00It does seem as if Opalka is particularly prone to...It does seem as if Opalka is particularly prone to BER - I'll be interested to see if my experience with them is any different this coming year. I'm also hoping to do a sauce taste test with them, to test out Dave V's impression that they don't win any points on that score. If they don't add anything positive to a sauce, no point in growing them when there are so many other varieties to try!<br /><br />We, unfortunately, didn't have an overabundance of Sungold tomatoes - we could have definitely done with a lot more, so I'll be placing 2 of these into the plan this time.<br /><br />And the dehydrator will definitely find it's way into my kitchen this year - I've already been doing a bit of scouting - and I can hardly wait!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-48290194552733109702016-03-02T20:36:16.014-05:002016-03-02T20:36:16.014-05:00Ahh, so the mystery of the wayward comment is solv...Ahh, so the mystery of the wayward comment is solved! ;-)<br /><br />Let me just say that you have harvested more Brandywine tomatoes in one year than I have gotten in my entire life. They just don't seem to like it here, so I gave up on them. And as for Opalka - it must get BER everywhere, because it did that for me here.<br /><br />Some tomatoes seem to be universal though, like Juliet, Sungold and Mt Magic. I had to laugh at Michelle's comment about Sungold. I confess to not always harvesting all of mine in a good year. But I still keep growing it because of the taste, even though it cracks and splits.<br /><br />And let me also say that when you get that dehydrator, and hi-speed blender, you will be using all those small tomatoes. Like SFGDave says, throw 'em in the blender and make sauce with them if nothing else.<br /><br />Great review, as always! Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-18204402392274954982016-03-02T15:24:20.166-05:002016-03-02T15:24:20.166-05:00Oy...that's so funny! And you know, Jennifer,...Oy...that's so funny! And you know, Jennifer, we have ALL been there, and that's even those of use that aren't sleep deprived (any more!).<br /><br />When it comes to growing tomatoes, there are so many different techniques, spacing recommendations, you name it. I always think that if it sounds like it would work, it's worth a go. Of course, sometimes things don't work out, but you really never know until you try it yourself. What works for one person may not work for another and vice versa. And that's hilarious about the Cherokee Purple...it's like the incredible vanishing tomato ;) I'm trying again this year...maybe the plants will actually make it out into the garden this time round :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-82847536838860337082016-03-02T15:12:05.430-05:002016-03-02T15:12:05.430-05:00Hi Margaret, oh my goodness, this is embarrassingl...Hi Margaret, oh my goodness, this is embarrassingly hilarious! ...I just realized that a comment I had intended to post on this blog several days ago, I somehow posted onto Dave's blog Our Happy Acres. I have no idea how I accomplished that.<br /><br />Anyway, I have also made the mistake of planting a triple row of tomatoes and found that I had difficulty accessing that middle row. And it’s funny you mention the mystery around your Cherokee Purple tomatoes… I have never had success with that variety. I’m pretty sure that I did sow seeds and then plant seedlings, but I’ve never seen one of the tomatoes.<br /><br />I've really enjoyed your end of season reviews and I'm so impressed with your meticulous attention-to-detail.<br />Jenniferhttp://fernsadventures.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66977820764075550002016-03-02T13:16:57.109-05:002016-03-02T13:16:57.109-05:00Yes, I do find the large, ugly ones like Brandywin...Yes, I do find the large, ugly ones like Brandywine, to be the tastiest but also more challenging to get a good harvest from.<br /><br />I see Maskotka mentioned a lot on UK blogs; sort of like Juliet around here. It doesn't seem to be readily available in North America, but I'm sure that's bound to change.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-12136809895878361612016-03-02T10:37:16.627-05:002016-03-02T10:37:16.627-05:00I think your approach to growing tomatoes is like ...I think your approach to growing tomatoes is like mine - try as many varieties as possible. If one under-performs, another is bound to do well. They are so photogenic too! I am very fond of the big "ugly" ones, but they are usually the most difficult to grow well. My number one favourite of all tomatoes is now "Maskotka".Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25031023845313442192016-03-02T09:03:13.586-05:002016-03-02T09:03:13.586-05:00I ordered from them a couple of years ago too...ta...I ordered from them a couple of years ago too...talk about having to show restraint when ordering!!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66323969788886650052016-03-02T08:59:57.673-05:002016-03-02T08:59:57.673-05:00Thank you Audrey! I tell you, I would be lost wit...Thank you Audrey! I tell you, I would be lost without my notes. They are a godsend when it comes to figuring out what worked and what didn't for everything from sowing techniques to spacing to pests & diseases...you name it! It's not uncommon for me to think about doing things in a certain way and then remember...hey - I think I tried that 2 years ago. And more often than not, I'll save myself re-doing a technique that proved ineffective. I'm looking forward to seeing how your garden progresses this season - every year is an adventure!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-64454646318474517892016-03-02T08:57:00.877-05:002016-03-02T08:57:00.877-05:00My Brandywine plants haven't been that product...My Brandywine plants haven't been that productive so far, but those few tomatoes I do get are more than worth the room that I give them. I'm glad that so many people are trying Sungold this year - I always enjoy seeing what others impressions are, especially when it comes to varieties that I grow in my own garden. Nothing is more fun than comparing veggie notes!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-91868545696204748222016-03-02T08:55:06.097-05:002016-03-02T08:55:06.097-05:00Thank you Beth! If everyone had to choose only on...Thank you Beth! If everyone had to choose only one veg to grow, I have a feeling that most gardeners would choose tomatoes. They are just so delicious & versatile (and gorgeous, obviously!).<br /><br />It's hard to believe that we are so close to spring when we just had a huge dump of snow yesterday. But I now have seedlings under the lights & for me, they are the true sign that spring is near. All the best for your gardening season as well - I'm so looking forward to meeting up again in July & catching up!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-70424668188797108952016-03-02T08:53:08.320-05:002016-03-02T08:53:08.320-05:00I didn't do a side by side taste test with the...I didn't do a side by side taste test with the paste tomatoes this year figuring that I'd do that with the sauces instead. But since I'm making the sauces individually from the frozen tomatoes as I go along, it's almost impossible to compare as the differences are often so subtle, especially when you add other ingredients. Oh well, there's always next year.<br /><br />As for Juliet, I think it has a split personality - I see it listed as both a large grape and small Roma. Since Romas are one of the most useful tomatoes in the kichen, I figured I would put them in that group as that is the only category where I have no "limit" - which means that it doesn't encroach on my cherry tomato varieties ;)<br /><br />And I would love one of those high speed blenders. I just have a regular old one, which I doubt I'll be replacing until it conks out - I'm one of those "use it till it dies" type people :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15733633959957364252016-03-02T07:00:12.512-05:002016-03-02T07:00:12.512-05:00I really appreciate your wonderfully thorough revi...I really appreciate your wonderfully thorough review of tomatoes! I love the tables where you recorded your data too. I will take a page out of your book and try your strategies this year. I have so many issues with tomatoes, but want them so desperately to grow in my garden. I think perhaps I am not keeping a careful enough accounting of what is going on with mine to know what is working and what isn't.<br />Your tomatoes were really beautiful. Good luck with the best tomato harvest this year! :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13642548258165254380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-34968803705253184022016-03-02T06:51:27.717-05:002016-03-02T06:51:27.717-05:00Ah tomatoes, a subject near and dear to my heart. ...Ah tomatoes, a subject near and dear to my heart. I'm right there with you on Brandywine, such a delicious tomato and in a good year it can be a very heavy producer in my climate.<br /><br />I love that you planted 8 cherry tomatoes and harvested 35 pounds of them in 2014. I'm on a quest to find early cherry tomatoes and have 3 new varieties to try this year including Sungold.Phuonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658691564062044986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-45382053939039684462016-03-01T22:47:00.613-05:002016-03-01T22:47:00.613-05:00Goodness, you have a productive garden, Margaret! ...Goodness, you have a productive garden, Margaret! I can't imagine a garden without Tomatoes. Even though my garden is severely sun-challenged, I still grow at least a couple of Tomato plants. There is nothing like a fresh-picked, organic Tomato sliced into a BLT sandwich. Best food ever. Good gardening wishes for the coming growing season!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-7376260107392525042016-03-01T21:41:13.785-05:002016-03-01T21:41:13.785-05:00Given the huge number of tomato varieties, it'...Given the huge number of tomato varieties, it's interesting to see which you chose to grow. I like the flavor of Sungold but splitting was too big a problem. Opalka suffered from BER and I thought the taste was mediocre. I consider Juliet a big grape tomato, not a paste. It's first and last tomato in the garden, BER and crack resistant, and pretty disease resistant. And the answer to too many cherry tomatoes is to throw them in the high speed blender with anything thing else in excess on the counter and make tomato sauce.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-19327733584368083762016-03-01T17:49:05.041-05:002016-03-01T17:49:05.041-05:00Oh, that's so nice of you to say :) Sometimes...Oh, that's so nice of you to say :) Sometimes it's nice to take a bit of a break from a difficult veg - those hard ones can really zap your enthusiasm.<br /><br />And 10-12 plants...umm...that still MORE than counts in my book & should keep you plenty busy in the tomato patch!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-51362512910019933622016-03-01T17:45:19.204-05:002016-03-01T17:45:19.204-05:00Thank you Kelli! Tomatoes can be a tough go as th...Thank you Kelli! Tomatoes can be a tough go as they fruit for a relatively short period of time and then there is the arms length list of pests and diseases to contend with. But when you bite into a freshly picked, fully flavoured tom, all of those issues seem to take a back seat :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-61032325268950494542016-03-01T17:40:35.863-05:002016-03-01T17:40:35.863-05:00I also love that picture - all colours and shapes ...I also love that picture - all colours and shapes and sizes! <br /><br />I do love brandywine myself and those taxi tomatoes almost make me want to grow a lot of tomatoes again ... but no. I've given up for a few years to focus on other crops that I'm better at (ok well, when I say I've given up, I just mean I'll grow 10-12 instead of 30-40).<br /><br />You started the post by stating you had not taken full advantage of the great summer we had, but I beg to differ.Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-87272649229359690672016-03-01T15:31:57.725-05:002016-03-01T15:31:57.725-05:00I've never had huge success with tomatoes, but...I've never had huge success with tomatoes, but it looks like you've had loads of success. Well done.Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263430746482725687noreply@blogger.com