BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....

Subject: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:01 PM

Well, not quite seein' as 'bout 4 were ripe tonight and so tomorrow is the day I look forward to each year: my 1st home grown tomater sammich with mayo salt and lots of pepper...

I might not even be able to sleep tonight...

Oh yeah, I coulda bought 99 cent@lb. tomaters that they have been sellin'; 'round these parts but the ain't home growed and everyone knows that a home growed Tomater tastes better than any tomater that's live part of it's life in a cardboard box...

Yipppeeee... Now fir the next 2 months these tomater's will be comin' in 6 to 10 every day....

Yummmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:12 PM

Been having ours for a week or so, Bobert. Got 15 small ones (moneymaker and gardener's delight I think Pip said) waiting for consumption at the moment.

The really intresting tomato like thingy here will be the tamarillo Pip bought this year. It will take a year or more yet to grow before we see a crop.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: bobad
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:13 PM

I'm envious but we are getting there around these parts too, a very good growing season thus far, plenty of rain and hot, humid weather.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:14 PM

Beat you! I had a tomato sandwhich on Monday courtesy of my Early Girl.....hmmm........ delicious. There are another 40 of good size on the same plant in various stages.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:18 PM

BTW, bigeest problem we've had with tomatoes last couple of years has been blight but it's held off so far this year.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:20 PM

On the other hand, neither my Black Krim, nor my 500 yrar old unknown family heirloom variety, that was provided to me by an Italian friend are beyond blossoms. I will probably be constructing plastic tents over them in October......

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:20 PM

ANY vegetable tastes better when it comes straight out of the garden and into the pot / salad !!

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:23 PM

Just keep the rain and dew off their leaves and avoid splashing the leaves when you water and you shouldn't have any problem with late blight, Jon

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:24 PM

Trying to think what else we have... Alicante are just starting to ripen. There are also some plum ones that are not close to ripening.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: pdq
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:26 PM

Had to look closely at the spelling of 'tamarillo'. Thought you meant the Mexican traditional 'green tomato' called tomatillo which is an easy-to-grow annual. The tamarillo seems to be a large perennial, 15 feet or more when full-grown. Unlikely to produce fruit in the first few years.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:30 PM

Thanks, Metchosin. When we have had the problem other years, it has shown itself by now. Maybe the exceptionaly dry spell has helped?

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:31 PM

I'm really looking forward to see exactly what kind of tomato I'm going to get from the Italian heritage plant, I have no idea what to expect. If its something really good I'll try to save some seeds.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:34 PM

Probably has Jon, we can get an early blight and a late one here on the west coast of Canada. You can also mist the leaves with copper spray to control it, but I prefer not to.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:35 PM

Interesting, I'd not heard of the tomatillo, pdq.

I think Pip is expecting this tamirillo thing which is in a tub to grow to about 8 ft max. I believe the plan is to bring it into a shed for the winter.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:36 PM

I have been visiting the local farmer's market to get tomatoes and some of the locally-famous Parker County peaches. No garden this year (so far). Maybe something out front for the fall. The drought just made it too tough to get anything started for many gardeners and I have to relocate everything because of the dogs.

My neighbors have persevered and one across the street gave me one of her garden tomatoes, so though I was planning my first BLTs of the summer with the farmer's market batch, I set those aside and used the neighbor's fruit, little surface imperfections and all. 100 times better!

Those peaches--they are wonderful this year. Our insides are getting a good scouring now that I've started going to that market (didn't know it was there til recently--it's on the other side of town). They have cantaloupe and Israel melons that are very good also. But I do miss growing my own oddball melons and various tomatoes. I think I'll be relocating some of the garden from the back, for one thing, and I'll probably have a wire put in to keep the dogs out of a garden plot back there (Invisible Fence--they already have the collars and know about the white flags when they go up).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:43 PM

Peaches, ours look like bullets at the moment. First ones we have had. That was one thing Pip (who metchosin, btw, is not keen on spraying things) did spray this year. They had a leaf curl and I think it was called Bordeaux mixture she used. I'm not sure if that will have affected the fruit or not. The tree looks healthier though.

(as you will gather BTW, I'm not the gardener here, just a consumer).

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Kaleea
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:48 PM

only two things that money can't buy,
that's true love and home grown tomaters


uh, actually, I know a lady who sells her homegrown tomaters using the old fashioned honor system. (anybody remember that?) She leaves her extra tomatoes on a table in her front yard, & neighbors leave money for her.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:55 PM

Can't think off hand of any produce sold that way round here, Kaleea. But still garden related, I do know of a place that sells horse manure that way. You pick up the sacks and put the money in a box in the wall.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 09:00 PM

Jon, tomatoes are the only thing I bother with right now. I don't consider myself a gardener either, because my efforts have been way too intermittent over the years.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 09:04 PM

I knew there was one other tomato Pip is trying - something like this one. It's not showing signs of ripening yet. Not sure I'll like it either. Have not been particularly fond of beefsteak ones I've tried.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: frogprince
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 09:10 PM

We're not really gardeners, either, but my wife has cherry tomatoes in pots on the front porch. Looks like we should have the first edibles in a couple of days. I come in from outside, look for ones about to fall off, and chomp 'em hot from the sun.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 09:15 PM

We have at least one roadside stand on the honour system near where I live. They have been ripped off on occasion, but still persist.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Beer
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 09:30 PM

There ain't nothin in the world that I like better,
Than bacon and lettuce and home grown tomatoes.

Ect., ect. By Guy Clarke.
Great tune.
Beer

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 10:15 PM

As she was learning to make them for herself my daughter finally realized that there is a last almost intangible step in making a really good BLT. She had me demonstrate a couple of times the "squash" move that has to seal the toast and mayo to the lettuce to the tomato to the bacon to the toast and mayo on the other side. Get the sandwich all set up then carefully press the flat of your hand on top and do a slightly vibrating downward movement to compress without damaging the ingredients. Last time she made one she appeared to have it down.

I make my sandwiches with fresh homemade bread. It has to be out of the oven long enough to cool so you can toast it to the right consistency. The convergence of fresh bread, ripe tomatoes, and having bacon in the house doesn't happen that often (usually the deciding factor is the bacon) so they're special when we make them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Old Guy
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 10:42 PM

Yep Mater sandwiches are a favorite of mine too. I like them with lots of mayo and a little sugar.

One year I grew the best ever where an old chicken yard used to be. It was all grown over with honeysuckle. I dragged all of the old chicken wire away and disked the ground over and over until all of the vines and weeds were chopped up in little bitty pieces and mixed with the dirt. All I had back then was a little one lung Economy tractor with horse drawn discs hitched to it.

I think they were big boy and beefsteak. I used 6" mesh concrete reinforcement wire to form a cage for them. Some of them barely fit thru the mesh.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,MarkS
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 10:48 PM

The cherry tumaturs came in early this year, but finally got some of the heirlooms to ripen. Ya gotta try Brandywine. Ugly enough to make a train take a dirt road, but taste wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:32 PM

Yazzir, ol' guy, chicken manure is the best... I put down 'bout 3 tons last fall and plowed it in 15 inches deep, which is a deep as my plow will plow... This 70 X 30 plot is kickin' up some serious food...

Freezer an' jars gonna get a good work out....

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: harpmolly
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:55 PM

Well done Bobert! ;)

I just picked and ate the first ripe cherry tomato off my container plant the other day...sweet and yummy! Almost all the others were green, but they're all going orange and red now. I've been watering it faithfully, and the hot weather has helped, I think. Yum!

Plus my upstairs housemate made me a present of some baguette slices the other night. Forgot to eat them fresh, but made them into garlic croutons last night, which will go well with the cherry toms when I throw them on a salad. Yay!

Ooh, I could even throw in some of the garlic chives. My garden rocks! ;)

Molly

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:08 AM

Ooops, my black tomato this year is not a Krim, I tried the Russian one couple of years ago, but I wasn't overly impressed with the flavour. This year I'm growing a Paul Robson for a change. Perhaps I'll get a chance to try a Brandywine next year.

This year I'm also using Super Red Mulch under my tomatoes. I don't know if it is doing the trick or not, as I planted my, as yet non -fruiting varieties a little later than the Early Girl. I also don't know if 40 tomatoes on a bush variety tomato is an exceptional yield around here.

I was wondering if I also tacked the mulch on the wall behind my tomatoes if this might help them along even more. Then again it might really just confuse the hummingbirds and make the south side of our house look even less attractive than it already is.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Chip2447
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:14 AM

you folks are slow...been getting tomatoes for 4 weeks or more, probably have had 4 or 5 dozen off of my dad's 20 plants. Can't eat em fast enuf...the neighbors love to see us coming.

    Don't ask my secret, I dont have one. if it were left to me and my BROWN thumb they would all be dead by now. Pop planted em, left on vacation and my sister waters and picks em.

Chip2447

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:38 AM

My 4 bucket tomato plants have been bearing for about a week now. The "Celebrity" has always been my favorite tomato and we have 16 fruits still ripening and we have picked 4.....not bad for one plant. Our 100 Cherry tomato will have well over a hundred (as it should) and the Roma is going to yield about 35 that I can count....the plant is almost 4 foot tall and really filled. Only th4e beefsteak is not going to yield well over what you'd expect.

The buckets are fun but keeping the water up is tough as they dry out quickly. Next year I think we'll reclaim a small garden bed from my dogs instead of the buckets!

Corn season is in full swing here and Karen hasn't divorced me yet. Every year around Labor Day she comes close (;<))... I guess she loves me (cuz I am a really voracious and disgusting corn eater).

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:47 AM

What are 4 bucket tomato plants, Spaw?

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:51 AM

I planted my 'maters in buckets. I've been doing this for a couple of years rather than reclaiming the yard from my Weimaraners, two incredible dipsticks who in their younger days happily ate our tomatos, zuchs, eggplants, cukes......And they say dogs don't like Veggies...........

Anyway the 4 plants are in 4 buckets and had we gone camping for our usual 10 days instead of this year's 3 days, we were going to load them up and take them along!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:58 AM

Ahhh, now I understand. I thought it might be an exotic species or a unique method of propogation. LOL. I guess my Early Girl, Robeson and Italian are 3 bucket tomatoes. Never thought about taking them camping with me though. The Italian is now over 6' tall.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: open mike
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 02:37 AM

anyone try mortgage lifter?
i have some new ones this year..
Amish Paste.
got some cherrie tom's and
early girls..have had a few of
each. and basil...

Kate Campbell has a great song
about a variety called Tennesee
Bradley..i found these once at
wal mart...have nt even seen this
variety again...

the song says:
Jesus and tomatoes--coming soon....

i hear that greg brown used to have
a bumper sticker from her song on his
pick-em-up-truck in Iowa. they toured
together once.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 05:25 AM

Well the one thing that beats a BLT made with home made tom's, is one with home grown tom's AND home cured bacon. I have recently discovered making my own bacon, and it is just orgasmic, never want to buy that shop bought crap again!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 05:33 AM

Each to thier own but I'm afraid I've never "got" this BLT thing. It's one of those less than its parts things to me.

Home cured bacon does sound nice though. I'll just have it on it's own in a sandwich, dripping with butter of course.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: David C. Carter
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 05:33 AM

"There's two things that money can't buy,
That's true love,and home grown tomatoes"

Guy Clarke
As mentioned by Beer,above.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:50 AM

Tomatoes aren't quite ripe here just yet but the broccoli is on it's second go around and the summer squash are almost ready! We cut up some of the baby summer squash the other night and oh my goodness...they were SOOOOOOOOO good! It makes it awful hard to leave the rest of them on the vine to grow a bit more! We also have lots of cucumbers....they are SO much better than store bought cukes!!! And best of all, yesterday my honey brought me a fresh bowl of blueberries for breakfast...our very first blueberries! YUUUUMMMMMMY!!!!!!!!!!! But tomatoes? Not yet...I'm with you on this one Bobert...there's NOTHING like a home-grown 'mater!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 07:00 AM

He should be rod building and fly tying not feeding you blueberries in bed woman!
G ;)

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: bobad
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 07:17 AM

For those who are averse to eating bacon or don't on Dr.'s orders an excellent alternative is the CLT, ie. cheese, lettuce and tomato. Slice some medium Gouda cheese thin (I use a cheese slicer) and fry it in a cast iron pan, on medium heat, turning it over and gathering it in as it spreads. It takes a little time but it will eventually render most of its fat and turn golden brown and crispy. You can blot it between paper towels if you prefer a lower cal. version or leave as is and proceed with the L, T and mayo. Finger licking good.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 09:07 AM

Yes to red mulch, Metchosin...

Few years back we did an experiement with half the tomaters with and the other half mulched in straw which is what we use everywhere else in the garden and the red plastic out produced the straw mulched big time...

And at the end of the growin' season, roll it up fir next year...

Yazzir, today is the day fir that 1st sammich buit right now I gotta go till up the spinich, lettuce and beat bed and get my fall crop of pole beans planted...

They purdy yummy, too, sautied with a little garlic and onions but it will be 'bout 60 days before they'll be producin'...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 09:53 AM

Hey Bobert...

    Did you ever make a bean teepee with your pole beans?

And Giok...I don't think so! LOLOLOL!!! *G*

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,CrazyEddie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:04 AM

Giok,
How precisely do you make that home-cured bacon?

Sorry for the thread-drift.

And BTW, I just picked the first 2 tomatoes from my pots.

Delicious!

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: MAG
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:20 AM

Mine are still green, but it won't be long.

Brandywines are my favorite; they are the MOST delicious; however they take forever to mature so I have given up on growing them. I just never got enough 'maters to make it worthwhile, out there with plastic in october and all.

I like basil leaves instead of lettuce. Off my plant; in a pot and not in the ground. ALL the critters, especially slugs, love the basil. I don't try it in the ground anymore, just pots.

yep, bacon, basil and tomato sandwich, on toasted oat bran bread.

one of summer's delights.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:45 AM

There ya go Crazy Eddie, there's a downloadable pdf on that page that will tell you all you need to know. It's easy, and the end result is very gratifying too.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 11:40 AM

Yeah, Michelle, back in my comune days we planted 'um like that every year but these days I use plastic coated stranded wire between t-stakes and then let 'um run up twine... Makes it a little easier to get to the beans 'cause all ya' gotta do is walk down both sides of the row and not into the middle....

What kind of cukes are you growin'???

We planted "Sweet Slice" but, like yellow squash, ya' got check 'um every mornin' so they don't get away from ya'... They're not as tasty once they get too big...

Bread is in the little oven thawin' as we speak and so I'z just a few minutes away from that 'mater sammich...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:42 PM

Karen's favorite which she learned from her grandfather is tomato and peanut butter. Leaves me kinda' disgusted/shitty feeling but she loves them that way.

We both agree that a homegrown with your morning eggs and taters is hard to beat.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: ard mhacha
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 12:57 PM

I had my first home grown tomato to-day, Alicia Craig, for my money, the best tasting Tomato, home grown unbeatable.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st Ripe Tomater!!!....
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 01:02 PM

Not Ailsa Craig, ard?