Another patio

NOID...the visiting munchers gathered up my markers and handed them to me one day. I forgot about young kids fascination with everything you want left alone.

Homestead with russet mite damage

Yellow pear

Cherokee Purple

NOID

Interesting note...my peppers are doing really well. They are planted where last years bumper tomato crop was which is a no-no. Go figure. I did give all my maters a drink of Sweet last week and there is nice new growth but the mites are going to win unless I dust with sulfer and I am reluctant to do that.

Too bad about those dang mites!!! Wish I had a good solution for you.

Will a good hose blast take care of those mites? I use the hose to blast all baddies - lol...

Lookin' good Jayne! That 1st NOID looks suspiciously like my Bloody Butcher... Are you by chance growing those?

Here's a pic of the 'mater harvest for today...

There are Steak Sandwich, Bloody Butcher, a Phoenix (the barely blushing one, lower left), Dr. Carolyn Pink (big cherry), Sun Sugar (orange), Gartenperle and I think a Pink Brandywine. Oh, and a tiny funny looking Cold Set near the top right. This is the only plant that survived out two cold December days and is now loaded with 'maters...

Ahhhhhhh, nice Kelly! A tomato tasting would be good.

Next time I come by McP I'll bring some 'maters so you can try them! It will be the luck of the draw - whatever happens to be ripe that day - lol...

okay! I'll have some to contribute too.

http://www.wintersown.org/wseo...

BTW Azoychka is Carl Seacats yellow tomato of choice and they are just ready for market according to his tweet. You can get the seeds at Wintersown for free.

Are you guys getting lots of ripe tomatoes? I have a large supply of green ones. What makes them ripen? Weather, water, hocus pocus? All of mine went in the ground Feb 20....that's nearly 120 days now.

Kelly, what's the DTM on the Phoenix tom?

Jayne, what's the DTM on the Sun Leaper (which is finally leaping but it may be too late), the Zapotec and the Mexicana?

Dan, what's the DTM on Sioux and Red Alert?

I have picked maybe a half-dozen tomatoes total, mostly Sioux and two Zapotec's. One tiny Red Alert, one Mexicana. Everything is very tasty, except for tough skins....what's up with that?

I think the Phoenix is about 65 days, but DTM is relative - to weather (temps), growing conditions (soil) and moisture (no rain - ha ha). I think the cooler spring we had just kept the plants in neutral until it got warmer. Then we go from cool to hot with no happy medium. The Phoenix and any cherry varieties should set fruit into the heat, but unless the nights stay cool what we have on the others will be what we get.

The tough skins may be the variety or a watering issue - ie: not enough water. My new watering schedule so far seems to be working, but I'm afraid I may have to step it up in the heat and deal with more cracked 'maters.

Right...DTM is relative but it is relative to growing conditions of the veggies the seeds came from, not where they are planted now.

Gonna eat the first of the Phoenix right now on some BLTs...

Here's what I had to deal with today - this sucker was about 6" long, and as you can see, fat and happy from munching on my 'maters. I've seen the evidence but so far only found little guys. Imagine my surprise (and yes, I screamed like a girl!) when I came face to face with this guy whilst harvesting 'maters...

Squish it!!!

I hate those things and scream like a girl too when I find one. What Dan said...I found a baby grasshopper the other day. He was cute but I doubt he was the only one in the 'litter'. Ugh! The hoppers are back.