Yay! I now have 11 varieties started in CA. And the girls will do the rest of the work growing them.

i hope it is not forced labor. LOL
i love these colors

It was a couple of years ago but now that they are sold on eating the tomatoes, it's no challenge at all for them. lol

Interesting . . . I was in CA in mid May and the tomatoes had been put in the ground about a week or two before I got there. They are doing fine.

The ones in Iowa were put out about three days before I left for CA. On returining home, they seem to be surpassing the CA ones. Yup . . we'll see who gets the first tomato.

I must mention that we rototilled 10 yr old horse manure into the garden plot in Iowa plus we have had some consistently hot weather with a little rain . . . the days have actually gotten hotter here than in CA. hmmmm.....

Time will tell.

Did you do that painting Arlene? it's beautiful!

I'd almost sell my 1st born for 10yr old horse manure!~

DH & I went to the farm today. Some tomatoes had been covered with the bottom of milk jugs cut out of them and were yellowing for lack of sun. We cut the top half of the bottle off today and needed to water but the hose was not available; the fellow who farms the land around the garden had big huge containers with the chemicals he will spray on his field and was using the hose to fill them.

I'll have to call him or go back out tomorrow night and haul water.

Then there were other plants covered with clear water bottles; they are even doing better and had the top already cut out of them. I took pictures but will have to post the ca & ia tomatoes. I haven't unpacked yet from the trip and the cord is somewhere in that mess!

Thanks, Melissa for letting me be here and have a place that is time stamped to post my tomato progress.

Painting? . . . no I don't paint. heart shaped tomato has been in my files for years. My avatar came in an email from someone, also years ago . . . I liked the colors and that it was a flamboyant women . . which I am not . . it feels liberating.

mmmm that plate of tomatoes looks so good!!

the photo of the tomato looked like a painting!!

Oh, now I see what you are saying. It really is not a quality pic but cute. I found my cord to my camera so will start posting some tomato pictures if that is ok. Is this the wrong thread to do that? Please direct me.

Maybe we should make a thread for pictures?

Arlene that is a wonderful picture of sliced tomatoes. It make my mouth water.

It's hard to wait for them, lynn. Melissa, it's your forum; whatever you want us to do.

Yes, we are ready to celebrate the tomato. : )

Arlene, I LOVE that plate of tomatoes!

that plate of toamtoes, some mozzerella and a little olive oil drizzled over it plus some nice hard crusted italian bread and i can die a happy man. nice pictures arelene.

A very nice plate of tomatoes and pictures.
They are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing and we would like to
see more pictures of your tomatoes.
Mine will be much later.

OH, yes

A tomato doesn't need too much; just a little tweaking. I have such a passion for them I am going to start a tomato thread at Yum but I will still be posting her.

Edited for grammer.

Arlene, just post away

You all are making me hungry now.

My celebrity tomatoes are 50 days old today, & have lots of nice size tomatoes growing. I know they are mature at 65 days, which will be on october 2. Will they ripen between now & then?