New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: David Reaves Austin, TX (Zone 8b)      david_reaves Jun 5, 2010 6:30 AM CST |
| I picked 4 ripe tomatoes off my Early Girl plants this morning. They aren't all that pretty, but I'm sure they will be tasty. They are the first full-sized tomatoes of the year. The first ones always taste much better than store-bought, even if they aren't perfect. There are a couple of Jet Star tomatoes that are also showing some blush. Sweet Million and Sungold cherries are both in full production. Sophie's Choice have been disappointing...not many tomatoes showing and none at all ripening--it was supposed to be my earliest variety! The other early variety I have is Bush Beefsteak. It has quite a bit of fruit, but nothing turning on it, either. David |
    Patti1957 Jun 5, 2010 8:32 AM CST |
| I am so jealous! When do you plant your tomatoes? |
Name: David Reaves Austin, TX (Zone 8b) david_reaves Jun 5, 2010 2:22 PM CST |
| These were planted the 1st weekend of March, using "season starters" or wall-o-water. The rest of the tomatoes were started the 1st weekend of April. I could have planted the main season about a week earlier, but had scheduling conflicts. David |
Name: Caroline Scott Calgary (Zone 4a)            CarolineScott Jun 5, 2010 8:43 PM CST |
| I am having a major zone envy! Sophie's Choice is a Canadian variety which was bred just north of here so it may be more suitable for cold climates. I have a few started and will see how they do. The tomato plants have been outside to harden for a few days. They will be planted into large outdoor pots this week. |
Name: David Reaves Austin, TX (Zone 8b) david_reaves Jun 5, 2010 9:17 PM CST |
| Patti & Caroline, Just think about us in Texas while you are picking tomatoes all through July and August. Here in central Texas, the tomato season is just about finished by the end of June. If I'm lucky I will get some into mid July. We are already having temperatures in the high 90's. Only 96 degrees today! |
Name: Arlene Marshall Twin Lakes, IA & Orange, CA Zone 4B   TwinLakesChef Jun 6, 2010 5:24 AM CST |
| I notice that in posts from Texans but there's just somthing really special about the first tomato. |
Name: David Reaves Austin, TX (Zone 8b) david_reaves Jun 7, 2010 11:12 AM CST |
| Picked first "Sophie's Choice", "Bush Beefsteak", and an early-planted "Phoenix" today. Also picked several more "Early Girls" and 2-3 pounds of Sweet Million and Sungold. A tomato sandwich is in my immediate future! The Bush Beefsteak plants are suffering from the heat...leaves are crisping in the +90-degree weather. David |
Name: Arlene Marshall Twin Lakes, IA & Orange, CA Zone 4B TwinLakesChef Jun 7, 2010 11:26 AM CST |
| Oh, sorry about the heat. I start all my tomatoes from seed and Sungold is just forming buds on the plant that is at the farm. Here is my upside down tomato planter.  |
Name: Arlene Marshall Twin Lakes, IA & Orange, CA Zone 4B TwinLakesChef Jun 7, 2010 11:29 AM CST |
| The little seedling I grow don't do well in this planter so this year I bought some at the greenhouse that are a little larger. The Sungold hanging down under has bloomed and is setting tomatoes. I guess if I want tomatoes earlier in the summer, I am going to have to buy some more mature plants at the nursery.  |
Name: Linda SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a) "Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"      Gymgirl Jun 11, 2010 10:54 AM CST |
| My coworker brought this in Wednesday. She grew it from a seedling that I grew from seeds. I have several co-workers growing seedlings I started. It's "the Dutchman." Tried to convince her to let it ripen on the vine. But, her DH had shown it to every visitor, and they got scared someone would double back and pick it! Or, some animal would mangle it. So, they had fried green tomato! She said it was delicious!  My Blog: Fall/Winter 2011 Veggie Garden My Cubits: Bucket Gardening! **Beginner Vegetable Growers **Growing Veggies By Zone ** |
4paws Jun 13, 2010 11:59 AM CST |
| Wow, huge tomato! This was (it's been eaten) the first tomato on May 17 - an Early Girl, which was planted in the ground on March 23.  |
4paws Jun 13, 2010 12:03 PM CST |
| June 7 I harvested these tomatoes, etc., and yesterday a few more to make some salsa. David, do the plants just wither and die in the heat, or just stop setting fruit? The tomatoes in this are Black Cherry, Isis Candy, Wild Cherry, and Roma.  |
| Patti1957 Jun 13, 2010 12:07 PM CST |
| Oh.......... Laura, did you make salsa? I am soooooooo jealous. Your Early Girl looks great and those cherry tomatoes and peppers have got me drooling all over myself! |
4paws Jun 13, 2010 12:19 PM CST |
| yep...but it's REALLY REALLY HOT! I roasted it, then dehydrated it - just a small batch. I figure I can add it to more tomatoes for regular salsa, or soup or beans or whatever...but what I was hoping would happen is that I'd be able to grind it up somehow and make a powdered seasoning for table use. I've got work to do on that concept. The finished product seems too leathery to grind up. Maybe longer in the dehydrator. |
| Patti1957 Jun 13, 2010 12:25 PM CST |
| Yea, it sounds like it may have too much moisture in it if it is leathery. But it sounds yummy to me, leathery or not! |
4paws Jun 13, 2010 12:32 PM CST |
| That texture was good for dehyrated tomato sauce, and good if for just salsa/seasoning. Maybe I'll just dry the chilies fresh and coarsly chopped (with other stuff) and skip the tomatoes next time to get the seasoning. All this talk of tomatoes..I just picked and ate one, warm and yummy. |
| Patti1957 Jun 13, 2010 1:01 PM CST |
NO FAIR  I know that it looks like the little guy is rolling on the floor laughing, but in this instance it represents me rolling on the floor crying and throwing a fit because I don't have tomatoes YET! |
4paws Jun 13, 2010 1:46 PM CST |
| I really don't blame you, and there should be a little guy crying is eyes out on all things plants....I'm sorry. I was gloating just a little. I'm pleased and hoping it's not beginner's luck. |
Name: David Reaves Austin, TX (Zone 8b) david_reaves Jun 14, 2010 7:07 AM CST |
| I'm having the best luck with Jet Star, Big Beef, and the cherries Sweet Million and Sungold so far. I'm having some trouble with blossom-end rot on some of the early tomatoes on other plants. I guess the water wasn't consistent enough. Still waiting for my first Black from Tula and first Kellogg's Breakfast. |
Name: Paul Allen Park, MI (Zone 6a)       paulgrow Jun 15, 2010 4:29 PM CST |
| I envy all of you folks in the south, your maters come 4-6 weeks earlier than most of us up north. Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. ~Author Unknown |
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