ToMaTo TuEsDaY! Western mountains & high plains!

Having similar issues here!
Forty degree night temps coming too, and I can't plant a lot of stuff till I make more Mel's Mix but we're having too much Stupid windy weather around here. I've got a dining room table filled w/plants that need to get outside.

I bought two healthy-looking, large tomato plants (Champion and Arkansas Traveler) at Fred Meyer today.

Naturally, it's supposed to snow tonight/tomorrow morning, 1-3".

So, I elected to keep them, for the time being, either in the garage (night) or car (day). The latter will serve as an ersatz green house.

Meanwhile, I up-potted some seedlings I started indoors, and it appears that Big Rainbow and Beefmaster may survive. The Arkansas Traveler appears moribund.

These are horrible pics and don't do the plants any justice. And if they look like a tangled mess, it's because they are! The winds have been making this a real pain

I picked my first ripe tomato last night!   It was a Stupice.  At first I thought it was a blooming marigold    I do not see any others any where near to ripening yet.  There are lots of green ones though.

 Yay Turan!! I am watering at the mouth, can't wait to eat one of my own but I am wayyyy behind this year!

I tried growing tomatoes from seeds and it didn't work out so I bought plants from my local mom and pop garden center. I know, I cheated but time wouldn't allow me to start over. One plant I got was a Fourth of July. It already had some mini tomatoes growing. Well I got my first tomato on July 2nd and ate it before I got a picture of it. I have more green tomatoes on that plant.

I also planted 2 Super Sioux (1 has lots of flowers), 3 Super Sweet cherry (1 tomato and plenty of flowers) and 1 Big Beef (so far just a beautiful plant.

I just recently planted 2 Rio Grande Romas, and something hand labeled as Black Farm and the rest is unreadable but I grabbed two of them anyway. I have a feeling there was a language barrier and the Black Farm may be something else because I couldn't find the name "Black Farm ____" anywhere on the internet. Most of this group are doing well.

I am actually quite pleased with how my tomatoes are doing right now!

I'm a day late as usual for Tomato Tuesday...
My tomatoes are finally starting to come around. Lots of tomatoes are starting to set, but none are near ready. 
Tomato row to the north:


Next year, I am going to try planting tomatoes in every other square along the trellis.


Green zebra. The closest to being ready and my favorite!


This mass mess? Honestly, I don't know what I've got here. Someone mixed up the cups while labeling months ago ( ) so this box got all the ones I didn't have labeled. At least one is a sweet  100 and one was a "gift pack" from Totally Tomatoes, that grows some kind of conglomeration of different cherry type tomatoes.
 



Tomatoes in a bucket. Some hail and flea beetle damage to the foliage.


Nother bucket shot. The sheathing in the back is where my 11 yr old son practices "knapping". He's working on making arrowheads from glass now, before moving on to flint.   (shameless plug for my boy  )




Tomatoes don't seem to mind growing in buckets or weeds  These tomatoes were the puny ones I chose not to put in my boxes and again, I'm not sure what these are exactly, but they are growing like mad!

Those are looking good Rooster. I can't believe all that green and no sign of diseases. Great job. My tomatoes are dropping dead from diseases faster than I can dig them up and dispse of them.

Rooster, I'm jealous of all that room for gardening! Everything looks so healthy and fruitful.

I am loving watching the cherry tomatoes this year.  The blossoms start all coiled up in a spiral


They slowly uncoil as the buds open and the flowers bloom


Producing at last a strand of fruits.


  aint that the coolest thing or what! 

I am also excited watching these Striped Romans.  They are a paste tomato.

Beautiful plants and maters!

Gilbertie







 

Oh Baby! They be looking good. They like lots water too. Well done RoOsTeR.

Thank you camp! These tomatoes love to climb and spread out don't they? I think I may have done them a disservice by planting one per square along the trellis. And yes, I've noticed they LOVE to drink!

I have tried growing them one per and one every other square. They prefer every other square. The first year I grew these they got over 10' tall and needed propping or crop the top.

Thanks for the tips camp. I've come to realize that all my tomatoes would probably do better with more stretching room. Not to mention easier to prune!

I think I need to try those Gilberties next year! 

Tricia, how are the July 4th tomatoes continueing to do?  They are another I want to try because you had them ripening SO early!

At last I found some Cuore di Bue tomatoes!  They were the last to set fruit which puts them in the question zone for next year but they still have time to prove themselves.



My usual plan is to heavily prune branches and roots on August 1rst to shock everyone to get with the ripening.  I am wondering if I have to do that this year with such a better insulated and sealed greenhouse.  It has windows and doors that close    I probably will anyways though, maybe they can do a second flush of growth and fruiting into October but I am very tired of waiting for ripe tomatoes.



 As you can see I am experimenting with stringing some tomatoes.  I like camprn's set up with compostable twine.  Such easy clean up that would be.  So far I am liking the stringing but I like the cages too once set up.

I can send you some seed for next year Turan!!

I don't know if I'm late for last Tuesday, or early for next Tuesday  
Anyways...

Sweet 100's that are or have turned into my garden snack. Very few make it to the house.
I think these will become a standard for me from now on. I have absolutely loved them!

Black krims are taking their sweet time, but they are getting close. I'm guessing by end of next week, these will be mater sandwiches.



Another favorite. Green zebra! One was ready last night. It had no chance and disappeared quickly. There are PLENTY more where it came from though.
As you can see, I have flea beetles hitting the leaves. The focus on the lower parts and while not the most attractive, the plants are fine. 

I also snack on those Sweet Millions (I assume they are related to Sweet 100s)  and Golden Nuggets.  When i feel very loving I bring some in to share.  Maybe later in the season I will be more generous:lol:

Those Green Zebras look intriguing, how do they taste?  A bit more like a tomatillas? 

I just found 3 beautiful big ripe Big Beefs!  They were on the back and low down so hidden.  I also found 2 ripe Black Russians.  Last year the Purple Cherokees beat all the other big slicers and this year they still need one more week.  I am really glad to see that the tomato season is starting to get going.  Oddly the first fruits are all on the un pruned harder to reach plants.

cheyannarach wrote:I can send you some seed for next year Turan!!

 ooooo!!!  Please!  Thanks!

How are your plants after that storm?

Turan wrote:Tricia, how are the July 4th tomatoes continueing to do?  They are another I want to try because you had them ripening SO early.

They are small tomatoes but they sure foot the bill for being tasty and extremely early!  I saw the plant at my garden center and they already had a few tomatoes growing on it.  I just had to get it!  I will definitely get another plant next year!  The Fourth of July tomato plant did very good in the heat of the summer, it blossomed and set fruit.  I have been getting one at a time then days or a week before another ripens, but it looks like it is producing more tomatoes now that the weather is cooling down a little.  I cut up one today and had a bacon and tomato sandwich.

Absolutely beautiful tomatoes guys!

Tomatoes are starting to ripen at a pretty good pace!

Gilbertie



Black krim


Black krim sampled by chicken


I honestly don't know what kind this is. ..


My favorite, green zebras


Sweet 100's growing like weeds. I can no longer keep up just munching them in the garden.