2011 Tomatoes! Wha'cha growin'?!

Most of my beds are 2x8 or 2x10, to maximize trellis squares. Basically, I have the boxes lining the fence. Don't worry about shade here.

If all goes well with box-building, I will have 4-3x3's, 1 3x5, and 3 4x6's. I am using the north edge of each (3's and 4's) for the 'maters.

TC

So far, I've planted three short-season types (in hopes of getting some early tomatoes): Gregori's Altai, Glacier and Slava. Thought I had all the tomato seeds needed for this year (to be planted next week): Brandywine, Tim's Black Ruffles, Federle (paste-type), Longkeeper ('nuff said), and a new one: Julia Child. Then I went in to Uwajimaya (best oriental grocery in both Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR) and found seed for Momotaro. Should be a great experiment in ethnic tomatoes, what? If you're on the West Coast and in either Seattle or Portland, seek out Uwajimaya; in the fresh fruit/veggie area, we found Japanese sweet potatoes! Heavenly, grated, made into patties, and fried in a bit of olive oil, both sides. This sweet potato is so sweet, it forms a patty without additional binding ingredient (like egg), and is spectacular with a simple sage-garlic browned butter sauce. Dang, drooled on my keyboard again.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/uwajimaya-beaverton

"Tough-Boys" (Momataro's) are probably one of the (physically) most attractive tomatos you can grow. Taste is pretty good (for a hybrid) ....... but they aren't as "meaty" as something like a Porters Pride. However, tough-boys just "look like a tomato should look" IMHO.

Probably my second-favorite hybrid, behind Homestead.

Very resillent and easy to grow ..... and the 70-80 day maturity is a very nice aspect

acara wrote:IMHO

I am a texting/slang dummy - what does IMHO mean?

TC

In My Humble Opinion

Nonna, have you grown Longkeepers before? I grew them one year and they were hard and tasteless. I'm not sure if it was our growing year, or maybe they just aren't meant for our hot summers. My friend in Arkansas had the same results, and we joked that the reason they keep so long is that no one wants to eat them.

I'm growing lots of new tomatoes this year along with some old favorites - it's an experiment year for us to find the best varieties for our climate. I'll let you know later which ones of these were winners.

Hillbilly or Flame, Great White, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Green Grape, Yellow Cherry, Djena Lee's Golden, Ignole Liscio, Monomakh's Hat, Thessaloniki, Mountain Fresh, Rutgers, Jersey Giant, Sweet 100, Fox Cherry, Champagne Cherry, Chocolate Stripe, Royal Chico, Tropic, Yellow Pear, Arkansas Traveler, Missouri Pink Love Apple, Henderson's Pink Ponderosa, and Henderson's Crimson.

dizzygardener wrote:In My Humble Opinion

Yep ....

Sorry for the acronyms .....not my first offense

It could also mean In My Honest Opinion, which in my case is too often true, I tend to offer up my opinion when it's not asked for. But then IMHO, if you don't want to know, don't ask....

Acara and Anders, thanks so much for the input on Longkeeper (cracked me up) and Momotaro. No, I've not grown either one before, but will be interested in how they do: first, in Western Oregon's wet spring/dry August climate; second, under SFG-inspired techniques. Momotaro appears to be a Japanese tomato, so I thought it might be compatible. My all-time favorite is the Brandywine, but some years it just doesn't get enough heat here, hence my flirting with new (to me) Russian short-season tomatoes. Wish me luck, and I'll send positive thoughts for juicy 'maters your way, too!

dizzygardener wrote:In My Humble Opinion

Thanks! Some I can figure out - like LOL, ROFL, OMG...but I definitely need help beyond that. I am guessing that IMO is In My Opinion. I have seen that one as well but finally got the guts to admit my ignorance!

TC

FarmerValerie wrote:It could also mean In My Honest Opinion, which in my case is too often true, I tend to offer up my opinion when it's not asked for. But then IMHO, if you don't want to know, don't ask....

I'm excitingly growing and dying to eat:

Pantano Romanesco (an Italian heirloom)
Tigerella (stripes!)
Pink Burgandywine
Riesentraube (or Bunch of Grapes)

Now only if I could get some successful germination!

I have started:

Large Red
Cherokee Purple
Black Prince
Sophie's Choice

and a Cherry Tomato pear blend of red and yellow that is growing like gangbusters!

So far the varieties I've planted that have sprouted are:
Glacier, Gregori's Altai and Slava -- all short-season varieties
newly sprouted are: Dagma's Perfection (yellow), Federele (paste), Julia Child (pink)
Anna Russian (oxheart), Black Sea Man (early Russian), and Tim's Black Ruffles (mid-season, for flavor).
Also sprouted: a couple of baby eggplant varieties (Thai)
Now if the weather would only cooperate by turning off the rain, and giving us some sun. Right now, I'm depending on artificial lights to keep the above guys growing.

Someone mentioned ground cherries, I have a bunch of those started as well. They sounded pretty interesting. I have 2 boys that eat all my strawberries every year, I'm not sure if any of them made it into the house, so I thought it might nice to plant something else they could get excited about!

Last Sunday evening I planted my 'mater seeds indoors, and as of today at least one seedling of each variety has sprouted. This is going to be a SAUCE making summer!

Banana Legs
Russian Big Roma
Purple Russian
Roughwood Plum
Porter's Dark Cherry

I planted double the amount of the cherries because I am splitting those seedlings with someone, and so far they have been the best sprouters. YAY!

TC

Glendale,

I am also growing ground cherries. Have you ever grown them before? The last time I saw them I was quite a bit younger, but I remember them being sweet and the jam was good.

One word of caution, do NOT let the boys eat them before they are ripe. Ground cherries are not be be eaten green. The immature fruits contain solanine, the substance that makes potatoes toxic when they turn green. When they are ripe, the husk cherries fall from the plant.
Probably won't kill ya, but you don't want them to have ookey stomachs.

If you store the "cherries" in the husk for several weeks after harvest, they get sweeter. Ground cherries keep well and can be stored for up to 3 months if left in the husk.

I haven't grown them before but I had read that. Most places seem to agree that you should wait til they fall by themselves or with a light touch. If you have to "pick" it, it was too soon! I have heard similar info about wonderberry. I planted it a month ago in peat pots but I had given up on it, but today, one finally sprouted! Apparently, they aren't too tasty right from the bush, but good as jam, but def don't pick it until it is dark in color and fully ripe or you could get green belly!

Wow. I had NO idea there are that many varieties! So, for a first-timer (living just outside of Charlotte, NC), what would you recommend as a good variety for yummy tomato sammiches? That's probably the thing I'm most looking forward to.

jazzymaddy wrote:Wow. I had NO idea there are that many varieties! So, for a first-timer (living just outside of Charlotte, NC), what would you recommend as a good variety for yummy tomato sammiches? That's probably the thing I'm most looking forward to.

Brandywines are always a good choice for slicing - they have amazing flavor.

TC

Thank you, Furbalsmom, for the groundcherry info. We will be trying a variety this year, Aunt Molly's--a golden one. We've often grown tomatillos for salsa, etc., but never groundcherries, it'll be a fun experiment. Also, we'll try a couple of garden huckelberry plants, something I've not seen or eaten in over 40 years. Back then, in a new-to-us house in Hill Country of Texas, they were already growing in the small garden behind the house. Fascinating--I'd never seen okra growing either, being an Idaho rube.

already started in our greenhouse and potted up the first time i have cherokee purples, amish paste, and abe lincolns. in a week or so i should receive seeds that i ordered from a japanese supplier and at that time i'll start some momotaru tomatoes which are slicers, and some cherry tomatoes because i can't plant cherry trees.

jazzymandy, i recommend the purples if you like something unusual, or the abe lincolns if you like something more traditional. mortgage lifters are fun too.

LOTS and Lots of ROMA's for canning and salsa. Hoping to fit in 24 plants this year.

Roma
Big Boy
Jubilee
Arkansas Traveler
Super Sweet Cherry
Jelly Bean
Early Girl
Tomatillo

Plan on lots of salsa and sauces. We will be canning for the first time this year.