Tomatoes everywhere!

Hi, Karen, Thomas, and chealee ooi! Welcome to my blog, and thanks for following!

Crap, why did I plant 18 tomato plants? Oh yeah....it was Granny's harvest total that made me do it! I wish Lin was here, because he would give me some much needed help in prepping these things for sauce and salsa. I'm gonna have to take a photo of the frozen tomatoes later, because it's alot! Sadly though, I don't know what will be done with the tomatoes that are picked before we leave for the beach. I'll just have to take them to my parents, and let them deal with them while we're gone. Anyway, here are some of the tomatoes on the vines right now.....

Photo below - here are some roma tomatoes that are on the newest plants in the small pots by the old playhouse. You know something? I really didn't expect anything from these plants, because the pots are only like....3 gallon. Surprisingly though, they are doing as well as the other plants so far. I'll definitely be planting in them again next year.

Photo below - I love it when they form like this one, because they're really meaty. These are a joy to prep for saucemaking, because they are much easier to do than the little ones, as I have pretty big hands.

Photo below - I always pick them when they get this color, and they turn completely red in a couple of days. I used to let them completely ripen on the vine, but noticed more damage was done to them by caterpillars as they ripen, and the radial cracking of the fruit is more abundant.

Photos below - these next 3 are Brandywine and Cherokee Purple, which have performed quite well for me this year. The Mortgage Lifter and Big Boy have been less than impressive, though.

As stated in an earlier post, I'll let the plants go as long as they'll produce something for me, even though the quality of fruit is slowly diminishing. That's ok - this year's crop has been successful already, and has provided me with enough tomatoes to achieve the intended goal. (Have enough to make sauce and salsa with)

Even though the tomato growing season continues for me, I can't help but feel really bad for my gardening friends in the Northeast. Late blight really did a number on their plants, as it spread throughout the states like a plague. I feel very fortunate......

Well, tomorrow is when we leave for the beach, so I will be away from the blog until the middle of next week. I'll take plenty of photos and videos of our adventures, and may be in a few, as well. Some rain is forecast almost everyday we'll be there, but that's fine with me. I don't care anything about laying out in the sun - that's for girls! Ha! Just waking up every morning to the sound of waves hitting the beach is enough for me, because it sure does provide a sense of serenity. Me and the wife will scour the shoreline each morning for seashells while the boys sleep in, and enjoy some adult beverages on the balcony each evening. I can't wait.....

Oh! My 17 year old son Chance will pick the garden for me while we're gone, and I know he will do a good job of tending to it (as long as I call to remind him!) Believe me....I know a garden is the last thing on his mind right now...Ha!

Take care, and happy gardening!


EG