52 Tomato Plants

How did we arrive at so many tomato plants this year?

Last year we grew 34 tomato plants and my wife thought that was a bit much. She didn't want to plant along “Alongi Row” (a patch of dirt between us and our former neighbor to our north) anymore and was shooting for about 25 tomato plants this year.

Last year I dug up the area of land in the front yard (When dug out resembled a koi pond, thus the nickname), hauled it to the back to make a raised flower bed, added mulch, compost and planting mix, then brought back as much of the dirt necessary to fill it back to the normal level. This year I simply turned the soil and added nutrients.

This year I concentrated on the back yard planting area on the north side of the property. Digging with a shovel was proving to be too cumbersome to be ready for planting season so we bought a Rototiller. We quickly Rototilled the north side of the back yard and added compost in advance of a coming storm.

By this time we had planted some tomatoes in the front yard and had acquired some seedlings from seed as well. However, the batch of seedlings grown from seed was mostly wiped out. We lost a couple more due to broken stems just after planting.

Both my wife and I acquired a flat of tomatoes for volunteering at Tomatomania. A flat consists of 16 tomato plants. Originally, we planned to draw from our “stash” to give about 10 plants to my mother in law. But a friend who also volunteered told us it was okay to draw from his plants, as he wasn't planting any this year.

So we kept our 32 tomatoes and earlier this month I we began to plant them. By the time we found room for most all of them, our seed grower came back with a second batch of seedlings! We were unprepared for a second batch and had already emotionally committed to planting the rest of our Tomatomania seedlings.

And that's how we've ended up with 52 tomato plants.

2008 Back Yard Tomato Links

Kimberly

<http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_small.html>

<http://backyardgardener.com/gp/Vendors/TomatoFest_com/All_Tomato_Varieties/Kimberly-Tomato_Seed.html>

Salisaw Cafe

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Salisaw_Cafe_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0440f.htm>

<http://www.mariseeds.com/2005catalog/cherries.html>

Stupice

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Stupice_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0473.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Sioux

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Sioux_p/tf-0555.htm>

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/cgi-bin/LQitem.pl?4242A>

Black Krim

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Black_Krim_p/tf-0063.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Carbon

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Carbon_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0099.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Black Plum Paste

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Black_Plum_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0064.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Polish Pastel

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Polish_Pastel_p/tf-0398.htm>

<http://www.nextag.com/Polish-Pastel-Tomato-5-557022967/prices-html>

Purple Russian

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Purple_Russian_p/tf-0407.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Zhezha

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Zhezha_p/tf-0542.htm>

<http://backyardgardener.com/gp/Vendors/TomatoFest_com/Tomato_Varieties_By_.1/Pink_Tomatoes/Hezhou-Heirloom_Toma.html>

Arkansas Traveler

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Arkansas_Traveler_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0028.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Olga's Round Yellow Chicken

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Olga_s_Round_Yellow_Chicken_Egg_p/tf-0353.htm>

<http://www.skyfiregardenseeds.com/varieties/olga.htm>

Golden Jubilee

<http://www.neeps.com/1399.html>

<http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_orange.html>

Painted Ukrainian

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Painted_Ukrainian_p/tf-0368.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Kellogg's Breakfast

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Kelloggs_Breakfast_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0276.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Italian Market Wonder

<http://www.gourmetseed.com/heirloom_tomato_seed.0.html>

<http://www.freewebs.com/pokyheirlooms/tomatoesgm.htm>

Yellow Brandywine – Platfoot Strain

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/yellows.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoesoftexas.com/variety.asp?catid=7>

Black Cherry

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Black_Cherry_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0059.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Lime Green Salad

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Lime_Green_Salad_p/tf-0293.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

White Bush

<http://store.tomatofest.com/White_Bush_p/tf-0517.htm>

<http://www.reimerseeds.com/white-bush-tomato.aspx>

Cherokee Chocolate

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Cherokee_Chocolate_p/tf-0112.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Pierce's Pride

<http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/4945-product.html>

<http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/tomato_seeds.htm>

Jeff Davis

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Jeff_Davis_p/tf-0271.htm>

<http://www.reimerseeds.com/jeff-davis-tomato.aspx>

Aker's Plum

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Aker_s_Plum_Heirloom_Tomato_p/tf-0006.htm>

<http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/tomato-red-fruited-varieties.html>

Evan's Italian Plum

No mention of Evan's Italian Plum on the Internet.

2008 Front Yard Tomato Links

Piccolo

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Piccolo_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0380h.htm>

<http://allaboutsquarefootgardening.com/>

Lime Green Salad

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Lime_Green_Salad_p/tf-0293.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Aunt Ruby's German Green

<http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ark/aunt_rubys_tomato.html>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Green Grape

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/cgi-bin/LQitem.pl?5251A>

<http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_small.html>

Blue Fruit

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Blue_Fruit_p/tf-0071.htm>

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/black.htm>

Gregori's Altai

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Gregori_s_Altai_p/tf-0227.htm>

<http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/4949-product.html>

Black Krim

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Black_Krim_p/tf-0063.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Garden Peach

<http://www.southernexposure.com/productlist/prods/49201.html>

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Garden_Peach_p/tf-0182.htm>

Chocolate Stripes

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Chocolate_Stripes_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0115a.htm>

<http://www.tomatobabycompany.com/colors.htm>

Husky Cherry Red

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/small.htm>

<http://knapps-fresh-vegies.netfirms.com/h-red.html>

Red Currant

<http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato_other.html>

<http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.asp?item_no=S10777>

Lime Green Salad

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Lime_Green_Salad_p/tf-0293.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom_tomatoes-ah.htm>

<http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ark/radiator_charlies_tomato.html>

Snow White Cherry

<http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/vegetables/snow_white_cherry_tomato.htm>

<http://www.hortusnursery.com/catalogue/tomato.htm>

Red Yellow Cap

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Red_Yellow_Cap_p/tf-0417.htm>

<http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/4944-product.html>

Black From Tula

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Black_from_Tula_Heirloom_Tomato_p/tf-0062.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Thessaloniki

<http://www.growquest.com/tomato%20thessaloniki.htm>

<http://www.gourmetseed.com/heirloom_tomato_seed.0.html>

Paul Robeson

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Paul_Robeson_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0373.htm>

<http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/Heirloom%20-Tomato_Plants_Heirloom_Tomato%20_seeds.htm>

Big Rainbow

<http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/big-rainbow-hannas-tomato-tastings.html>

<http://www.southernexposure.com/productlist/prods/49103.html>

Jaune Flamme

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Flamme_Tomato_Seeds_p/tf-0175.htm>

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/orange.htm>

Zhezha

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Zhezha_p/tf-0542.htm>

<http://backyardgardener.com/gp/Vendors/TomatoFest_com/Tomato_Varieties_By_.1/Pink_Tomatoes/Hezhou-Heirloom_Toma.html>

Micro Tom

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/small.htm>

<http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/vegetables/micro_tom_tomato.htm>

Red Robin

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/small.htm>

<http://www.containerseeds.com/products/veggies/tomatoes.html#itemTOM104>

Prairie Fire

<http://www.tomatogrowers.com/early2.htm>

<http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/tomato-early-season-varieties.html>

Taxi

<http://www.territorialseed.com/product/1565/236>

<http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_vegetable_cultivars_tomato.htm>

Patio

<http://www.reimerseeds.com/patio-tomato.aspx>

<http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf491723.tip.html>

Old Ivory Egg

<http://store.tomatofest.com/Old_Ivory_Egg_p/tf-0348.htm>

<http://www.reimerseeds.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=TM182-10>

2008 Back Yard Tomatoes

Kimberly – Planted April 8. Looked great right out of the chute. Later on, some of the leaves got a lighter color, but nothing severe. Looks good, but it's only been in the ground for 15 days.

Salisaw Cafe – Planted March 23 from seed. Probably the best looking plant we have from seed so far. The plant is about to take off, though it'll be slower because it's sitting underneath a lemon tree.

Stupice -- Planted April 6. Looks good and has some new growth but hasn't risen much.

Sioux – Planted April 3 from seed. Plant looks good, has grown and gotten some breadth. We're going to cut back a bush to get it some more late afternoon sun.

Black Krim – Planted April 6. I'm surprised that my wife wanted this in the back as opposed to Black From Tula, which we haven't grown before. Nevertheless, the plant looks healthy and has grown.

Carbon – Planted April 6. See Black Krim.

Black Plum Paste – Planted April 8. Looks good.

Polish Pastel – Planted April 8. From what I remember, it looks similar to the rest. May be a bit wispy, but nothing that's an issue.

Purple Russian – Planted April 6. Plant was wispy and pale when we acquired it, though it did well for a couple days. Since then, though, it's regressed. The plant's leaves don't look good and it's not supporting itself well. Last night, I noticed strange holes around the plant, like they were wormholes or something. They weren't there when I watered it earlier in the day. Cutworms? My wife checked and couldn't find any.

We may lose this one. We're watching it closely.

Zhezha – Planted March 23 from seed. Planted started off just fine but has since regressed as well. Broken leaves and no new growth in a while leave me concerned about this. This plant is still smaller today than the Tomatomania plants planted two weeks ago.

Like Purple Russian, We may lose this one.

Arkansas Traveler – Planted April 6. The every-other-day sprinkler is hitting this plant and several of the next ones. Plant looks okay so far, though.

Olga's Round Yellow Chicken -- Planted April 6. This plant may be slightly behind the other Tomatomania plants but still looks good and healthy.

Golden Jubilee -- Planted April 6. Plant has grown since planting, though it may have gotten a tad wispy in the process. Still looks like a good one.

Painted Ukrainian -- Planted: April 8. When planted, this one looked a lot like Purple Russian, very long, pale and wispy. This one is doing better than Purple Russian and seems happy.

Kellogg's Breakfast – Planted April 9. Looks good and healthy, especially for having only been in the ground for two weeks.

Italian Market Wonder – Planted April 9. This plant had the best color for the first week of it's life in the ground, but seems to have lost some of that since it's grown. Looks a little wispy now, but it's fine, healthy and growing.

Yellow Brandywine – Platfoot Strain – Planted April 14. I told my wife that this plant looks like it will be our “Jeff Davis” of last year. Big frondy leaves, good dark green color and growing. Looks good and looks like it'll get real big. Only trouble – we unexpectedly found Jeff Davis on Sunday.

Black Cherry – Planted April 14. Looks small right now but it's also next to Yellow Brandywine. Otherwise, it's fine.

Lime Green Salad – Planted April 27, 2008.

White Bush – Planted April 14. Looks good, good color.

Cherokee Chocolate -- Planted April 14. Looks fabulous for having only been in the ground for nine days. I think it's as big as Radiator Charlie, if not bigger.

Pierce's Pride – Planted April 21. Looks fine for two days in the ground.

Jeff Davis – Planted April 21. See Pierces' Pride.

Aker's Plum – Planted April 25, 2008.

Evan's Italian Plum – Planted April 15. Long, pale and wispy like Purple Russian and Painted Ukranian. Still wispy, but it looks like it's grown just a bit.

2008 Front Yard Tomatoes

So far in our front yard is:

Piccolo – Planted April 27, 2008.

Lime Green Salad – Planted April 27, 2008.

Aunt Ruby's German Green – Planted March 22, looks good and strong. Appears to have started to “take off”.

Green Grape – Planted March 27, good color but looks a little thin.

Blue Fruit – Planted April 3 from seed. This plant is the furthest behind but it looks like it'll make it. The question is, will it get large enough and fruit before the searing summer kicks in?

Gregori's Altai – Planted April 6 and already growing. Looks good.

Black Krim – Planted April 26, 2008.

Garden Peach – Planted March 1, looks good and taking off. If I looked closer I may see tomatoes on it.

Chocolate Stripes – Planted April 3 from seed. Looks better than Blue Fruit at this point but the same questions remain.

Husky Cherry Red – Planted March 1, looks good and strong. And as I found out this morning, there are tomatoes growing on it.

Red Currant – Planted March 1. Amazingly, this plant is about four feet tall and we're not even out of April. Dozens of tomatoes on it for sure (granted, it's a small tomato even for a cherry tomato). If I looked closer I'd probably say there's over a hundred on it. But for now, let's just say it's going like gangbusters.

Lime Green Salad – Planted April 26, 2008.

Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter – Planted March 29. The plant is starting to get some breadth, if not much height. Looks like it's about to take off.

Snow White Cherry – Planted April 6. See Radiator Charlie.

Red Yellow Cap – Planted April 6. My wife was very concerned about this one, noting damage at the stem. I'm happy to report that the plant appears just fine, and is growing.

Black From Tula – Planted April 6. Lots of breadth, if not height as of yet, but fully healthy.

Thessaloniki – Greek tomato plant put in the “koi pond” in honor of our neighbor across the street. In terms of height and breadth it may be marginally behind the others but still falls in to the strong, vigorous category.

Paul Robeson – Planted April 6 and looks good. See Snow White Cherry.

Big Rainbow – Planted March 15. It's about 18 to 24 inches tall, doing a slow rise, but looks good. Is it building to a crescendo or just slow? This plant takes a long time to mature. Time will tell.

Jaune Flamme – Planted April 6. Of the plants in the front planted on the sixth of April, this plant got the quickest start. Others have caught up to it in height and breadth but it's still a happy plant.

Zhezha (in a container) – Planted March 22 from seed. Looks good, but seems a bit slow if it's going to mature in 69 days. Seemed to have a bit of a growth spurt a couple of weeks ago, hope it continues.

Micro Tom (in a container) – Planted April 6. Novelty tomato. Looks like you need to feed it with an eyedropper. It has grown a tad to get it off of the ground and has a new bloom or two. Normally I'd take these off but this plant is so tiny (it can fit into the palm of your hand, it's about the size of an egg) I'll let it be.

Red Robin (in a container) – Planted April 6. Another novelty tomato but not as severely small as Micro Tom. Looks like it hasn't changed size at all since planting, but my wife noticed a tomato on it, so it must be doing well.

Prairie Fire (in a container) – Planted April 6. Looks good and healthy and has grown, but I'd like to see it less thin than it is. It's way to early to worry, just a note to keep an eye on it.

Taxi (in a container) – Planted March 15. Looks fabulous. Great green color in the leaves. Has five tomatoes on it and two of them are significant, maybe an inch in diameter.

Patio (in a container) – Planted February 26. Has a few tomatoes on it, with one of a significant size, about ¾ of an inch.

Last Sunday, my wife and I went to visit her mother. We planted their tomatoes in the 95 degree heat of San Juan Capistrano (very unusual weather for this time for this community). Trouble was, when we looked at Patio after we got home, it looked like it got fried in the direct sun.

We've moved it so it can “hide” behind Taxi in the heat of the late afternoon sun, gave it some extra fertilizer and some water. Later on, I used shredded paper as a mulch on this and other container tomatoes. The plant has recovered a bit, but I can't say it's fully recovered.