Monday, June 13, 2011
Learning How To Harvest Matt's Wild Cherry
Saturday's harvest: 2 Matt's Wild Cherry
I harvested 2 Matt's Wild Cherry at the bottom of the plant. They were dark red underneath the plant, but the color was orange-red after I brought them in the light. No big deal. I'll put them on the counter and let them ripen for another day.
Pineapple now has a tomato.
My wife let me know that she purchased Sweet 100 as a replacement for our Negro Azteca. Negro Azteca was very gray and clearly did not look like it would provide any fruit.
I noticed that a Bloody Butcher and a Black Cherry tomato is maturing.
Sunday's harvest: Matt's Wild Cherry.
After harvesting a bit too quickly with a couple of tomatoes, I brought a flashlight with me today. I looked at the bottom of the plant, found a dark red one, harvested it and it looked orange-red when out from under the plant. Not quite ready yet.
Oh well.
My wife planted Sweet 100. We spent a lot of time deep watering the front and back yard tomatoes. We did not complete the watering in either yard, however.
A Golden Mama tomato is maturing.
Today's harvest: SunGold
I saw similarly maturing Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes that this time I left on the vine!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Harvested Matt's Wild Cherry
Today's harvest: 2 SunGold, Matt's Wild Cherry
There are more Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes maturing. Within a couple of days we should be harvesting this tomato every day for some time to come. Several Quedlinburger Fruehe Liebe tomatoes are maturing as well.
Last evening I checked with my wife regarding the container plant with a new tomato on it. I thought it was Aunt Ruby's German Green(1) and she verified it.
I had to use a stake this morning on one of the plants underneath the lemon tree. I'm already constricted in my manuevering through these plants because they are simply thriving. I can only imagine trying to navigate my way through this area 60 days from now.
Every plant in the "corner office" has growing tomatoes. I believe every container plant has growing tomatoes. Every plant in the "Middle East" (the area around our eastern fence which traditionally has not done well for tomatoes, where we harvest asphalt and rocks when planting) has tomatoes. Every plant in the south garden has tomatoes.
The "koi pond" has two plants without tomatoes. The area by the lemon tree in the back yard has one plant without a tomato. The three plants look healthy and it's just a matter of time before they show tomatoes.
Three of the four plants in the backyard cutout appear to be too weak to support tomatoes. The fourth -- Black From Tula -- was planted on May 15. It's too early to tell if it will get tomatoes but it is a good sign that I do see a bloom on it.
There are more Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes maturing. Within a couple of days we should be harvesting this tomato every day for some time to come. Several Quedlinburger Fruehe Liebe tomatoes are maturing as well.
Last evening I checked with my wife regarding the container plant with a new tomato on it. I thought it was Aunt Ruby's German Green(1) and she verified it.
I had to use a stake this morning on one of the plants underneath the lemon tree. I'm already constricted in my manuevering through these plants because they are simply thriving. I can only imagine trying to navigate my way through this area 60 days from now.
Every plant in the "corner office" has growing tomatoes. I believe every container plant has growing tomatoes. Every plant in the "Middle East" (the area around our eastern fence which traditionally has not done well for tomatoes, where we harvest asphalt and rocks when planting) has tomatoes. Every plant in the south garden has tomatoes.
The "koi pond" has two plants without tomatoes. The area by the lemon tree in the back yard has one plant without a tomato. The three plants look healthy and it's just a matter of time before they show tomatoes.
Three of the four plants in the backyard cutout appear to be too weak to support tomatoes. The fourth -- Black From Tula -- was planted on May 15. It's too early to tell if it will get tomatoes but it is a good sign that I do see a bloom on it.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Volunteers In The Raised Bed
Today's harvest: None
One SunGold, perhaps two, will be ready tomorrow along with a Matt's Wild Cherry. More Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes are beginning to mature.
I was going to report that another container plant has a tomato but I first need to do some checking as to which plant it is.
By my count I have 9 plants left without tomatoes.
Our second volunteer in the raised bed continues to grow. If it continues to grow and get flowers, I'll have to add it to our list.
Now that I mentioned it, I believe we now have four volunteer tomato plants in one of our raised beds. One has tomatoes -- the tomatoes look good but the plant doesn't. Another volunteer sprung up in the exact same spot as this volunteer. The plant looks great but has no tomatoes yet. Since they are so close -- the base of the two plants are less than a half inch apart -- I'll treat it as one volunteer plant unless the second plant produces tomatoes that are different than the other plant.
About eight feet away is a third volunteer (which I'm calling the second volunteer) about four or five inches tall and looking healthy.
And my wife spotted another volunteer just starting to grow.
One SunGold, perhaps two, will be ready tomorrow along with a Matt's Wild Cherry. More Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes are beginning to mature.
I was going to report that another container plant has a tomato but I first need to do some checking as to which plant it is.
By my count I have 9 plants left without tomatoes.
Our second volunteer in the raised bed continues to grow. If it continues to grow and get flowers, I'll have to add it to our list.
Now that I mentioned it, I believe we now have four volunteer tomato plants in one of our raised beds. One has tomatoes -- the tomatoes look good but the plant doesn't. Another volunteer sprung up in the exact same spot as this volunteer. The plant looks great but has no tomatoes yet. Since they are so close -- the base of the two plants are less than a half inch apart -- I'll treat it as one volunteer plant unless the second plant produces tomatoes that are different than the other plant.
About eight feet away is a third volunteer (which I'm calling the second volunteer) about four or five inches tall and looking healthy.
And my wife spotted another volunteer just starting to grow.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
3 More Plants With Tomatoes
Today's harvest: None.
Three more plants have tomatoes -- Coyote, Aunt Ruby's German Green(3) and Big White Pink Stripe.
A Matt's Wild Cherry is maturing along with another SunGold or two.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Where'd These Snails Come From?
Today's harvest: SunGold
No real news, except I broke another branch off of Matt's Wild Cherry that had a couple of tiny tomatoes on it. The plant itself is sprawling and my attempts to corral it have met with some failure.
On a strange note, I found about two dozen snails within about a 10 foot circle on the grass near our lemon tree. I tossed them on our roof for the birds to eat.
No new plants with tomatoes. More SunGold tomatoes are ripening.
No real news, except I broke another branch off of Matt's Wild Cherry that had a couple of tiny tomatoes on it. The plant itself is sprawling and my attempts to corral it have met with some failure.
On a strange note, I found about two dozen snails within about a 10 foot circle on the grass near our lemon tree. I tossed them on our roof for the birds to eat.
No new plants with tomatoes. More SunGold tomatoes are ripening.
Monday, June 6, 2011
2nd Tomato Harvested; 2 More Plants With Tomatoes
Today's harvest: SunGold
I've broke out the tomato tape this weekend. A few of the tomato plants have grown out the top of their cage and are sprawling out over the top of the cage. I used clear tomato tape to corral them for a bit longer. I also used tomato tape on several wayward branches that I couldn't tuck back in their cages.
Today I noticed that Neves Azorean Red and Hungarian Heart have small tomatoes. I'm especially happy to see Hungarian Heart have a tomato. Last year we grew Hungarian Heart in a pot and had no tomatoes.
Around 7 plants are turning shades of gray and showing leaf curl. We attribute this to getting too cold at night, though we're not positive that's why it's occurring.
I've broke out the tomato tape this weekend. A few of the tomato plants have grown out the top of their cage and are sprawling out over the top of the cage. I used clear tomato tape to corral them for a bit longer. I also used tomato tape on several wayward branches that I couldn't tuck back in their cages.
Today I noticed that Neves Azorean Red and Hungarian Heart have small tomatoes. I'm especially happy to see Hungarian Heart have a tomato. Last year we grew Hungarian Heart in a pot and had no tomatoes.
Around 7 plants are turning shades of gray and showing leaf curl. We attribute this to getting too cold at night, though we're not positive that's why it's occurring.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Harvested First Tomato of 2011! Two More Plants With Tomatoes
Yesterday's harvest: SunGold.
On Wednesday I noticed that Michael Pollan had two growing tomatoes. My wife completed watering the back yard tomatoes.
Last night I noticed Black Seaman(1) had a growing tomato. Also, the corner office tomato plants were watered.
The training of the tomato plants to grow tall has been going on both in the morning and in the evening. Some branches are growing an inch or more a day and there's always branches to tuck or redistribute somewhere else.
The big news is that we harvested our first tomato last night! I was surprised to see a ripe SunGold tomato. I harvested it, my wife cut it in half and we shared it. Good taste but the skin was a bit heavy.
On Wednesday I noticed that Michael Pollan had two growing tomatoes. My wife completed watering the back yard tomatoes.
Last night I noticed Black Seaman(1) had a growing tomato. Also, the corner office tomato plants were watered.
The training of the tomato plants to grow tall has been going on both in the morning and in the evening. Some branches are growing an inch or more a day and there's always branches to tuck or redistribute somewhere else.
The big news is that we harvested our first tomato last night! I was surprised to see a ripe SunGold tomato. I harvested it, my wife cut it in half and we shared it. Good taste but the skin was a bit heavy.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Four More Plants With Tomatoes; No Harvested Tomatoes In May
Last Friday I noticed that Persimmon (not the popular tomato Persimmon, but the one so named by the Tomato Lady of Beverly Hills) and Emerald Evergreen had tomatoes.
We drove to San Ramon to visit relatives. We got back Monday night to tomatoes that had grown another three to five inches! My wife watered the container plants on the patio.
At night I trained all the plants and applied fertilizer to the back yard plants. I finished fertilizing this morning.
I didn't look too carefully, but noted that Green Doctor's Kiwi(1) and Black Zebra had growing tomatoes. I staked German Orange Strawberry.
When time permits my wife will water in the tomato fertilizer today.
No tomatoes were harvested for the month of May. Last year we harvested 1 tomato, if memory serves, in May.
We drove to San Ramon to visit relatives. We got back Monday night to tomatoes that had grown another three to five inches! My wife watered the container plants on the patio.
At night I trained all the plants and applied fertilizer to the back yard plants. I finished fertilizing this morning.
I didn't look too carefully, but noted that Green Doctor's Kiwi(1) and Black Zebra had growing tomatoes. I staked German Orange Strawberry.
When time permits my wife will water in the tomato fertilizer today.
No tomatoes were harvested for the month of May. Last year we harvested 1 tomato, if memory serves, in May.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Training Plants Every Morning; 5 More Plants With Tomatoes
This week I've been getting up earlier in the morning in order to train the tomato plants.
Yesterday I noticed Husky Gold and Oaxacan Jewel(1) have tomatoes.
Today, Nyagous, Snow White and I believe Chocolate Stripes(1) (in a container on the patio) have tomatoes.
It takes about a half hour to fix all the new and growing branches every morning.
Yesterday I noticed Husky Gold and Oaxacan Jewel(1) have tomatoes.
Today, Nyagous, Snow White and I believe Chocolate Stripes(1) (in a container on the patio) have tomatoes.
It takes about a half hour to fix all the new and growing branches every morning.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thirteen More Plants With Tomatoes
The front yard plants with new tomatoes include Porkchop, German Orange Strawberry and Paul Robeson(1). The back yard plants with new tomatoes include Dr. Wyche's Yellow, Aunt Ruby's German Green (2), Oaxacan Jewel (2), Paul Robeson (2), Green Zebra (2), Large Pink Anna (1), Chocolate Stripes (2), Sweet Carneros Pink, Green Doctor's Kiwi (2) and Big Zebra.
Around 75 percent of our plants have at least one tomato on them.
The back yard was deep watered over the weekend.
All the plants had the "underbrush" cut away. I'm defining the "underbrush" as the stems that reach or potentially reach the ground. These branches could carry diseases from the soil up into the plant. It's a good idea to cut away this "underbrush" and forces the plant to concentrate the energy into more productive branches.
We put a bigger cage on Hungarian Heart and moved Green Doctor's Kiwi (2) to be with the rest of the containers on the backyard patio.
For the most part things are looking great!
Around 75 percent of our plants have at least one tomato on them.
The back yard was deep watered over the weekend.
All the plants had the "underbrush" cut away. I'm defining the "underbrush" as the stems that reach or potentially reach the ground. These branches could carry diseases from the soil up into the plant. It's a good idea to cut away this "underbrush" and forces the plant to concentrate the energy into more productive branches.
We put a bigger cage on Hungarian Heart and moved Green Doctor's Kiwi (2) to be with the rest of the containers on the backyard patio.
For the most part things are looking great!
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