Anticipation for the season (with Pics)

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 3, 2015

My season is gearing up here in CA, seeds have been started, grow lists finalized. To help with the agony of waiting and to pass the time I started to browse through some of last years photos and thought Id share some. Figured Im still pretty new as well so this might help reaqauint myself. Hope you enjoy.

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 3, 2015

A few harvest shots and can't forget the BEES!!!

Sun City Linda · February 3, 2015

Beautiful, thanks for posting. Tell us about the bees...

Ed of Somis · February 3, 2015

are those "Yellow Pear" tomatoes? I am getting mixed messages on their eating quality.

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 3, 2015

Linda - This will be our 4th year with the bees, kinda started on a whim. Bought a basic kit and bees the first year. Successfully harvested our own honey the 2nd year, and sucesfully completed a hive split the 3rd. We are up to 2 hives and will be adding a 3rd this year. Completley self taught and have been learning as we go. Pollination in the garden and bee activity is through the roof. Needless to say it has been fun.

Ed- these are actually SUPPOSED to be Sweet Beverly from wild boar farms. Last year was my 3rd year growing them and these ended up much larger and darker than what I'm used to. The lighter frosted yellow ones are more typical of the variety, still the shape was off for me. Taste wasn't even comparable to the Sweet Beverly I'm used to. I'm trying Honey Drops for my "yellow pear" tomato this year.

Sun City Linda · February 3, 2015

Thanks HGC, bees are very cool. It is my understanding that the Sweet Beverly seeds were provided to Brad at Wild Boar Farms by the breeder. I have seen postings that it was not stable when it was claimed to be. Don't know, never grew it myself.

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

Thanks HGC, bees are very cool. It is my understanding that the Sweet Beverly seeds were provided to Brad at Wild Boar Farms by the breeder. I have seen postings that it was not stable when it was claimed to be. Don't know, never grew it myself.

The bees are fascinating, has really been a fun addition to the garden.
As far as Sweet Beverly I did read about its possible instability after our first year of growing it. It was extremely tasty the first two years so I decided to stay with it. What's funny is I had both the darker yellow and the lighter frosty yellow from the same seeds. It wasn't even close to resembling the original I had in taste or shape. So on to the next!

PhilaGardener · February 3, 2015

Is that a drone in front of the queen in your last picture? Nifty they are doing well for you!

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

Is that a drone in front of the queen in your last picture? Nifty they are doing well for you!

No queen in those pictures...she is much much larger. That's just a big drone. We have had tremendous success/luck with it our first few years.

Salt- believe it or not most all of my photos are taken on a smart phone. Some are filtered, some arent. Just got lucky and really close.

Curious where you got your Medovaya Kaplya? They go by the name honey Drops too and I am growing them this year as well. Got mine from Casey's Heirlooms.

AlittleSalt · February 3, 2015

Those are wonderful pictures. The bees really catch my attention. Looks professional.

I've been looking at a lot of smaller yellow pear shaped tomatoes. I've started several varieties this year. Many have really good reviews. Chang Li, Hssiao His Hung Shih, and Medovaya Kaplya are ones I can think of right now.

AlittleSalt · February 4, 2015

The third picture, my wife and I are curious about what those tomatoes are? I like the way they look different (In a good way) and she said, "Those aren't tomatoes" lol

I got my Medovaya Kaplya seeds from a Tomatoville member. I'm growing Chang Li because another Tomatoville member sent seeds to me. The Hssiao His Hung Shih came from two other Tville members via the MMMM.

Hunt-Grow-Cook · February 4, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

The third picture, my wife and I are curious about what those tomatoes are? I like the way they look different (In a good way) and she said, "Those aren't tomatoes" lol

I got my Medovaya Kaplya seeds from a Tomatoville member. I'm growing Chang Li because another Tomatoville member sent seeds to me. The Hssiao His Hung Shih came from two other Tville members via the MMMM.

The pointed striped ones? Those were Streak Lightning from Wild Boar Farms. I actually just updated a thread on TV about them the other day. They did really well last year, productive, early, and tasty. And cool looking to boot. Although I did get the occasional heart shape. In the picture with the plywood near the top left corner is a bunch that started ripening. I'll see if I can find a pic of some fully ripe.

Rairdog · February 4, 2015

Awesome pics! Your bees and toms look very healthy. I just started a top bar hive last year and am learning. It was a cheap easy way to get started and made from scraps I had on hand.

guruofgardens · February 4, 2015

Love the pictures of the bees. My dad had 2 hives and guess who was lucky enough to help him! I loved watching them work so hard. We even sold block s of honey comb on a tiny table in front of the house. And . . guess who was lucky enough to do that?!?

I wish we could raise bees here, but the covenants forbid it.

Salt - the Hssiao His Hung Shih are yellow grape sized tomatoes and are really sweet! My daughter 'demands' that I grow them again in 2015.

DapsSeeds · February 4, 2015

Lovely pics, amazing tomatoes. Would love to keep bees myself someday.

February 3, 2015	#5
Hunt-Grow-Cook Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 360	Linda - This will be our 4th year with the bees, kinda started on a whim. Bought a basic kit and bees the first year. Successfully harvested our own honey the 2nd year, and sucesfully completed a hive split the 3rd. We are up to 2 hives and will be adding a 3rd this year. Completley self taught and have been learning as we go. Pollination in the garden and bee activity is through the roof. Needless to say it has been fun. Ed- these are actually SUPPOSED to be Sweet Beverly from wild boar farms. Last year was my 3rd year growing them and these ended up much larger and darker than what I'm used to. The lighter frosted yellow ones are more typical of the variety, still the shape was off for me. Taste wasn't even comparable to the Sweet Beverly I'm used to. I'm trying Honey Drops for my "yellow pear" tomato this year. Last edited by Hunt-Grow-Cook; February 3, 2015 at 10:37 PM.

February 3, 2015	#3
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Beautiful, thanks for posting. Tell us about the bees...

February 3, 2015	#4
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	are those "Yellow Pear" tomatoes? I am getting mixed messages on their eating quality.

February 3, 2015	#8
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Is that a drone in front of the queen in your last picture? Nifty they are doing well for you!

February 3, 2015	#10
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Those are wonderful pictures. The bees really catch my attention. Looks professional. I've been looking at a lot of smaller yellow pear shaped tomatoes. I've started several varieties this year. Many have really good reviews. Chang Li, Hssiao His Hung Shih, and Medovaya Kaplya are ones I can think of right now.

February 4, 2015	#11
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	The third picture, my wife and I are curious about what those tomatoes are? I like the way they look different (In a good way) and she said, "Those aren't tomatoes" lol I got my Medovaya Kaplya seeds from a Tomatoville member. I'm growing Chang Li because another Tomatoville member sent seeds to me. The Hssiao His Hung Shih came from two other Tville members via the MMMM.

February 4, 2015	#13
Rairdog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Noblesville, IN Posts: 112	Awesome pics! Your bees and toms look very healthy. I just started a top bar hive last year and am learning. It was a cheap easy way to get started and made from scraps I had on hand.

February 4, 2015	#14
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Love the pictures of the bees. My dad had 2 hives and guess who was lucky enough to help him! I loved watching them work so hard. We even sold block s of honey comb on a tiny table in front of the house. And . . guess who was lucky enough to do that?!? I wish we could raise bees here, but the covenants forbid it. Salt - the Hssiao His Hung Shih are yellow grape sized tomatoes and are really sweet! My daughter 'demands' that I grow them again in 2015.

February 4, 2015	#15
DapsSeeds Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Drenthe, The Netherlands Posts: 75	Lovely pics, amazing tomatoes. Would love to keep bees myself someday.