Winter sources of heirlooms in western FL?

[g8shot1]

We are still flowering and setting fruit but the cold months are on my mind more and more. We've been able to can a few quarts of sauce and juice but it won't be nearly enough for what seems like a six month sentence of dark and cold. I'm really going to miss slicing up a freshly harvested black krim.

We are fortunate enough to be able to spend part of the winter in Venice, FL. Does anyone know anywhere to purchase great tasting tomatoes on the west coast of FL in the October through February timeframe? We're willing to go pretty much from Tampa to Ft Myers.

TIA,
Jim/Rose/Natasha

[Stepheninky]

St. Petersburg has a huge covered flea market that has Tomatoes.

[mjc]

Umm...why not take and root some cuttings of your favorites, and take them with you?

Cuttings will grow and fruit a bit quicker than seed and you won't have much of a 'break' if you start them now and take a couple of decent plants with you.

[g8shot1]

A rather strict association coupled with many people with alot of time on their hands prevents any attempt by me to grow them at my place.

Hmm, that does make me wonder if there is some sort of community garden going on around there, I'll check into it.

Thanks for the idea!

[beefyboy]

Get a few earthboxes and simply go get a few Home depot plants, What can be easier than that!

[g8shot1]

Originally Posted by beefyboy

Get a few earthboxes and simply go get a few Home depot plants, What can be easier than that!

That would be very easy.... but where would I put them? As I wrote above, they can't be outside on the property.

Wait, you can get heirloom plants at Home Depot?

[mjc]

Originally Posted by g8shot1

That would be very easy.... but where would I put them? As I wrote above, they can't be outside on the property.

Wait, you can get heirloom plants at Home Depot?

Sometimes...and not a huge selection...the 'local' HD had Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, the ubiquitous Beefsteak, Large Red Cherry and one or two others, this year.

You can't even put 'ornanentals' in pots outside?

If you can, the there are a couple of tomatoes that could fall under 'ornamental'...most of them aren't great tasting tomatoes...but they are better than store bought.

As an aside, you couldn't pay me enough to live in a place that is that restrictive...

[tam91]

Plant some nasturtiums to climb up the tomato plants - they flower - call the tomato plant a topiary frame.

That does sound awfully restrictive.

[g8shot1]

Originally Posted by tam91

Plant some nasturtiums to climb up the tomato plants - they flower - call the tomato plant a topiary frame.

That does sound awfully restrictive.

It is very restrictive, some rules are good. Part of the year we seal up all windows at night so no inside light can be seen from outside. The light confuses newly hatched turtles. They should head toward the moons reflection on the water instead of toward other light sources.

I like the idea of a topiary that includes a tomato plant. I'll propose that to the board and see what the reaction is. They've bee looking for a volunteer to work on some of the landscaping.

[beefyboy]

If you cannot have a garden than no matter what the rules are it would not be my place to live!!!!!! I have never seen an association that allows gardens, at least in Florida.