Black Cherry Toms out of control..... - Page 3

Patapsco Mike · July 17, 2008

I was standing in my garden at 6 this morning picking and eating ripe black cherries right off the vine. I think they are delicious. Not as sweet as my other favorite cherries, but that's partly why I like them. It's like a bite-sized tasty regular black tomato. They will have a permanent spot in my garden from now on- one each year.

Sherry_AK · July 17, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleysilo

Some of the taste testers here at work have made the following comments regarding BC. "The skin is tough, like a big old grape." "I can't get over the purple color, did you grow any red ones" "They are kinda sourish" Personally I like them.

I wouldn't waste them on the taste testers at work!!!

feldon30 · July 17, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Interesting Terry.

Fact is, I always remove the stem. That's required by commercial farmers so that the stem doesn't poke holes in other tomatoes in the same container and that's what we did on our farm and so that's what I do as well.

When I was growing lots and lots of heirlooms I picked them in half bushel baskets and no way was I going to damage fruits by leaving the stems on.

I don't think anyone is talking about leaving an actual piece of stem attached to the tomato. I don't think anyone in this thread picks tomatoes that way.

I store my tomatoes stem scar side down and that is what has always worked for me. And it was not from reading research or testing but it simply seemed logical to me. The softest, best part of the tomato is the bottom. So that part should not be supporting the weight.

My tomatoes mostly sit shoulders down in the day or two before I eat them to stave off premature rotting.

**carolyn137** · July 17, 2008

Feldon, trust me, there are folks who leave the stem on, there really are.

And my comment came from looking at your fruits in your baskets with the stems still on them.

If I were doing the picking those stems would not be there even though for the most part there was only one layer of fruits.

But that's just me.

maricybele · July 18, 2008

What is that watering system? Are there holes at the bottom? I use a pot in the ground.

feldon30 · July 18, 2008

Carolyn,

Alright, I see what you are talking about. I pick tomatoes very early, earlier than most probably do. I usually use a pair of scissors to cut the tomatoes off the vine to avoid disturbing the plants and/or knocking off any other fruit. Some of the stem does come with them as a result. But when I bring the tomatoes inside, I pull off any stems that come off easily.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

harleysilo · July 22, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by maricybele

What is that watering system? Are there holes at the bottom? I use a pot in the ground.

Yes the 5 gallon containers have a couple little holes right at the bottom.

feldon30 · July 22, 2008

I also put a hole about 4-6" off the ground on the SIDE of the container. Just in case the holes on the bottom get blocked.

HakaiRah · July 26, 2008

My wife and I jumped the gun on a couple early black cherry tomatoes, and while they were good they weren't anything to write home about. This morning while tomato hornworm hunting I found a hidden one that was fully ripe. We cut it in half and split it with just a hint of salt.

I wish I could have recorded the look on our faces. The first taste of the tomato was good, what we would expect from the previous ones. About 3-4 seconds later, however, this wonderful second burst of flavor hit our taste buds at the same time and both our faces lit up.

While Black Cherry had already one a spot in my garden based on the first couple of tomatoes and its solid fruit set. It now holds a very special place in my heart, wow. I can only hope that as the bigger fruits finally start ripening they keep the flavor train coming!

TZ-OH6 · July 26, 2008

I/the audience was told by horticulturalists at a hydroponics conference tomato session that tomatoes start the rotting process the second you take the stem off of the fruit. It simulates the fruit falling off of the plant onto the ground. They didn't elaborate so I assumed it was a chemical/hormonal thing, but bacterial/fungal entry at the scar makes sense.

July 17, 2008	#34
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Feldon, trust me, there are folks who leave the stem on, there really are. And my comment came from looking at your fruits in your baskets with the stems still on them. If I were doing the picking those stems would not be there even though for the most part there was only one layer of fruits. But that's just me. __________________ Carolyn

July 18, 2008	#36
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Carolyn, Alright, I see what you are talking about. I pick tomatoes very early, earlier than most probably do. I usually use a pair of scissors to cut the tomatoes off the vine to avoid disturbing the plants and/or knocking off any other fruit. Some of the stem does come with them as a result. But when I bring the tomatoes inside, I pull off any stems that come off easily. Sorry for the misunderstanding. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

July 22, 2008	#38
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I also put a hole about 4-6" off the ground on the SIDE of the container. Just in case the holes on the bottom get blocked. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

July 17, 2008	#31
Patapsco Mike Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 62	I was standing in my garden at 6 this morning picking and eating ripe black cherries right off the vine. I think they are delicious. Not as sweet as my other favorite cherries, but that's partly why I like them. It's like a bite-sized tasty regular black tomato. They will have a permanent spot in my garden from now on- one each year.

July 18, 2008	#35
maricybele Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oregon zone 8 Posts: 99	What is that watering system? Are there holes at the bottom? I use a pot in the ground.

July 26, 2008	#39
HakaiRah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Franklin, Massachusetts Zone 6a/b Posts: 46	My wife and I jumped the gun on a couple early black cherry tomatoes, and while they were good they weren't anything to write home about. This morning while tomato hornworm hunting I found a hidden one that was fully ripe. We cut it in half and split it with just a hint of salt. I wish I could have recorded the look on our faces. The first taste of the tomato was good, what we would expect from the previous ones. About 3-4 seconds later, however, this wonderful second burst of flavor hit our taste buds at the same time and both our faces lit up. While Black Cherry had already one a spot in my garden based on the first couple of tomatoes and its solid fruit set. It now holds a very special place in my heart, wow. I can only hope that as the bigger fruits finally start ripening they keep the flavor train coming!

July 26, 2008	#40
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 848	I/the audience was told by horticulturalists at a hydroponics conference tomato session that tomatoes start the rotting process the second you take the stem off of the fruit. It simulates the fruit falling off of the plant onto the ground. They didn't elaborate so I assumed it was a chemical/hormonal thing, but bacterial/fungal entry at the scar makes sense.