Ripe fruit baby!

erlyberd · May 7, 2011

Had my first tomato sandwich of the new year. Wish I could share it with all of you. Also set my personal record of May 5th! Not bad for for zone 5! This year it is Stupice 105 days from seed, Kimberley (last years eariest) is closing in fast though.

Lunacy · May 7, 2011

Congrats! I'm hoping for a early June tom, as most of my plants are setting fruit now.

frogsleap farm · May 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlyberd

Had my first tomato sandwich of the new year. Wish I could share it with all of you. Also set my personal record of May 5th! Not bad for for zone 5! This year it is Stupice 105 days from seed, Kimberley (last years eariest) is closing in fast though.

OK Berd, what's the secret? Early May in Zone 5 is extraordinary. Is there a greenhouse involved?

**carolyn137** · May 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogsleap farm

OK Berd, what's the secret? Early May in Zone 5 is extraordinary. Is there a greenhouse involved?

Can't be outside since I'm a zone 5 and my car was covered with heavy frost yesterday morning when the temp dipped down to about 30 F. And the weather here this Spring has been AWFUL, cold, rainy, winds from the west at 20-30 mph and of course overcast as well. So I listen to my Monitor heater which I love and hear the money going out the exhaust.

My car goes in the garage in late Fall, battery out and bought inside and that b'c I'm not allowed out with my walker in the winter. But this is the absolute latest in years that I've not been able to get out and drive. Last year it was in late March and here it is early May and it's been out there for two weeks and I still can't get out there b'c of the weather.

Ok, I'm through complaining for now as I see the sun shining out there and this coming week is supposed to be better.

I gave up trying to beat the season and grow the earliest varieties many years ago b'c with just a couple of more weeks one can grow some mid-season varieties that do have good taste, unlike so many of the really early varieties that I've grown in the past.

Of course just my own opinion on taste. And happy that my plants for this summer are still in Raleigh, NC where Craig raises them for me.

RayR · May 7, 2011

Things are looking up for New York State this week Carolyn. Lots of sunshine in the forecast and decent temps and no appreciable rain—which is a relief after all that rain last week. You can bet my seedlings are going to be outside every day soaking up the sun.
It's been slow growing for Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this year. April cold temperatures have been a setback. Last year I had nice sized transplants that were ready to go in the ground by May 15th, this year I shooting for the end of the month.

Dak · May 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlyberd

Had my first tomato sandwich of the new year. Wish I could share it with all of you. Also set my personal record of May 5th! Not bad for for zone 5! This year it is Stupice 105 days from seed, Kimberley (last years eariest) is closing in fast though.

Congratulations, Earlyberd! I'm in zone 8B and I just have flowers.... Enjoy your tomato sandwich!

tjg911 · May 7, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlyberd

Had my first tomato sandwich of the new year. Wish I could share it with all of you. Also set my personal record of May 5th! Not bad for for zone 5! This year it is Stupice 105 days from seed, Kimberley (last years eariest) is closing in fast though.

so how did it taste? not bad? how about unreal! i know how you did it but i'm surprised at how soon you have tomatoes. you sure are an early bird!

tom

ddsack · May 8, 2011

I'm missing dcarch of NY here, and wonder if he is still growing in his removable lean-to greenhouse and how far along his tomatoes would be by now. Dcarch - are you still out there?

erlyberd · May 16, 2011

First off I'm not only glad to recieve ripe fruit before someone residing in CA (second year in a row I might add) (once lived in Cardiff) I'm just happy to be here on this earth and sharing it all with you. I don't know Frogsleap, is a cold frame considered a greenhouse? LOL Actually, double protection and two 13 watt CFL bulbs for heat made it happen. Night covers as well. Actually Tom last years early was much more flavorful. BTW Those pale green plants took off finally. I think soil temp influences the N be delivered. Perhaps soil cables, passive solar, would warm things up? Hmmm...O, hows your garden coming along?

tjg911 · May 16, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlyberd

BTW Those pale green plants took off finally. I think soil temp influences the N be delivered. Perhaps soil cables, passive solar, would warm things up? Hmmm...O, hows your garden coming along?

that's good. i agree, soil temps are working against you that early. you're going to need a lot of solar to heat that much ground as the surrounding area is going to bleed it off.

my garden is fine but tomatoes are under lights still, i'm 2 weeks away from planting out at the earliest. 1/2 is planted, give me a call if you want to see it.

tom

barefootgardener · May 17, 2011

Yummy erlyberd! ! Congrats you lucky gal you! I am also glad you are here on this earth to share your tomato joy!! So how did it taste..Did you eat slowly to really enjoy and savor every morsel! I am so hungry for a fresh garden ripe tomato sandwich right now!!

erlyberd · May 21, 2011

Tom, I don't have your number.

Barefoot, I'm a man actually. Taste was not bad considering, just like store bought! Right. We're talking early tomatoes here so flavor is not my main concern. These plants have been cold weather tested and approved for sure. Who says you need 50 degree nights! Bull! LOL

So far four varieties have produced. Now the beefsteaks are looking mighty good with blossoms looking more like sunflowers! Nothing set as far as I know.

May 7, 2011	#1
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	Ripe fruit baby! Had my first tomato sandwich of the new year. Wish I could share it with all of you. Also set my personal record of May 5th! Not bad for for zone 5! This year it is Stupice 105 days from seed, Kimberley (last years eariest) is closing in fast though.

May 8, 2011	#8
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I'm missing dcarch of NY here, and wonder if he is still growing in his removable lean-to greenhouse and how far along his tomatoes would be by now. Dcarch - are you still out there? __________________ Dee **************

May 7, 2011	#2
Lunacy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 15	Congrats! I'm hoping for a early June tom, as most of my plants are setting fruit now.

May 7, 2011	#5
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Things are looking up for New York State this week Carolyn. Lots of sunshine in the forecast and decent temps and no appreciable rain—which is a relief after all that rain last week. You can bet my seedlings are going to be outside every day soaking up the sun. It's been slow growing for Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this year. April cold temperatures have been a setback. Last year I had nice sized transplants that were ready to go in the ground by May 15th, this year I shooting for the end of the month.

May 16, 2011	#9
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	First off I'm not only glad to recieve ripe fruit before someone residing in CA (second year in a row I might add) (once lived in Cardiff) I'm just happy to be here on this earth and sharing it all with you. I don't know Frogsleap, is a cold frame considered a greenhouse? LOL Actually, double protection and two 13 watt CFL bulbs for heat made it happen. Night covers as well. Actually Tom last years early was much more flavorful. BTW Those pale green plants took off finally. I think soil temp influences the N be delivered. Perhaps soil cables, passive solar, would warm things up? Hmmm...O, hows your garden coming along?

May 17, 2011	#11
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Yummy erlyberd! ! Congrats you lucky gal you! I am also glad you are here on this earth to share your tomato joy!! So how did it taste..Did you eat slowly to really enjoy and savor every morsel! I am so hungry for a fresh garden ripe tomato sandwich right now!!

May 21, 2011	#12
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	Tom, I don't have your number. Barefoot, I'm a man actually. Taste was not bad considering, just like store bought! Right. We're talking early tomatoes here so flavor is not my main concern. These plants have been cold weather tested and approved for sure. Who says you need 50 degree nights! Bull! LOL So far four varieties have produced. Now the beefsteaks are looking mighty good with blossoms looking more like sunflowers! Nothing set as far as I know.