Italian Themed Tomato Garden

[Father'sDaughter]

Last year was the first big tomato year for me and being Italian, I focused on Italians as well. This year only three of them will be back - Principe Borghese, Franchi Italian Cherry, and Sorrento. The PB's made incredible sun dried tomatoes with huge flavor. The Cherrys had a good balance of acid and sweet, which I prefer to just sweet. The Sorrentos had low yield but were well worth the space!

Belmontes didn't do well for me--lots of lobes that ripened at very different rates for some reason. Disappointing since I chose them because they are a Calabrian variety and that's where my parents grew up. The Grappoli d'Inverno we're abundant and meaty, but for me they weren't a good eating tomato and were too small for cooking. San Marzanos did well, but I'm giving the SM Redortas a try instead.

I'm also planting the Franchi Pear, so I'm glad to hear others have had good results with it.

Then again, spring is a long way off which gives me plenty of time to change my mind...

[lakelady]

How did you dry your tomatoes in the north if I may ask? My uncle used to sun dry on his screened porch in Florida, but we probably don't get enough heat here. Did you use a dehydrator?

[Father'sDaughter]

I bit the bullet and purchased an Excalibur dehydrator. So far I have used it for tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, some herbs, and cayenne peppers (which were then turned into really good red pepper flakes in the blender). I did, however, continue to dry some herbs the good old fashioned way -- tied into bundles and hung in the basement.