tomato garden-2014

[camochef]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Hi Camo. Sounds like you had a real good year. Are you still using the bear for tasting?

Dustdevil,
Sure do. Always taste plain first, then with a touch of salt and then with the bear, usually repeatedly. It's a difficult job but someone has to do it!
Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Thanks to all others for kind words and comments.
Enjoy and Happy Gardening!
Camo

[camochef]

Well, I did it! Just picked the last ripe and almost ripe tomatoes off the two Mountain Fresh plants that were left and pulled the cages and plants are on the burn pile.

Planning on tilling and planting more spinach and alliums for the fall. Garlic, leeks, shallots and some onions. Come Spring, (already talking Spring), I'm moving my tomatoes to a new location, (old garden #2 which hasn't been used in a few years now), and concentrating on more greens, and beans in Garden #1 location.

Everything I've been hearing is predicting a cold winter with lots of snow for us here in south central Pa. I'm hoping that isn't true, but if it turns out to be, I'd like to have everything tilled and planted that I can get done. Really looking forward to this coming spring.
Just not having the huge amounts of tomatoes will definitely be a load off my shoulders. I can't imagine how I planted and maintained 250-350 tomato plants each year.
To think back to the year I started 830 tomato plants, I can now understand the looks I got from people, when they found out. What was I thinking!
I'm much better off devoting my time to cooking and baking. My friends and neighbors seem to enjoy it more too. At least they don't run and hide like they do when I show up with a basket full of tomatoes. Never had anyone hide from a fresh baked loaf of bread.
Enjoy!
Camo

[VC Scott]

Originally Posted by camochef

Hey guys,


I had lost my few Brandywine Glick's in the mentioned storms, so I only had Cowlicks Brandywines and Brandywine -Sudduth's to compare and there was no comparison to be made in taste as they are similar. the difference is in production...where Cowlicks out-produced Sudduths by what seems to be 10-1.


Camo

Camo:

Thought you might like to know the results of my side-by-side test of Cowlick's vs Sudduth's. I grew them side-by-side in 5 different places in the garden. They received the same soil preparation, the same amount of water, same amount of Texas Tomato Food, same amount of spraying for disease and pests.

In each case, Cowlicks was earlier and more productive. The taste was indistinguishable. Sudduth's was nice, but Cowlicks was the clear winner.

[kath]

Originally Posted by camochef

So as plants and cagers were removed, I tilled and planted lots of spinach. (added 25 rows).
Although I haven't grown it in 5-7 years, I've found Wessel's Purple Pride to be the best tomato for dehydrating. I no longer have seed for it, but if you can find some, give it a try. It even did well on a very wet year, when Opalka balloned for me.
Enjoy!
Camo

You planted 25+ rows of spinach?! It's nice to hear that you're still enjoying your garden and kitchen!
Thank you for the tip about Wessel's Purple Pride. I grew it in 2010 or 2011 and found its walls were prone to being very spotted with white dots that were visible when sliced...not appealing to me. Dester & others have done the same.

Take care,

Kath

[camochef]

Originally Posted by VC Scott

Camo:

Thought you might like to know the results of my side-by-side test of Cowlick's vs Sudduth's. I grew them side-by-side in 5 different places in the garden. They received the same soil preparation, the same amount of water, same amount of Texas Tomato Food, same amount of spraying for disease and pests.

In each case, Cowlicks was earlier and more productive. The taste was indistinguishable. Sudduth's was nice, but Cowlicks was the clear winner.

VC Scott,

I've been seeing the same results for the last 7-8 years now. Brandywine Glicks, is in-between the two. I've decided that Brandywine-Sudduth's will be one of my favorites that will be eliminated next season.
Another favorite to go will be the Brandywine/Cherokee Purple cross from K.M. Liz Birt. Leaving the only cross remaining...Bear Creek. Dora and Gary O'sena were eliminated a couple years ago.
Thanks for the update from the west coast!
Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by kath

You planted 25+ rows of spinach?! It's nice to hear that you're still enjoying your garden and kitchen!
Thank you for the tip about Wessel's Purple Pride. I grew it in 2010 or 2011 and found its walls were prone to being very spotted with white dots that were visible when sliced...not appealing to me. Dester & others have done the same.

Take care,

Kath

Kath,
Never witnessed that problem back when I grew them. Could they have been stinkbug bites on the fruit? I've seen that on many different varieties of tomatoes, especially around this time of the year. This year hasn't been as bad as the last few years here. They must have moved onto another crop that they like better.
I'm looking forward to trying Dester for the first time this coming season. along with some other highly recommended varieties.

If it was stinkbug bites, be aware that they inject their saliva into the bite area. I usually toss them as soon as I notice such.

The only other variety that comes to mind for dehydrating purposes would be Lillian Maciejewski's Poland Pink, which was a very tasty, very meaty, tomato with almost no seed or pulp. Better tasting than Wessels Purple Pride
Enjoy!
Camo

[kath]

Originally Posted by camochef

Kath,
Never witnessed that problem back when I grew them. Could they have been stinkbug bites on the fruit? I've seen that on many different varieties of tomatoes, especially around this time of the year. This year hasn't been as bad as the last few years here. They must have moved onto another crop that they like better.
I'm looking forward to trying Dester for the first time this coming season. along with some other highly recommended varieties.

If it was stinkbug bites, be aware that they inject their saliva into the bite area. I usually toss them as soon as I notice such.

The only other variety that comes to mind for dehydrating purposes would be Lillian Maciejewski's Poland Pink, which was a very tasty, very meaty, tomato with almost no seed or pulp. Better tasting than Wessels Purple Pride
Enjoy!
Camo

No, it's a different phenomenon than stinkbug bites- unfortunately, I've become all too familiar with what those look like and, like you, as soon as I see the telltale white halos on the skin I toss them. What I'm describing can't be detected at all until the fruit is cut and is something that affects the whole fruit evenly. I'll check and see if I have any photos that show it.

Thank you for making another helpful suggestion- I grew LMPP in 2011 but it wasn't a hit with anyone here, tastewise, and, honestly, I grew so many tomatoes between 2010 and now that I don't have any recall of it so I'll check my old thread again.

Lots of folks love Dester and lots of others that didn't work for me and chances are good that it'll do well where you live. I'm glad that you're looking forward to spring already. At this point I'm just looking forward to hibernating for the winter...let it snow!

kath

P.S. My entry was no help but I found your photos on another site, Camo, and although it's very meaty, it's still too juicy and has lots of locules. I'd like to be able to quickly and easily take out all the seeds. Thank you again for your kind help!

[camochef]

Originally Posted by kath

No, it's a different phenomenon than stinkbug bites- unfortunately, I've become all too familiar with what those look like and, like you, as soon as I see the telltale white halos on the skin I toss them. What I'm describing can't be detected at all until the fruit is cut and is something that affects the whole fruit evenly. I'll check and see if I have any photos that show it.

Thank you for making another helpful suggestion- I grew LMPP in 2011 but it wasn't a hit with anyone here, tastewise, and, honestly, I grew so many tomatoes between 2010 and now that I don't have any recall of it so I'll check my old thread again.

Lots of folks love Dester and lots of others that didn't work for me and chances are good that it'll do well where you live. I'm glad that you're looking forward to spring already. At this point I'm just looking forward to hibernating for the winter...let it snow!

kath

P.S. My entry was no help but I found your photos on another site, Camo, and although it's very meaty, it's still too juicy and has lots of locules. I'd like to be able to quickly and easily take out all the seeds. Thank you again for your kind help!

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but with increasing age, it's more than the physical abilities that are on the decline, it's also the memory and the, and the, and the, oh heck, I can't remember.
Camo

[kath]

Originally Posted by camochef

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but with increasing age, it's more than the physical abilities that are on the decline, it's also the memory and the, and the, and the, oh heck, I can't remember.
Camo

Camo, your generous spirit shows through in your willingness to share your knowledge and experience with all of us. At 64, I'm feeling some age-related changes, too, so I can relate.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the season!

kath

[Labradors2]

I'm dying to see Camo's grow list (of ten plants?) for next year!

Linda

[Tracydr]

Camo-I always look forward to your great reviews. Please tell, what do you do with that much spinach? We eat it wilted with eggs for breakfast and in salads and smoothies but 25 rows?

Camo,

Very nice review!

I've already decided to only plant my fifteen favorite varieties next year. That was about one month ago. I'm now up to seventeen favorite varieties. It will probably be my thirty favorite varieties by plant out.

Ted

[camochef]

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Camo-I always look forward to your great reviews. Please tell, what do you do with that much spinach? We eat it wilted with eggs for breakfast and in salads and smoothies but 25 rows?

Tracydr,
We both love spinach. With a couple thousand cookbooks, I'm always finding new and different recipes to try. My favorites are still in mushroom/spinach/tomato salads, steamed in the microwave, and in omelets, (with ham, cheese,shallots, and mushrooms. Never tried it in a smoothie.Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by tedln

Camo,

Very nice review!

I've already decided to only plant my fifteen favorite varieties next year. That was about one month ago. I'm now up to seventeen favorite varieties. It will probably be my thirty favorite varieties by plant out.

Ted

Ted,
Thanks!
I'm really going to be trying. No more huge numbers of tomatoes.
Good Luck!
Enjoy!
Camo