"The Mexican Grow Out"

brokenbar · May 13, 2011

Well, I have ripe tomatoes! Mine went out February 10th. My earliest to ripen were Chinese, Amish Paste and my Venice Marketplace I was trialing (YEAH!) And to think, I would not have even planted out yet in Wyoming!!! A great year so far..no bugs to speak of and no disease(s) knock on wood. I noticed my plants all got a lot taller and bushier and perhaps that is from the average 80 degree days and 65-70 degree nights. I have had a few problems with parrots and some other birds snacking but nothing real terrible.

When I grew out my seedlings, I handed out nearly 2000 plants. I had a little booklet that had pictures of each variety. My Handyman told everyone and I had a line at my gate starting at 6 in the morning. They knew nothing of black or purple or yellow tomatoes. I now have lots of folks coming by each day to tell me about their plants and to look at mine. They seem to be absolutely thrilled to have access to so many other varieties. I am seeing some of my varieties (and my husbands' who grows all the weird colored ones!) showing up in the market place. I have had several men bring me shawls and table coverings that their wives made and embroidered (what the heck will I do with them???) as thanks for their plants.

They were also really interested in my large variety tomatillos. They said they had no idea they came bigger than the standard "jaw breaker"size.

I am officially the "Señora jardinero de tomate" (The lady tomato gardener)
and my Handyman said soon it will be just the "Dama Tomate" (The tomato lady.) Dama Tomate sure beats other names I have been called over the years! (

)

My Handyman tells me that everyone pulls their plants about the first of July, before the higher humidity sets in. Heck, I will be done drying and canning before then. I think I will talk to the Parish priest about donating extra vegies we have. Like all of Mexico, there is some real poverty here and the Church does more than anyone else to help.

I hope everyone here has a wonderful gardening year. I know many of you are struggling with ugly weather and it brings back all my growing years in Wyoming and all of Mother Natures dirty, nasty little tricks!

We are off the end of June to Turkey and Morocco and then Italy in November. I long to go back to Egypt but have no idea when that will again be possible.
Somewhere at the end of Summer I need to fit in a week in Scotland to see my globe trotting Brother that I have not seen face-to-face for 16 years. He is a photo journalist for Reuters (European Press) and is always "chasing that next picture" in places to dangerous to contemplate. He is my only living family beyond my Son and I worry about him all the time. He always tells me "you will know if I am dead when you get the insurance check"...men...

I will check in now and then and hope to see everyone having a bountiful harvest!

sprtsguy76 · May 13, 2011

Good to hear your new place/garden has worked out. And your one lucky duck to be harvesting tomatoes already. I have yet to plant my Cisineros tomatillo's that you recommended as a good 'larger' variety, but will do so soon. Enjoy your crop!

Damon

akgardengirl · May 13, 2011

Great news about your Mexican gardening experiences. I would love to see pictures of your surroundings down there. Envious of your weather but not the humidity part.
Sue

ddsack · May 13, 2011

Oh man, would I love to be in your shoes growing tomatoes in Mexico! We only get to spend a couple of winter months in a small town on the Pacific coast, not quite enough time to get a ripe tomato, though I've brought seeds down a couple years just to start and give away my potted plants before we leave. Perfect climate for growing, though I imagine the late summer/early fall months are too hot and humid ... (also to be out working in the fields!) Hey those shawls and tablecloths make great wall decor.

lurley · May 13, 2011

Wow! What a great change you've made for yourself, and now you are going to make a change by helping those around you.

Turkey, makes me think of maras and urfa pepper seeds I hope to get from there some day. Scotland and Italy are high on my travel priority list, but not til the youngest kiddos are older. My garden is heavy in Italian veggies this year since I just finished reading two italian cookbooks this winter. A very veggie heavy cuisine, not the way we think of it here with all the meat and pasta. Enjoy your travels and stay safe.

DeanRIowa · May 13, 2011

brokenbar,

It is nice to hear about your Mexico growing experiences. I would be interested to hear about the dirt and other challenges with growing tomatoes in Mexico.

When did you start your plants, transplant and such?

I plan on being in Mexico in under 20 years from now, God willing.

thanks,
Dean

barefootgardener · May 13, 2011

Brokenbar your Mexican garden sounds like it turned out quite well for you! 2000 plants? WOW!!..Do you have a large GH?..And in return you made many people/neighbors very happy to have your tomatoes..I only wish people around here would appreciate such thoughtful gestures when I try to give a lot of plants away..You cant believe how many turn the offer down..The senior citizens appreciate it the most..

Have fun traveling this summer..I do hope you get to meet up w/that brother of yours!

organichris · May 14, 2011

Yeah, I'd sure like to see some photos. I wonder if you have collected any seeds from Mexico.

KLorentz · May 14, 2011

Sounds like your having fun sharing with your neighbors

A nice sign of respect on their part to give you a new title.Now you will be known all over Mexico for your tomatoes

It is really nice to hear not only have you found such kindly folks there but also to hear these maters are hitting the local market.They are learning good tomatoes are not always red.

Kevin

brokenbar · May 15, 2011

Dean, We had fairly good soil. There were mature avocado, grapefruit, lemon, orange, pomegranate, nuts, grapes and bananas when we bought it. We had our well water tested and it was great. We amended soil with several large loads of donkey manure.

I started peppers on Nov. 15th and tomatoes on Dec. 15. Everything went out on February 10.

BFG I had little enthusiasm when I tried to give plants away in Wyoming (did better when I sold them for a nominal charge???) I could hardly get anyone to come and pick extra vegies like squash, beans, eggplants, strawberries, tomatoes or peppers. They were always "too busy" but they would take them if I picked them and dropped them off at their house washed and ready to cook or bag!!!

We too took plants and vegies to the Senior Center and to the Battered Women's Shelter. They were always thrilled to get them.

Organichris You won't believe this but I don't own a camera. I don't have one single picture of my own son (young or old.) No pics of champion horses or bulls we have raised or any vacation pictures. I just don't take pictures ever. Traveling is a lot more fun without worrying about the darn camera or camcorder. I also refuse to have my picture taken. Looking in the mirror is disgusting enough (59...I can't believe it...) I certainly don't want any reminders of the assault and subsequent devastation on my skin that sun, wind , Lupus (which destroys the collogen in your body) and TIME have left behind as they marched across my face! Really...I have no family photo albums, no scrapbooks, no nothing! Weird I know...

Lurely Italian cuisine is very heavy vegies and a lot of seafood as so much of Itlay is surrounded by ocean (the market in Venice probably had 50 kinds of shrimp...weirdest colors I have ever seen.) The meats they eat a lot of are goat, lamb and horse (YIKES) and really not much beef at all. They use eggplant in everything and olives are a snack like potato chips, they eat them with every meal. You see tomato plants growing everywhere including rooftop gardens, on balconies and in pots in hotel lobbies. I LOVE Italy and were the dollar better against the Euro (which is looking like it might get that way as the WSJ is predicting the Euro may crash) I would have loved to live in Italy (I speak Italian also.)

KLorentz We have GREAT neighbors and we have been welcomed into the community. I think because we live there all the time, do a lot of our own work outside, we are not your "typical" American who buys in Mexico who lives in a Condo on the beach and tries never to interact with the locals. It helps I speak fluent Spanish although my husband, who does not speak one word, gets along fine!

Okay, think I answered everyone. I have 5 HUGE stainless steel stock pots of tomato sauce simmering on my outside gas powered barbecue/stove. I will be making.canning marinara which my son will take back with him when he visits as xmas gifts for friends and neighbors (I refuse to "buy" gifts for people who, if they want something, have probably already bought it or don't want it!) I also only give gift certificates for books for younger folks (I am evil...)

organichris · May 16, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenbar

Organichris You won't believe this but I don't own a camera. I don't have one single picture of my own son (young or old.) No pics of champion horses or bulls we have raised or any vacation pictures. I just don't take pictures ever. Traveling is a lot more fun without worrying about the darn camera or camcorder. I also refuse to have my picture taken. Looking in the mirror is disgusting enough (59...I can't believe it...) I certainly don't want any reminders of the assault and subsequent devastation on my skin that sun, wind , Lupus (which destroys the collogen in your body) and TIME have left behind as they marched across my face! Really...I have no family photo albums, no scrapbooks, no nothing! Weird I know...

Yeah, the only camera I have is on my cell. I don't like my picture taken either.

May 13, 2011	#1
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	"The Mexican Grow Out" Well, I have ripe tomatoes! Mine went out February 10th. My earliest to ripen were Chinese, Amish Paste and my Venice Marketplace I was trialing (YEAH!) And to think, I would not have even planted out yet in Wyoming!!! A great year so far..no bugs to speak of and no disease(s) knock on wood. I noticed my plants all got a lot taller and bushier and perhaps that is from the average 80 degree days and 65-70 degree nights. I have had a few problems with parrots and some other birds snacking but nothing real terrible. When I grew out my seedlings, I handed out nearly 2000 plants. I had a little booklet that had pictures of each variety. My Handyman told everyone and I had a line at my gate starting at 6 in the morning. They knew nothing of black or purple or yellow tomatoes. I now have lots of folks coming by each day to tell me about their plants and to look at mine. They seem to be absolutely thrilled to have access to so many other varieties. I am seeing some of my varieties (and my husbands' who grows all the weird colored ones!) showing up in the market place. I have had several men bring me shawls and table coverings that their wives made and embroidered (what the heck will I do with them???) as thanks for their plants. They were also really interested in my large variety tomatillos. They said they had no idea they came bigger than the standard "jaw breaker"size. I am officially the "Señora jardinero de tomate" (The lady tomato gardener) and my Handyman said soon it will be just the "Dama Tomate" (The tomato lady.) Dama Tomate sure beats other names I have been called over the years! () My Handyman tells me that everyone pulls their plants about the first of July, before the higher humidity sets in. Heck, I will be done drying and canning before then. I think I will talk to the Parish priest about donating extra vegies we have. Like all of Mexico, there is some real poverty here and the Church does more than anyone else to help. I hope everyone here has a wonderful gardening year. I know many of you are struggling with ugly weather and it brings back all my growing years in Wyoming and all of Mother Natures dirty, nasty little tricks! We are off the end of June to Turkey and Morocco and then Italy in November. I long to go back to Egypt but have no idea when that will again be possible. Somewhere at the end of Summer I need to fit in a week in Scotland to see my globe trotting Brother that I have not seen face-to-face for 16 years. He is a photo journalist for Reuters (European Press) and is always "chasing that next picture" in places to dangerous to contemplate. He is my only living family beyond my Son and I worry about him all the time. He always tells me "you will know if I am dead when you get the insurance check"...men... I will check in now and then and hope to see everyone having a bountiful harvest! __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

May 13, 2011	#4
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Oh man, would I love to be in your shoes growing tomatoes in Mexico! We only get to spend a couple of winter months in a small town on the Pacific coast, not quite enough time to get a ripe tomato, though I've brought seeds down a couple years just to start and give away my potted plants before we leave. Perfect climate for growing, though I imagine the late summer/early fall months are too hot and humid ... (also to be out working in the fields!) Hey those shawls and tablecloths make great wall decor. __________________ Dee **************

May 15, 2011	#10
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	Dean, We had fairly good soil. There were mature avocado, grapefruit, lemon, orange, pomegranate, nuts, grapes and bananas when we bought it. We had our well water tested and it was great. We amended soil with several large loads of donkey manure. I started peppers on Nov. 15th and tomatoes on Dec. 15. Everything went out on February 10. BFG I had little enthusiasm when I tried to give plants away in Wyoming (did better when I sold them for a nominal charge???) I could hardly get anyone to come and pick extra vegies like squash, beans, eggplants, strawberries, tomatoes or peppers. They were always "too busy" but they would take them if I picked them and dropped them off at their house washed and ready to cook or bag!!! We too took plants and vegies to the Senior Center and to the Battered Women's Shelter. They were always thrilled to get them. Organichris You won't believe this but I don't own a camera. I don't have one single picture of my own son (young or old.) No pics of champion horses or bulls we have raised or any vacation pictures. I just don't take pictures ever. Traveling is a lot more fun without worrying about the darn camera or camcorder. I also refuse to have my picture taken. Looking in the mirror is disgusting enough (59...I can't believe it...) I certainly don't want any reminders of the assault and subsequent devastation on my skin that sun, wind , Lupus (which destroys the collogen in your body) and TIME have left behind as they marched across my face! Really...I have no family photo albums, no scrapbooks, no nothing! Weird I know... Lurely Italian cuisine is very heavy vegies and a lot of seafood as so much of Itlay is surrounded by ocean (the market in Venice probably had 50 kinds of shrimp...weirdest colors I have ever seen.) The meats they eat a lot of are goat, lamb and horse (YIKES) and really not much beef at all. They use eggplant in everything and olives are a snack like potato chips, they eat them with every meal. You see tomato plants growing everywhere including rooftop gardens, on balconies and in pots in hotel lobbies. I LOVE Italy and were the dollar better against the Euro (which is looking like it might get that way as the WSJ is predicting the Euro may crash) I would have loved to live in Italy (I speak Italian also.) KLorentz We have GREAT neighbors and we have been welcomed into the community. I think because we live there all the time, do a lot of our own work outside, we are not your "typical" American who buys in Mexico who lives in a Condo on the beach and tries never to interact with the locals. It helps I speak fluent Spanish although my husband, who does not speak one word, gets along fine! Okay, think I answered everyone. I have 5 HUGE stainless steel stock pots of tomato sauce simmering on my outside gas powered barbecue/stove. I will be making.canning marinara which my son will take back with him when he visits as xmas gifts for friends and neighbors (I refuse to "buy" gifts for people who, if they want something, have probably already bought it or don't want it!) I also only give gift certificates for books for younger folks (I am evil...) __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time." Last edited by brokenbar; May 16, 2011 at 09:26 AM.

May 13, 2011	#2
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Good to hear your new place/garden has worked out. And your one lucky duck to be harvesting tomatoes already. I have yet to plant my Cisineros tomatillo's that you recommended as a good 'larger' variety, but will do so soon. Enjoy your crop! Damon

May 13, 2011	#3
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	Great news about your Mexican gardening experiences. I would love to see pictures of your surroundings down there. Envious of your weather but not the humidity part. Sue

May 13, 2011	#5
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	Wow! What a great change you've made for yourself, and now you are going to make a change by helping those around you. Turkey, makes me think of maras and urfa pepper seeds I hope to get from there some day. Scotland and Italy are high on my travel priority list, but not til the youngest kiddos are older. My garden is heavy in Italian veggies this year since I just finished reading two italian cookbooks this winter. A very veggie heavy cuisine, not the way we think of it here with all the meat and pasta. Enjoy your travels and stay safe.

May 13, 2011	#6
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	brokenbar, It is nice to hear about your Mexico growing experiences. I would be interested to hear about the dirt and other challenges with growing tomatoes in Mexico. When did you start your plants, transplant and such? I plan on being in Mexico in under 20 years from now, God willing. thanks, Dean

May 13, 2011	#7
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Brokenbar your Mexican garden sounds like it turned out quite well for you! 2000 plants? WOW!!..Do you have a large GH?..And in return you made many people/neighbors very happy to have your tomatoes..I only wish people around here would appreciate such thoughtful gestures when I try to give a lot of plants away..You cant believe how many turn the offer down..The senior citizens appreciate it the most.. Have fun traveling this summer..I do hope you get to meet up w/that brother of yours!

May 14, 2011	#8
organichris Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 630	Yeah, I'd sure like to see some photos. I wonder if you have collected any seeds from Mexico.

May 14, 2011	#9
KLorentz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Stryker, Ohio Posts: 995	Sounds like your having fun sharing with your neighbors A nice sign of respect on their part to give you a new title.Now you will be known all over Mexico for your tomatoes It is really nice to hear not only have you found such kindly folks there but also to hear these maters are hitting the local market.They are learning good tomatoes are not always red. Kevin