Zone3 Update

[dokutaaguriin]

Just in case some of you in the warmer zones have forgotten the troubles we - the zonally challenged- go through to get a ripe tomato, check out the weather forecast for the next five days. There is nothing quite like a 50+F swing in temperatures. (lol)


On another note, here is my tribute to Vince:

Black Cherry has been pumping out the tomatoes on the tallest vines in my garden.

I was finally able to try my first Carbon and sure enough I love the flavour and texture of this black tomato. I probably could not tell the difference between it and Paul Robson.


Production is no where near the levels of last year (too hot in July and too cool in May/June for fruit to set)
Here is a picture of some Japanese hybrids (pink-momotarou, red- midi and reddo oore:


A few disappointments:
Bi-Colour Cherry- NOT- I thought I had seperated out correctly the six different cherry tomato seed in a single package(Each seed had been dyed a different colour.). So I either mixed up B-CC with one of the Yellows- Mirabelle or Super Snow White or it some sort of cross or something. I really had my heart set on trying this tomato!!!!Oh well, I will have to try and find the seeds at a later date.

Black from Tula- NOT- I ended up with a black tomato but it is the not the right size nor shape:


I have quite a few more varieties growing but still waiting to taste them!!

[Althea]

Thanks for the update. I enjoy hearing from z3 and colder regions. It gives me cause for hope. Good luck with the rest of your tomatoes.

[barkeater]

dokut, how cold did it get last night? A 34 degree forecast is pretty scary. We hit 49 last night, the first time since mid June, but lows in the 40's are forecast toward weeks end. Must be your weather coming.

I've been very lucky with such warm July weather, and June rains. My star performer has been Bloody Butcher, picking them since July 19 (52 days), a full two weeks earlier than ever - which was a cherry variety in a pot.

Next in line ripening has been:

July 27 (60 days). Silvery Fir Tree and Red Robin - both in pots.

August 2 (66 days). Gardeners Delight Cherry and Jaune Flammee.

August 3 (67 days). Black Cherry, one day later than last year - close enough!

August 5 (69 days). Gregori Altai.

August 7 (71 days). Moskvich, picked today half ripe as I sprayed tonight. Weird about this one. The first ripe tomato is off the third truss, not the first or second

Most puzzling to me is Sophies Choice. It was the earliest last year at 67 days in the ground, but this year in both the ground and in a big pot, neither show any signs of ripening.

I'm really impressed to see you have ripe Momotaros and Carbons. I have some very nice sized green Momotaros.

I expect Carbon to be later as I accidentally broke off the main stem with the first fruit a month ago trying to tuck it back inside its cage. I've never seen such a brittle plant! I've broken off 2 more branches since. I'm not touching it again until its time to pick.

[dokutaaguriin]

Hey Barkeater,
The temperature last night at a weather station just 0 minutes south of me was -.8C (30.56F) but the official temperature at the local int'l airport which is another 10 minutes further south was 5C (41F). I guess it is not too bad.
SFT was the first fruit I picked...even beat out Red Robin. It just sort of stayed in a holding pattern and now is fulsh with flowers.
Sophies' Choice I picked two fruit and now the rest of the fruit seem to be sitting there green for a good month now.
Jaunne Flammee was the first non-early variety for me, too. This surprised me beacuse two years ago it was a good month later.
Red Robin and Yellow Canary have more or less finished their main flush of tomatoes. I am hoping for a second, albeit smaller crop for the fall once I cut them down.
i am glad you brought up the "first truss not ripening first situation" Many of my main season varieties (like Kellogg's Breakfast) seem to be struck with this phenomenon. I always thought the first fruit to form would be the first fruit to be picked. Maybe I should post this question as a another topic???
I broke off a stem on my Earl's Faux early on and figure I had no problem growing another. Little did I know that I would break that one off too.
I also noticed another strange thing in the garden this year. Some of the early fruit (first truss) have a more pyramidal shape to them instead of round. I assume weather related????

What do you think of Gregori Altai...flavour wise? I am finding it hard to replace Stupice as my fallback early tomato.

Jeff

[dcarch]

Jeff,

I have been to Calgary a few times. As I remember, your days are longer. How many hours of sun do you get?

Very nice harvest.

dcarch

[barkeater]

Jeff, I've only had one Gregori Altai so far. It was very large, 3/4 #, for such an early tomato. It had good flavor, tangy for a pink, not a firm texture though. It also had some yellow sunscald on top. It was the first one so think it is too soon yet to tell for sure how it'll rate.

Why do you want to replace Stupice? A couple posters think Stupice and Bloody Butcher were very similar, so I plan on trying Stupice next year as BB is a standout for me.

[dokutaaguriin]

Hi Barkeater,
I guess I am still searching for the perfect early tomato. The flavour this year is a little smoother than what I am remember from previous years.
i think I will try Bloody Butcher next year.
Jeff