Last nights harvest

Lastfling · July 16, 2016

While the plants look like crap they have still been producing well, although they're winding down with the heat / humidity. Following my copper overdose, which didn't appear to impact them to badly, rain set in on a near daily basis which made my disease control efforts nearly futile. Bleach on / bleach off .... LOL. Taste wise of the varieties I've grown Not Purple Strawberry leads the pack followed closely by GGWT, Sweet Ozark Orange, Paul Robeson, Strawberry Margarita and Delicious.
Red Barn and Michaelas Pink Oxheart made my not to plant again list. One for
Disease susceptibility and the latter for taste. While Michaelas put out some impressive size pink fruit the taste was way to tart (I'd venture to say sour) for me.

Mingled with the tomatoes are a few of the many cucumbers I've been getting of late. Also my first sphagetti squash harvest. The Thai pepper plant is also hitting its stride alongside one of my summertime seasonal delights.

IMG_0869.JPG IMG_0868.JPG

**carolyn137** · July 16, 2016

While Michaelas put out some impressive size pink fruit the taste was way to tart (I'd venture to say sour) for me.

*******

What was the source of your Michaelas Pink seeds? Valerian from Romania was the first to send it to many,including myself,but some got hearts,some got beefsteaks and in a series of e-mails he explained what had happened.

He then sent true Michaela's Pink to several and two of my now 7 seed producers are growing it out this summer for seed production for the next seed offer here.

Valerian just called it Michaela's
Pink,no heart indicated in the name,but did so in his description of the variety.

For anyone interested,this was Valerian's intial description of of the four varieties

1. Garden Red Pride - indet, midseason, red beefsteak, 12 - 15 oz, productive and tasty, No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 15 years I have it in my garden
2. Michaela's Pink - indet, midseason, pink beefsteak, 12-15oz. I have it from Michaela, my primary school colleague. It is over 20 year old in Michaela's garden
3. Moms'Heart - my oldest heirloom, over 40 years old in the garden, inherited from my mother - indet, midseason, dark red heart, about 4-6oz, very tasty. No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 40 years
4. Pink Delice - indet, midseason, pink heart, 5-8oz. I have it from one of my neighbor. I grow it for 13-16 years, but it has a longer history in the area. No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 25 years

I'm not going to cut and paste here the em's between Valerian and myself about Michaela's Pink.

Carolyn, envious of all that you show,not much here in upstate NY yet,but my brother lives about 20 miles north of Asheville and I'll ask him how his are doing.

Lastfling · July 16, 2016

Hi Carolyn. The seeds were sent to me by Marsha in her seed offer early this year. Here is a picture of the larger ones on the plant just starting to blush. Unfortunately I don't have a good example of ripe fruit, but here is one of the small ones. They definitely were more of a heart shape than beefsteak. Fruit size ranged from 14.5 to 4.4 oz.
IMG_0846.JPG IMG_0870.JPG

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

b54red · July 16, 2016

Nice looking crop. My cucumbers are already pulled up along with everything else but tomatoes and peppers. I already miss my squash and cucumbers so I will try to grow a few cucumbers in the fall but squash are just too hard to manage that time of the year.

I agree that Red Barn has a tendency to have problems with Early Blight; but it is one of the best tasting and largest of the large red beefsteaks. You might want to try Couilles de Taureau as a replacement. It is just as large but not quite as productive but it will make the whole season long.

If you like large hearts that are tasty then you really should try Donskoi. It is now the only heart I will grow because of its old time full rich tomato flavor and its wonderful juiciness. It also will produce in the heat of summer but of course not nearly as many as early in the season.

You are doing the right thing by using frequent diluted bleach sprays during times of frequent sustained rains. I do the same thing and wait for a break in the rain to apply a fungicide. It makes a huge difference in the amount and severity of the diseases you experience during those times when the plants are most susceptible.

Bill

Worth1 · July 16, 2016

Looks great.
Has Shiner went up like 2 or 3 dollars a 12 pack where you live?
I had to stop buying it.

Worth

**carolyn137** · July 16, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lastfling

Hi Carolyn. The seeds were sent to me by Marsha in her seed offer early this year. Here is a picture of the larger ones on the plant just starting to blush. Unfortunately I don't have a good example of ripe fruit, but here is one of the small ones. They definitely were more of a heart shape than beefsteak. Fruit size ranged from 14.5 to 4.4 oz.
Attachment 63908 Attachment 63909

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's what happened.Valerian sent the correct seeds to Marsha and asked her if she would please send some on to me,and she did,as a surprise,but I think Valerian was just trying to get correct seeds out ASAP.

Carolyn

dirtdigging101 · July 16, 2016

how does one see the pics?

Lastfling · July 17, 2016

Worth - Shiner falls into the craft beer category around here it seems and therefore goes at a premium. I looked in the grocery last night and it's normally 8.99 a six-pack, 7.99 on sale. 12 packs on Shiner Boch were 12.99.

Worth1 · July 17, 2016

Thanks for the reply it seems all beer like this jumped up in price by 2 dollars all at once.
I think it was up to 14 dollars and the darn brewery is right down the road from me.
I can see minor increases but a dollar at a time.
Must be the popularity or something
It was a little over 10 dollars last year and always about a dollar less than the other good beers now it is the same or higher and they have all went up.

Worth

Lastfling · July 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

You might want to try Couilles de Taureau as a replacement. It is just as large but not quite as productive but it will make the whole season long.

If you like large hearts that are tasty then you really should try Donskoi. It is now the only heart I will grow because of its old time full rich tomato flavor and its wonderful juiciness. It also will produce in the heat of summer but of course not nearly as many as early in the season.

Bill

Bill - thanks for the variety suggestions. I'm adding them to my wishlist for next year.

Cole_Robbie · July 18, 2016

Shiner Bock is $7.69 a six pack near me.

Nice tomatoes, by the way.

Worth1 · July 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Shiner Bock is $7.69 a six pack near me.

Nice tomatoes, by the way.

Yes they are nice tomatoes.
Yesterday all Shiner all types was $14.95 a 12 pack.
I bought Fat Tire for 2 dollars less.
Not to take away from the tomato part of this section but I will be very glad when this beer craze is over and the folks go back to wine.

Worth

Cole_Robbie · July 18, 2016

Wow, 12-packs are $11.99 here. Sam Adams is $12.99.

Father'sDaughter · July 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Yes they are nice tomatoes.
Yesterday all Shiner all types was $14.95 a 12 pack.
I bought Fat Tire for 2 dollars less.
Not to take away from the tomato part of this section but I will be very glad when this beer craze is over and the folks go back to wine.

Worth

I think they may be moving on to Bourbon based on the rising cost of what used to be my affordable go-tos.

And thanks for the reminder about Fat Tire! My husband and I had some in CO on our recent trip out to the Southwest, and we wanted to see if it's available anywhere around us. I had forgotten about it until I read your post Worth.

And that's a nice looking harvest, Lastfling! I just picked my first blushing tomato, zucchini and cucumber this morning, so my harvest season is just ramping up.

Worth1 · July 18, 2016

Evan Williams White label 100 proof Kentucky straight bourbon whisky bottled in bond cheap mellow and good.
About 1000 times better than the rot gut Hangover poison Jack that everyone raves about.
Don't tell anyone.

Worth

July 16, 2016	#1
Lastfling Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NC Posts: 143	Last nights harvest While the plants look like crap they have still been producing well, although they're winding down with the heat / humidity. Following my copper overdose, which didn't appear to impact them to badly, rain set in on a near daily basis which made my disease control efforts nearly futile. Bleach on / bleach off .... LOL. Taste wise of the varieties I've grown Not Purple Strawberry leads the pack followed closely by GGWT, Sweet Ozark Orange, Paul Robeson, Strawberry Margarita and Delicious. Red Barn and Michaelas Pink Oxheart made my not to plant again list. One for Disease susceptibility and the latter for taste. While Michaelas put out some impressive size pink fruit the taste was way to tart (I'd venture to say sour) for me. Mingled with the tomatoes are a few of the many cucumbers I've been getting of late. Also my first sphagetti squash harvest. The Thai pepper plant is also hitting its stride alongside one of my summertime seasonal delights. IMG_0869.JPG IMG_0868.JPG

July 16, 2016	#2
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	While Michaelas put out some impressive size pink fruit the taste was way to tart (I'd venture to say sour) for me. ******* What was the source of your Michaelas Pink seeds? Valerian from Romania was the first to send it to many,including myself,but some got hearts,some got beefsteaks and in a series of e-mails he explained what had happened. He then sent true Michaela's Pink to several and two of my now 7 seed producers are growing it out this summer for seed production for the next seed offer here. Valerian just called it Michaela's Pink,no heart indicated in the name,but did so in his description of the variety. For anyone interested,this was Valerian's intial description of of the four varieties 1. Garden Red Pride - indet, midseason, red beefsteak, 12 - 15 oz, productive and tasty, No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 15 years I have it in my garden 2. Michaela's Pink - indet, midseason, pink beefsteak, 12-15oz. I have it from Michaela, my primary school colleague. It is over 20 year old in Michaela's garden 3. Moms'Heart - my oldest heirloom, over 40 years old in the garden, inherited from my mother - indet, midseason, dark red heart, about 4-6oz, very tasty. No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 40 years 4. Pink Delice - indet, midseason, pink heart, 5-8oz. I have it from one of my neighbor. I grow it for 13-16 years, but it has a longer history in the area. No chemicals used excepting copper sulfur, at least in the last 25 years I'm not going to cut and paste here the em's between Valerian and myself about Michaela's Pink. Carolyn, envious of all that you show,not much here in upstate NY yet,but my brother lives about 20 miles north of Asheville and I'll ask him how his are doing. __________________ Carolyn

July 16, 2016	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Nice looking crop. My cucumbers are already pulled up along with everything else but tomatoes and peppers. I already miss my squash and cucumbers so I will try to grow a few cucumbers in the fall but squash are just too hard to manage that time of the year. I agree that Red Barn has a tendency to have problems with Early Blight; but it is one of the best tasting and largest of the large red beefsteaks. You might want to try Couilles de Taureau as a replacement. It is just as large but not quite as productive but it will make the whole season long. If you like large hearts that are tasty then you really should try Donskoi. It is now the only heart I will grow because of its old time full rich tomato flavor and its wonderful juiciness. It also will produce in the heat of summer but of course not nearly as many as early in the season. You are doing the right thing by using frequent diluted bleach sprays during times of frequent sustained rains. I do the same thing and wait for a break in the rain to apply a fungicide. It makes a huge difference in the amount and severity of the diseases you experience during those times when the plants are most susceptible. Bill

July 16, 2016	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Looks great. Has Shiner went up like 2 or 3 dollars a 12 pack where you live? I had to stop buying it. Worth

July 16, 2016	#7
dirtdigging101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 67	how does one see the pics?

July 17, 2016	#8
Lastfling Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NC Posts: 143	Worth - Shiner falls into the craft beer category around here it seems and therefore goes at a premium. I looked in the grocery last night and it's normally 8.99 a six-pack, 7.99 on sale. 12 packs on Shiner Boch were 12.99.

July 18, 2016	#11
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Shiner Bock is $7.69 a six pack near me. Nice tomatoes, by the way.