If you havent read it already - start with this one first "Tomato Problem" I always end up with a plethora of tomatos in the greenhouse and all around the farm (yes- I sometimes let them just grow in the compost pile). Every year I say I am going to grow less tomatoes - it never works! Luckily, they arent making it mandatory for me to grow less tomato plants!
Im giving you the annual tomato roundup for the season - you can use it to plan your next tomato adventures - or what not to grow!
I try to save a tag from each plant as I close up the greenhouse so I will remember what I liked and didnt. The prescription jars I wash out well and use to save seeds or other small items.
I had 26 tomato plants this year in the greenhouse - I said at the beginning of the season that I was only keeping about 18 max! As I have said before - I HAVE a TOMATO problem! There are not meetings for this type of problem that I can find! Im working on it - but Ill probable figure out how to fit more in next year ayway..... Who doesn't love tomatos?
This is part of the tomato harvest at the end of this season. It snowed on September 17th, about a foot here in Big Lake, and thinking that the season was over I started to close up the greenhouse. It hasn't snowed more than a 1/2" since then - of course!
Here's the "whats what" for this year:
Bush Early Girl; This tomato is once again at the top of the absolute favorites list! It produces prolifically all season, bright red, medium sized tomatos. It doesnt care if it is in the greenhouse or outside, it produces! The tomatos are delicious and can be used for anything that you need a tomato for. Good enough for salad and sandwich slicers, they also make great sauce or cookery tomatos. These are good storage toms too and freeze delightfully! This one will definitely be in the lineup for next year.
Sweet Tangerine; This was the first year for us growing this variety and we are sold on the flavor and the texture for sure! This golden/orange tomato is medium-large and produces fairly well for the start to the middle of the season. It seemed like it got a little worn out at the end of this season, but our weather wasnt really cooperating for the end of summer here - gray and gloomy and not tomato producing weather for sure. These never lasted long enough in the house to see if they store well, but they are great for eating and cookery both. Definitely will be part of my tomato problem next year.
Green Sweet Tangerine. Great size, taste and texture. They turn a beautiful orange color when ripe (which I forgot to photo).
Velvet Red; This was our first year growing this one and although the plant and the leaves are beautiful, I cant call it a favorite. Although it has good flavor, I found the texture to be a bit dry and pithy. Great for cooking, but probably not a must have annual.
Sungold; Always a great producer and tasty! I call this one my "breakfast tomato" because I have no problems eating a handful of them when I check the greenhouse each morning! It is great at any time of the day and also freezes well and is a delightful addition to pasta sauce and any other way you want to use it! A bright pop of tomato flavor without the acid backwash that some of the others have. It is an every year greenhouse and outdoor staple.
Chocolate Cherry: Perpetual favorite! Huge producer and although it takes up a bit of room with its viny habit it is worth it for the flavor and beauty of this tomato! It also qualifies as a "breakfast tomato" and it stores, freezes and cooks up well! Yum! I have trouble choosing between this one and Sungold as favorites!
Cherry Sweetie; Great flavored tiny red tomato, a little on the lines of the Sungold, but although it is a heavy producer, this tomato splits easily (well before it is red), and if you jostle the vines too hard it falls off them green even! I wont grow this tomato again, it takes up too much room (even though I grew it in hanging baskets) and the unpredictible nature of the plant makes it not a favorite!
Austins Red Pear; This is a small pear shaped tomato and was new to us this year as well. It also won't be a keeper as far as my greenhouse goes. Although the flavor is good, the texture does not make it a good eating/snacking tomato but it is a great cooking tomato. Doesnt take up too much space, but also doesnt produce enough to make it worth the space. It may be a late season tomato also and didn't have tine to get going before it got cold again? Might try this again to see if it was just a bad summer for it.
The Austins Red Pear are there in the center right, the pear shaped ones that are just turning red. The bigger pink ones are the Pink Beefsteaks ripening up! There are a mix of all flavors including the Chocolate Cherry and the Sungold too. Of this box I had only a handful that were not ripe withing a couple of weeks.
Pink Beefsteak; I love this tomato! It is a fun color and great flavor! It is sometimes mis-shapen, but it is a good sized tomato and can be used for any use! We had BLT sandwiches with this one a number of times and were not disappointed. We brought the green ones inside (see above box picture) and they ripened up nicely in a box in the kitchen. It is also a semi-determinite plant so it doesnt take up a lot of room or demand a lot from the grower. Definitely will be on the list for next year.
Pink Beefsteaks on the vine.
Container Choice; This also was a first for us this year and I was not overly impressed. It grows great in a container but the Bush Early Girl produces more in the same space and are a little bigger, more "tomato" flavor plant. I may try it again for "try it" sake and to see if a different summer makes a difference. Ill keep you posted on that!
We did not have the Brandywine or Brandyboy tomatoes for this year and I can't remember why. They are both great varieties as well. I just didnt have the seed or couldnt find the plants - and i was trying to not have such a tomato problem too! Will probably pick them up again next year.
Cuke; Snows Fancy Pickle - This has been my favorite this year for Cuke's! I had started out with 4 Tasty Jade and two Marketmore cukes. I got a few off of each of them and then they just died off! I started again with this "Snows Fancy Pickle" and got a plethora of Cukes off of them! They are tasty, firm and a great size for pickling or just eating. I love them for lunches to take to work and for sandwiches - replace your lettuce with thin slices of this cuke and they are delicious! I will definitely grow this one again!
If you haven't seen it before, or lost track of it, click here for the blog with the Pasta Sauce recipe made from all the tomatoes you are saving! It is so delicious!
As the days go by, almost getting brighter again, may you be blessed with summertime dreams and tomato delights!
