Tomatoes 2012

I have grown tomatoes for many years, usually from seeds; Big boy and Big Girl hybrids.  This year since I started planning my garden late, I went to an heirloom tomato sale at Old layfayette Village and purchased nearly mature plants of different heirloom varieties.

July 23, 2012, only two tomatoes harvested; a small Early Girl and small Roma, each about two inch diameter.Normally I would make a tomato sandwich with the first tomato, but these weren’t large enough.  But I cut them in wedges sprinkled crushed basil, salt and pepper, both tomatoes were tasty and sweet, can’t wait for more.  There was a Husky Red that looked ready to pick but disappeared from the plant, thinking I am getting “critters”. Otherwise the Sweet Chelsea (extra large cherry tomato variety) and the Ramapos have quite a bit of fruit growing. Wait and see!

July 27, 2012 – Its been a hot summer so far, hot and humid is good for tomato plants as they are tropical origin. Eighty to ninety degrees is optimal for tomato growth, above ninety-five degrees, thought should be given to protection from the heat with a cheesecloth sunshade or mulch the base of teh plant to protect the roots from heat.  Temperatures have ben averaging eighty-five in my garden, so I won’t be taking any action for extreme heat.

August 12, 2012 – Been picking tomatoes regularly. Sweet Chelsea’s are picked daily. Ramapo tomatoes have started ripening and are very tasty. The Czech Bush tomato was very sweet, more to come.

2012 Tomato Harvest

2012 Tomato Yield

After a late start, the tomato yield was pretty good from the 8 plants I bought. The cherry tomato plant, Sweet Chelsea, was a good producer of flavorful, sweet cherry tomatoes. the patio tomatoes purchased from Walmart were also very productive, although I feel the Ramapo and other heirloom tomatoes had better flavor. when the two Ramapo plants were totaled together were about halF as productive as the Patio tomatoes. The Patio tomatoes were grwon in terracotta pots with generic potting soil while the Ramapo tomatoes were planted in the garden.