Got my first ripe tomato

Ok - it was an orange cherry type, but it was tasty!

I only planted cherry/grape types this year, but I love a mixed tomato salad.

Cheryl (in NH)

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak
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Yeah, I've got just one approaching ripeness and one a few days behind it. Other than that there are probably 20 good-sized but green ones on my "garden" of 2 plants in an "earth box"-type container I made. I'm afraid that every one of them will ripen at exactly the same time but I'm trying to show patience and watching my earliest one. Don't want to pick it too soon or too late.

Reply to
John McGaw

Did you plant late this year, John? I figured that Knoxville and Nashville would be close to the same ripening schedule. I've been eating tomatoes since the first week of July.

Kate

Reply to
kate

I have one Big Boy just about ready to go, and another starting to turn. Then there's a big gap due to an unseasonably hot June here. There's a raft of green ones < 2 inches in diameter. Should be a good crop down the line a bit.

The poblanos have several getting to a size where I could use them green (pork chile verde sounds good). Some I will let ripen to dry for ancho use.

Brian

Reply to
Default User

Contrary to pepper science I have noticed my poblanos are weathering the high heat quite well and continue to develop nicely. The bells are having more trouble.

Paul

Reply to
Paul M. Cook

I got quite a late start this year due to various family crises. Last year there were ripe ones by the 4th. I'm learning as I go along and will try to get two boxes done up next year so I can branch out a bit.

Reply to
John McGaw

Haven't tried growing full sized tomatoes this year. Last year, I only got about 3 tomatoes off the 5 plants I had of things like Aunt Ruby's and Green Zebra and something Black.

Enjoy the poblanos; they'll grow here but the flavor is only so-so.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

I've gotten half a dozen yellow cherry tomatoes off of my plant so far with dozen's more starting to ripen up. My 3 other tomato plants have lots of fruit but are very slow ripening. I'm being patient (not!) but am looking forward to making plenty of gazpacho, marinara and caprese salad this summer.

All 4 of my plants are in 5 gallon pots and seem to be thriving.

Jon

Reply to
Zeppo

Want to trade gazpacho recipes? Mine is from Cooks Illustrated.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Mine are on pots too and we got first ripe ones this week here in northern Delaware. Little late but it's been cooler than normal. Only had the AC on one day, all summer.

Frank

Reply to
Frank

I have beautiful tomato plants -- about a foot tall. Some of them haven't even started blooming yet. I saw one has a few pea-sized tomatoes, so I may get some yet (in September. If it doesn't freeze before then.) It's been downright chilly this July. I think it has dropped down into the 40's at night a couple of times.

The volunteer tomatillos have passed up the tomato plants. They don't have any fruit yet, but they are blooming like crazy, and it won't take them long to develop once they set.

The peppers and eggplants haven't really grown much at all since I set them out about 6 or 7 weeks ago. The cantaloupes have finally taken off; the vines are short but they look healthy and have lots of blooms. No melons yet.

Serves me right for planting nothing but hot-weather crops this year.

Bob, in Minnesota

Reply to
zxcvbob

Some year, I have to try tomatillos. I have cucumbers that look like June plants still but the volunteer pumpkins are doing well.

It is raining again here - supposed until late next week too. Sigh, I'm going to lose control of the weeds for sure now.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Hi Cheryl, Mine is a mish-mash of different recipes I've clipped or copied from the web over the years. The basic recipe I use is:

3 lb. peeled, seeded and chopped red tomatoes 2 minced garlic cloves 1 medium red onion chopped 1 large or 2 small red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped 2 medium cukes, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup tomato juice salt and pepper

Put all the vegetables in a blender or food processor and process or blend. Don't overdo it. Add the liquids and process a bit more 'till combined. I always reserve some of the tomato, onion, bell pepper and cucumber to spoon on top of each bowl of gazpacho when I serve it and give it a spritz of olive oil too. I'll also chiffonade some basil or mint and sprinkle it on top as well.

When I say this is my basic recipe, I mean that everything in it is subject to change based on availability or whim. I sometimes will add a cub of croutons or stale bread to thicken it (my kids like it that way), or substitute one green bell pepper for one of the red ones, Balsamic instead of red wine vinegar, V8 instead of tomato juice, etc. I also do a yellow gazpacho that uses yellow tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, sweet onions, champagne vinegar and pineapple juice. This is one of those dishes that invites experimentation.

Hope this helps, Jon

Reply to
Zeppo

I'm just a little north of you, just outside northwest Philly. The weather has been absolutely great (even though its raining today). I could live with this all summer.

Jon

Reply to
Zeppo

It's been odd in St. Louis. June was very hot, several stretches of mid-90s and above. I got my plants in a bit late, Memorial day weekend. The hot weather was great for plant growth, but the tomatoes didn't set much fruit. I have two that were set early. I'll pick the first tonight.

July has been quite cool. This week we won't get out of the 80s, and today will be in the 70s. So the plants are setting fruit now, with a vengeance. I did a quick inventory last night, and there're about 50 tomatoes 2in or less in diameter. Big crop coming down the line.

The poblanos were unfazed by the early heat.

Brian

Reply to
Default User

  • 1 1/2 pounds good red tomatoes * 1 pound red bell peppers (two small ones) * 2 cucumbers * 2 cloves garlic * 1/2 medium white onion * 1/3 cup sherry vinegar * 2 tbs. balsamic wine vinegar * 1/4 tsp. salt * fresh ground black pepper * 5 cups tomato juice ( Welch's, but any really good one works ) * 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Cut tomatoes in half and remove the seeds. Evenly dice the tomatoes into 1/4 inch cubes.

Peel the cucumber and remove seeds from it and the pepper. Dice the cucumber, pepper, and onion into 1/4 inch cubes.

Mince the garlic very finely.

Combine tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and vinegars. Let stand for 5 minutes. Mix in tomato juice. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Before serving remove one cup of the mix. Use a handheld food processor or blender to puree the rest. I have also served it without this step and while it is good, the puree is a step better.

Spoon into bowls, add a spoonful of the reserved chopped veggies and drizzle a little olive oil in each bowl.

Good tomatoes and smaller cukes. I used Brandywines once - oh wow! I want to try once with mixed cherry tomatoes.

C
Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Thanks Cheryl. looks yummy. Jon

Reply to
Zeppo

Let me know how you like it. Definitely simpler than some of the more "traditional" ones with the bread etc

C
Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

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