July 11, 2009

green tomatoes

After complaining about Late Blight on my tomatoes plants at my community plot, it seemed a good day to photograph the beautiful green tomatoes on my 8 healthy plants at home. They are growing fast. The plants have reached the top of my 5.5 ft supports already. Lots of green tomatoes almost showing signs of color. A few hot days and they’ll ripen fast.tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

July 11, 2009

fighting late blight – organic copper spray

Well, today I bought a bottle of copper sulfate spray (Concern copper soap fungicide). My dad says this is the only organic remedy for Late Blight. I’m planning to use this on my tomato and potato plants at my plot tomorrow. My dad’s friend Tom, a serious gardener, uses mancozeb in regular applications on his tomatoes starting in early spring. He says the only problem with using copper sulfate against Late Blight is that it doesn’t work. Hmmm. But mancozeb is a pretty serious chemical. My potatoes don’t seem to…

July 10, 2009

late blight information

This is what late blight looks like on the tomato plants in my community garden plot. I pulled up half of my tomatoes today. 🙁 Cornell information sheet: Late Blight: a serious disease killing potatoes and tomatoes this year Another Cornell info sheet: Late blight on tomatoes UMASS special alert: Late Blight on Tomato and Potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans)

July 6, 2009

tomato and potato fruits

I thought I’d compare my tomato (left) and potato (right) fruits. Pretty similar in appearance. Both are about the same size now. I’m looking forward to red tomatoes in a couple of weeks. Yummy! My first varieties this year will be New Girl (above photo) and Orange Blossom, sowed Feb 21. Unfortunately potato fruit contains large amounts of the toxic alkaloid solanine, and is therefore poisonous. Potatoes can be grown from seed, though they don’t breed true; Wikipedia says to finely chop the fruit and soak it in water, the…

July 3, 2009

NE wet weather brings Late Blight concerns

I support a distribution site for a local CSA: Piccadilly Farm in Winchester, NH. Along with weekly fantastic fresh vegetables, they send out a very informative news letter about current conditions for gardeners and farmers. I have copied their letter below, along with a list of crops they included this week. (Thanks Jenny!) Dear Shareholders, The news from the farm is no real news to you: it’s been raining. And raining, and raining. We saw only 8 rain-free days in June, with double the normal rainfall. On our farm, we…

June 14, 2009

tomato blossoms

My first tomato flowers! The rule of thumb is 30 days from flower to fruit, so, lets see, that’s July 14 for my first tomato. That would be super timing for me. I usually get my first tomatoes at the end of July. In fact, for the past THREE years, my first ripe tomato has been on the same day – July 31! Here’s my 2008 first, my 2007 first, and my 2006 first. To get earlier tomatoes, this year I planted a few tomato seeds very early (Feb 21)…

June 6, 2009

tomato supports

This year I’m trying to replicate the tomato supports I see many gardeners using. Two side poles and a crossbeam, with ropes supporting the vines. I think you just wrap the vines in the rope. Several gardeners at our Community Gardens use this method and I’ll watch how they do it. Lynda suggests to try Johnny’s tomato clips. They seem nice. But I think if I need ties, I’ll use strips of my old plastic shopping bags. They’re free. In previous years I have always used tepees for my tomatoes.…

April 3, 2009

tomato seedlings

I planted a few tomatoes very early (February 21) and transplanted them and some peppers to bigger pots yesterday. The 16 varieties planted last weekend have all sprouted. My tomato varieties this year are: Hillbilly, Purple Calabash, Brandywine, Giant Belgium, Cherokee Purple, Sudduth’s strain Brandywine, Opalka, Box Car Willie, San Marzano, Oxheart Red, New Girl, Early Girl, Orange Blossom, Big Beef, Pink Beauty and Sungold. tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum))

March 25, 2009

the tomato seeds are planted!

Its a big event, to get my tomatoes planted. I think this really means the garden season has started. At last! I planted 3 cells each of 16 different varieties – one or two seeds per cell. I have some very exciting new (to me) varieties I’m trying this year. Box Car Willie, Hillybilly, Mortgage Lifter, Opalka and Sungold. And my old favorites: Giant Belgian, Purple Calabash and Brandywine. Lets hope its a perfect tomato summer. tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

March 5, 2009

my first tomato seedling

Psychedelic celebration… This is a New Girl tomato seedling planted 10 weeks before the last frost in my garden. That’s 4 weeks early. I have 9 very early tomatoes that sprouted this week. I can almost taste sweet red early tomatoes! tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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