They saw the salad dressing. (Tadump!--Okay it's my kid's joke.)
I'm so excited. Tomatoes usually do miserably for me, and the weather has been way cool this past month. However, I've just got my first couple of tomatoes somewhere between stages 4 or 5 and I can pick them now. Yahoo!
I like this chart: http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Produce/ProduceFacts/Veg/full_tomatousdacolor.shtml
How are your tomatoes doing?
-Au
cute... ;)
Oh, I like that chart!
I'm really regretting not doing a cherry or grape tomato because they help me wait for the bigger ones. ;)
I've finally got two that are in level 4-5 of ripening. I tried "Willamette", an OSU tomato, and I'm impressed with how many tomatoes I've got on the plant, but I think the cool nights have slowed down the ripening for me this year.
I've got tomatoes all the way to 4-6 but I've also got something chomping on the. They're little wormy things, gray and about 1/2" long. These buggers make huge holes! Ugh. Any ideas what they are and what I should do?
Yeah Susy & Kathy for the ripe 'uns.
Kathy, could those buggers be fruit-worms?
If it isn't sun scald, or splitting, or end rot, or cat face, or whatever........, then it's another.
Here's a Fruit worm link1: http://www.avrdc.org/LC/tomato/fruitworm.html
And another: http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/extension/teamtomato/Pages/29.html
Edited to add links
This message was edited Aug 24, 2007 3:09 PM
Thanks AuNatural, I went to those websites and googled for others. Darn, none seem very optimistic.
That worm sure looks nasty. Katy, I'm sorry your tomatoes are suffering. :(
Can't hurt to try something, though. At least you'll be fighting back! Did you see any of those eggs? What about the Bt or the wasps?
I need to see if anyone has Bt locally. I do have wasps in the back yard but not sure if they're the right sort.
I got a late start on my 'maters this year, so I'm just now getting to the "breakers" stage, though I have a few cherry tomatoes that should be ripe in a day or two
Susy - I love your idea that the cherry/grape tomatoes are the warm-up act for the Big Tomato Show.
It was only a few years ago that I realized that the only time I ever eat fresh tomatoes is if they're grown in a home garden (usually my own). And then I go crazy - I'll actually go to the effort of making mayonnaise so I can have it on tomato sandwiches!
Kathy,
I'm sorry. I do hope you can find the Bt and it works in time for you to keep some tomatoes.
I use Bt in our pond against mosquitoes (Israelensis strains), and it's not the same type that is used against fruit crops (Kurstaki strain.)
This page has more: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/INSECT/05556.html
WA state uses Btk against gypsy moths: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/env_hlth/gypsy.htm#usage
Good Luck
-Au
Tomatoes were unusally late this year, but the plants have been thriving. Now I am finally to the stage that the kitchen overflows with the daily harvest, and I have enough to share with neighbors and friends as well.
I do LOVE tomato season!
Tomato season FINALLY got going this past couple weeks for my area.
After being spoiled by the temps last summer, I feel cheated this year. Like we could do anything about it!
So far, I have not had any insect/worm problems, and keeping my fingers crossed.
Like Susy mentioned earlier, I plant Cherry toms in anticipation of harvesting the big, meaty tomatoes.
I would like to know what larger varieties others have grown that have performed consistently. It has been somewhat of a crapshoot year to year.
I'm growing Zapotek pleated which grow on impressively big plants and look great - I'm hoping they'll ripen so that I can tell you about the taste!
I'm also growing Big Beef, which I've been growing for years. These are my favorite tomatoes for tomato sandwiches.
And for plum tomatoes, I'm growing Milano. This is the first year I've grown these. The plants are very refined, determinate plants, and right now they are loaded with big plum tomatoes. I didn't notice the spotty one until I'd taken the picture, so I had to rush outside and investigate - they seem minor surface blemishes.
The biggest thing I've had to learn about growing tomatoes here in the PNW is the need to really supplement the calcium well. I'm a big fan of fishbone meal, which is surprisingly hard to find around here.
Andreac-I love to see what you're growing.
So far, we have people growing Cherry/grape types, 'Willamette', 'Zapotec pleated', 'Big Beef', and 'Milano'.
Yes, this summer seems unusually cool. I hate to admit this, but I'm running the heat in the house in the mornings (after DH has left , other wise he'll have a fit.) Wear a sweater dammmit!
Last year I bought starter plants of 'Early Girl' and the Japanese hybrid 'Acclaim'. I was soooo dissappointed in not so 'Early Girl'. When the fruit finally ripened, they were tasteless to me. I was impressed with 'Acclaim', the fruit was tastier than 'Early Girl' and they ripend around the same time. I couldn't find them anywhere this year.
This year, I'm growing 'Northern Exposure' from seed. The plants are compact semi-determinate, the fruit are 4-9 ozs, and they taste okay. I prefer 'Acclaim' but of course, those might have been a figment of my imagination. Maybe next year I should try some heirlooms. Any suggestions?
Hi AuNatural,
Of Heirlooms I am growing this year, so far these have made the cut to be grown again next year:
Bloody Butcher (one of the earliest for me this year, and good flavor for an early tomato)
Azoychka (one of my all time favorites, not a big producer, but such great flavor)
Mortgage Lifter
Caspian Pink (diappointing this year, tasteless and mealy - but they were SO GOOD last year, I have to try again)
Moskvich (superb taste, though I am having some problems with blossom end rot)
Valena Pink (great flavor, big beefsteak)
Coyote (miniature wild Mexican tomato - but only the tomato is miniature, the plant is HUGE)
In the non-heirloom category:
Sungold (never will do without Sundgold)
Jolly
And one of the best cucumbers ever:
Summer Delight (from Evergreen Seeds)
This message was edited Sep 2, 2007 5:57 PM
This message was edited Sep 2, 2007 5:58 PM
We grow Black Krim, a deep red heirloom tomato with dark blush. The are generally large, juicy, and have good flavor, good for slicing or sauce. They are late this year, as all my tomatoes are. I also grow Matina, which is a small tomato but prolific, and those delicious favorites Sungold cherry which my teenage son and friends eat their way through rapidly.
