I don't know if this information has been posted already, but thought it was worth passing along.
Connie just sent me a link to this news story about Roma Tomatoes and Salmonella.
http://www.kfdm.com/news/urged_26311___article.html/texans_tomatoes.html
I'll be glad when my own tomatoes start doing their thing.
Janet
Roma Tomatoes
It's also for any tomato that's NOT attached to a vine that you purchase in the store or market.
Yes, I saw that on the news this morning.
Fortunately I won't touch grocery store tomatoes. Not when I can grow...
Color me green with envy Feldon!
Janet
Any chance we'll see you two at the 2nd annual South East Texas Tomato Fest? June 21st at Washington on the Brazos state park. http://www.settfest.com/
The local stores are pulling almost all tomatoes from the shelves. Fortunately for me and everybody who had my guacamole (with a small amount of tomato) last night, I remember getting one of the ripened-on-the-vine tomatoes at the store to put in it. I didn't have any ripe tomatoes on my bushes at the time, just green. And with the heat being so bad here, I may not get any more tomato plants setting fruit for a while.
I don't know if I'll make that trip. Seems like a long way to go just to see a bunch of maters. HAHAHAHAHA
We'll have at least 80 tomato varieties available to taste, maybe as many as 100. Last year we had 25 people. This year I expect 50.
I'll talk to Connie and see if she wants to make the trip with me. We could hit the thrift stores afterward. Thanks for the invite.
Janet
DH has had symptoms for two days that otc meds are not helping. Dallas was one of the counties listed with problems.
I will keep him in my prayers Christi. He should probably see a doctor. I've thrown out all of my tomatoes.
I'll miss them.
Janet
Janet, if they are homegrown you have no problems. That should have been DD.
Tired tonight.
Christi
God knows our needs, even when we make mistakes. :-)
The tomatoes I had came from Wally World and were regular ol plain jane romas.
I bought some Early Girl plants, but have only seen blossoms, not actual maters yet. I was late getting them out though, so it's not necessarily the plants' fault.
I did read that as long as they were heated to 145 degrees they'd be OK. But who wants a cooked mater on their swammich???
Janet
March 15th is a good planting date for tomatoes in S.E. Texas. :)
I was way late then because I didn't get my garden set up until May 1st. I'll have to remember March 15th for next year. Thanks
Just one more...
I'm seeing Fried Green Tomatoes for dinner sitting there on that table. What time should you expect me??? :-)
Janet
We purchased "Beefsteak" tomatoes at Sams a week ago today. We seldom buy tomatoes. We had some for dinner that night. Wednesday we both started feeling bad, Thursday was awful, I was a little better Friday, DW is still under the influence. We heard about the problem the next day after eating them. We threw out the rest. I feel OK today. Dw feels like I did yesterday.
Dang it, I like tomatoes.
My hubby is really missing them on his swammiches. I can take them or leave them. Unless they are fresh off the vine. Then I could eat my weight in them!
I hope your lovely wife is feeling better soon. I'll keep her in my prayers and thoughts. Glad to hear you are feeling better Trois.
Janet
Thanks, Janet.
I will not be able to eat a Cheeseburger until this is over. Without a slice of tomato it just doesn't taste right.
Hopefully it encourages more people to grow tomatoes. If you have any yard space at all, it's worth doing. I bring tomatoes with me to restaurants now.
This is the first year I've had any luck with growing tomatoes. They usually fry and/or die for some reason. THIS year, though, I seem to be doing ok. This is a "tiger" tomato that is about the size of a small plum so far.
These cherry size are still a bit far from eating, too - but not too far! These are Sun Gold . . .
Tomato fruit set requires night temperature of 70 or below. A dry year allows lower night temps, enabling fruit set. They may require some heat of day shading also.
Just to get an idea of how my spring tomato gardens have gone this year:
I started tomato seeds on January 15th (next year will start January 1st)
I planted 10-12" tall plants outside on March 14th and 16th.
First significant fruitset on April 9th.
Major fruitset through the end of April.
First ripe medium tomato -- Jet Star on May 9th.
First cherries - May 20th.
First significant harvests -- May 23rd.
I have been harvesting a basket of tomatoes every other day since then. I can expect probably another week or two of significant harvests.
My soil is peat moss, composted cow manure (Black Kow), cotton burr compost, shredded pine bark. I add 2/3 cup of TomatoTone 4-7-10 along with a small handful of Epsom Salt and Dolomitic/Pelletized Lime, and mix well for each planting hole at planting time.
I am getting much more fruit and a more extended harvest this year because of the prolonged cool temps we had this spring. In previous years I get my first tomatoes about the same time -- the first week of May -- and the bulk of the harvest May 21-June 7th. The last 2 years I had to protect my plants with blankets and/or tarps. If I waited until all risk of frost is gone, I would get very few tomatoes. This is proving to be my best year yet, with around 350 tomatoes from 32 plants, not including cherries.
This message was edited Jun 10, 2008 9:07 AM
That is a lot of tomatos!
It seems a shame that tons of tomatoes are being destroyed. Many of them are safe, but with liability being what it is, all are destroyed if there's even a shadow of doubt.
I tossed out the Romas I bought. I wasn't about to take any chances.
It is a shame so many tomatoes are being destroyed, but it is very understandable.
This has really made me be much more cautious with ALL of my fruits and vegetables. I know, I should have been more cautious all along.
And maybe, THAT is the good thing about this. That more folks will be more cautious in the long run.
Janet
I continually tell DH, "The food chain is not what it used to be". Please be careful.
We have our own veggie garden this year but it hasn't been easy.