What did you do in the garden today?

[ShrekDawg]

Over the seasons we have grown many types of tomatoes, Red, green, pink, purple.
Most were Open pollenated some Hybrids. We always have room for the Old Heirloom Brandywine. It is dark pink & sooo delicious for everything. This is what you are dreaming about in the winter when the store has red bags of tasteless water.


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This is my Beast-steak Slicer that I harvested a few weeks ago. At 1.5 lbs, that's a mighty big tomato. Honestly all the tomatoes off this plant are enormous. The variety is called Skyway. To be fair, I made a few changes this year which might have contributed -

1. I planted some crawfish skeletons (leftover from a boil) in the ground next to the seedlings.

2. I dumped about 4 inches of compost across the entire area about a month before I put the seedlings out.

3. I added an irrigation system so they were getting consistent water all through the spring.

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Thank you both!!! Very helpful!!!

 

[Sally PB]

We always have room for the Old Heirloom Brandywine.

This is my third time trying Brandywine. I have yet to get a decent tomato. Small and corky is all I've gotten. I'm giving them one last chance to impress me.

Ditto with Cherokee Purple.

 

[ShrekDawg]

This is my third time trying Brandywine. I have yet to get a decent tomato. Small and corky is all I've gotten. I'm giving them one last chance to impress me.

Ditto with Cherokee Purple.

I just read this so you are not alone.

 

[WthrLady]

I have lots of cherry tomatoes to eat up. Anybody know how to make homemade tomato soup and if cherry tomatoes would be good for that? Grandma used to make tomato soup at home with fresh tomatos and milk, etc.. but I was pretty young at the time and was not paying attention to her cooking. I just ate it up after it was ready.

There's a tomato soup from scratch recipe on my blog. Have at it. I prefer acidic tomatoes for my soup and then adjust the acid at the end.

 

[WthrLady]

This is my third time trying Brandywine. I have yet to get a decent tomato. Small and corky is all I've gotten. I'm giving them one last chance to impress me.

Ditto with Cherokee Purple.

ditto to you brandywine and cherokee don't do well here either, neither does mortgage lifter

 

[Sally PB]

neither does mortgage lifter

That's another one I'm trying... again. If it doesn't do well, I'm crossing it off my list.

Strangely, a friend of mine has good luck with Cherokee Purple, and he's about 1.5 hours north of me.

 

[WthrLady]

That's another one I'm trying... again. If it doesn't do well, I'm crossing it off my list.

Strangely, a friend of mine has good luck with Cherokee Purple, and he's about 1.5 hours north of me.

That can be a huge difference in soil. 45 minutes from me and the soil is sand! Not sandy, sand!

 

[Sammster]

I got one years ago and I decided that it might be worth the price of the bag rolls (which is horrendous) if I fished or something where I need to freeze high dollar food. It came with an attachment to vacuum seal Mason jars which is fun but more gimmicky than useful imo.
If you’re curious then borrow one to play with or look in thrift shops. There may be more affordable options around though. Mine is an early version of the Foodsaver.

We've had several food savers over the years. I use the jar sealers all the time with mason jars - especially since getting my freeze dryer. I also use my foods saver to reseal things like chip bags, cereal bags, etc.
I've never had any luck with the fancy storage and marinating dishes/lids that are made to work with food savers

 

[Farmer13]

Growing good tomato's is not that hard if you follow the guidelines.
This is a Mortgage lifter an old heirloom like the Brandywine this one
made 6 mater sandwiches.

Biggest mistake many make is Too much nitrogen or acid soil.
No more than 5-10-10 if you use inorganic. Fish fertilizer with sea weed extract
for organic growers.

Here in the NC Mountains we have blights that come with the rain & fog.
Last season we added Biofungicides to our organic arsenal. Revitalize & Cease
both natural & for Organic growers. What a game changer for two old Organic
growers.

https://www.almanac.com/10-secrets-growing-tomatoes

 

[Sammster]

But aren't the vacuum sealer bags reusable until they get too short? I thought that was one of the touted benefits.

Depending on what was stored in them - yes. As long as they are properly washed and thoroughly dried