What tomato varieties are you growing?

[Hamiam]

This is the first time planting these. I picked the first ripe ones this week. Mine have a thicker skin than I like on a cherry tomato & the flavor is "OK". Unfortunately, this is the only cherry tomato I planted. Of course I planted 30+ plants.

 

[MROO]

I would totally try it, but I don't think our HOA would approve.

So, plant the sides, too! If you use already-flowering annuals, you'll look "trendy," not rebellious. And if you use edible plants and flowers - like salad greens and nasturtiums - you'll be another step ahead of the game. If the HOA complains, put the plants in the ground and spread the straw bales around them. The backfire will be on them, not you, as the planted bales look a lot prettier!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

So, plant the sides, too! If you use already-flowering annuals, you'll look "trendy," not rebellious. And if you use edible plants and flowers - like salad greens and nasturtiums - you'll be another step ahead of the game. If the HOA complains, put the plants in the ground and spread the straw bales around them. The backfire will be on them, not you, as the planted bales look a lot prettier!

Do you have a picture? I must be picturing something different. It sounds intriguing.

 

[MROO]

Google straw bale gardening and you'll find lots of ideas. I didn't like the look of the ones I found online, so I planted the exposed sides with herbs and flowers. I didn't take pictures at the time, because I thought of them as temporary fixes. Now, I wish I'd taken a few!

I have to admit that I no longer use them, but not because they didn't work, but because my own yard has ample space and really good soil. My first house had a tiny back yard that was mainly one steep, rocky hill. I used the bales at the base and up one side to create planting terraces. I also had a few up top to control runoff. After a few years of bale-gardening, the soil was built up enough to let me plant directly into the hill. That was one beautiful garden when I left it!

The big drawback of bale gardening is water, The baes suck up a great deal of the stuff! Think of soaking a straw bale, then add what even a single tomato plant needs, and you'll be watering a lot. They sure were worth it for me, though. They gave my yard the boost it needed and provided me with some much-needed green-thumb-therapy.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is the first time planting these. I picked the first ripe ones this week. Mine have a thicker skin than I like on a cherry tomato & the flavor is "OK". Unfortunately, this is the only cherry tomato I planted. Of course I planted 30+ plants. View attachment 1441371

Too bad about that, I considered trying the Blue Berries as well (I got the same catalog) but only wanted one cherry type, so I ended up skipping the blue types.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have swined tomatoes

 

[R2elk]

My mother in law, who lives in the town over from me, grows Legend and loves it. I grew it up here one year and it was absolutely tasteless. For her, my go-to fave Black Plum, is useless. Go figure. She also grows Medford which is a hybrid grown by University of Oregon especially for this area. It is a good solid slicer with typical tomato taste. OK but not a reason for too much real estate in my garden.
I grew Arkansas Traveller when I lived across the valley from my current house. It was fantastic over there, pink in color, medium to good production and great taste. Here, not so much!
When it really comes down to it, the plants that I grow from my own seed are the best tasting, biggest, most productive plants. Cheaper too!

I live on a sand dune. All of my tomatoes tasted about the same which was not very good. I discovered Azomite and now all my tomatoes have their own individual textures and flavors. Azomite is trace minerals mined outside of Salt lake City, Utah.

http://www.underwoodgardens.com/mineral-restoration-of-your-garden-soil/

http://www.underwoodgardens.com/mineral-restoration-of-your-garden-soil-part-ii/

 

[Trux]

My first year in this location in SoCal sooooo I only planted 6 plants. A beefsteak, early girl, better boy, mr. stripey, seattle best of all, and a juliette cherry variety. I started amending the soil back in Oct last year and so far they are going along great. I also have a summer set I planted in a container last year when I got here and it is still putting out maters

 

[MROO]

I grow san marzano. They get BER but we treat with calcium foliar feeding and that tends to fix it.
I like the SM because they out-grow everything. Weeds, diseases, munching animals, everything. Plus we don't eat a lot of fresh tomatoes, so canning tomatoes are best for us.

Have you tried making your own spaghetti sauce with San Marzano? If you don't have access to true "Old World" style plum tomatoes, they're the closest option I've found.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I almost exclusively use them for canning.... So yes! It's pretty great! My partner D won't eat tomatoes other than mine.