A tomato grows in Manhattan!
It's a bumper crop! This year I planted three heirloom tomato plants in big pots, and I've been enjoying the most delicious tomato salads for a few weeks now. They seem to be ripening at just the right timing to keep me well fed. I'm glad to know I can do one thing right. This gene I must have inherited from my mom.
On the left is a green zebra, which needs a little more ripening on the counter. On the right are some bucks county tomatoes, which are huge! I also have brandywines—they are sooooooo tasty—my favorites. I may forgo the green zebras next year in favor of two brandywines, though I do like the mix of colors.
I thought I'd have trouble finding heirloom tomatoes.
These are plants saved from a time before genetic manipulation that makes tomatoes look good but taste blah. But there they were at the farmer's market. Really, I just like that I can grow food in the dense urban setting—they haven't been too hard to manage. I even have tons of herbs to put in the salad, too, though I'm partial to just the mint and basil…with a little balsamic and lemon dressing…mmmmmmm.
Anyone else having luck with tomatoes this year?
Posted by Alex Bandon | Categories: City Garden | Permalink
(4) Comments
I love the heirloom tomatoes! We have had great luck with all that we planted this year--40 plants! My favorite so far is a small one called "Mexico Midget." It packs a big punch of flavor--you're right, the older varieties actually taste like a tomato. I got my heirlooms from seedsavers.org. They ship both seed and live plants and the service was terrific. I also purchased several heirloom peppers as well.
You can check out mine if you're interested at projectkraemerlane.net and click on notebook section (it's my blog). Thanks for sharing!
I tried growing some baby tomatoes this year.And the plants grew fine.But one day i found these tiny granules (read turds) all oaround the plant.On scurtinizing I saw these humoungoulsy big hornworms(http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/hornworm.htm) infesting the plant. It was a ghastly site i tell you!!:( Much to say I threw away the entire plant!
FYI: Kristin over at http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/ has a wonderful tomato salad she calls Summer in a Bowl. I've made it in the past with heirloom and less pedigreed tomatoes and it was WONDERFUL every time. This summer I'm working on perfecting a very simple vinegarette from which I can venture once I have my basic proportions worked out, yummmmmmm on tomato, cucumber and onion salad.
hi Alex, I'm late getting to this page, I know... but can you tell me the exact variety of tomato on the RIGHT in the picture (large red one), AND, what kind of brandywines you grew. And which was better? I'm desperately seeking the tomatoes of my youth, and these look like they might be winners!