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So. Cal. 15 May 2009 - 41 Tomato Plants; 40 Varieties

Dot’s Thot: “Of the tomato or love apple, I know very little. It is chiefly employed as a sauce or condiment. No one, it is believed, regards it as very nutritious; and it belongs, like the mushroom and the potatoe, to a family of plants, some of the individuals of which are extremely poisonous. Some persons are even injured, more or less, by the acid of the tomato.”
‘The Young House-keeper’ by William Andrus Alcott (1846)

15 May 2009 — The tomato plants have been in-ground for a few weeks:

Looking at the plants in the ground, before any fruit, before any colorful globes, and not knowing better, this old comment from the mid-1800’s might be plausible. The reference to poison is because tomatoes, like eggplants, belong to the nightshade family.  Thank goodness for the learning  — now we embrace lycopene and its benefits.

The photo above shows the tomato plants at about 6-7 weeks after purchase and planting in the ground.  We had followed the “old geezer” advice about planting tomato seedlings in the ground.  Pinch off the leaves on 80% of the stem, leaving 20% of the leaves on the seedling.  Bury the stalk deep with some organic fertilizer.  Plants on the right were bought a week ahead of the ones on the left.  In addition, that area has had amendments added for several years.

The plants on the far right are in soil recaptured from the lawn this year and is not as well worked.  The soaker hoses lie on top of seed mats laid over the tilled soil and share some space with three pepper plants.  Those are aloe plants in the pot (using for burns and even a little in juices and smoothies).

Seedlings were bought in March and shown here in May.  In the next posting, we’ll start journaling the tomatoes and varieties as these plants fruit.  I doubt I will write about all the plants, but hope to record as many as I can.

Related Posts:

Grow Tomatoes Review:  Orange Santa

First Tomato of 2009 — Pink Thai Egg

See Christy K.’s Beautiful Brandywine Tomato — two hands needed

Tomato Gardening is So Satisfying

First Tomato of 2009 -- Pink Thai Egg

Dot’s Thot: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and familiarity breeds contempt. According to this my soul mate should be in Thailand.“ — Jason Zebehazy

Maybe not our soul mate, but for me, I have grown fonder of this variety as the first tomato of 2009 came from a volunteer from a Pink Thai Egg tomato plant which seeded itself from last year’s crop in the pot. I had not bought another one (did not see it) and neglected to pay attention. However, when the volunteer appeared, I did stake up the branches. Here it is — the very first tomato for me for the year. I picked it 3 June 2009. I put a standard mint next to it so you can tell how big it is — sort of like a big grape tomato. If I take better care of this volunteer, the tomatoes will probably grow close to the size of a small egg. Just wanted to share — it is the most modest of harvests, but a harvest, no less. Aloha, Dot