I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
friends toms, they might just be worth it.

On Aug 31, 3:49*pm, A Moose in Love >
wrote:
> I had lunch today at a friends place. *Nothing fancy. *Processed
> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. *Grilled a little bit in a
> pan using no fat. *Also fried cauliflower. *That was it. *However, I
> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. *I'm used to the store
> bought stuff. *Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. *However his tomato
> I had today was packed full of flavour. *My friend got the tomatoes
> from her neighbours garden. *These toms must have been some kind of
> heirloom tomato. *I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> there it is. *We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> markets. *I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> expensive. *I believe $3.99. *But if they taste anything like my
> friends toms, they might just be worth it.

Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
"heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.

On 8/31/2011 4:49 PM, A Moose in Love wrote:
> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
> I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
> from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
> heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
> friends toms, they might just be worth it.

I don't even bother with the bred for transport picked green and force
colored by exposure to ethylene gas versions in the store.

I grow some heirloom varieties and there is a local farm that has a nice
selection of heirloom varieties. What incredible flavor. The rest of the
year I pass. For a while we could buy vine ripened grape and cherry
tomatoes in the winter from Amish farmers. But for some reason the
cherry and grape are now the flavorless force colored versions.

On Aug 31, 8:20*pm, projectile vomit chick
> wrote:
> On Aug 31, 3:49*pm, A Moose in Love >
> wrote:
>
> > I had lunch today at a friends place. *Nothing fancy. *Processed
> > cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. *Grilled a little bit in a
> > pan using no fat. *Also fried cauliflower. *That was it. *However, I
> > haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. *I'm used to the store
> > bought stuff. *Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. *However his tomato
> > I had today was packed full of flavour. *My friend got the tomatoes
> > from her neighbours garden. *These toms must have been some kind of
> > heirloom tomato. *I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> > there it is. *We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> > markets. *I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> > expensive. *I believe $3.99. *But if they taste anything like my
> > friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. *I don't know what the hell
> "heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.

I researched a little bit on heirloom tomatoes. Apparantly they are
not one specific type. They are basically tomatoes that have had
their seeds brought down generation by generation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato

"A Moose in Love" > wrote in message
...
On Aug 31, 8:20 pm, projectile vomit chick
> wrote:
> On Aug 31, 3:49 pm, A Moose in Love >
> wrote:
>
> > I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
> > cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
> > pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
> > haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
> > bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
> > I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
> > from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
> > heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> > there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> > markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> > expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
> > friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
> "heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.

I researched a little bit on heirloom tomatoes. Apparantly they are
not one specific type. They are basically tomatoes that have had
their seeds brought down generation by generation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato


take a vacation!
http://www.tomatofest.com/carmel_tomatofest.html

On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:11:35 -0700, Christine Dabney
> wrote:

> On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:20:51 -0700 (PDT), projectile vomit chick
> > wrote:
>
> >Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
> >"heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.
>
> If you ever see a ripe Brandywine tomato, try one of those. It's an
> heirloom tomato. Delicious, even above regular homegrown ones. I
> have heard they are more difficult to grow, but I don't know for sure.
> But even so, homegrown ripe tomatoes are wonderful.
>
That's one of the tomatoes my son in law grows and he gave me 5 huge
ones two weeks ago. Yum!


--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

"sf" <wrote>>
> That's one of the tomatoes my son in law grows and he gave me 5 huge
> ones two weeks ago. Yum!

I had no idea there was a Tomato Heaven. If there is one, that's where I
want to go. That's probably where Julia Child is. Her favorite food was a
tomato sandwich on white bread with Hellman's mayonnaise. Our local
tomatoes this year were mostly water with no flavor. Maybe I'll grow a few
myself next year and see if I can do better. Polly

"A Moose in Love" > wrote in message
...
On Aug 31, 8:20 pm, projectile vomit chick
> wrote:
> On Aug 31, 3:49 pm, A Moose in Love >
> wrote:
>
> > I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
> > cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
> > pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
> > haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
> > bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
> > I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
> > from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
> > heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> > there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> > markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> > expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
> > friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
> "heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.

I researched a little bit on heirloom tomatoes. Apparantly they are
not one specific type. They are basically tomatoes that have had
their seeds brought down generation by generation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato

Yes. And they are generally very good but can look quite strange and come
in a variety of colors. They had some red ones at the Farmer's Market today
but I didn't need any tomatoes.

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>
>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his
>> tomato I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the
>> tomatoes from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some
>> kind of heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the
>> tomato, but there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here
>> in the markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and
>> they were expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything
>> like my friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
> supermarket tomatoes.

Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.

projectile vomit chick wrote:
> On Aug 31, 3:49 pm, A Moose in Love >
> wrote:
>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
>> I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
>> from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
>> heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
>> there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
>> markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
>> expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
>> friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
> "heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.


Heirloom is just yuppiespeak for open pollinated varieties. More
specifically it /might/ mean open pollinated home garden varieties, as
opposed to OP canning tomatoes.

This year I grew seeds that I saved last year from Better Boy hybrids.
(BB is a very tasty and high-yielding hybrid tomato) The tomatoes this
year are the best I've ever eaten, although they are not as uniform as
the ones I grew last year. They are perfect. The better flavor
probably has more to do with the weather or something rather than the
second-generation (F2) hybrids, but you never know.

-Bob

On Aug 31, 8:47*pm, "Polly Esther" > wrote:
> "sf" <wrote>>
>
> > That's one of the tomatoes my son in law grows and he gave me 5 huge
> > ones two weeks ago. *Yum!
>
> I had no idea there was a Tomato Heaven. *If there is one, that's where I
> want to go. *That's probably where Julia Child is. *Her favorite food was a
> tomato sandwich on white bread with Hellman's mayonnaise. *Our local
> tomatoes this year were mostly water with no flavor. *Maybe I'll grow a few
> myself next year and see if I can do better. *Polly

Overwatering is the death of flavor, by the way. Wait till the leaves
droop, unless you're growing San Marzano's or others susceptible to
blossom-end rot.

On Sep 2, 8:10*pm, Sqwertz > wrote:
> On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>
> > I had lunch today at a friends place. *Nothing fancy. *Processed
> > cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. *Grilled a little bit in a
> > pan using no fat. *Also fried cauliflower. *That was it. *However, I
> > haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. *I'm used to the store
> > bought stuff. *Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. *However his tomato
> > I had today was packed full of flavour. *My friend got the tomatoes
> > from her neighbours garden. *These toms must have been some kind of
> > heirloom tomato. *I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> > there it is. *We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> > markets. *I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> > expensive. *I believe $3.99. *But if they taste anything like my
> > friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". *It just means "expensive". *What
> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. *And now you know you
> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
> supermarket tomatoes.

No. Heirlooms are open-pollinated, not the F1 hybrids that Burpee,
etc. sold to home gardeners for years. They seldom come resistant to
the various diseases and wilts that plague tomato growers. Early Girl
-- not an heirloom.

On Fri, 2 Sep 2011 22:10:14 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>
>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
>> I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
>> from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
>> heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
>> there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
>> markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
>> expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
>> friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
>Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>supermarket tomatoes.

My grandparents were farmers so I grew up on real tomatoes. We are
having the best year ever with our tomatoes and I wish summer would
never end. There's still about 50 on the vines but I doubt they'll
all mature but green fried tomates rock. I'm sure we'll be talking
about that in a few weeks.

Lou

On Fri, 2 Sep 2011 20:25:34 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>>
>>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his
>>> tomato I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the
>>> tomatoes from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some
>>> kind of heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the
>>> tomato, but there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here
>>> in the markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and
>>> they were expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything
>>> like my friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>>
>> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>> supermarket tomatoes.
>
>Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
>better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.
>
Order seeds and don't buy seedlings from home depot. It makes a big
difference.

Lou

On Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:28:20 -0500, zxcvbob >
wrote:

>projectile vomit chick wrote:
>> On Aug 31, 3:49 pm, A Moose in Love >
>> wrote:
>>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
>>> I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
>>> from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
>>> heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
>>> there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
>>> markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
>>> expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
>>> friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>>
>> Home grown tomatoes are unbeatable. I don't know what the hell
>> "heirloom" tomatoes are, I just grow and eat the damn things.
>
>
>Heirloom is just yuppiespeak for open pollinated varieties. More
>specifically it /might/ mean open pollinated home garden varieties, as
>opposed to OP canning tomatoes.
>
>This year I grew seeds that I saved last year from Better Boy hybrids.

What's the best way to save the seeds?

TIA,

Lou

Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:28:20 -0500, zxcvbob >
> wrote:

>> Heirloom is just yuppiespeak for open pollinated varieties. More
>> specifically it /might/ mean open pollinated home garden varieties, as
>> opposed to OP canning tomatoes.
>>
>> This year I grew seeds that I saved last year from Better Boy hybrids.
>
> What's the best way to save the seeds?
>
> TIA, Lou

Squeeze some tomato seeds and juice into a narrow glass jar. Add a
little water and stir it up. Let it rot for a week, stirring gently
occasionally. Skim the mold off the top, drain the watery juice; the
seeds will be at the bottom. Rinse them in a fine sieve, and dry on a
paper towel for a day or two. Transfer to a little paper or plastic
envelope or a pill bottle. They will keep for 4 or 5 years, then the
germination rate will start dropping off.

The rotting part is an important step. It reduces the chance of
seed-borne disease next year. You can skip it if you feel lucky.

HTH, Bob

On 9/2/2011 11:10 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>
>> I had lunch today at a friends place. Nothing fancy. Processed
>> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. Grilled a little bit in a
>> pan using no fat. Also fried cauliflower. That was it. However, I
>> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. I'm used to the store
>> bought stuff. Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. However his tomato
>> I had today was packed full of flavour. My friend got the tomatoes
>> from her neighbours garden. These toms must have been some kind of
>> heirloom tomato. I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
>> there it is. We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
>> markets. I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
>> expensive. I believe $3.99. But if they taste anything like my
>> friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
> supermarket tomatoes.
>
> -sw

Heirloom also means good. When you buy seeds or plants you can buy
heirloom and also more "modern" versions bred for commercial concerns
(ease of transport, attractiveness etc) first then flavor second.
Heirloom variety tomatoes are typically thinner skinned, usually
misshapen etc but have a lot better taste.

On 9/3/2011 12:54 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:

>>>
>>> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>>> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>>> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>>> supermarket tomatoes.
>>
>> Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
>> better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.
>>
> Order seeds and don't buy seedlings from home depot. It makes a big
> difference.
>
> Lou

For sure, home depot doesn't have heirloom types and they are a weaker
looking lower quality plant and a lot more expensive than the heirloom
varieties I buy from a local nursery. She has about 20 different types
(and often adds more, this year she had some from Russia) all grown in
the hothouse in the rear of the property.

On Fri, 2 Sep 2011 20:31:58 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

>On Aug 31, 8:47*pm, "Polly Esther" > wrote:
>> "sf" <wrote>>
>>
>> > That's one of the tomatoes my son in law grows and he gave me 5 huge
>> > ones two weeks ago. *Yum!
>>
>> I had no idea there was a Tomato Heaven. *If there is one, that's where I
>> want to go. *That's probably where Julia Child is. *Her favorite food was a
>> tomato sandwich on white bread with Hellman's mayonnaise. *Our local
>> tomatoes this year were mostly water with no flavor. *Maybe I'll grow a few
>> myself next year and see if I can do better. *Polly
>
>Overwatering is the death of flavor, by the way. Wait till the leaves
>droop, unless you're growing San Marzano's or others susceptible to
>blossom-end rot.

Well, yes, o.k. But be sure to always do exactly that. A sudden
surfeit of water will cause the skins to split.
Janet US

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:40:20 -0500, zxcvbob >
wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> On Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:28:20 -0500, zxcvbob >
>> wrote:
>
>>> Heirloom is just yuppiespeak for open pollinated varieties. More
>>> specifically it /might/ mean open pollinated home garden varieties, as
>>> opposed to OP canning tomatoes.
>>>
>>> This year I grew seeds that I saved last year from Better Boy hybrids.
>>
>> What's the best way to save the seeds?
>>
>> TIA, Lou
>
>Squeeze some tomato seeds and juice into a narrow glass jar. Add a
>little water and stir it up. Let it rot for a week, stirring gently
>occasionally. Skim the mold off the top, drain the watery juice; the
>seeds will be at the bottom. Rinse them in a fine sieve, and dry on a
>paper towel for a day or two. Transfer to a little paper or plastic
>envelope or a pill bottle. They will keep for 4 or 5 years, then the
>germination rate will start dropping off.
>
>The rotting part is an important step. It reduces the chance of
>seed-borne disease next year. You can skip it if you feel lucky.
>
>HTH, Bob
Sounds easy enough.

Thank you!

Lou

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:46:50 -0400, George >
wrote:

>On 9/3/2011 12:54 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:
>
>>>>
>>>> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>>>> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>>>> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>>>> supermarket tomatoes.
>>>
>>> Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
>>> better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.
>>>
>> Order seeds and don't buy seedlings from home depot. It makes a big
>> difference.
>>
>> Lou
>
>For sure, home depot doesn't have heirloom types and they are a weaker
>looking lower quality plant and a lot more expensive than the heirloom
>varieties I buy from a local nursery. She has about 20 different types
>(and often adds more, this year she had some from Russia) all grown in
>the hothouse in the rear of the property.

I only recently learned the drastic taste difference. A nursery may
cost a little more but well worth it.

Lou

On Sep 3, 5:42*am, George > wrote:
> On 9/2/2011 11:10 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:49:24 -0700 (PDT), A Moose in Love wrote:
>
> >> I had lunch today at a friends place. *Nothing fancy. *Processed
> >> cheese slices with tomato on a light rye. *Grilled a little bit in a
> >> pan using no fat. *Also fried cauliflower. *That was it. *However, I
> >> haven't tasted such a tomato ever I think. *I'm used to the store
> >> bought stuff. *Kind of I don't know, kind of blah. *However his tomato
> >> I had today was packed full of flavour. *My friend got the tomatoes
> >> from her neighbours garden. *These toms must have been some kind of
> >> heirloom tomato. *I never thought I'd be praising the tomato, but
> >> there it is. *We don't get many heirloom tomatoes here in the
> >> markets. *I've only seen them once in the supermarket, and they were
> >> expensive. *I believe $3.99. *But if they taste anything like my
> >> friends toms, they might just be worth it.
>
> > Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". *It just means "expensive". *What
> > you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. *And now you know you
> > know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
> > supermarket tomatoes.
>
> > -sw
>
> Heirloom also means good. When you buy seeds or plants you can buy
> heirloom and also more "modern" versions bred for commercial concerns
> (ease of transport, attractiveness etc) first then flavor second.
> Heirloom variety tomatoes are typically thinner skinned, usually
> misshapen etc but have a lot better taste.

Most heirloom varieties sicken and die at my house. Costoluto Genovese
is the only one that reliably does well. Juliets are the most reliable
producer, a hybrid sauce tomato.

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:20:26 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:46:50 -0400, George >
>wrote:
>
>>On 9/3/2011 12:54 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:
>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>>>>> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>>>>> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>>>>> supermarket tomatoes.
>>>>
>>>> Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
>>>> better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.
>>>>
>>> Order seeds and don't buy seedlings from home depot. It makes a big
>>> difference.
>>>
>>> Lou
>>
>>For sure, home depot doesn't have heirloom types and they are a weaker
>>looking lower quality plant and a lot more expensive than the heirloom
>>varieties I buy from a local nursery. She has about 20 different types
>>(and often adds more, this year she had some from Russia) all grown in
>>the hothouse in the rear of the property.
>
>I only recently learned the drastic taste difference. A nursery may
>cost a little more but well worth it.
>
>Lou


I only buy tomato plants that are at a steep discount or bedraggled
towards the end of the tomato-plant buying seasons. The rest of my
tomatoes get seed-sown directly in the ground. I do this with both
tubs on the deck and directly in a separate bed. I do the same with
cukes, beans, lettuces, etc.

I spent too many years fussing with my own seedlings and itty-bitty
pots and wasting money on that or on hothouse grown starter packs.

I buy my seeds at the end of the whole growing season (like now here
in the NE) or save my own seeds and re-plant. I can get a nice variety
in tomatoes and 2-4 years worth of plants for what it would cost me to
get a 6 plant flat. It isn't the money - I can afford to buy
seedlings, but I hate the waste of all that plastic and other
nonsense.

But not everyone can do this.I have been at it for decades and know
what I can get away with and what not. I also was given a huge
industrial, weather-proof industrial thermometer with a 2-foot probe
that gives me timing hints in the spring. And weather can work against
any gardener...that happens some years.

And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.

Boron

On 9/3/2011 11:20 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:46:50 -0400, >
> wrote:
>
>> On 9/3/2011 12:54 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:
>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Heirloom tomato doesn't mean "good". It just means "expensive". What
>>>>> you just had is a typical home-grown tomato. And now you know you
>>>>> know why people who were raised on home-grown tomatoes bitch about
>>>>> supermarket tomatoes.
>>>>
>>>> Although... A few years ago when my tomatoes actually grew... They were no
>>>> better than the Supermarket ones. I was sadly disappointed.
>>>>
>>> Order seeds and don't buy seedlings from home depot. It makes a big
>>> difference.
>>>
>>> Lou
>>
>> For sure, home depot doesn't have heirloom types and they are a weaker
>> looking lower quality plant and a lot more expensive than the heirloom
>> varieties I buy from a local nursery. She has about 20 different types
>> (and often adds more, this year she had some from Russia) all grown in
>> the hothouse in the rear of the property.
>
> I only recently learned the drastic taste difference. A nursery may
> cost a little more but well worth it.
>
> Lou
At least around here plants are less expensive at the nursery. She
charges $1 for singles or $2 for a 4 pack. Plants are nice quality and
grown on site.

If you object to being greeted by a friendly basset hound or like being
told big box is your friend with advertisements and like paying more for
lower quality you might be better off at home depot.

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...

> I only buy tomato plants that are at a steep discount or bedraggled
> towards the end of the tomato-plant buying seasons.

Do you resurrect these plants? How do you deal with them to encourage more
fruit.. or do you save them for another year??
I see bedraggled plants and think they are finished.

--
http://www.shop.helpforheros.org.uk

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
snip
>And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
>planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
>and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>
>Boron
The season for excellent tasting tomatoes is over for me. Our temp
went down to 44F last night It will get to mid-80 or 90 during the
day, but there isn't enough warmth in my shaded yard to overcome the
effect of the cold. tomatoes will still be good, but not luscious.
Janet US

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:


>And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
>planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
>and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.

The weather here was a big plus for us. We had the hottest and
wettest July in history and August was about the same.

Lou

On Sep 3, 9:48*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
>
> > wrote:
> >And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
> >planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
> >and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>
> The weather here was a big plus for us. *We had the hottest and
> wettest July in history and August was about the same. *
>
> Lou

There is no tomato heaven here. Pacific Northwest tomatoes are an
oxymoron.

On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 08:23:48 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

> Juliets are the most reliable producer, a hybrid sauce tomato.

Hybrid sauce tomato is your way of indicating "plum"?

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:46:50 -0400, George >
wrote:

> For sure, home depot doesn't have heirloom types and they are a weaker
> looking lower quality plant and a lot more expensive than the heirloom
> varieties I buy from a local nursery. She has about 20 different types
> (and often adds more, this year she had some from Russia) all grown in
> the hothouse in the rear of the property.

I guess it all depends on where they get their plants from. My Home
Depot has nice plants and I worry that they'll put the local nurseries
out of business, but they order so few at a time - it won't happen any
time soon.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 10:07:23 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> wrote:

>On Sep 3, 9:48*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>> On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
>>
>> > wrote:
>> >And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
>> >planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
>> >and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>>
>> The weather here was a big plus for us. *We had the hottest and
>> wettest July in history and August was about the same. *
>>
>> Lou
>
>There is no tomato heaven here. Pacific Northwest tomatoes are an
>oxymoron.

The youngest daughter is in Seattle. I don't know what she all grows
but she did post a picture of a huge pile of chanterelles

Lou

On Sep 3, 11:43*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 10:07:23 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> >On Sep 3, 9:48 am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> >> On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
> >> >planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
> >> >and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>
> >> The weather here was a big plus for us. We had the hottest and
> >> wettest July in history and August was about the same.
>
> >> Lou
>
> >There is no tomato heaven here. * Pacific Northwest tomatoes are an
> >oxymoron.
>
> The youngest daughter is in Seattle. *I don't know what she all grows
> but she did post a picture of a huge pile of chanterelles
>
> Lou

Mushrooms are one thing we are blessed with. The Chanterelles are
divine and prolific. everyone has 'their' spot.

On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 12:03:33 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> wrote:

> Mushrooms are one thing we are blessed with. The Chanterelles are
> divine and prolific. everyone has 'their' spot.

Mmmm. Lucky, lucky you! I used to know someone whose husband had a
morel "spot" around here, but people like that play it close to the
vest.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 17:12:28 +0100, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>
>"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
.. .
>
>> I only buy tomato plants that are at a steep discount or bedraggled
>> towards the end of the tomato-plant buying seasons.
>
>Do you resurrect these plants? How do you deal with them to encourage more
>fruit.. or do you save them for another year??
>I see bedraggled plants and think they are finished.


They have to have some life left in them or I do not try, and the
damage has to be from neglect, not disease. I think of it as "Plant
Rescue."

Tomatoes are pretty easy to save...just plant them deeper if they have
gotten leggy or the lowest leaves are missing or in bad shape.

Around here, grocery stores are good places to get such plants. I have
gotten rose bushes, pots of petunias, veggie sets, etc and done well
with them. Besides, at such cheap prices ranging from 50 cents for a
tomato or up to $5 for a rose bush, I am never out much money.

Boron

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:28:54 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>snip
>>And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
>>planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
>>and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>>
>>Boron
>The season for excellent tasting tomatoes is over for me. Our temp
>went down to 44F last night It will get to mid-80 or 90 during the
>day, but there isn't enough warmth in my shaded yard to overcome the
>effect of the cold. tomatoes will still be good, but not luscious.
>Janet US

You have not had a good garden year. They are rough to endure. So much
effort for little benefit.

My cukes have died back early, but the tomatoes still think it is
June, at least insofar as flowering. Their leaves are not so sure.

I am still picking about a pound or two of cherry types every day.
Lots of larger tomatoes, too, but the deer or some other critters have
discovered them, too.

Boron

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:48:22 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:51:59 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>
>>And the taste of the tomatoes, even when I keep consistency within
>>planting varieties, can vary greatly from year to year, too. Rain, sun
>>and temps can have a great affect on the flavor of the fruits.
>
>The weather here was a big plus for us. We had the hottest and
>wettest July in history and August was about the same.
>
>Lou

We have had a good year in the garden. I cannot complain.

Boron

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...

> Around here, grocery stores are good places to get such plants. I have
> gotten rose bushes, pots of petunias, veggie sets, etc and done well
> with them. Besides, at such cheap prices ranging from 50 cents for a
> tomato or up to $5 for a rose bush, I am never out much money.
>
> Boron

I got 3 plants from the .99 store. They have been the best tomatoes, and
lots of nice big tomatoes from them.

Cheri

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 17:12:28 +0100, "Ophelia" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
. ..
>>
>>> I only buy tomato plants that are at a steep discount or bedraggled
>>> towards the end of the tomato-plant buying seasons.
>>
>>Do you resurrect these plants? How do you deal with them to encourage
>>more
>>fruit.. or do you save them for another year??
>>I see bedraggled plants and think they are finished.
>
>
> They have to have some life left in them or I do not try, and the
> damage has to be from neglect, not disease. I think of it as "Plant
> Rescue."

Understood!


> Tomatoes are pretty easy to save...just plant them deeper if they have
> gotten leggy or the lowest leaves are missing or in bad shape.

Ok, thanks

> Around here, grocery stores are good places to get such plants. I have
> gotten rose bushes, pots of petunias, veggie sets, etc and done well
> with them. Besides, at such cheap prices ranging from 50 cents for a
> tomato or up to $5 for a rose bush, I am never out much money.

I have seen such plants in our 'Garden Centres'. Last time I was there, I
saw some *very* bedraggled tomato plants, ie droopy and leggy and some of
the leaves on the verge of dying and wondered why they were still for sale.
It never ocurred to me that they could be viable. I shall look at such
plants with new eyes now

Thanks Boron, that is something to think on!

--
http://www.shop.helpforheros.org.uk

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 16:58:19 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

> They have to have some life left in them or I do not try, and the
> damage has to be from neglect, not disease. I think of it as "Plant
> Rescue."
>
> Tomatoes are pretty easy to save...just plant them deeper if they have
> gotten leggy or the lowest leaves are missing or in bad shape.
>
> Around here, grocery stores are good places to get such plants. I have
> gotten rose bushes, pots of petunias, veggie sets, etc and done well
> with them. Besides, at such cheap prices ranging from 50 cents for a
> tomato or up to $5 for a rose bush, I am never out much money.

I got a fiddle leaf fig that would have otherwise gone into the
garbage for $1 that way. The store had gotten too cold, so it lost
all of its leaves and it couldn't be sold for full value. 10-15 years
later, it's still going strong and touching the ceiling. I pruned it
back a couple of feet a few years ago and it has grown to the ceiling
again.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:16:20 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

> Sqwertz wrote:
> >
> > We have broken every heat record in Austin this year. And NO rain on
> > top of that. It's like fall because many of the trees have lost their
> > leaves.
>
> According to Michelle Bachmann, you're being punished
> for too many taxes, homosexuals, vaccinations, or something
> like that.

Rick Perry must agree with that or else he wouldn't have put Texas
into God's hands.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila