There is so much I would love to write about these days. Unfortunately, life has been busy and hectic and hasn't really allotted me the time I need to vent my thoughts. Summer has finally arrived and it's supposed to get significantly warmer before the week is up. This is all good news for my garden, particularly my tomatoes.
This year I decided to leave them in pots on my sundeck rather than plant them in the ground. I figured this would at least somewhat compensate for my poor soil conditions and would also allow me to protect them from the elements when needed. (We had a week of thunder showers where the rain was so heavy that I was convinced the second great flood was on its way. ) As you can see, my tomatoes are thriving where they are. I am not sure as to whether it's because they are in pots on my deck or whether the conditions all around (heat, rain, etc) are better this year. Last year I hardly got a tomato, and this year, it's not quite yet July, but I have one that's almost ripe and a few more that are well on their way. I've done two types of tomatoes this year: the large ones...I can't tell you the exact type, come from seeds that an Italian friend of my father's brought back from Italy. They are almost the same shape as a Roma, but much, much larger...think beefsteak tomatoes...I think last year my father had one that weighed about three pounds. They are the meatiest tomatoes I have ever come across. One slice will make a very large sandwich. There isn't a lot of juice that comes gushing out. They aren't hollow, they are solid flesh...perfect for making fresh salsa.
My other tomatoes are small cherry tomatoes (I have two varieties and no longer remember what they are). I am quite partial to these for salads as nothing quite packs a punch of flavour like they do. These tomatoes are not quite as far along as I started them much later. They don't yet have tomatoes on them, but they are full of blossoms and looking very healthy.
I also put some of my lettuce in pots on the deck as well. Some of them went in the garden, but I thought I'd try both. The lettuce in the pots on my deck have grown much faster and are much sweeter. Perhaps they were watered better, I'm not sure. The lettuce in my garden really didn't grow much until this last wave of heat. Perhaps the pots heat better and retain the heat. How's your garden these days?
This year I decided to leave them in pots on my sundeck rather than plant them in the ground. I figured this would at least somewhat compensate for my poor soil conditions and would also allow me to protect them from the elements when needed. (We had a week of thunder showers where the rain was so heavy that I was convinced the second great flood was on its way. ) As you can see, my tomatoes are thriving where they are. I am not sure as to whether it's because they are in pots on my deck or whether the conditions all around (heat, rain, etc) are better this year. Last year I hardly got a tomato, and this year, it's not quite yet July, but I have one that's almost ripe and a few more that are well on their way. I've done two types of tomatoes this year: the large ones...I can't tell you the exact type, come from seeds that an Italian friend of my father's brought back from Italy. They are almost the same shape as a Roma, but much, much larger...think beefsteak tomatoes...I think last year my father had one that weighed about three pounds. They are the meatiest tomatoes I have ever come across. One slice will make a very large sandwich. There isn't a lot of juice that comes gushing out. They aren't hollow, they are solid flesh...perfect for making fresh salsa.
My other tomatoes are small cherry tomatoes (I have two varieties and no longer remember what they are). I am quite partial to these for salads as nothing quite packs a punch of flavour like they do. These tomatoes are not quite as far along as I started them much later. They don't yet have tomatoes on them, but they are full of blossoms and looking very healthy.
I also put some of my lettuce in pots on the deck as well. Some of them went in the garden, but I thought I'd try both. The lettuce in the pots on my deck have grown much faster and are much sweeter. Perhaps they were watered better, I'm not sure. The lettuce in my garden really didn't grow much until this last wave of heat. Perhaps the pots heat better and retain the heat. How's your garden these days?
18 comments:
Mmmm, I just love love love tomatoes fresh from the garden. We didn't plant a garden this year, but oh look forward to them next year.
Enjoy!
Wow, your tomatoes are doing so well! I'll be lucky if I even get a tomato at the rate my plants are going - I may have to try your pot experiment next year.
I am so jealous Carla. I don't think I will have any tomatoes for at least another three or four weeks.
Debbie, I'll definitely enjoy. It's one of the perks of this time of year.
Cheryl, I've also been meaning to find some red or orange tarp to cover around the bottom. That colour is also supposed to make them ripen much quicker. I'm a little slow on the draw on that one though.
We're doomed, These tomatoes were started quite early. That's the only reason they're ripening so soon as it hasn't been horribly hot here.
I am in awe! I thought for sure I'd have ripe tomatoes before you, but this 2,200 foot altitude is cramping my garden style. 19°C one day, 25° the next...it just doesn't stay consistently hot enough, and my plants are deluded for what is supposed to be hot and sunny weather? The hail and frequent thunderstorms haven't helped either. Grrrrrr...
Rowena, I'm at quite a high altitude here as well and our temperatures, aside from the past week, have been yoyoing. I think what's made the difference is that I started the plants early inside and then by keeping them in pots I was able to put them out on nice days but keep them in at night or miserable days until the weather smartened up. Most of my friends here don't have tomatoes quite as far along as mine, so that really must be it.
my tomatoes growing good too, I think because I bought them as plants. from the stuff I sowed nothing came out :(
Have a nice summer Carla :)
This year we ended up planting 3 tomatoes, 3 peppers, and some basil in pots on our deck. They look much better than the ones in the garden.
Last year the only problem I had with tomatoes in pots was cracking. I must not have watered them correctly.
Happy growing.
Wow...your tomatos looks great,Carla.Our tomatos in our garden are still green and my plants looks not so good!
A 3-lb tomato, wow that is just amazing!
And I sure with our temps would yo-yo. Well they do I guess, if you count alternating between 36 to 38 C for daytime average highs.
Mone, I hope you have a really nice summer too.
Burdock Boy, Tomatoes like a fair amount of water, especially if it's hot out. Certain varieties, however, crack more than others.
Steffi, Tomatoes like a lot of heat and a rich soil. Mine are doing much better in my pots than they did in my garden. I also started them early inside which I am sure helped.
Jannie, Yep, I've seen some big tomatoes. I don't know that mine will get that big, but they are a good size.
This is absolutely amazing. Three pound tomatoes?! Having no outside to call my own, my garden options are a bit limited. I want to plant some herbs in my apartment though - to join my little family of house plants.
Pandave, If you have a little balcony, it's amazing what you can grow and you'll have no problem growing herbs. I have a little rosemary bush that I keep inside all winter, although I think it would manage the cold weather and I'm thinking about bringing some of my other herbs indoors in the fall so that I have a continued fresh supply.
Can't help myself. Here's the lyrics to Home Grown Tomatoes!
There's nothin' in the world that I like better than
Bacon, lettuce and home grown tomatoes
Up in the morning and out in the garden
Lord get you a ripe one, don't get a hard 'un.
Plant 'em in the spring eat 'em in the summer,
All winter without 'em's a culinary bummer.
I forget all about the sweatin and the diggin
Every time I go out and pick me a big'un.
Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes,
What'd life be without home grown Tomatoes,
There's only two things that money can't buy:
That's true love and home grown tomatoes.
You can go out and eat'em that's for sure,
But there's nothin a home grown tomato won't cure
You can put em in a salad, put em in a stew
You can make your own, your very own tomato juice
You can eat em with eggs, you can eat em with gravy
You can eat em with beans, pinto or navy
Put em on the side, put em on the middle
Home grown tomatoes on a hot cake griddle
Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes,
What'd life be without home grown Tomatoes,
There's only two things that money can't buy:
That's true love and home grown tomatoes.
If I could change this life I lead,
I could be Johnny Tomato Seed
I know what this country needs,
It's home grown tomatoes in every yard you see
When I die don't bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Put me out in the garden would be much better
Hell I could be pushin up a home grown tomatoes.
Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes,
What'd life be without home grown Tomatoes,
There's only two things that money can't buy:
That's true love and home grown tomatoes.
Wow, those tomatoes sound great. I love roma but bigger ones would be better. I am having little luck with my garden this year.
Pamela, That's great! I wish I knew the tune. I might just have to see if there's a youtube link.
Dawn, I would be more than happy to send you some seeds. I always collect some for the following year. With these ones though, you do need to start them early or they won't have long enough to get ripe. I have been enjoying them though. Just noticed I have another one that's almost ready to eat.
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