This year, we are growing two heirloom varieties that are new to us. The red fruit on the left are Amish Paste Tomatoes. As the name suggests, they are a great tomato for cooking and canning. Fresh, they are soft and sweet. The Black Prince is a rich tomato, great for salads. They are not large, but the plant yields a good crop. Click on the image for a larger view.
Tag Archives: Tomatoes
Tomato Glut
Our tomato harvest is starting to reached the late summer glut. It is wonderful thing to see the garden so productive, especially since we were starting these plants indoors in early spring.
The yellows are Yellow Pear (smaller) and Yellow Banana Leg (the three long fruit). The top right red tomatoes are Juliet. The bottom left reds are Heather. And the bottom right is our favorite: Black Cherry. The yellow tomatoes and the Black Cherry are heirloom varieties. Click on the image for a larger view.
Tomato Harvest 2015
Late summer is a busy time. Our fruit is starting to ripen. Here are some of the heirloom tomatoes we raise (and one lemon cucumber). Click on the image for a larger view.
Dreaming of Summer
The snows this winter have been taking their toll. We have had over twice the average snowfall so far this year. It is hard to remember our garden being anything but white.
This is not a small pumpkin, but one of our heirloom tomatoes. We still have tomatoes in our freezer from last summer, but bringing in one of these fruit straight from the vine is very different—the rich smell and the sun-warmed flesh can only be experienced in the summer. A thick slice on a piece of freshly baked bread with a little ground pepper makes the perfect meal. Click on the image for a larger view.
Purple Russian—Tomatoes
After our blizzard on November 2nd this year, my mind is on our (short) summer. We love heirloom tomatoes. The Purple Russian is one of our favorite—a juicy and flavorful fruit. Not a large tomato, about 2″ or 5cm in length, but very productive. Click on the image for a larger view.
Yellow Brandywine—Tomatoes
This is a big fruit, but not quite as large as its red cousin, the brandwine. The tomato is not juicy, but has a soft flesh that melts in your mouth like firm tofu, only sweeter. A thick slice on handmade bread and covered with freshly ground black pepper makes an excellent sandwich. Click on the image for a larger view.
Black Cherry—Tomatoes
This cherry tomato is the perfect snacking fruit. The flavor is sweet and rich. They are great in salad, if you don’t eat them first. Click on the image for a larger view.
Green Zebra—Tomatoes
Every year we plant several varieties of tomatoes. This is a green zebra, which develops a slight yellow blush just as it ripens, but is predominantly green. The fruit has a tangy flavor, firm flesh, and juicy interior. It is great in salads. The plants are productive, but the tomato is on the small side, 3–4 oz. or 80–100 grams. Click on the image for a larger view.
This Year’s Tomatoes
We are going through the annual ritual of starting the garden. With the short Maine summer and unpredictable spring, many plants need a little help. With about one hundred tomato plants, it gets crowded in the house as they grow and need replanting. However, it is well worth the effort as they give us a year’s supply of their wonderful fruit. Click on the image for a larger view.
