Post by paulf on Nov 9, 2023 11:57:49 GMT -5
Such as it was, there were a few bright spots in this year's tomato and pepper crop. First my wife's raised bed gardens were again exceptional. This year we had green beans and cucumbers until who laid the chunk. Another bumper crop of each with two plantings of green beans and cucumbers that continued until frost. This year a couple of the beds were selected for flowers. Several varieties of flowers were started in the raised beds and transplanted to permanent homes mid-season. We are doing our bit for the Monarchs with twenty new milkweed plants in the yard.
This year saw a few problems with the in-ground tomato garden and it was a complete bust with the vine crops. The twenty-one year average for tomato production was at an all time low with only 5 pounds of tomatoes per plant where average has been 19 pounds per plant. Fewer than half the twenty-four plants lived to produce a tomato. Total production yielded 70 pounds of tomatoes with a total of 154 fruits (not counting the good supply of Black Cherry and Karma salad sized).
The up side is that every survivor produced very flavorful tomatoes. Out of a rating of 5 stars no variety was below a 4 rating. Again the heart shaped varieties led the pack. The fives were, and not in any order: Heshpole, Belarus Heart, Vjerino, Sheryl's Portuguese, Orange Oxheart and Canadian Heart.
Most productive of the varieties by number of tomatoes was Orange Oxheart followed by Hearty Russian. Since I do like large tomatoes the varieties with the largest average size were Canadian Heart (12.5 ounce average) and Vjerino (12.4). The largest tomatoes in the garden this year came from Vjerino (20.8 ounces), Canadian Heart ( two at 18.2 ounces) and Belerusian Heart (17.4 ounces).
Production of fruits by weight came from Orange Oxheart (11 lbs.), Belerusian Heart (9 lbs. 7 ounces) and Cherokee Chocolate ( 7 lbs.)
This year we were able to enjoy the tomatoes that survived...and still have a handful ripening on the back porch. The weather complimented the low output by allowing what was there to ripen to perfection. The pepper crop while not plentiful was very tasty with just enough to have peppers to eat whenever we wanted. We have never relied on our gardens to provide anything but an additional supply of fresh produce during the season. We do freeze the excess of what we eat or give away to friends and neighbors, so we will not starve (evident by looking at us). Several villagers have wondered out loud where all the free tomatoes were this year. All I could say was, "Just wait until next year and we will be back on top again."
This year saw a few problems with the in-ground tomato garden and it was a complete bust with the vine crops. The twenty-one year average for tomato production was at an all time low with only 5 pounds of tomatoes per plant where average has been 19 pounds per plant. Fewer than half the twenty-four plants lived to produce a tomato. Total production yielded 70 pounds of tomatoes with a total of 154 fruits (not counting the good supply of Black Cherry and Karma salad sized).
The up side is that every survivor produced very flavorful tomatoes. Out of a rating of 5 stars no variety was below a 4 rating. Again the heart shaped varieties led the pack. The fives were, and not in any order: Heshpole, Belarus Heart, Vjerino, Sheryl's Portuguese, Orange Oxheart and Canadian Heart.
Most productive of the varieties by number of tomatoes was Orange Oxheart followed by Hearty Russian. Since I do like large tomatoes the varieties with the largest average size were Canadian Heart (12.5 ounce average) and Vjerino (12.4). The largest tomatoes in the garden this year came from Vjerino (20.8 ounces), Canadian Heart ( two at 18.2 ounces) and Belerusian Heart (17.4 ounces).
Production of fruits by weight came from Orange Oxheart (11 lbs.), Belerusian Heart (9 lbs. 7 ounces) and Cherokee Chocolate ( 7 lbs.)
This year we were able to enjoy the tomatoes that survived...and still have a handful ripening on the back porch. The weather complimented the low output by allowing what was there to ripen to perfection. The pepper crop while not plentiful was very tasty with just enough to have peppers to eat whenever we wanted. We have never relied on our gardens to provide anything but an additional supply of fresh produce during the season. We do freeze the excess of what we eat or give away to friends and neighbors, so we will not starve (evident by looking at us). Several villagers have wondered out loud where all the free tomatoes were this year. All I could say was, "Just wait until next year and we will be back on top again."