Beth,

Congratulations on the first tomato! I hope many more follow it.

Dr. Wyche's is one of my favorites and always produces very well for me. I have found it to be surprisingly heat tolerant.

Maybe Brian could tolerate the newspapers and cardboard mulch next year if you could cover them up with chopped/shredded autumn leaves, grass clippings, hay or straw. I always stockpile autumn leaves in the fall and save them (in black bags with holes punched in them for air flow) for spring to use as my first layer of mulch on top of the newspaper and cardboard. Then I collect grass clippings from the lawn and continually layer them over the top of the leaves that are in the beds. I add them almost every week after we mow. That way a new top layer of mulch is always being added to compensate for the lower layers that are decomposing pretty quickly in our heat.

Why do cars always break down on vacation? And, at home, why do air conditioners always break down on the hottest day of the year?

For as far north as you are from the rest of us, I don't think your garden is all that late. It has been a really tough weather year too. I know we said that last year, and it was true, but this year is every bit as bad and maybe worse. Maybe next year we'll have perfect gardening weather. Or, maybe not.

Keep us posted on how the harvest progresses.

Dawn

Beth, congratulations! When you mentioned blossom drop on your tomatos, I thought that I should let you know that most of us are experiencing that in the heat, even on our best looking plants! I don't think the heat discriminates between poor looking plants and nice looking plants when it comes to affecting them with the loss of blossoms. I have had 2 tiny tomatos on my Supersweet 100. One is still hanging in there (literally), and the other was consumed by a fruit worm. Grrrrrr. It has tons and tons and tons of blooms come on, but then they drop off because they haven't been pollinated. The Jet Star and Rutgers have had some blossom drop, but a few tomatos are still developing on them.

You guys have almost convinced me to try Dr, Wyches, but I am not having good thoughts about a yellow tomato after trying the Yellow Pear, which was virtually tasteless. I have heard that most yellows are very mild, which I interpret to mean, they look like a tomato, but they don't taste like one. LOL!

Susan

Susan,

I avoid many yellow tomatoes because of their mild flavor. Whenever I read a variety description that says the flavor is 'mild and sweet', I interpret that as a code that means 'not much flavor' and you see plenty (though not all) of yellow tomato varieties described as 'mild and sweet'.

Dr. Wyche's is one of the best-flavored yellow-fruited tomatoes I've ever grown, and Yellow Brandywine-Platfoot Strain is another. Lemon Boy is interesting but its flavor is much better in very dry years than in wet ones. I like two old Alexander Livingston varieties called Livingston's Gold Ball and Livingston's Golden Queen. Both produce well for me and have great flavor, but I didn't grow either this year...I grew Dr. Wyche's and Yellow Brandymaster. I like the flavor of a select few yellow cherry or grape types and grow them often. Of the yellow grape types, Ildi is the best, but I've had good production/good flavor from Cuban Yellow Grape and Fargo this year. Dr. Carolyn and Coyote both produce well and have great flavor in some years and not such great flavor in others. Before I started growing Ildi, I grew Galina's Yellow and it did well, but Ildi performs better. I have Tumbling Tom Yellow in Maddie's little garden and it has produced huge numbers of golden tomatoes, but their flavor waters down a lot under heavy rainfall or irrigation. Sunray and Jubilee also produce well and have great flavor, but Jubilee turns such a rich golden-yellow that it is almost yellow-orange by the time it ripens.

I have grown Yellow Pear many times, but finally dropped it a couple of years ago. Of all the Yellow Pear varieties I've grown, Beam's Yellow Pear from SSE was the best-flavored, but all Yellow Pear tomatoes tend to be poorly flavored in wet years or if grown in containers that need constant watering. I grew them at first because our son loved them and later on because Tim's boss loved them. I haven't grown them the last couple of years though.

I like some yellow tomatoes a lot and have a few yellow types every year, but most of my space goes to heirlooms in shades of black, purple, pink and red, and to red hybrids.

Dawn

Congratulations!!!!

I *completely* sympathize with you in your troubled quest for a tasty tomato. I am a first-time gardener and am still eeking my way up the learning curve. My plants were all on suicide watch there for a little while, but FINALLY seem to be perking back up and setting a BUNCH of new blossoms. And my first slicer tomato is starting to turn red! I am watching it like a hawk to grab it off the vine as soon as it's ready before some scandalous bird gets it.

I'm so excited for you! I know I will be doing a little dance as I eat my first tomato here in the next few days...

I haven't had any problems with birds (knock on wood, I've probably jinxed myself now) going after the tomatos. I've had fruit worms get to them a few times, but no birds. They preferred the last few blueberries I left on the plants. The Cardinals were absolutely comical in their antics to get inside the plants in the pots to grasp those few blueberries!

But.....and there is a but here.....I've picked mine before they totally ripen, at the blushing stage. I think this helps ward off bird attacks. No nice beautiful red ripe tomatos attracting attention. Don't know for sure, but it seems to keep them at bay.

Dawn, thanks for the yellow tomato rundown! Now I have to think about it. It is my intention to plant something of every color to try out for next year, including the yellow. Pink is another color that to me just sounds foreign in terms of tomatos. Sounds like a sissy tomato to me, but I know people rave about them, especially Brandywine progeny. Now the Blacks sound very hearty, full bodied, and flavorful to me, which is why I am so anxious to try Black Cherry. Next year I'm adding Carbon. Also an orange, and I can't recall the name of the one you grow that is supposed to be devine. Is Anana in the name?

Susan

Susan,

The orange-fruited tomato that grows so well for me is Nebraska Wedding. Another outstanding orange is Jaune Flammee', but I haven't grown it the last two years....so many tomatoes, so little space for them. Other oranges that have great flavor and produce very well in our climate include Persimmon, Russian Persimmon and (of course) Sun Gold and Sun Sugar.

I think you're thinking of Amana Orange. I've never tried it. It produces huge orange fruit that can reach 2 lbs. but in my experience, plants that produce huge fruit only set fruit early here and stall the rest of the summer. I want plants that produce well throughout the summer, not just early.

Many pinks and purples (which look pink to me) have better flavor than many reds. If I had to choose a color of tomato and grow only that color, black would be first on my list and pink second. Reds likely would be last. No, reds would be next to the last. Whites would be last.

Among the amazing pink varieties are these favorites of mine: Brandywine Sudduth, Estler's Mortgage Lifter, Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter, Arkansas Traveler, Tennessee Britches, Tennessee Heirloom, Stump of the World, German Queen, German Giant, Marianna's Peace, Bradley Pink, New Big Dwarf, Livingston's Magnus, Giant Belgium, Granny Cantrell's German Pink, Porter, Brandy Boy and Caspian Pink. My favorite pink cherry is Rosalita but this year I'm growing Sweet Treats.

Dawn

Beth!! I miss seeing your goofy butt around here!

If you see this, email me me, pretty please. Hackers got into my email account and deleted all of my contacts, including you. I got my account back but was unable to restore my address book.

Besides, it looks like we're moving to Missouri so I'd like to gab at ya a bit. :-)

Diane

I will add a few comments. I don't grow many what I call true yellows. Liked Yellow Brandywine but it didn't set very heavy the year I grew it and haven't grown it since. I am growing Golden Queen non USDA but watching it right now for possible insect vectored disease. Hoping I can get some fruit from it this year.

I like Kellogg's Breakfast for an orange. Does very well here most years. Also growing KBX this year and should get to taste the first one in a few weeks if all goes well. Of course Jaune Flammee' is another favorite of mine. What I call a pullet egg size. I'm growing several orange varieties this year. Among those that look promising are Apfelsin, Woodle Orange, Sungold Select OP and Nebraska Wedding. So far Nebraska Wedding hasn't set heavy but hopefully will pick it up soon.

As for Pinks many of my favorites are on Dawn's list. And big Pinks are among my favorites. Caspian Pink, Brandyboy Hybrid, Florida Pink, Hege's German Pink and Lancaster Big Pink are among my favorite pinks. I'm growing several new to me that look promising this year if I get to harvest them. Barlow Jap, Big Cheef and JD's Special Pink. I will be updating as I pick and taste them. Hopefully starting soon. Have several more I could list but these are some of the favorites and also a few of the promising new comers.

I would hate to have to pick one color. If I did it would be Pinks. Blacks and darks usually produce well here. But a big Pink with great flavor can't be beat. I have a few bicolors I like. Not many but a few. And then when I think of not growing reds I think of Azorean Red and my all around tomato Glick's 18. Would hate to leave them out. So glad I don't have to choose just one color. I like a few green when ripes. Not many but a few. Jay

AH!!! Gosh I've missed you guys. :))) New and old!

Dawn,
I THINK I've decided on a different approach to the pecan tree leaves that will fall this year, tell me what you think? I'm raking them all in to the garden spots and covering thm with the black rubber matting I have. Watering them here and there to encourage decomposition. THEN, when spring rolls around, I'll lay down newspaper and cover with grass clippings. Bryan says he'll order a grass catcher for the riding lawnmower, that'll help out tons.
And on the things breaking down??? How the heck did you know my kitchen a/c unit broke down yesterday??? LOL! OH MAN, right after a huge baking session! I used to feel like I was brushing back the tide with a broom on things breaking down around here... now it's a little better and I'm so grateful! :)
I loved that tomato today, that'll be another one to try in the future. :)

Susan,
Don't take this wrong, but I'm glad I'm not the only one that had that problem... LOL! Not that I'd wish problems on anyone else, you know what I mean. Another thought. My fil grew a yellow tomato this year (not sure what type, very mild flavor). I got the wild idea to grill it with some olive oil and s&p and it was really good! Maybe the yellows just need a bit of help for some people (like ME). :)

KelleyP,
HIYA! Nice to meet you! I'm only in my third year of gardening, and finding these people to talk with has helped me LOADS... I'm glad you joined! Do your tomato happy dance, I did! LOL!

Diane,
OMG!!! If you move close to me I'm gonna be over to your house a.s.a.p.!!! LOL! Crap, I'll even help you unpack if you want! I'll email you as soon as I'm done here... you better believe it!

Jay,
Love the info you give out! I copy it all and put it in a file with Dawn's info too. Keep it up, I sure do appreciate it!

In conclusion... (lol), I just want to say that I've still got the gardening bug. EVEN tho this year has been turbulent, I'm still obssessed with that mythical "too much of something" harvest. (Mythical to me, LOL!) Every year gets... I almost said better, but now I'm gonna say DIFFERENT, LOL!
Adding, I'm getting a HUGE deep freeze at the end of this month! And I'm going to Hot Springs again and me and my smil will be stocking up at the local farmer's market (as much as we can with those prices). Plus, I do have a working sewing machine here! Got a basic Brother model for my birthday (with cool zebra stripes on it, LOL!). So I'll be doing some projects as soon as I can.

Love you guys! Stay cool and safe, okay? :)

Beth

Oh, I found a great blog the other week and thought of you. I'll link it below. She goes through some really solid, basic stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sew A Straight Line