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Lately our Gardenist project has taken a back seat to other priorities. We've done some weeding and pruning, but nothing out of the ordinary. The peppers are even showing signs of blooming, which pleases us to no end.
Until we feel the peppers are ready for their close-up, however, we wanted to show you the first ripe big boy tomatoes we picked the other day. When we first snapped photos of these, they were as green as envy, and probably as tart, too. We were in the backyard Sunday checking out the tomato plants and were shocked to find some of them rich in color and ripeness. A couple days prior they were showing signs of ripening, but we thought that the time would be at least a week away.
The tomato pictured and the handful of others we picked are going to be used for two things: sandwiches and grilling. You cut a few thick slices of these big boys, lightly brush them with a marinade of brown sugar and tequila, and place them over some foil on the grill for 60-90 seconds on each side. It brings out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and softens them for use as a side garnish for steaks or as a salsa.
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Unless the leaves are dying and there are no more flowers, your plants will continue to produced for another 4-6 weeks, weather permitting. This has been an off summer. My guess is next summer will only rebound slightly. 2009 will be another good year like 2006 when it comes to home grown veggies. My pepper plants are starting their second round of flowers, so I hope they survive to produce.
The tomatoes will start coming in like crazy. If that is the color you picked them at, keep them on another day or two if it is sunny. This allows the sugars to get working. Sometimes though, you have to pick early because squirrels like tomatoes and the weight of several of those sized fruits will cause them to fall. But pick them really red. They will soften slightly and be ready for anything.
Try the tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets next year. This will allow you to control the watering, weeds, and light. The damn crabapple tree in our backyard is starting to shade the plants, causing them to ripen much later.
Thanks for the tips.
Wow yeah, thanks #1
I've got my first tomato plant producing its first tomato right now and you answered a lot of questions.
Hey, guest #1. I'm just curious, on what do you base your veggie forecast for 2008 and 2009?
#4,
I base it on my 2004, 2005, 2006 experience (recent memory, and amount of time in current house). This summer reminds me a lot of 2004. Chicago weather is a little predictable. One summer will be ideal, the next summer will be too dry, the other will have too sporadic of rain and heat. This is just my observations, and not anything I have read. The farthest outside Chicago I've lived is by Arlington Racetrack so it's a good rule of thumb for me. If there is a different pattern you notice, I'd like to hear.
#4 here ...
No, I don't have any patterns of my own to mention. I tend to think weather is chaotic enough that it doesn't really follow those types of patterns. I was just wondering if you'd heard a forecast somewhere or something.
Heck, with weather, one system's as good as the next. I'm sure you're right as often as Tom Skilling.