"Taste of Tomato" Festival - Boulder, CO 8/29/15
 

Info from the Harlequin’s Gardens website: “We will host the ‘Taste of Tomato’ festival & tasting event along with Boulder County CSU Cooperative Extension on Saturday August 29th. There are always new varieties to taste, and learn about. Bring at least 3 tomatoes (or 10 if cherry/grape sized) of a known variety to get in free. It will be held at the Gateway Park Fun Center 4800 28th St. in Boulder 10 am-1pm.” :D

Thanks for the info on the Tomato Tasting in Boulder. We got there a bit past 10 am, ate lots of tomato samples, met lots of people, talked with many more about gardening, and found a few tomatoes I'd like to grow next year.

So thanks for the invite - just wish I could have figured out which person you were!

I am so pleased that you found the info useful and got to taste lots of yummy tomatoes! We actually had a camping trip near Estes planned for the weekend so unfortunately I missed the festival. I've never been so it's great to know it's a fun time. Fingers crossed, I'll be there next year and perhaps we can talk tomatoes then! :cute:

TommyTime - have you heard about Harlequin's Tomato Tasting for 2016?

Nothing indicates a return for 2016 on their website.

Please let me know what you find out. Thanks.

They've not put out any newsletters for 2016, I've got a feeling it's not going to happen for 2016.

Thanks. Ricky. So sad to hear.

I grew one of the 'winners' from this tomato tasting, though they're not red yet.

Maybe we Colorado TVille gardeners should have some sort of tomato tasting and seed swap. share other seeds. etc. if they're available. (?)

I had an acceptance speech ready, thanking the heirlooms individually, and gushing about Tomatoville. All lost now it seems.

Yeah guru I'm up for some meet or seed swap, and if you're down this way stop by, we're almost always here. I can PM you the address and phone.

I just called them and apparently it's happening! I was told that it will be on 8/27 10 a.m - 1 p.m. at Gateway Fun Park! I don't know why it's not on their website...

I don't have the bounty of ripe tomatoes I'd hoped to have by now so I doubt I'll have any to bring. Le sigh.

TommyTime - thanks for that info. I really would like to attend with hopefully some ripe tomatoes. Many of mine were decimated by hail, but maybe in a couple of weeks I'll have some ripe ones to share.

Ricky - it would be nice to see you and your great tomatoes on August 27. We could share a few seeds/tomatoes and you can deliver your famous acceptance speech!

Last year was fun to see what tomatoes people grew.

Game on! You'll know it's me, when you hear that Rocky Balboa music playing ahead of the large entourage.

I hope I've got some Orange Russian #117 ready, it's been drop dead delicious. The Cosmonaut Volkov has been very good too, I just don't think it has the visual pizazz to win it. I'm going to save seed from these three and bring some to share. These are very typical of size, with strong production on both plants.

Ricky - last year we just gave them our tomatoes and name, not letting anyone except the people taking the fruit see the size or shape of our tomatoes. They had lots of people cutting the tomatoes into little bite size pieces so we only voted on taste.

When I saved one of the pieces from last year, I had no idea what it looked like except that it was a black tomato and tasted pretty good. Right now they're still quite green and I don't plan on bringing them to Boulder as they may be a repeat from the previous grower.

As I remember, no one had seeds to share in 2015. Guess you'll have to save them for the swap or me!

I'll know what I hope to share closer to the date. Just tonight I noticed my GGWT has a ripe tomato! Can't wait to try it.

Good format, anonymous blind tasting. Not like I'm in it for the attention. Yeah, the CV seeds were for you and TommyTime mostly. Go Tomatoville!

Thanks! Much appreciated. Will bring what seeds I have saved so far for youse guys.

:D :D :D

[B]Daily Camera: Taste of Tomato lets gardeners sample dozens of varieties.[/B]

[URL="http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_30228492/taste-tomato-lets-gardeners-sample-dozens-varieties"]http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_30228492/taste-tomato-lets-gardeners-sample-[/URL][URL="http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_30228492/taste-tomato-lets-gardeners-sample-dozens-varieties"]dozens-varieties[/URL]

Incorrect date as Aug26 in the beginning, then correctly identifies as Saturday Aug27 from 10am-1pm later in the article.



A link to last year's results: [URL]http://www.harlequinsgardens.com/plants/edibles/vegetables/taste-of-tomato-2015/[/URL]

Thanks for the Daily Camera article. We'll be there, just not sure which tomatoes will be ripe - Indigo Cherry Drops for sure, though they won't win one vote!

Hey Guru and Ricky, I'll be there tomorrow - looking forward to meeting you. Thanks for bringing seeds! I'll be wearing a hat with a tomato on it :lol:

Boonie hat, long-sleeve white tee, crocs, the summer uniform.

This cold rainy weather is wrecking me, none of my good stuff is coming ripe at the right time. Next year I'm having at least 5 plants each of Rebel Yell and Crnkovic Yugoslavian, they've got a real shot at winning and both are excellent producers for me.

Denim shirt w/"I love Gardening" on the back.

I'll be bringing tomatoes to share - in case you want seeds, etc.

Results are up and made made top ten with my Malachite Box and Brandy Boy. It's something to build on, next year that crown's coming home to Tomatoville.

[COLOR=Purple][B][I]Sept. 9: Taste of Tomato: [/I][/B][/COLOR][I][COLOR=Purple]a tomato tasting festival; CSU Co-op Extension with Harlequin’s Gardens; Held at Gateway Park. 9-1 Boulder, CO[/COLOR]


[/I]In past years the event has been the last Saturday in August. The plus is some late to mature varieties will have fully ripened and more tomatoes can be entered. The downside is often we chilling cold fronts move through in early September and the low 50's temps will change the flavor and texture of the tomatoes.

Also, the Denver Post is coming out this morning to take pictures of the garden and do an article on seed saving. Specifically, the oxiclean quick method.

Good to hear the Tomato Tasting will be held again. I'm planning on being there and hope to bring some new-to-me varieties. It all depends on Mother Nature.

Ricky Shaw's tomato seed saving method has been written up in the Denver Post "Grow" section on June 30, 2017. Congrats to being written up for this newspaper!

My method huh? I'll have to go back and read that, told them the alternative oxiclean and hyd peroxide/ baking soda methods been around a long time. #fakenews

It's a pretty good article for anyone interested, more than just tomatoes, my bit was small.

[B][SIZE=2]"How to save seeds from your Colorado garden." [/SIZE]
[/B]

[SIZE=2]h[/SIZE][URL="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/30/how-to-save-seeds-from-your-colorado-garden/"]ttp://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/30/how-to-save-seeds-from-your-colorado-garden/[/URL]

[COLOR=purple][B][I]Sept. 9: Taste of Tomato: [/I][/B][/COLOR][I][COLOR=purple]a tomato tasting festival; CSU Co-op Extension with Harlequin’s Gardens; Held at Gateway Park. 10-1 Boulder, CO[/COLOR][/I]
[I][COLOR=#800080][/COLOR][/I]
[COLOR=black]Don't forget the tomato tasting this Saturday![/COLOR]

Hey guru, sadly we're not going to make it this year. Lost lots of plants to mold this year, but still enough Crnkovic, Eva Purple Ball, and Sungold to make entries and free admission. It's that the wife has been very ill and can't attend, I can't imagine it would be any fun without her. My heart is not in the garden this year.

Ricky - I'm so sorry that your wife is not feeling her best. It's hard to enjoy something when you're just half-hearted and feeling lousy. IMHO, this year was not the best Tasting Time for anyone's tomatoes. Many of them were not quite ripe and tasted like our wonderful red winter tomatoes, hard and tasteless. There also seemed to be fewer people bringing their tomatoes. There was a 'farmer's market' of sorts - Thistle Whistle Farms from Hotchkiss, a friend of Harlequin's owner. He had some nice stuff, but charged and arm and 2 legs for whatever he had. I did buy one 'tomato pepper' for $8/lb. I hope to grow it next year.
The tasting went OK, though I really only liked one tomato - Dwarf Purple Heart.

I don't think this is the best year for tomatoes. Maybe next year.

Give your wife special hugs to help heal.