Binge eating tomatoes

[b54red]

My tomatoes have been coming in steady now for a little over a week and I am finding myself over indulging on tomatoes. First were the BLTs, and more BLTs, then the peas with tomato sandwiches for supper and even for breakfast and of course the cucumber, onion and tomato salad with every meal that doesn't include tomato sandwiches. I find myself doing this every year about this time and every year the actual eating experience is even more fulfilling than I anticipated. Hmmm I wonder if the wife would like hamburgers with a big slice of homegrown tomato for supper; it's been nearly a week since we had that.

Bill

[nolabelle]

That's great, Bill! I have high aspirations that I may one day be successful at growing tomatoes. Nature is teasing me so far. My ultimate goal is to grow enough to preserve for cooking and never have to open a tin can of tomatoes again. \m/

[ScottinAtlanta]

You are two weeks ahead of Atlanta, you dog!

[aclum]

Hi Bill,

Congratulations on the start of your harvest!!! Any stand-outs in the flavor department?

(I'll be posting a bit about my harvest so far in the photo forum - in the "Anne's Garden" thread).

Anne

[Ken4230]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

You are two weeks ahead of Atlanta, you dog!

You were really nice to a guy who has ripe tomatoes when you don't. My first thoughts were not for mixed company.
I'm still 7-10 days away from my first ripe tomato. Normally, i start having BLT's by the first week of June.
I am glad someone has beat this weird weather.

[kath]

"Binge eating"? "Over indulging"?Do you get hives or some other negative physical reaction when you eat "too many" tomatoes, Bill? If not, I'm of the mind that it'd be pretty hard to overeat fruits or vegetables.

One of the things I love about being able to garden is eating my fill of yummy tasting produce that varies as the year progresses. Many people might find it really strange to see the amount of peas, corn, potatoes, spinach, salad, tomatoes, green beans, etc. that I can put away in one meal, day after day, without getting tired of it. But I know all too well that each plant has its prime fresh season followed by a very long wait until I see it again- at least in it's fresh form.

But surely you jest, Bill- I think you're really just trying to rub it in because you know how long many of us still have to wait for our tomato "glut" to arrive.

Hope you can continue to enjoy your "overabundance" until you run out of ideas for ways to consume them.

kath

[mecktom]

Rub it in Bill......ha...glad you are getting them. Not much better than a fresh tomato. We have had a few Kimberly's.....but not any larger ones yet.
Glad you are enjoying them.

Gene

[Qweniden]

Originally Posted by mecktom

Rub it in Bill......ha...glad you are getting them. Not much better than a fresh tomato. We have had a few Kimberly's.....but not any larger ones yet.
Glad you are enjoying them.

Gene

We got a few Kimberlys so far. Surprised how rich and complex they are for such an early tomato. Really good.

[SteveS]

I picked 2 Casino Chips last Sunday.
Everything else is considerably behind.

[b54red]

I'm eating them as fast and as often as I can in a vain attempt to eat all the ripe ones before we have to start a sauce pot. I'm also trying to enjoy them as much as I can since the diseases are really getting bad now. Gray Mold this year has been more aggressive than I have ever seen it. I actually had two bell peppers lose most of their leaves to it this week. I didn't even know it got on bell peppers or any pepper for that matter. I'm now removing leaves at the rate of a garden cart every two days and the plants don't look anything like they did two weeks ago. Some of my plants now have no leaves except a few at the very top so the chance of sun scald is very high for all those tomatoes hanging in the open in this heat.

Tried Virginia Sweet last night and it really is a sweet good tasting juicy tomato. So far this season the Giant Belgium was the tastiest which was a real surprise. I was expecting a super sweet tomato but it was a really well balanced full flavored tomato. I'm really excited about getting to try some of the ones that I have tried unsuccessfully to grow in the past which look like they are going to make for me this season.

Bill

[jerryinfla]

Bill - Mine are producing like gang busters too but my entire crop is 12 different hybrids this season and there's not all that much difference in taste between any of them. All are better than store bought but none are in the ballpark with Brandywines . I am noticing a difference in disease resistance among the varieties though and Amelia scores very high in that regard. I'm still not spraying because I figure I'll get all the tomatoes we can eat before they die and I want to see just which varieties are the most disease resistant.

[Rockporter]

Originally Posted by b54red

I'm eating them as fast and as often as I can in a vain attempt to eat all the ripe ones before we have to start a sauce pot. I'm also trying to enjoy them as much as I can since the diseases are really getting bad now. Gray Mold this year has been more aggressive than I have ever seen it. I actually had two bell peppers lose most of their leaves to it this week. I didn't even know it got on bell peppers or any pepper for that matter. I'm now removing leaves at the rate of a garden cart every two days and the plants don't look anything like they did two weeks ago. Some of my plants now have no leaves except a few at the very top so the chance of sun scald is very high for all those tomatoes hanging in the open in this heat.

Tried Virginia Sweet last night and it really is a sweet good tasting juicy tomato. So far this season the Giant Belgium was the tastiest which was a real surprise. I was expecting a super sweet tomato but it was a really well balanced full flavored tomato. I'm really excited about getting to try some of the ones that I have tried unsuccessfully to grow in the past which look like they are going to make for me this season.

Bill

Bill, you can freeze the tomatoes whole if you want and bring them out when you would like to have some sauce. I cook the whole tomato and use a hand held blender to break up the skins. I wish I had so many tomatoes they were coming out my ears. My tomatoes are slow coming and I haven't had enough to make sauce but once.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by b54red

My tomatoes have been coming in steady now for a little over a week and I am finding myself over indulging on tomatoes. First were the BLTs, and more BLTs, then the peas with tomato sandwiches for supper and even for breakfast and of course the cucumber, onion and tomato salad with every meal that doesn't include tomato sandwiches. I find myself doing this every year about this time and every year the actual eating experience is even more fulfilling than I anticipated. Hmmm I wonder if the wife would like hamburgers with a big slice of homegrown tomato for supper; it's been nearly a week since we had that.

Bill

Did I ever mention that you were a bad person Bill? Teasing us who live north of you!

[tjg911]

yeah bill i hear ya and know what you mean. all my plants have tomatoes but none larger than a marble so i'm a few (!) weeks behind you. come august and september i could gain 20 pounds. every year i gorge myself on open face tomato sandwiches with mayo, open face saves 1 slice of bread and a teaspoon or 2 of mayo. it's impossible to not eat 5 or 6 of these every day even twice a day and i never get sick of them. a loaf of bread lasts 2 days at the max! the only tomato i will eat plain is a sun gold, i like all the varieties i grow but i wouldn't consider eating them like an apple. weird huh?

tom

[Rideau Rambler]

Yes, a bad bad person! My mouth was watering so bad I had to run out to my garden. And yup, same as yesterday - no sign of the first blossom of the season. Not on my tomatoes, not even on my peas.

Enjoy!!! mmmmmm....can't wait