FINALLY!!!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:56 pm

Well, I finally got some tomatoes to ripen, so I got to have BLTs for dinner. Absolutely my favorite summertime meal, so freaking good.

Don't know why it took so long for the tomatoes to ripen this year, but I know one thing, I'm gonna have a crapload of 'em in the next couple weeks!

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:15 pm

Do you know what varieties you planted, Bri? It's not uncommon for some varieties to take until about now to ripen. My EarlyGirls are going great guns now, and a couple of my heirlooms have produced a handfull, but one of my beefsteak plants has lots of unripes on it.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:52 pm

Not sure, but I think they might be better boys or something like that? I'm too lazy to do the actual work. My uncle does the garden in my yard, he does all the work, and I just take what I want. Not sure what type he planted, but we usually have them earlier than now...usually early/mid August, not this late. Either way, they were well worth the wait and tasted fantastic. Looks like we're going to have a ton of them before too much longer too.

h2oville rocket · Post by **h2oville rocket** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:25 pm

We have neighobrs sneaking tomatoes onto our porch at night when we aren't looking. Zuchini, too. We take it out early in the morning and drop it off down the street where they have kids. The kids don't eat veggies so after they get home from school and before our gardening neighbors get home dfrom work, the kids sneak over their fence and put the produce on the picnic table. Then that night we get the tomatoes back again. Seems like a good year for tomatoes. I'll be putting up a bunch of spaghetti sauce this week.

Lord_Byron · Post by **Lord_Byron** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:41 am

The lack of a brutally hot early August seems to have delayed the tomatoes this year. If they really are better-boys, September ripening would make sense. As Grant said, my Early Girls and Supesonics are producing like mad starting about a week ago.

Of course we'll probably have snow right after labor day.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:01 am

These are called "Black Zebra" and they're by far, the most delicious tomato I've ever grown.

These two are a little early, but they're even good a little before they're completely ripe... they have an almost Granny Smith apple tartness to them at this stage, with just a blush of red.

Damn, I love fresh tomatoes. My wife used to think I was insane because I'd just pick them off the vine and eat them like apples. Now she thinks I'm insane for other reasons... but does the same things with 'maters!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:54 am

ZiggyZoomba wrote: Damn, I love fresh tomatoes. My wife used to think I was insane because I'd just pick them off the vine and eat them like apples. Now she thinks I'm insane for other reasons... but does the same things with 'maters!

I love 'em too. It's a real shame that a lot of people will go through life having never eaten a truly good tomato. The crap you get at grocery stores and restaurants are a joke. Hell, even the farmer's markets struggle to find good, ripe tomatoes.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:36 am

Tomato and cucumber sammiches with mayo. Add one of your favorite herb for an option.

You will die happily from the experience.

Trust me.

Zom · Post by **Zom** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:15 am

Yes. Maybe a hint of freshly chopped coriander or basil. You could call it a greek salad sandwich.

Cheese and tomato sandwiches are pretty popular around here, made with a sharp mature cheddar or lancashire cheese. The ladies like to go for cucumber sandwiches, cut into little triangles with the crusts cut off, but I don't buy into that. Too genteel. I like a sandwich that requires all digits, including one's pinky, to keep it together.