Still Pickin

      The tomatoes over at the park are nearly finished except for an occasional Chocolate Cherry.  Yet in the back yard garden, many are still in decent production.  I believe it is the result of 30 years of organic additions making the soil not only hold water better, but yet not compact so as to also drain better.  Best of both worlds?
      We went to a party Saturday morning and I wanted to take something.  What better than a selection of tomatoes and peppers picked that morning.

Morning harvest, 9/17/11

      The big yellow tomato is Dr. Wyche, a most welcome volunteer from last year.  I am trying to save seed this year from three different tomatoes from the Dr. Wyche vines.  Just below and to the left are Brandywine tomatoes and just below and to the right are Cherokee Purple.  The dark cherry tomatoes to the right of the Cherokees are the Chocolate Cherry tomatoes.  The little tiny ones to the right of the picture are unknown annual volunteers that I like to think of as Wessie do tomatoes, after my Grandson Wesley who loves to pick them.  Basil, bell peppers, Cayenne. and an unknown pepper round out the harvest.  Simply scrumptious.

Bothersome Birdies

      I hate going out to the garden to pick a tomato that has been ripening for days only to find a hole in the side where a bird pecked it.  It does not seem possible to let tomatoes fully ripen on the vine without some critter getting to them first.

Back yard garden, 8-14-11

Two on this vine pierced

      Now I have been known to pick a particularly craved tomato from the vine to eat the good side away from the damage, but I would not leave the tomato for a long time for fear of some bacteria growing in the punctured tomato.  So the result is having to pick the tomatoes days before ripeness and let them sit in the porch to finish ripening.  Not the best method.

Bagged Brandywine Tomato

      So, if you could cover the tomatoes so the birds can't see them, will they continue to ripen on the vine?  Grabbed a plastic bag that was sitting out back, and covered a Brandywine just as it was beginning to blush pink.  I was afraid the tomato might cook in the bag, but all seemed fine.  Days later, the unveiling.

Yes, a beautiful unblemished Brandywine!!!

      I had thought about using small paper lunch bags, though the pouring rain of the last few days would have done in the bags.  And I would avoid clear plastic bags, as the birds could still see the tomatoes and would probably peck right through the plastic.  So now a new way to recycle plastic bags.

Brandywine added to the rest of the haul