August 16. 2012 Tomatoes have been ripening on the vine for a good week now!
Maybe this is the rhythm of our garden: the raspberries have just finished and the tomatoes are ready! They have been presenting their rosy little cheeks the last couple of weeks now, but only enough ripening to make the watering and weeding fun. Now, however, the bushes are bursting with colour and lively life! I just ran out to pick a few for supper tonight, and look at this harvest!
The large one is the Purple Cherokee which is usually one of my fleshy meaty favourites. This one is not so full of flavour. I am puzzled. The small tomatoes are. Each has their own perky little personality which I will explore in greater depth, later in the summer, once all have ripened. For now, I am going to snip some chives and herbs, mince some onion and sliver the lettuces. (Vanja says they are like eating grass, so I have to camouflage that usually savored freshness!)
This was an winning green this year (below). It is “Basil Lettuce” from Renée’s Seeds and is a light crinkly basil. The flavour is as intense and the Italian basil I am used to, yet the texture is lighter and more crisp. I have had a lot of fun with it in summer salads!
What little garden treasures are you harvesting for your evening meals? Inquiring minds want to know! 😉
Those pictures are great!! Congratulations on the amazing garden production, you have quite a variaty of tomatoes there 😉 Any plans to do some canning?
Of course!
I preserve tomatoes in the fall when there are too many for us to eat fresh. I dry roast them in the oven with Olive Oil, garlic and Maldon salt, then pack them into jars and freeze them. SCRUMPTIOUS!
🙂
V
Wow that sounds really good!! Let us know if you share that! Have a great weekend 😉
Hi, there. Nice post. I’d like to “like” your post. Can you help me find your “like” button, please?
Thank you, fruitandcake!
We would LOVE to be liked!
It is on the bottom left of the photo before you open to read more.
🙂
V
Sooo jealous, I am loving everyones gardens but sad that I don’t have one this year…..I especially miss tomatoes…
Karlynn
OH – I can only imagine how you feel!!!
When I get that OVERLOAD I will drop some by!
🙂
XO
V
I also find the smaller fruits sometimes more flavorful than the larger ones.
I love this time of year and so does my husband. He’s a real tomato fan! I plant the varieties that do the best in my Zone 4B, humid summer garden and Tumbing Tom cherry tomato and Pik Red hybrid. I’ve been picking some Pik Reds that are over 1 lb each! Great for BLTs 🙂
Oh, Susan!
I often wish for that one zone you are in for the growing season. What a difference it would make to the varieties I could grow. ONE POUND. AMAZING!
🙂
V
Oh Valerie, I LOVE those photos of your tomatoes! I don’t think there’s a better lunch that a freshly picked tomato, sliced, with mayo on a piece of bread. Divine.
I’ve never heard of basil lettuce….what a perfect name for it, because it does look like lettuce. Must be such a surprise to bite into it and taste basil!
What a nice crop of tomatoes and basil! I can imagine salads and other great uses for them. Our cool summers are not what tomatoes want, but fortunately, there are many farmers inland who grow beautiful varieties (just got back from the famers’ market with plenty). Yesterday, I harvested shallots. They are not great-looking, but they are good and I harvest enough to last me through the winter. I love harvesting everything that grows in my little patch.