You say tomato I say...

[F, Calla & Luca]

So the first crop, and last, is in. This is the garden state but I really don't grow many veggies unless you count rhubarb, which we eat like a fruit. And then there are tomatoes, which are fruits but we eat like vegetables. What a confusing world. My so called vegetable garden consist mostly of phlox gone wild, with some berries, rudbeckia, Queen Anne's lace and other flowers thrown in. And many weeds. So I grow my tomatoes in pots near where it's easy to water them. I did also get one blackberry before the birds, yes one berry not one pint or something.

Ta dum

And here are some of the bird's berries

Blueberries, I didn't get one

 

 

Blackberries, I got one

 

So come on, show us your bounty.
I know Joanne recently posted about her garlic. What else is out there?

[F.J. ~ Spud's Buddy]

We have been having salads with just cukes , green peppers and toasted sunflower seeds daily for about 3 weeks now . Your recipe sounds good like a good change of pace . The beans we just saute with a little garlic or blanch and freeze for later

[F, Calla & Luca]

All sounds good.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh man, I have been DYING for garden tomatoes. The store bought tomatoes I've been buying taste like crunchy water. :-(

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's so sad. Don't they grow any in Utah? We are lucky here in NJ. The  thing that always makes me laugh is that just when anything I plant comes in, the supermarket has in state grown produce that is much less expensive than usual. I would send you some I could.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I suppose I should check out farmer's markets, they likely have better ones. My parents have a garden in which they grow tomatoes but they won't be ready until the end of August. Can't wait!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I always try to find the earlier varieties. I also try to make sure they are indeterminate, so they don't all ripen at the same time. I can't see myself canning : )

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

What amazing tomato!

 

My tomatoes (all 2 plants) are afflicted with some sort of horrible disease that is eating at both the plants and fruit :(

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry, I've been there.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

The chipmunks have been eating my grape tomatoes!!! I caught them today - now I know why I haven't been able to get 1!! Any thoughts on what I can to keep them away and still be able to eat them? I was thinking of trying deer off around the base of the plants but these PIAs climb the tomato cages!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry no clues here. And there are tons of chipmunks this year. I'm not sure why they haven't sampled mine. I do try to pick them as soon as they look somewhat ripe because I've had bites taken out in the past. Also I have them growing right near my porch and there are other plants crowded around them so that might help deter the chipmunks. That very fine deer netting might work. I've tried this for berries but I had to rescue birds that got caught a couple of times so I gave up. I love those grape tomatoes.Last year I would get one or two everyday and just eat them off the vine. But I planted a bit late this year and I couldn't find any.

[Adina P]

Mmmmm...homegrown tomatoes are the BEST!

[F, Calla & Luca]

More on tomatoes. They can be determinate or indeterminate. You want the latter kind since they do not all mature at the same time, unless you do canning, etc. So you will have a ripe tomato like above, maturing ones and flowers for those yet to form: