When it comes to this time of the year I think I start going just a little bit doo-lally! Just when you get several kilo’s of tomatoes made into sauce, relish or dinner, followed by several more kilo’s chopped and frozen – its time to put more apples into the dehydrator, pick more tomatoes, hunt for runaway zucchini’s and figure out what you want to do with the next armful of cucumbers!
Its kind of a race to try to waste as little as possible as you are wondering if you really did need 25 tomato plants this season (of COURSE you did!!) What doesn’t get eaten, cooked or frozen, often gets sold or given away. When things really get out of control there is a bunch of greedy chickens to peck up the rest.
This season I only bought three tomato plants – the rest were self seeded or grown from the laterals of the more advanced plants. I have enjoyed trying the heirloom variety “Black Russian” – Such a gorgeous huge tasty tomato!
I also tried one called “Tigerella” simply because the name took my fancy! Its a bit bigger than the usual cherry tomato, lovely tiger stripes and a great taste, although the skin is a little thicker than I expected for the size.
One year I am going to manage my tomato plants properly. I tell myself I am going to snip back laterals and keep them tidily tied up etc etc. It would take a bit of the fun out of finding all the hiding ripe ones and the self imposed game of twister I have to play to reach out, down, around and through to get to all the fruit!! To be honest I do like my semi-jungle approach.
After a very dry season we are now getting gloom and rain. Hopefully the sun will be back tomorrow so I can happily fill up a few more baskets and boxes with tomatoes.
Lap up all you can from your gardens in autumn!
Cheers, Lisa.