A Quick Look at the "Homestead' Tomato

I will profile this one soon. It has great production. Nice sized fruit. I am looking forward to tasting it. There are over 20 6 ounce plus fruit on there. Click the photo x2 to enlarge.

The massive potato leaf tomato leaves you see are from my 'Brandywines'. They will get a profile too, so check back.

'Homestead' Tomato Fruit Production: Gary Pilarchik

Tomato Profile: The 'Patio F Hybrid' Dwarf Tomato

Tomato Profile: The 'Patio F Hybrid' Dwarf Tomato

The 'Patio F Hybrid' Dwarf Tomato: Gary Pilarchik

History:

It is a hybrid tomato. It is not a heirloom. Developed to provide fruit for containers and gardens with limited space. It was breed to produce fruit bigger then cherry size.

Shape, Size and Production:

It holds true to dwarf size of about 2 feet. The plant is compact and stout. The fruit varied from 2-4 ounces and it was round and red. The overall production was not disappointing and I would agree it is great for limited space. I had 4 tomato plants in the container pictured in this blog entry. It is a determinate variety that is ready in around 70 days once ground planted.

Taste and Use:

I was not impressed by the taste. It was a bit acidic but not strong and it tasted like tomato but no character. It wasn't sweet. My impression was "yeah it tastes like a tomato." 

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding directly off the vine.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding salted on a plate.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding sliced and in a salad.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding in a salsa dish.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding as a sauce or a paste.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding as an overall tomato.

Mainstay - Throw-A-Way - Another Day:

It will get another day in my garden only because I have seed. It was the first to get Septoria leaf spot and though I controlled it with my sulfur spray, it wasn't really worth the effort. But since I have extra seeds, I will use them.

Comments:

Let me know if you recommend any other good dwarf tomatoes.

'Patio F Hybrid' Tomato with Good Sized Fruit: Gary Pilarchik

Another Look at the Tomato Production: Gary Pilarchik

Visit My Video How To Website: My Tomato and Vegetable Garden. Construction began July 2011 and it will host How to Garden Videos for all things gardening. The website differs from my blog: The Rusted Vegetable Garden in that it is primarily video content with few articles. The site will grow quickly.

The Tomato Hornworm and Happy Hour

Now it might not be a baby Tomato Hornworm but it sure is acting like one. I usually find them full size. This is my 'Virgina Sweets' tomato plant. It is already dealing with growing infected with a mosaic virus. I kept this tomato (versus pulling it) around just to taste the fruit. This tomato was nearing the 1 pound range before I noticed markings and found this guy on the bottom. It is a striped tomato so the colors are correct.

I did lose a taste of the tomato but I did find this guy on Friday. All wasn't a loss, my wife did fix a summer 'Happy Hour' drink made with watermelon for our standard at home Friday -  Happy Hour.  Well happy 15 minutes, the kids are always needing something... be it the computer I am using or the room we are in.

Baby Tomato Hornworm: Gary Pilarchik

Tomato Hornworm Damage: Gary Pilarchik

A Growing Tomato Hornworm: Gary Pilarchik

Tomato Hornworm on 'Virginia Sweets' Variety: Gary Pilarchik

Happy Hour: Gary Pilarchik

Visit My Video How To Website: My Tomato and Vegetable Garden. Construction began July 2011 and it will host How to Garden Videos for all things gardening. The website differs from my blog: The Rusted Vegetable Garden in that it is primarily video content with few articles. The site will grow quickly.

Tomato Profile: The 'Black Krim' Heirloom Tomato

Tomato Profile: The 'Black Krim' Heirloom Tomato

History:
This is an heirloom tomato that dates back to the early 1900's. It is rumored to have been picked up from the Isle of Krim, on the Black Sea, during a war. Immigrants brought it to the United States. The Isle of Krim is located near the Ukraine.

Shape, Size and Production:
It produces an 8 to 12 oz globe shaped (not perfectly round) fruit. It has dark red, purples, and mahogany colors with green shoulders. This top striping of dark green is the Black Krim's defining markings. It is an attractive addition to the garden. The plant can grow 4-6 feet based on conditions. My container version is around 4 feet tall. It is an indeterminate tomato and will produce till frost. My plant has about 25 tomatoes on it at various sizes. Keep in mind, mine is in a container. The fruit does crack. This is characteristic of many heirlooms. The cracking does not distract from this variety.

Taste and Use:
It is a sweet tomato with little acidity. It has a slight saltiness to it. It already is one of my favorites to eat on a plate. It is more flesh then juice and great for sandwiches and salsas.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding directly off the vine.
Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding salted on a plate.
Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding sliced and in a salad.
Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding in a salsa dish.
Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding as a sauce or a paste.

Poor Fair Good Great Outstanding as an overall tomato.

Mainstay - Throw-A-Way - Another Day:
This will get another year toward becoming, I'm sure, a Mainstay in my garden. The first fruit matured mid July, looks fun, and tasted great. It had little if any disease come to it.


Comments:
If you have grown this tomato please leave a comment about your experience with the 'Black Krim' heirloom tomato.

Visit My Video How To Website: My Tomato and Vegetable Garden. Construction began July 2011 and it will host How to Garden Videos for all things gardening. The website differs from my blog: The Rusted Vegetable Garden in that it is primarily video content with few articles. The site will grow quickly.

General Guide For Maryland Zone 7 Vegetable Planting

It is that time to begin finishing out planting your warm weather vegetables and begin thinking about the cool weather vegetables. Gardening can make it into October in Maryland and even November and December with a cold frame.

October and November

Garlic
Onion Sets (take a chance for Spring onions)

September 15th to October 15th

Spinach
Lettuce
Kales (over winter for Spring)
Radishes

August 15th to September 15th

Radishes
Kale
Lettuce
Peas
Cabbage (transplants)
Cauliflower (transplants)
Spinach
Beets
Carrots
Broccoli (transplants)
Basil
Cilantro

July 15th to August 15th

(Seeds closer to July 15th and as Transplants closer to August 15)

Squash
Cucumbers
Beans
Melons
Pumpkins
Tomatoes
Peppers
Basil (seeds)
Cilantro (seeds)
Other fast growing Annual Herbs (seeds)

Visit My Video How To Website: My Tomato and Vegetable Garden. Construction began July 2011 and it will host How to Garden Videos for all things gardening. The website differs from my blog: The Rusted Vegetable Garden in that it is primarily video content with few articles. The site will grow quickly.