I Gave Away The Wrong Tomatoes!

18 years ago

When discussing types of tomatoes that taste good, I always say that the black ones (which are usually maroon with green shoulders, not actually black) like Black Krim and Black From Tula are so good that I keep them all for myself and never give them away to anyone else.

Well, this year I planted quite a few different black ones, and I've been getting lots of fruit on those plants, so I gave away a few Black Krim and Black From Tula over the weekend. What happened? The friends I gave those black ones to popped up in my garden yesterday....one came right out and said "I want another one of those black ones..." and I gave him the one ripe one I had yesterday. Then the other one told me they were the best tomatoes he'd ever had, and seemed disappointed that I didn't have any ripe ones to give him! Help, I have created two black-tomato-devouring monsters! I'm just kidding....but now I'm wondering if it was a good idea to give away those black tomatoes!

I think next year I will plant even more black tomatoes, as the 12 plants I have now probably won't be enough now that other families have discovered how good the black ones taste. Also, next year, I will give these guys some black tomato plants of their own to grow in their gardeners. I love these two friends dearly, but I don't want to spend the rest of the summer giving them ALL of my black tomatoes!

And, to think,....when I tried to give them those black tomatoes initally, they were suspicious and thought I was giving them ruined, overripe fruit. Guess appearances can be deceiving, huh?

Dawn

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Comments (7)

sarab
18 years ago
I hope you are able to save some black ones for yourself and your family!

Do you save your own tomato seeds? I haven't in the past, but think I'll try to this year.

sara
okprairie
18 years ago
Dawn, I have some Black Krim seeds. Do you think I could get a fall crop if I started them now, or should I just save them for next year - or winter sow (or will they still be viable next year?)
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Giggi
18 years ago
Dawn, I am having the same problem with my english cucumbers. At first I had so many and they were so big I didn't mind giving some away. Besides, I was proud of them! Now they are not growing so large, I don't have as many, and I don't have enough to share with the entire neighborhood! Admittedly, it's a problem of my own making. Next year I'll not be so vocal about my cucumber crop.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi Y'all!

Sara: I am sneaky. I have 3 black tomato plants incorrectly labeled as something else, so maybe no one will notice they are black tomatoes and pick them! (I have 3 friends who have "come and pick 'em if you want 'em privileges" in our garden). I usually don't save seed. I always intend to, but then get too busy. This year I am going to try to save some, though.

OKPrairie, I think that if you plant them now, there is a 50-50 chance you'll get fruit before a frost, unless there is a really early frost this year. How to figure it out? Well, Black Krim generally produces ripe fruit here in our climate in a little under 70 days, so figure 70 days plus about 6 weeks to get plants from seed to transplant size. That would be about 112 days. So, seeds started now should start to give you ripened fruit in October. You might get it even earlier as it seems to me that fall tomatoes produce 'earlier' ripened fruit than spring tomatoes, IF it isn't so too hot for viable pollen. The key is daytime temps. If it is too hot when they flower, the pollen won't be viable and you won't get fruit until it cools down.

If you don't want to risk the seed this year, it should be viable for next year. I commonly get great germination from tomato seed that is several years old.

Giggi: Been there and done that often enough that I "ought to" know better, but I'm like you...happy to share the produce when it is in abundance and then...when it slows down in the heat, I worry there won't be enough for 'everyone'. Do you know what I always say to my DH in mid- to late-June: I say 'this is too many tomatoes, and next year I won't plant as many'. Of course, he rolls his eyes and says 'you say that every year...' However, once the hot summer temperatures slow down production, I start wishing I had planted more. Crazy, isn't it! Do you make pickles with your cucumbers or are they just for fresh eating? I think I'll be making pickles next week, using the old reliable 'National Pickling' cucumbers I have growing on the fence around the garden.

Hope y'all are staying cool in this heat!

Dawn
Giggi
18 years ago
No, Dawn, I don't pickle the cukes. I just slice them, drizzle them with a little olive oil and garlic and enjoy. And sometimes I put them in a little rice vinegar. Funny, one seldom sees cucumbers listed as a particularly healthy vegetable. They taste so good surely they are good for you!
ChlorophyllJill
18 years ago
I love tomatoes - my husband grows them, but he only gets varieties from Lowe's - nothing NEAR as exotic as a black tomato! I want one! You have me completely intrigued. I did a google on black tomatoes, and found this site. Although you might know most varieties, I thought you might be interested. There is absolutely NOTHING on the planet like a fully ripe, luscious tomato!

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Tomatoes
wise1_ok
18 years ago
Nutritional information for cucumbers:

The Good
This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium.

The Bad
A large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars.

For a complete breakdown, check the website below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nutrition Facts and Analysis of Cucumbers

I Gave Away The Wrong Tomatoes!

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sarab

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I Gave Away The Wrong Tomatoes!

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sarab

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