Oh I would love some of those stick tomatoes!! I have yard long asparagus bean seeds, about a dozen -ish to trade. I have two watermelon seeds with oranged meat inside ["Orange Tendersweet"]. I spilled the package and I didnt see them. When I finially noticed them, all but two were wet, so I stuck them in a plastic shoe box with my potting mix ..I had 100% germination. I have been giving them to any one that wants seedlings. There were two left in my envelope. I grow in buckets My version of a self watering set up and EVERYthing looks good. I am email you my mailing address just in case you have a few for me. Thanks, Ssmittee from Auburdale. I tried to send the seeds with the email right where it said 'attatchment' but it left the on the counter. So I will send them snail mail. lol just kidding. [I said once before and they took me serious and gave me an explanation on emailing]

I have a compost-tumbler outside the back door for kitchen waste, and most of what goes in it is coffee grounds, in addition to eggshells, shrimp shells, citrus rinds and anything my dogs or chickens can't eat (which ain't much). All that compost goes to the tomatoes, so I can definitively say that no, coffee grounds don't make tomatoes bitter. Hopefully your friend will try a different variety, Early Girl just isn't that tasty, period.

Try this: (cut and paste from the Recipe forum) Slow Roasted Tomatoes 20 Roma type tomatoes (same size tomatoes are best if your garden cooperates) 2 T olive oil, plus a little to oil the pan if you don't have a mister 1 T ground fennel 2 T dried basil 1 T dried oregano 1 T dried majoram (Any combination of herbs that appeals to you can be used.) Preheat oven to 250 F (about 9 hours roasting time) or 200 F (10-11 hours roasting time.) I used the shorter time, but mainly because my antique oven will not stay at 200 F. Wash tomatoes, dry, and cut each tomato in half lengthwise, keeping the stem spot in one piece (to grab when peeling the tomatoes later.) Put tomatoes in a bowl and toss with olive oil and herbs. Spray cookie sheet with olive oil mister (or brush very lightly with oil). Arrange tomatoes cut-side down on cookie sheet. After about 8 hours, start checking tomatoes. They're done when skins puff up and tomatoes are reduced in size by at least half. It's a personal preference as to how dried you like them, and I prefer to cook mine until they look fairly dense, but still a tiny bit juicy. These tomatoes have an intense tomato flavor that you probably can't get any other way. They can be eaten hot or cold. They freeze wonderfully to use all winter in soups, stews, and pasta sauces. Personally, I wouldn't add the fennel, and I would probably use either oregano OR basil, but not both. But that's just me.

thank you, how are your belmonte tomatoes coming along. mine are doing well and one ripened **** They're going to have to wait until next year b'c I had too many varieties to plant and had to make lots of cuts. As it is, my tomato plants are lousy this year and I am doubtful about any kind of production. Too much continuous torrential downpours, over cast skies and little sun. I hope, but this just might be a year when things don't work out, sadly. Carolyn