This is my second year growing tomatoes and it’s been quite different. Last year I didn’t intend on growing them, but I got a free packet of seeds and ultimately decided to test them out. I grew black vernissage tomatoes, a larger cherry variety that is variegated with shades of green and red. They were relatively prolific the first two harvests, then they pretty much died when the dead of summer hit. The taste was average but I did make a mean roasted salsa with them.
This year, I went for a wild cherry variety based on its disease resistance, vigor, and sweet flavor. To say my plants are vigorous would be an understatement. The oldest plant (which self-seeded itself from a fall planting last year) is currently taking over a 6 foot span of fence and is nearly 7 feet tall. I’ve nick-named it Big Edie. So far it hasn’t been affected by the 95+ degree temperatures each day AND it’s still producing fruit. If you’re wondering how they taste, each little red orb is like a flavor bomb of tomato intensity. Does that sum it up for you?!
I decided to snap some photos of Big Edie this week as I went to harvest what ended up being nearly a pint basket of fruit. And, since the theme du jour is tomatoes, you’ll find some of my favorite tomato recipes below.
T O M A T O . R E C I P E S
- tomato cobbler with coriander biscuits
- zucchini coconut fritters with tomato hemp salsa
- roasted tomato & leek sauce
- roasted garden salsa
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