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Blooming Already?

May 12th, 2009

I was potting up a few tomatoes on Sunday into the big pots they’ll spend the summer in, and I was surprised to see that they’re already blooming! These are Sub-Arctic tomatoes, they’re supposed to set fruit at lower temps, which is good because we had a frost advisory last night. I’m hoping I’ll get a tomato in a month or so, I’ll keep you updated.
tomato-plant-blooming
I also noticed that one of my green pepper plants is blooming, I’ve been bringing this plant inside in the evenings, so perhaps it will set fruit, it’s still fairly cold for peppers though with night temps in the 40’s.
pepper-plant-blooming
This is the time of year when things really start ramping up the garden. I noticed my catmint will be blooming soon as will some salvias.

Anyone else have an early blooming tomato?

14 Comments to “Blooming Already?”
  1. ChristyACB on May 12, 2009 at 5:56 am

    Congrats! I’m further south from you, in coastal Virginia, but I’m also marveling over the blooms. I have probably 500 on my plants. But even better, I have loads and loads of baby tomatoes peeking out! It is so very exciting. The constolute Genovese is the big fruit setter right now, but the surprising first bloom came from a Black Krim. A shock was seeing 17 blossoms on a single stem on a Cherokee Purple. And about half of those have already set! (I wonder if I should thin those.)

    So far I’ve had 1 pepper blossom and one Pepper growing from it. Patio Marconi is the plant.

    Yes, it is all exciting to us gardening geeks. :)

    ChristyACB’s last blog post.. 2012: Doomsday – The Worst Doomer Movie Ever

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  2. Julia on May 12, 2009 at 6:30 am

    First of all, WOW – Christy! 500 plants?!?

    I’ve got about 7 plants in the ground (including 1 black krim) and a few more still in pots… I’ve already seen a few buds! I felt so frisky planting tomtatoes in the beginning of May (in Boston), but the weather has been so warm.

    I hope you didn’t get a frost!

    Julia’s last blog post.. Mint, Part Deux

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    • ChristyACB on May 12, 2009 at 7:24 pm

      No..definitely not 500 plants! LOL…no, I have about 500 blooms on my plants. There are only 30 plants…and a few stragglers. Good heavens..I might actually have enough tomato juice for the winter if I had 500 plants.

      ChristyACB’s last blog post.. 2012: Doomsday – The Worst Doomer Movie Ever

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  3. Silke on May 12, 2009 at 7:19 am

    Now flowers yet, but I can’t wait!! There’s nothing better than tomatoes picked from the vine. Our pomegranate has been blooming, but no fruit is starting yet. I love this season!! :) Silke

    Silke’s last blog post.. Illustration Friday – Parade

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  4. islandgardener on May 12, 2009 at 8:24 am

    I cheated in that I purchased a Patio tomato that already has about 4 or 5 green tomatoes on it! Otherwise, all of my others do not have blooms yet, but my peppers do!

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  5. kristin on May 12, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Blossoms on tomato plants? HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

    Sorry. No, I have none. And will not for some time yet. Sigh.

    What is that sub-arctic variety you have that’s already blooming? I might have to try those next year . . .

    kristin’s last blog post.. I Forgive You, Spring

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    • Susy on May 12, 2009 at 9:39 am

      I got my Sub-Arctic seeds from Wintersown. I’ll see if I can save some this fall and I’ll send you some. I’m growing a few different kinds of cold tolerant tomatoes, here’s a list of the one’s I’m growing this year:

      Stupice (Czechoslovakian heirloom, early & delicious) – An extra-early, cold-tolerant tomato similar to, but much better than, Glacier tomato, Kotlas and IPB in terms of fresh flavor and yields. The vines are more vigorous than other extra-early, potato-leaf types; and, in part, this may account for the consistently good, sweet and tangy, tomatoey flavor that you get from the first juicy fruit to the last. From north to south, east to west, this 2-4 oz tomato is on the “Best Choice” list for its flavor and season-long production. Indeterminate, 55 days.

      Cold Set – Lycopersicon esculentum. A variety from Canada, plant plant produces good yields of 4″ size red tomatoes. Very flavorful and the easiest tomato plant you can grow. You can sow the seeds directly into garden. The seeds will withstand temperatures as low as 18 degrees in Canadian trials. Excellent for salads and sandwiches. Determinate, 65 days.

      Sub-Arctic Plenty or World’s Earliest – One of the very earliest tomatoes, the compact plants produce lots of 2 oz red fruit. It one of the best for cool conditions and will set fruit in lower temperatures than most. It has even been grown in the Southern Yukon. Developed by Dr. Harris, Beaverlodge Research Station, Alberta, Canada. 49-59 days.

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  6. kristin on May 12, 2009 at 11:17 am

    We have Stupice, too. I grew them last year, and while I did really like the flavor, I didn’t notice them being SO much earlier than the other varieties. Maybe a couple of weeks.

    kristin’s last blog post.. I Forgive You, Spring

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  7. warren on May 12, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    We are starting to see signs of life…finally! If we can stay warm and drier for awhile, we’ll be in good shape. We’ve had 6 inches of rain in like 9 days…it’s nuts!

    warren’s last blog post.. I have a crush

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    • Susy on May 12, 2009 at 4:16 pm

      That’s a lot of rain. We haven’t had that much, our spring has actually been on the dry side.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  8. Dan on May 12, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    I have one fruit on my early tomato, it is about the size of a gum ball right now. I hope it gets going because I want the first BLT from the garden as soon as possible. Your plants look great!

    Dan’s last blog post.. Introducing the new raised beds

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  9. MrBrownThumb on May 12, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Congrats on the bloom. You know the fruit is soon to follow.

    MrBrownThumb’s last blog post.. Spring Bulbs In The Garden

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  10. Jen on May 12, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    The tomatoes I grew from seed are nowhere near having flowers, but I bought some heirloom varieties over the weekend that have some and put them in the bed on Sunday. Problem is, we’re still down to the 40s at night too, so I’m a little nervous. Even with the early blooms I’d be surprised if we get any actual fruit before July. Your peppers look great and obviously you’re taking good care of them!

    Jen’s last blog post.. Pruning Procrastination Produces Petal Problem

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  11. elizabeth fulton on May 22, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    I am kinda disturbed about finding blooms on my black russian tomato plants. This is the first year I’ve planted in those hanging planters. I’ve been around in and out door grown maters all my life, dad grew em in the basement in Alaska. I potted the heirloom, and another container with early girls, on May 6th. Today makes it 16 days….. and there are blooms on the heirloom…. amazing…freaky???

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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