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Here They Come: Tomatoes

June 22nd, 2009

Most of my tomato plants are just blooming, but I have 2 that have nice sized fruit on them already. They’re both cold tolerant varieties and are great for northern gardeners like myself.
Tomato Blossom
This is my Sub-Arctic or World’s Earliest Tomato – 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.
Sub-Arctic Tomato
This is the Zapotec Pleated Tomatoes – (Lycopersicon esculentum) Rare/Traditional. Named for its creators, the Zapotec people of Oaxaca, the pink fruits are large, with ruffles like a pleated dress. They can be stuffed and baked like a bell pepper, or served raw. When frost threatens, entire plant can be lifted, including roots, and hung upside down indoors to ripen remaining fruits.
Zapotec Pleated Tomato
I’m super excited for these pleated ones, I’ve always loved the look of deeply pleated tomatoes, but I have never grown them. I’m hoping to have a few ripe tomatoes in a couple weeks which will be much earlier than last year when I picked my first ripe tomato on August 5.

How are you tomatoes coming along? Anyone eating fresh tomatoes yet?

17 Comments to “Here They Come: Tomatoes”
  1. Mangochild on June 22, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Its been too wet for tomatoes here, unfortunately. The first tomato blossoms are a hopeful sign. The pleated tomatoes look really interesting, I’ve never tried them. I love stuffed anything though, so I hope to find and try them this summer.
    .-= Mangochild´s last blog ..Spotlight: One Local Summer Week 3 =-.

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  2. kristin on June 22, 2009 at 8:02 am

    HAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA! Fresh tomatoes in June. I wish. I got overly excited yesterday because I spotted the first eensy weensy little tomato emerging from its dying bud. I still got about a month to go.

    Incidentally, I think the method of yanking the whole plant and hanging it upside down to finish ripening is not specific to that one variety. Some people do that with all their tomatoes, I think.

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  3. islandgardener on June 22, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Congrats on your greenies! You will definitely have a ripe one before Aug. 5th! I just picked my 5th ripe tomato — all but one have been off my Patio tomato. The other is from the Champion plant.

    I think pleated tomatoes are so cool! From where did you get the Zapotec tomatoes??? They might even have applications in southern gardens like mine to plant them in Aug or Sept because here I don’t get frost until well into November. Janet
    .-= islandgardener´s last blog ..My Summer’s Eve Dinner =-.

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    • Susy on June 22, 2009 at 6:03 pm

      I can’t remember if I got them from Wintersown or if I traded for them. I’m excited to see what they look like when they’re ripe. I have a few other kinds that look like they’re going to be slightly pleated as well.

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  4. Syrahsuzie on June 22, 2009 at 8:23 am

    Those tomatoes look lovely. We just have one tiny tomato showing at the moment – we had a cold Spring. We should be picking our first ripe tomatoes around the 1st of July – probably one of the cherry tomatoes as they ripen quickly.
    Southern France.

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  5. Daphne on June 22, 2009 at 10:54 am

    How lovely. Weirdly my tomatoes have been doing well. We have been having weather in the 60s and it has been cloudy all month. I’m really shocked, but happy. I have one tomato plant that is 5′ tall. I’m usually lucky if my tomatoes get that big by the end of the summer. All my tomatoes are flowering and have little tiny fruit. Nothing big yet. I won’t get ripe tomatoes until sometime in July. Usually the cherries come in the middle of July and the others the end of July or the beginning of August.
    .-= Daphne´s last blog ..Monday Harvest Tally =-.

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  6. Maureen on June 22, 2009 at 11:02 am

    We’ve picked 2 fairly small Stupice tomatoes and are waiting on a mystery tomato (lost the tag) that should be deep red by tomorrow. All the others are green or just getting flowers.

    We may get our tomatoes earlier but we’ll have ‘issues’ later in the summer. Our biggest problem is getting fruit to set when days start climbing over the 110 mark….eek!
    .-= Maureen´s last blog ..Happy Father’s Day! =-.

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  7. inadvertent farmer on June 22, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    No, none here yet…but I’m waiting anxiously with mouth watering! Super lovely shots of your baby tomatoes! Kim
    .-= inadvertent farmer´s last blog ..Learning From What They Live…Eating Healthy For Kids =-.

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  8. Pampered Mom on June 22, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    We’ve got a few flowers, but no tomatoes yet. Our transplants didn’t get as big as I would have liked them to. Our tomatillos, however, have grown like gangbusters ever since we transplanted them. There are so many flowers on the plants it’s really hard to count!

    My biggest issue now is trying to figure out what’s wrong with four of our plants. They look wilty regardless of how often they’ve been watered.

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  9. Silke on June 22, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Oh, I am intrigued by your Zapotec pleated tomatoes! We’ll definitely try those next year (we have a soft spot for anything Oaxacan!) Our tomatoes are all still blooming – no tomatoes yet… :) Silke

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  10. Joe on June 23, 2009 at 12:20 am

    WOW! Beautiful photographs…nice plants! I am sure your tomatoes will be delicious.

    I ate my first tomato, a ‘Sungold’ cherry, about 3 weeks ago – tasty tasty!

    Reply to Joe's comment

  11. Carolyn on June 23, 2009 at 12:24 am

    I love the look of your pleated tomatoes! I’ve harvested three San Marzano Roma tomatoes along with some yellow squash so far. I live in mild Northern California, but it hasn’t been a very hot season yet, so I’m surprised I had any ripe ones at all.

    Reply to Carolyn's comment

    • Susy on June 23, 2009 at 9:02 am

      I’m eagerly anticipating my San Marzanos! They’re just starting to bloom now, it will be a while yet for them.

      I have a teeny tiny zucchini, it will be ready soon I think. It’s a Ronde de Nice.

      It’s been very cool here as well. I’m not sure any of the watermelons or other melons will fruit this year since it’s been so cool.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  12. Helen at Toronto Gardens on June 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    I applaud your tomatoness and wish you full, ripe flavour in every bite. I, on the other hand, rejoice just getting one or two tiny toms each afternoon from my Home Depot patio plant. They were turfing them out at half price, so I had to adopt one.

    Must take note of the sub-zero ones (BTW, Suzy, I think you’re missing an “L” in “world’s”), and the pleated ones look fabulous.
    .-= Helen at Toronto Gardens´s last blog ..Faves: Oh my darlin’ Columbine =-.

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    • Susy on June 23, 2009 at 10:35 pm

      Thanks, sometimes I read the posts so many times I don’t see the corrections anymore (terrible for an ex-English teacher).

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  13. Helen at Toronto Gardens on June 23, 2009 at 10:26 pm

    Oops. Change that Z to an S. Sorry about that.
    .-= Helen at Toronto Gardens´s last blog ..Faves: Oh my darlin’ Columbine =-.

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  14. Allison on June 24, 2009 at 11:46 am

    Oh- I’m with you on the deeply pleated tomatoes. I want to grow some ugly tomatoes, myself. The kind no grocery store bothers to sell. I would also like to grown some bell-shaped heirloom tomatoes if I can figure out what they are called. They are reminiscent of pears, shape-wise.

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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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