2010 Season Final Pickings - (Oops, It's February 1, 2011) pics
 

While my friends back East have been having a tough Winter, we've been getting hit with unusually warm weather:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_0248-1.jpg[/IMG]

Typically, we get hard freezes starting in mid-December, but to date, we've hit a low of 33 degrees back on December 14. The good news is that many of my tomato plants are still in production:

Indian Stripe has been the most hardy in spite of 40 degree nights:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2328.jpg[/IMG]

Green foliage continues to develop:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2331.jpg[/IMG]

Pink Boar, while not full summertime size are still tasty:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2333.jpg[/IMG]

Big Beef continues to be productive, but again somewhat smaller in fruit size:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2336.jpg[/IMG]

Here are today's pickings:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2355.jpg[/IMG]

From left to right: B&B Boar, Pink Boar, Japanese Black Trifele, and the upper right, Indian Stripe, below Goose Creek, then Big Beef.

JBT on the left and Indian Stripe on the right:

[IMG]http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af179/rnews/IMG_2358.jpg[/IMG]

All of the plants are being torn out this week to so I can prep the 'Tainers for the 2011 plantings that will start to go in on Saturday.

Raybo:D

That's it! Havta move to California!!!!!

I'll take winter over earthquakes!:lol:

[quote=lurley;197398]I'll take winter over earthquakes!:lol:[/quote]

What actually bothers me more than an earthquake is the fact that our State has a $30 Billion deficit, classrooms are going to 40 students due to the Budget cuts, Our Gov. "Moon-beam" is increasing California Taxes across the board, and oh by the way, many fewer State Employees to help you at the DMV and Parks this year.:x

But if you can put up with all this, it still is a pretty decent quality of life out here. Cherry trees are blossoming today!:yes:

Raybo:D

I love black tomatoes!!!!!!

Reply
 

My daughter and I got caught in the middle of a riot in Rome. Plice had baracaded everything and had their riot gear on. All we were trying to do was walk back to the hotel. Apparently Tuition was right at doubled. All funding was cut for research and the public transpot were striking. We stayed 1 day too long in Italy :?:
Kat

Reply
 

PS it is freezing here and snowing:panic: :dizzy: . Thanks alot for rubbing it in my face Raybo I think you owe me some seeds :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Kat

kat,

I will be living vicariously through your posts and photos come July if the Psyllids and Tomato Russet Mites wipe me out again this year. So for those folks who see snow out their windows now, I thought some of my pics would bring a bit of cheer.

Remember, the days are getting longer - and your seed startings are just around the corner..:yes:

Raybo;)

One question
 

I really want to tell you how much you suck, but in May when I'm posting pictures of the first BLT of the season, I will feel no shame either. Enjoy it. You've earned it!


But what I really want to know is this; How do you keep the birds from eating your tomatoes? I have to pick mine at the first sign of blushing or the birds will tear them apart right on the vine.

archer,

I can't recall ever having birds attack the tomatoes here. I guess they just have more attractive insects to eat, etc. I have lost some tomatoes to squirrels however, but my game-plan is to grow far more than I can ever eat - then share what the animals don't take with neighbors and Dear Wife's Church Buddies.

Hey, you anywhere near Mo-Pac and Braker Lane?

Raybo:D

I feel it's for the birds
 

We've had dry conditions for the past few years and people have told me that the birds were just thirsty. Putting water out for them did nothing. I then realized they were eating my tomatoes even after a good rain. They were not just thirsty. They know a good tomato when they see it! Sometimes, they eat the whole thing, leaving nothing but the core still attached to the vine. Most of the time, they just eat a bit off the back side and leave it. They see me watching the tomato, waiting 'til it's that perfect shade of red with that perfect firmness to pick it. Then, when I do, my fingers feel the wet, sliminess of where the back side used to be. It's like a horror movie when the someone rolls over the person that looks perfectly healthy and you realize that the back of their head is missing. When the birds see that horror on my face, they laugh and laugh...

I hope to be able to scrounge up the $100 that I think it will cost me to cover both my 50 foot rows with bird netting. 50 feet long is easy to find, I just don't know how wide it needs to be to cover the row with enough net to touch the ground on both sides. Guess that's what measuring tape is for. Times are tough this year so I might have to go with the bright red, hanging, moving mobiles for a dollar each at the Dollar General down the street. Hopefully the moving will scare them off. If not, maybe the red will get them used to seeing red as a non-food, making the leave the toms alone.

Anyway... didn't mean to hijack your thread. It just kills me every time I see a red tomato on the vine like that when I realize that I haven't seen a non-pecked red tomato on the vine in over a year! So, I had to ask.

And to answer your question, I live on the opposite side of town from Braker and MoPac. for that matter, I'm beyond the opposite side of town. I'm so far out that I have to drive to and through the opposite side of town to get there... I know because I work up there and have to make the drive every day.

The short answer: No, but I work near there. That's on the north side of town. I live just south of Austin.

Thank you for the pics....I am counting the days and placing the snow in areas that will be out of the way come April...still have ice bergs in my yard then...lol. I am pretty lucky since there is a nursery here that grows heirlooms in his greenhouses over the winter so I don't have to eat store bought...but I still yearn for one of my own....tummy grumbling.

Tanya,

Snowing hard in Sodus just now (sister-in-law lives there). Looks like it's on the way to Hannibal, Minetto, and Martville, so it looks like you are in for 24 inches or more. In your area, I am sure you are prepared...:yes:

Raybo

Raybo, love your pics. My garden is still on paper and we are getting blasted with a winter storm. They are predicting that by tomorrow (Thursday) we will have between 12 to 18 inches of snow on the ground lows of 6 degrees with 40 MPH winds. But thats OK, I have the holy candles lit. A pot of hot coffee and a ton of seed catalogues. Its all good.

[quote=rnewste;197442]Tanya,

Snowing hard in Sodus just now (sister-in-law lives there). Looks like it's on the way to Hannibal, Minetto, and Martville, so it looks like you are in for 24 inches or more. In your area, I am sure you are prepared...:yes:

Raybo[/quote]


You betcha...battle gear laying out, gas for the snow blower and generator, ice picks, salt, and whatever else....I am like a kid in a candy store....sad I know but I so happy when it snows like this.:D

Hubby upset with me because I was bashing Genesee Beer...he is a cream ale guy and gets it every time we are up north. Just getting myself in trouble...lol