Monday, January 24, 2011

SUMMER 2011

My first attempt at growing tomatoes was in 2008. I had a bountiful harvest from only 6 plants, but I hated how the worms would eat into the flesh and ruin them. Not forgetting I had to battle with the birds as well. It was a race to see who would get to them first, the worms, the birds or me ( roll eyes! ).
'
In 2009 I decided not to plant any tomatoes as I couldn't be bothered battling the worms and birds, and they were cheap to buy from the shops.
'
In 2010 I decided to try again as I found that they were expensive to buy ( between $4 -$7 per kilo ) because it was a poor season due to bad weather, and most of the tomatoes available at that time were hothouse tomatoes which lack in taste.
'
Since I have now discovered the joy of freezing and being self-sufficient, I thought I'd try again, but I was too enthusiastic, or rather forgot, that each punnet of tomato seedlings I bought contain 6 plants and suddenly I found myself having 25 plants... duh!!
'
Some of the varieties for a normal size tomato include Early Girl and Dynamo. Both are good varieties as they are worm resistant.... hmmm, wonder if there are any varieties that are also bird resistant. They also produce a heavy crop.
'
These are Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes. No worms and a bountiful crop.
'
These are Grape Cherry tomatoes and are smaller than a normal Cherry tomato.
'
The results of having a brain fart.... 25 tomato plants.
'
The above and below pictures show Early Girl and Dymano tomato varieties.
'
A freak among the beauties.
'
The 2 pictures below are from the Roma Acid Free variety. The worms love to eat these as I guess they have got no acid!!! They have a distinctive oblong shape and the plant does not grow very tall.
'
These are the Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes.... but I have got millions of them! ( slight exaggeration... muahahah! )
'
I also have a few million Grape Cherry tomatoes!
'
The comparison!
'
The casualties! Due to very bad weather, heavy rain and gale force winds. Don't fret as I will sunbathe them and they will ripen.
'
The courgettes / zucchini
'
Last year I complained my courgette plants only produced male flowers. I've changed my mind this year.... I've discovered zucchini flower fritters. Love them and don't mind if all my plants produce only male flowers:)
'
The results of having 7 zucchini plants despite having quite a lot of male flowers and harvesting a few courgettes already.
'
Cape Gooseberries. My poor stick thin plant only produced 7 berries, 3 in my tummy and 4 for you to see! Root Blaster, here I come!
'
Don't wet yourself, I didn't grow these spray-free strawberries. Bought from a Farmers Market and has now become organic matter;)
'
Organic blueberries all the way from Mamaku, Rotorua.... by truck:)
'

6 comments:

  1. Cm suka makan buah tomato.Makan begitu saja .Tapi tak ada rezeki bila tanam pokok tomato selalunya gagal.Mati sebelum berbuah.banyak musuh:(

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kak CM,
    Pokok tomato ni kalau tanam hidup,sepokok pun dah cukup...hasilnya lumayan.Eh,ulat ke yang makan pokok tomato cm?Selalunya,pokok dia ok and takde serangga yang serang.Cuma buah dia aja yang tengah ranum nak masak kena attack.Maybe kalau cm bagi tau apa masalahnya,I can help...tapi I pun bukanlah terror sangat..lol.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shereen dear:)hari tu Cm tanam pokok tomato tapi tiba tiba pokoknya layu dan terus mati.Rupanya ada anai anai serang akar(agak agak sebab berdekatan pokok tu ada busut anai anai.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh,Kak CM...macam tu I tak boleh tolong la...hahaha...di luar bidang saya!Tapi anai-anai Kak CM kena eradicate supaya pokok-pokok and even rumput kat taman kakak tak kena serang.Dulu masa saya tinggal kat Melaka,saya beli rumput carpet and without my knowledge the nursery tanamkan rumput carpet siap dengan penghuni-penghuninya(anai-anai la).Habis my garden kena serang sampaikan my mangga siam yang buahnya manis macam gula and panjang sampai 20cm and berat nak sekilo sebiji kat seberang jalan depan rumah saya pun kena serang.Mati pokok tu!So,kak CM kena treat la kebun kak CM tu nanti.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is a lot of tomatoes!!! This year I am not going to tanam any because I takut the hornworms. Last year they attacked all my tomatoes plants and I asked Carlos to tebang all of it. I can't wait for all the berries to be in the market :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gert,
    This year my tomato plants not a single worm can be seen!!I think it must be the breed of tomatoes la.Sayang you tak tinggal near me or else i can hantar all of those tomatoes to you...I kid you not,there were a few thousands of tomatoes!!!I was so sick looking at them.I kasi orang bukan main banyak lagi and yet there were still so many of them.Hmm..now my freezer macam-macam tomato based pasta sauce ada kat dalam tu..hehehe.Your tomato plant must be huge to kena tabang...ours,cabut only...muahahaha!

    ReplyDelete