I Finally Bagged One

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I cut into the tomato (below) but was pleasantly surprised at what was inside, as I have grown a few seedless tomatoes in recent times. This is one of my Little Heart tomatoes that is from bagged blossoms and the seed has been squeezed into a container and is in the cupboard to ferment. By the weekend I will have seed from this tomato in a seed tray in an effort to get another growing from it this season, which will put me a year ahead with the filial generations. This is a lovely eating tomato and I expect big things from it.

Autumn Crop

I'm sowing seeds now for my Autumn crop - here are a couple of 'Siletz' that I'm having another try of, as these are one very tasty tomato.

We Liked It.

We did the big taste test on 'Siletz' tonight and I must say that if anyone wants a sweet tomato, not acidic in any way, then this is the one. The downside was no seeds, but then that's nothing new for me.

Here it is.

Well, we finally picked 'Siletz' today and what a lovely size tomato it it too, weighing in at 270 grams. I'm sure we'll enjoy eating this one - I can't wait.

Worth The Wait.

We've been watching this one grow for weeks now and it's almost to the stage where it will be picked and eaten. This one is 'Siletz' and is not hothouse grown, but is in a 32cmx32cm pot in the backyard. The plant this fruit is growing on, is a very compact plant that is about 55cm in height. I'm hoping for something in the 250+ gram weight range, but won't care if it's heavier or lighter, so long as it tastes nice.

Newest Babies

Here is one of my 'Tamina' tomato plants, which I'm growing for seed only at this stage. These were released in England about 12 months ago by Thompson & Morgan, so are new to me this season albeit a bit late starting them.

I'd like to think we'd get some warmer weather and then they'll take off and do just fine.

Washing's Done

At least three days this week I've had blossom bags on the line after being washed. These have been in use on the tomato blossom, until fruit set on selected trusses. The idea is to produce 'pure' seed, not crossed in any way and it works well.

Early removal of bags is a necessity otherwise you will get fruit fill the bags, or even worse - 'Blossom Drop'.

Here it is.

I checked on the Little Heart tomato in the hothouse and found a caterpillar had nibbled the skin, so I picked it and took inside to ripen. I weighed it at 148 grams (5.3 oz) and is as big as a tennis ball, so we'll do the important taste test on it tonight (Fri) and then I'll report back if it was good. This tomato is an F2 and will possibly change more before it's stable, but so far it has taste and size in it's favour.

Here it is in Jan's hand.

The same tomato at tasting Friday afternoon. Result is great at a very nice 8+/10.

Worth the wait - Hopefully

In the next day or so I'll pick my first fruit from a tomato grown in the hothouse I named 'Little Heart' (F1) last year which came from a 'mutant' lot of seeds, supposedly Cuor di Bue. This plant gave small heart shaped fruit last year, with excellent taste, so I decided to grow them again this year, but got a surprise with their size. The fruit seems as if it will grow to about Tennis Ball size, very prolific, so when I get the first fruit it will be taste tested to see if the flavour in these F2 variety has stayed as nice as we remember from last season. I do have four plants of this tomato growing in the garden for comparison on taste and size etc.

Here is a photo from yesterday.