This year’s tomatoes

It feels like we are having a pretty mild summer this year, according to The Age newspaper the second coolest in the past decade, although still above the long term average.  What we have definitely been spared so far this year are the extended really hot periods.  Last year we had spells when the temperature was over 40 for 4 days running whereas this year I can only remember a solitary day when the temperature hit 40.

Of course a hot February may change all this but so far its all been very civilised and it isn’t just the residents who are happy – the tomato plants also seem very grateful for it.  They seem healthier than in previous years and they have set a good amount of fruit.

This is a Black Cherry, the most vigorous of the varieties I am growing this year.

Other than Black Cherry I am also intentionally growing Tigerella and Grosse Lisse.  I wanted to limit my tomato plants this year because I haven’t had huge amounts of success with them in the past few years.

But this year is different (maybe because of the weather) so I am glad that as well as the intentional plantings I have a few volunteers around the garden.

Of the volunteer plants I think I’ve identified two as Broad Ripple Currant and Principe Borghese but the other’s are unfamiliar so far.

Fruit has yet to ripen on a couple of the volunteer plants so may things may be clearer when it does.  Which leaves one with ripe fruit remaining unknown.  It appeared in the chook area and is bearing slightly stunted (but then I haven’t fertilised it or anything) orange coloured fruit.  There are 3 in the basket below, the small orange ones that aren’t the larger Tigerella or the smaller yellow Broad Ripple Currant (or the clearly purple Black Cherry):

This lot vanished approximately 3 minutes after this shot was taken.  I think Black Cherry remains my favourite, although I am partial to the (more than) occasional Tigerella.  Now I am looking forward to the Grosse Lisse, a week, perhaps two and I reckon its fruit will be ripe.

YAY for mild weather and ripe tomatoes!