Phil,
the Summer was disappointing here in Northern California. The season got
off to a late start, for us, with heavy rains through April. Normally we
are in the ground by the first of April. I haven't grown heirloom
tomatoes before but they have given a good accounting of themselves.
They even ripened before my "Early Girls". Right now, I am where we
normally are by the first of August. But of course the mildew has
arrived, killing off the squash, except for the lemon cucumber, and is
starting to move on to the tomatoes. This must sound wonderful to you,
but it is not what the locals expect here.

The Brandywines have been great, large, meaty, with good acid to give
them that tang. The Striped Germans where large and meaty but with
decidedly less tang (acidity). Both were good and both give lots of
liquids if left over night. I'm glad that I planted some Juliets for my
salsa sauce. The Early Girls, First Lady, and the Juliets are still
producing unblemished fruit, whereas the Brandywines and the Striped
Germans are showing considerable cosmetic damage.

I am surprised how quickly the Brandywine and Striped German deteriorate
once they are picked. But they are large and delicious.

Next year, I hope to try more types of tomatoes but I know that the
Early Girls, First Lady, Juliets, Brandywine and Striped Germans will
figure into my plantings.

My biggest failure this year has been my peppers. The jalapenos and the
habaneros have done just fine but the milder Italian and Hungarian
haven't had the heat or time that they needed.

This was my first year to try to grow from seed and these and the
medicinal herbs were among my disasters. Wait till next year.

Mean while I have been working the grape harvest for the last six weeks.
We have brought in half of the winery's harvest and plan to finish this
Friday! Lordy, Lordy. Overtime is not all that one could hope for.

Down with Bush.

Peace.

- Bill

Hi William and All,

As the snow and ice drop into Minnesota today, 10/11, from the North
Pole, we have harvested all the red (reddish) tomatoes and green
peppers. Our top bearing heirloom tomatoes were Brandywine, Stupice,
Beam's Yellow Pear and least Amish Paste.

We did experience mildew disease late in the season. But decided not to
use the copper mildewcide so late in the season; just killed watering,
and let our sandy soil stop it spread. The vines are held up with many
6ft bamboo poles.

The Beam's Yellow Pears were the most prolific bearing, but most are
still green and the snow is gonna cover the still blooming flowers. The
Beam's were least favored, as the tomatoes are too small, about 1 1/4"
long and the flesh tastes meally and tasteless. However, the cluster
bunches are attractive looking. Regards, Phil


During the cool, rainy spell, the Stupice are showing skin cracking on
the shoulder of almost every tomato. What causes this?

Should we harvest all tomatoes (ripe or not) during the eve of the
first hard frost?

Regards, Phil