It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned red
mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it before the
squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

On Monday, June 17, 2013 5:44:20 PM UTC-7, Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned red

mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it before the

squirrel.



So far,



humans 1

squirrels 0

Dern it, my "first" is still blushing; too soon. Should be ready in a week or so. I am firmly secular, but when harvesting first fruits, I do recite the appropriate prayer.

(But on the plus side, my dwarf Washington orange has made its first adorable baby! Last year I had about 12 of the most delicious oranges EVER. In this area, we pick in January/February +-.

WHERE ARE YOU?

HB

Where are you?

HB

"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
On Monday, June 17, 2013 5:44:20 PM UTC-7, Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned red

mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it before
the

squirrel.



So far,



humans 1

squirrels 0

Dern it, my "first" is still blushing; too soon. Should be ready in a
week or so. I am firmly secular, but when harvesting first fruits, I do
recite the appropriate prayer.

(But on the plus side, my dwarf Washington orange has made its first
adorable baby! Last year I had about 12 of the most delicious oranges
EVER. In this area, we pick in January/February +-.

WHERE ARE YOU?

OVER HERE.

HB

Where are you?


Midwest US, Louisville.

Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned
red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it
before the squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I didn't
get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I don't wait and
put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a few small ones, too,
about the size of large plums. I'm looking forward to the larger tomatoes
when they finally put on fruit!

--
Natural Girl

"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl" wrote in
message ...
Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned
red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it
before the squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I
didn't get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I don't
wait and put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a few small
ones, too, about the size of large plums. I'm looking forward to the
larger tomatoes when they finally put on fruit!

--
Natural Girl

I got quite a few from only about 4-5 plants last year, but the year before
the varmints took them all! It was very disappointing. I got so mad I
ended up pulling up the tomato plants that year... I am trying the vinegar
soaked socks on the wood stakes strategy again. It seemed to work pretty
well last year.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:08:49 PM UTC-7, Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl wrote:
Gus wrote:

It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned

red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it

before the squirrel.



So far,



humans 1

squirrels 0



I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I didn't

get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I don't wait and

put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a few small ones, too,

about the size of large plums. I'm looking forward to the larger tomatoes

when they finally put on fruit!



--

Natural Girl

Inquiring minds need to know: Were you able to discern any difference in taste between vine ripened and kitchen window ripened?

HB

Gus wrote:
"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl"
wrote in message ...
Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It
turned red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I
better pick it before the squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I
didn't get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I
don't wait and put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a
few small ones, too, about the size of large plums. I'm looking
forward to the larger tomatoes when they finally put on fruit!

--
Natural Girl

I got quite a few from only about 4-5 plants last year, but the year
before the varmints took them all! It was very disappointing. I got
so mad I ended up pulling up the tomato plants that year... I am
trying the vinegar soaked socks on the wood stakes strategy again. It
seemed to work pretty well last year.

Vinegar socks? hmmm Haven't tried that one yet.

I've got some chocolate mint planted that has come back all around where I
planted some of my patio tomatoes. I'm hoping the thieves don't notice the
tomatoes because of the mint being there.


--
Natural Girl

Higgs Boson wrote:
On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:08:49 PM UTC-7, Natural - Smoking Gun -
Girl wrote:
Gus wrote:

It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It
turned

red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick
it

before the squirrel.



So far,



humans 1

squirrels 0



I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I
didn't

get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I don't
wait and

put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a few small ones,
too,

about the size of large plums. I'm looking forward to the larger
tomatoes

when they finally put on fruit!



--

Natural Girl

Inquiring minds need to know: Were you able to discern any
difference in taste between vine ripened and kitchen window ripened?

HB

I didn't notice any difference in the taste, but ever since the year where
the garden thieves took EVERY tomato I had, I've been pulling them as soon
as I see them begin to turn and I let them ripen the rest of the way in my
kitchen window. They taste REALLY good.

--
Natural Girl

"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:08:49 PM UTC-7, Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl
wrote:
Gus wrote:

It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It turned

red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I better pick it

before the squirrel.



So far,



humans 1

squirrels 0



I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I
didn't

get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I don't wait and

put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a few small ones, too,

about the size of large plums. I'm looking forward to the larger
tomatoes

when they finally put on fruit!



--

Natural Girl

Inquiring minds need to know: Were you able to discern any difference in
taste between vine ripened and kitchen window ripened?

HB



Speaking for myself, not too much. Vine ripened is best, but window ripened
out of a garden still beats grocery store by quite a bit.

"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl" wrote in
message ...
Gus wrote:
"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl"
wrote in message ...
Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It
turned red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I
better pick it before the squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year I
didn't get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I
don't wait and put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a
few small ones, too, about the size of large plums. I'm looking
forward to the larger tomatoes when they finally put on fruit!

--
Natural Girl

I got quite a few from only about 4-5 plants last year, but the year
before the varmints took them all! It was very disappointing. I got
so mad I ended up pulling up the tomato plants that year... I am
trying the vinegar soaked socks on the wood stakes strategy again. It
seemed to work pretty well last year.

Vinegar socks? hmmm Haven't tried that one yet.

I happened to notice it on the back of a bottle of vinegar from Kroger last
year. It was listing all the uses for vinegar and one was to keep away
garden pests. It says to stake the perimeter with vinegar soaked rags about
every 7-10 days. It seems to work, at least for a while. I put some socks
on the tomato stakes. After it rains I put some vinegar on the socks, or
about once a week.

Gus wrote:
"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl"
wrote in message ...
Gus wrote:
"Natural - Smoking Gun - Girl"
wrote in message ...
Gus wrote:
It's only the size of small plum but still-- first tomato! It
turned red mostly the last couple days suddenly and thought I
better pick it before the squirrel.

So far,

humans 1
squirrels 0

I pick mine when they just start to turn blushy looking. One year
I didn't get one good tomato due to varmints getting them, so now I
don't wait and put them in my kitchen window to ripen. I've got a
few small ones, too, about the size of large plums. I'm looking
forward to the larger tomatoes when they finally put on fruit!

--
Natural Girl

I got quite a few from only about 4-5 plants last year, but the year
before the varmints took them all! It was very disappointing. I
got so mad I ended up pulling up the tomato plants that year... I
am trying the vinegar soaked socks on the wood stakes strategy
again. It seemed to work pretty well last year.

Vinegar socks? hmmm Haven't tried that one yet.

I happened to notice it on the back of a bottle of vinegar from
Kroger last year. It was listing all the uses for vinegar and one
was to keep away garden pests. It says to stake the perimeter with
vinegar soaked rags about every 7-10 days. It seems to work, at
least for a while. I put some socks on the tomato stakes. After it
rains I put some vinegar on the socks, or about once a week.

I might give it a try soon if I see that I'm losing tomatoes again.

--
Natural Girl