Monday, January 3, 2011

Harvest Monday

Suyo Cucumbers and
The Complete Mystery Tomatoes

Lots of tomatoes are beginning to ripen now. Every tomato growing season I've had at least 1 mystery tomato plant. Last year it was the the Chocolate Stripes seeds - they produced something entirely different that was totally unexciting. This season the Italian Heirloom seeds produced a mystery giant red beefsteak tomato. They're just beautiful and flavorful too.

I made kim chi with the Testa di Ferro cabbage I harvested last week. If you would like a really good recipe for kim chi, it's linked in my post:
Kim Chi for the New Year

Next week should be a big week for tomatoes. I have a few new varieties I trialed this season and I can't wait to try them.
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14 comments:

  1. Dave @ HappyAcresJanuary 3, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    That is a great looking mystery tomato! It's fortunate that it turned out well. Last time I had a mystery tomato it wasn't that good.

    Looking forward to hearing about your tomato trials.

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  2. Daphne GouldJanuary 3, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    I usually hate when seeds don't come true. But there are the fun surprises.

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  3. MichelleJanuary 3, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Your mystery tomato sure looks good, how nice that it's tasty also. How do you like the Suyo cucumber? I grew it last summer and really like the flavor, although it quit a bit sooner than I would have liked because the plants were slowed down by powdery mildew. I guess I should do some succesion sowing if I grow them again.

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  4. JaneJanuary 3, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Hi villager! This was the first tasty mystery tomato I've grown yet. I think they're going to be the largest tomatoes I'm growing as they each weighed just slightly over 1 lb.

    Hi Daphne! I usually throw the seed pack away when I get mixed or crossed seeds. But these seeds I'll keep and plant them again next fall.

    Hi Michelle! I really like the Suyos. They grow better than any of the regular cucumbers during the months with the least amount of daylight. These cucumbers are from seeds planted in late October. I still can't figure out what makes them curl but they look really unique.

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  5. FunkbunnyJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:01 AM

    THose tomatoes look beautiful. I hope my heritage varieties turn out as well as yours.

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  6. RobinJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:42 AM

    What a beautiful mystery tomato!

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  7. Veggie PAKJanuary 4, 2011 at 3:29 AM

    Tomatoes in January. Oh! I'm envious!

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  8. BarbieJanuary 4, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Oh that looks absolutely wonderful! Any tomato that looks that good, AND tastes good is a great thing. Make sure you save those seeds!

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Aloha Jane,
    You make kimchi too! I usually make kimchi with Chinese cabbage but yours look wonderful! I am learning how to cook different ethnic recipes with the vegetables that I grow and it is such a nice feeling. Those Suyo cucumbers look delicious. Your garden is beautiful. Corliss

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  10. JaneJanuary 4, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Hi Funkbunny! I love heirloom/heritage tomatoes too. I hope yours grow really well this year!

    Hi Robin! At first I thought I had mislabled a cherokee purple but then they started turning red. I'll have to save the seeds and see if it will reproduce next year.

    Hi VeggiePAK! It does sound strange to have a tomato harvest in January! It took me a while to figure out the best time to plant tomatoes in my unique climate.

    Hi Barbie! They are definatley photogenic tomatoes and I hope the seeds will reproduce the same variety next year.

    Hi Corliss! I lived in Honolulu all of the 90's and I learned to love so many different Asian foods. Sam Choy has a lot of great recipes in his cookbooks where I can use the veggies from my garden. His food creations are so ono and a multi-cultural experience! The suyos are easy to grow - they grow really well during the winter months in Kihei.

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  11. Ottawa GardenerJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    Beautiful looking vegetables. That tomato reminds me of Brandywine or something similar anyhow.

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  12. JaneJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Hi Ottawa Gardener! Mahalo for the feedback - I looked up the Brandywine online and my mystery tomatoes look very similar. I haven't trialed any of the Brandywines yet.

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  13. kitsapFGJanuary 6, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    I am so Jonesing for fresh vine ripened tomatoes. Those just look delicious! :D

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  14. A Kitchen Garden in Kihei MauiJanuary 6, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    Hi kitsapFG! I think most of us gardeners love our tomatoes the most! I usually grow all the other colors of beefsteak tomatoes but red. These were so yummy I'll definatley grow them again next season.

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