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Here
we are in the final full month of summer and I’m already feeling the
longing for it to start again! The kids are starting back to school sooner
than ever–keeps them off the streets but the school buses are a pain–and
football season starts soon!
All
of this is going on and I haven’t had a chance to enjoy my tomatoes like
I usually do. By now I should have had at least 16 quarts of whole
tomatoes and the same in tomato sauces put up, but I don’t. I have had
to battle the water restrictions and viruses spread by thrips and other
insects!
It’s
hard to have an urban garden when there isn’t enough water in the city’s
plan to sustain the population during drought! Grrrrrrrrrr! I’m holding
back!!!
No
matter! I still grew some of the sweetest tomatoes I have ever grown in my
little garden.
The
best tasting tomato so far has to be the Classic Beefsteak. It is a fairly
large tomato, producing slices the size of a piece of bologna! The
prettiest tomato is the Black Krim. The sweetest is the Lemon Boy and I am
enjoying the handful of the Black Cherry variety I get every morning for
breakfast.
This
is the month to spotlight Alabama tomatoes. The Decatur Farmers’ Market
is featuring "Tomato Sandwich Day" on Saturday, August 4. Come
by and enjoy delicious Alabama tomatoes with mayo on white bread! I’ll
bet I ate a dozen last year and I’m sure this year won’t be any
different.
Also
the Home Grown Tomatoes team will be back at the Birmingham Farmers Market
on Finley Avenue for their Second Annual Family and Friends Festival on
Saturday, August 25th. Come hear Crabmeat Thompson sing his famed tune,
"One Ton Tomato." He is coming all the way from Delaware to
entertain us with his Celtic and folk music.
We’ll
have lots of food to sample and the best part is, it’s free! Enter your
tomatoes in two contests; the heaviest tomato and the best tasting tomato.
Watch the HGT website for more information or call the Jefferson County
Truck Growers Association at: 205-251-8737.
If
your local radio station isn’t carrying the gardening radio show Home
Grown Tomatoes yet, call them and request it!
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