Aunt Ruby’s German Green has been one of our favorite tomatoes this summer. Few experiences rival the thrill of cutting into one of these fine, green beefsteak tomatoes. With a table full of blushing tomatoes, one can be forgiven for thinking that Aunt Ruby is not yet ripe. But the juicy taste of an Aunt Ruby is the greatest reward for remembering that green is the new red!
We were excited to grow this tomato and it has not disappointed. The distinctive shape and color makes it an exciting fruit to find on the vine. The size of the fruit has certainly been impressive this summer.
The legend is that this tasty variety was introduced to the United States by a UN worker working in Kosovo who discovered it in a market.
No, this is not an acid flashback. No, this is not the latest photo from the Hubble Telescope. This is the psychedelic tomato we have been waiting to ripen all summer. And the taste is groovy, baby.
This is the Berkley Tie-Die. A multi-colored, striped tomato with one of the best paint jobs in TomatoTown. We finally picked our first one on August 9. We’ll post pictures of a sliced one, if we can keep it around long enough to photograph. The first one we cut disappeared in seconds.
This variety, according to a quick bit of research, is from Wild Boar Farms in California. I respect any tomato mad scientist that uses “heirloom genetics and mutations” as a foundation for their funky tomatoes. We love mutants in TomatoTown. We respect the work of Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms for making such a good looking and tasty variety.
The Russian Black Krim is a favorite here at Tomato Town. Since it is both an early producer and relatively prolific, we can count on several tasty tomatoes from Black Krim every day. Black Krim is also highly prone to catfacing, a trait we regard with the highest affection. Here is one of our latest finds:
The 2nd Annual Kansas City Tomato Times Tomato Tasting was a roaring success. The August weather was certainly optimal, if you were a tomato.
With 69 varieties of tomatoes brought by area growers and breeders, it was difficult to know where to begin. Aunt Ruby’s German Green was a much-discussed variety. While the green color gave people pause, the complex flavor soon won people over.
Tomato scientist Keith Mueller filled two tables with his varied tomato creations. Farmer J admits that she is smitten with his black-skinned varieties. Keith’s White Cherokee is a sublime tomato that matches good taste with lovely light-green flesh.
We are still waiting for Barracker’s Favorite here in Tomato Town, but after seeing the reds and yellows, we are looking forward the ripening of this variety.
Farmer T had a blast, and loved the chance to talk about gardening strategies with other passionate gardeners.
If you missed this year’s event, you have to attend next year. Farmer T enjoyed watching a few Tomato Tasting newbies walk around with toothpicks and exclaim over newly-found varieties that they will probably grow next year themselves. Backyard gardening is one antidote to all the bad news about the economy. Grow your own, or buy from someone who does!
It has been two weeks since our last count. Forgive us Great Tomato, for we have sinned. Aunt Ruby’s German Green is our clear favorite variety now. The plants have been slow to produce, but the taste of this tomato is out of this world. Early blight continues to spread through the middle of one of our plots, though the plants are bravely continuing to produce fruit. At this time last year we had a total harvest of 781.
Our no-shows are: Aussie, Berkeley Tie Die (lazy hippies) and Brandywine (Sudduth’s Strain). Those plants are towards the west end of our plots, and get the least amount of sun. It’s interesting that our Beam’s Yellow Pear, normally a stellar producer, has only produced 51 fruit, compared to 219 at this time last year. We moved him west this year, which I’m sure is the reason for the lack of production.
TomatoTown, by the numbers.
By variety (last count + 14 days harvest = totals to date)
Total number harvested: 1250
Total number harvested over two weeks: 834
Aunt Ruby’s German Green: 0 + 9 = 9
Aussie: 0
Beam’s Yellow Pear: 6 + 45 = 51
Berkeley Tie Die: 0
Black Cherry: 35 + 167 = 202
Black from Tula: 1 + 3 = 4
Black Krim: 5 + 9 = 14
Brandywine (Sudduth’s Strain): 0
Brandywine: 3 + 4 = 7
Burracker’s Favorite: 0 + 1 = 1
Carbon: 5 + 4 = 9
Cherokee Purple: 10 + 8 = 18
Creole: 3 + 5 = 8
Earl’s Faux: 4 + 4 = 8
Eva Purple Ball: 2 + 4 = 6
Giant Pelina: 6 + 15 = 21
Isis Candy: 7 + 28 = 35
JD’s Special C-Tex: 5 + 3 = 8
Japanese Black Trifele: 12 + 23 = 35
Keith’s Mystery: 0 + 9 = 9
Kosovo: 2 + 4 = 6
Limmony: 6 + 2 = 8
Mr. Stripey (Tigerella): 19 + 71 = 90
Mule Team: 2 + 1 = 3
Opalka: 5 + 22 = 27
Paul Robeson: 5 + 5 = 10
Rutgers VFA: 1 + 0 = 1
Stump of the World: 3 + 1 = 4
Stupice: 59 + 43 = 102
Sungold: 192 + 322 = 514
Tom’s Yellow Wonder: 2 + 1 = 3
Volunteers: 9 + 28 = 37
Damaged: 13 + 10 = 23
We just love Opalka’s funky, rocket-like shape. Introduced in the United States in the early 1900s, this vivid red Polish variety is a meaty tomato with a rich, sweet flavor. It makes quite a stir in any salad or salsa, but, with very few seeds, the Opalka is especially good in sauces.
We’ve found that the Opalka is more prolific and tasty than our favorite Roma tomato, so the Opalka will be making a return appearance in next year’s plot.
Also known as a Black Russian Truffel Tomato, the Japanese Black Trifele is a welcome addition to TomatoTown. Luscious green-shouldered specimens that have a rich smoky flavor bring a special intensity to fresh tomato salads or a tomato-basil bruschetta. Much like the Paul Robeson, they are highly-prized for their flavor, color and shape.
Nestled in among the long, thin pepper-shaped Opalkas, Farmer T discovered this monster Opalka. Unlike his slender brothers, this one was round and substantial. Alas, he ripened too late for the tomato sauce we made over the weekend. Instead, he lounges on the kitchen table intimidating the other Opalkas with his girth.
Once our sunflowers peak, they are quickly dismantled by these clever little finches. According to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Goldfinch is a strict vegetarian and thrives on a seed-only diet. These finches also enjoy the seeds from the purple cone flowers in our garden.
Aunt Ruby’s German Green has been one of our favorite tomatoes this summer. Few experiences rival the thrill of [Read More]
We were excited to grow this tomato and it has not disappointed. The distinctive shape and color makes it an exciting [Read More]
No, this is not an acid flashback. No, this is not the latest photo from the Hubble Telescope. This is the [Read More]
The Russian Black Krim is a favorite here at Tomato Town. Since it is both an early producer and relatively prolific, [Read More]
The 2nd Annual Kansas City Tomato Times Tomato Tasting was a roaring success. The August weather was certainly [Read More]