PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Thursday 23 February 2012

Tomato Seeds

A few weeks ago Meggie had a fantastic Garden Seed Giveaway.  She was very generously offering some heritage seeds.  I chose a variety of tomatoes - Tomato Carbon, which have won many taste awards in the last few years!
They arrived today - and I am thrilled and delighted.
Thank you, Meggie!

We will get them planted and I'll let you know how they progress.
I am really looking forward to the taste test!

I wonder how they will fare
at this year's Village Show

We had a huge amount of fun last year,
notching up far more successes
than we expected.

The trouble is that it puts the pressure on this year! 

I am counting on these purple tomatoes to win at least one class.
Thank you Meggie.
x




PS.  Check out Meggies seed list  - new varieties she is trying out this year.

16 comments:

  1. Entering veggies in a village show, or fair as we call it, just adds a little more intensity to the gardening: choosing the right spot to plant, paying attention to watering and fertilizing, and then picking the perfect samples for the show. Lots of fun. The heirloom tomatoes usually do taste extra yummy.

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    1. Hi Jenny, I don't know whether you have ever watched 'Midsomer Murders' the English detective programmes, but life in our village is like that (minus the murders) in the run-up to the Village Show! Actually, it is all a lot more fun than that, but it is surprising how hotly contested certain classes become!

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  2. Hi Elaine...I was afraid the seeds might not make the trip. I'm so encouraged, I think I will send another surprise packet. I hope your blogging friends check out my post today. I have added a stand alone page (look at the header), listing all the "new" seeds I will be trying this year. I will be smiling all day, knowing that your tomato seeds arrived.

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    1. Hi Meggie, They made it, in excellent condition and in super-fast time. Thank you very much, we will do our best to do them justice! Last year was not a good year for tomatoes, I have great hopes for this year.

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  3. How I long for a fresh, home-grown tomato! The tomatoes in the grocery stores at this time of the year are purely decorative as far as I'm concerned. Good luck with your tomato patch!

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    1. Hi Ms Sparrow, Last year was a very poor year for tomatoes and most of the few we did get were quickly devoured by Harry. Through the winter the tomatoes on offer here are pretty much as you describe. I'll let you know how we get on.

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  4. Best wishes for your success. We had heirloom tomatoes one year. The hands down winner: Mortgage Lifters. In spite of our best efforts they grew over eight feet tall. Tall people stretched to get the tippy top tomatoes. I cannot find the picture of those plants dwarfing me.

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    1. Hi Joanne, What an interesting name - Mortgage Lifters! Harvesting would be interesting - I can imagine little Harry getting very cross about not being able to reach ... oh, hang on though that could be the way to ensure that we actually get to eat some fresh tomatoes this year, instead of most of them disappearing down Harry!

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  5. Oh I tried Tomato Carbon Elaine...

    ...every time my other half decides to do the cooking and uses tomatoes...

    ...yeah they're carbon alright.

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    1. Hi Chris, Funnily enough (well, it wasn't at the time) I forgot that I had a tray of cherry tomatoes in the oven a couple of weeks ago. The Rayburn doesn't produce much in the way of cooking smells and as it is on constantly at the moment (heating, hot water) it wasn't until the following day that I found a tray of Tomato Carbon. It took a heck of a lot of elbow grease to clean the tray!

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  6. They look good. Best of luck in the show when it comes round

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    1. Hi Molly, I'm really looking forward to sampling them. The village show was only re-started here three or four years ago, as a fund-raiser for the village hall. Everyone was really surprised at how much fun we all had and it has gone from strength to strength. Lots of rivalry and grudges get played out. There is a certain young man who hasn't forgiven me for winning first prize in the scone class that first year.

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  7. I'm sure you'll do well in the show. I can tell from the posts how seriously villagers take their challenges!!

    ps....my husband does the vegetables and I do the flowers! If we swap the garden doesn't comply!!

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    1. Hi Helena, I've just been chatting to someone about the show and it seems we may be having some very interesting alternative categories this year. I'll keep you posted! It all sounds great fun and should attract even greater numbers of participants.

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  8. I've got some heirloom tomatoes. Can't wait until I get to taste them. I just hope it's an easier growing summer. Good luck on the village show!

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    1. Hi Janet, Fingers crossed for the tomato growing! Here we are still in March and the talk in the village is about the summer show - the burning question being will there be a scone category this year! The things that keep us country folk amused!!

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