June 10 view of the straw bales and grow bags with vigorously growing tomatoes. Beans and Squash growing in bales are at the left edge of the pic.

2021 is off to a fine start out in the garden. Today was a milestone - the first summer squash of the year. (I direct seeded it into prepared straw bales in mid April, so came in about 50 days from planting the seeds). I expect to have a good picking of bush beans this coming week - also direct seeded in mid April. We’ve been enjoying Sugar Snap peas for a few weeks (sometimes cooked, often just eaten raw right off the plant). Our recent salads include spinach (starting to bolt) and lettuce.

This blog is supposed to be about tomatoes, though, so let’s get to it. Last year we had 133 tomato plants growing in straw bales and containers. The main varieties for this season number 62, but recent additions here and there take the number up to 90. That will keep us very, very busy if all goes well. One thing very different about this year’s tomato garden will be better behaved plants. Indeterminate varieties will be pruned to either 2 or 3 suckers, meaning 3-4 fruiting stems. When those stems reach the top of the stakes, I will top them. So far, so good - the plants are nearing 4 feet tall and are far more in control than with any previous garden. After all, eventually I must practice what I preach!

Growing collards and garlic from fall to spring, the raised bed now contains lettuce and microdwarf tomatoes.

First look at my new indeterminate X indeterminate hybrids.

All planted into straw bales on May 1, the plants are all over 4 feet tall, loaded with blossoms and setting fruit. I’ve pruned these vigorous plants aggressively, allowing 3 suckers to grow on - along with the central stem that gives 4 fruiting branches. The big time question I hope to answer with these 8 hybrids is this….when two great tasting varieties are crossed, will the hybrid be equal or even better than the two parents?

Blue’s Bling X Little Lucky - developing fruit

Blue’s Bling X Little Lucky F1 hybrid - Variegated regular leaf foliage, large oblate purple fruit crossed with potato leaf foliage, medium round yellow/red bicolor. My prediction for the hybrid is a medium sized tomato that is either pink or red (depending upon the skin color of Little Lucky…if it is clear, the hybrid should be pink. If it is yellow, the hybrid should be red). I am interested in average fruit size, fruit shape, color and flavor. Growing out saved seed should provide lots of interesting combinations - the real needle in the haystack would be a potato leaf variegated bicolor with darker hues from the “black tomato” genes in Blue’s Bling.

Blue’s Bling X Polish F1 hybrid - The most interesting part of this cross is, again, the variegated foliage of Blue’s Bling and the potato leaf characteristic of Polish. My prediction for the hybrid is a large, oblate pink tomato. I am hoping for superb flavor. The most interesting combination from saved seed would be variegated potato leaf pink or purple tomatoes.

Cancelmo Family Heirloom X Green Giant F1 plant

Already interesting - first set fruit on Cancelmo Family Heirloom X Green Giant F1

Cancelmo Family Heirloom X Green Giant F1 - What an interesting cross this should prove to be. Large fruit, heart shape, clear skin, red flesh, green flesh and potato leaf are all in play. Green Giant is one of my favorite tasting large tomatoes, and Cancelmo Family Heirloom is my favorite indeterminate heart shaped heirloom…what’s not to get excited about! It is interesting to note that the heart shape of Cancelmo is somewhat dominant, showing up in the hybrid. I think that what we will have will be a large pink heart, with the flavor to be an exciting mystery to be uncovered. As for what saved seed will produce - how about the possibility of a delicious, green fleshed, potato leaf heart!

Cherokee Chocolate X Stump of the World F1, plant

Cherokee Chocolate X Stump of the World F1, first set fruit

Cherokee Chocolate X Stump of the World F1 - Here is another pairing of two superbly flavored tomatoes. Will the hybrid match or exceed the two components? We shall see. Yellow skin, large fruit size, potato leaf, red flesh, clear skin and dark crimson flesh are all in play. I expect the hybrid to be a large oblate scarlet red tomato. Here’s hoping for great taste. The most interesting find in the F2 will be a potato leaf chocolate colored beauty.

I will take these four at a time - the next set will be posted very soon.