Thirty seven years. Wow. Back in 1981, newly married and a graduate student trying to get through the ordeal of my degree, Sue and I planned our very first garden. What fun it was; we rented a plot of fertile ground near our off-campus house (more like a bunker!), one rectangle among many set aside for Dartmouth grad students. We started some seeds, went to the local nursery to get some plants, and got lucky (the ground was very rich, amended each year with manure from a farm and plowed in with a tractor). We had corn, tomatoes (Better Boy and Roma), peppers, squash, flowers...it was just memorably wonderful. The seed planted by my grandfather and father when I was a young boy took hold - I discovered the joy of gardening. Sue and I were on our way to annual digging and planting and harvesting and great meals.
Dense planting technique - not just for tomatoes!
I've had some recent seed starting conversations with my good gardening friend Joe Lamp'l, which are available as a pair (part 1 and part 2) of podcasts on his wonderful joe gardener website. I've also received many questions on email, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook about the dense planting applicability to other crops.
One way to help a tomato survive - from sharing to seed catalog
The sharing of seeds represents a giving of true gifts. Each of us that garden find varieties that particularly excite us - and we want our friends and family to experience that excitement. Sometimes it works out perfectly and the result appeals to both sharer and recipient - but not always, because taste perception and preference are so personal.
Keeping it weekly...making it brief
Wait - it's February already? Where did January go? As soon as we returned from visiting our daughter Sara and her family in Washington, things got busy (no complaints from me...it's been fun!). My 2018 goal was daily Instagram posts, weekly blogs (I am just getting this one in under the wire), and monthly newsletters (check!). With one month gone, things are actually on track.
"Busy doing what?" you may be thinking. It's too soon to plant seeds...but it is not too soon to answer gardening question emails, assign the Dwarf Tomato Project work, and send seeds. Aside from all over the US and Canada, my babies will be growing in Spain, Russia, Germany, England and Finland. I've had great garden discussions that will end up on Podcasts (more on that below). It is also time to organize my speaking events, especially those that involve travel.
Doing the time warp - a few favorite pics from past gardens
I spent the last few days filling coin envelopes with various types of tomato seeds destined for gardens spread throughout the world. Since this is going to be an atypical gardening season for me (more vicarious than first hand), it seems a good time to go down memory lane.
First...to set the contrast... this was the view from just a few days ago.
Sue out walking during our January 17 snowstorm (7 inches at our house, falling between 11 AM and 7 PM)
The snow vanished quickly - within a few days we were in the mid 60s. Winter in Raleigh - who can figure it out?
My first digital photos were taken in 2002, when we still did most of our gardening in a hand-dug 30 X 50 foot plot, protected from deer (reasonably well) with a double wire battery operated electric fence. This is one of my favorite pictures of Cherokee Purple - it shows the tendency to radially crack, the oblate smooth shape, the unique dusky rose purple color, typical size and good fruit set.
Cherokee Purple from 2002.
The picture below shows the beginning of my interest in colorful hot peppers - this is early work toward my variety Gemstone, in 2003.
"Arboretum dark leaf" was the working name of this early selection, grown in a small pot in the driveway.
My garden space was really migrating from the side dirt garden to the driveway by 2004. The basketball hoop no longer found use....this is a late June shot of the driveway; looking back on my garden log for that year, it shows a record of 86 tomato plants in the side garden, 7 on the rear deck, and over 80 plants in containers - tomatoes, peppers and eggplants - in the driveway.
2004 late June view of the ever-increasing driveway garden
One of my favorite Tomatopalooza pictures, from 2004 - Tennessee Britches (the monster on the left), with Red Brandywine on the right - and poor tiny Mexico Midget in front (tiny in size, not in flavor!)
Some January thoughts....
My goal is to write a weekly blog. Sometimes there is so much going on that they practically write themselves. Occasionally, I find myself in a restless frame of mind, making the selection of blogging topics a bit challenging, and even random. Welcome to my January random blog entry!
It's too early to start seeds, but gardening is on my mind every day
A typical January finds me filling notebook pages with lists of seeds to be started. This January is quite different, as upcoming speaking events and vacation means few seedlings, and minimal seed starting.
Seeds, books and Seed Saver catalogs - source of inspiration for me all year long
Cold weather really elevates bird activity at the feeders
So many birds - bluebirds and cardinals, towhees and juncos, ruby crowned kinglets and pine and myrtle warblers. White throated sparrows, Carolina wrens, chickadees and titmice. Purple and Goldfinches, Hermit thrushes and thrashers. It is non stop entertainment, daily feeding frenzy time, and such colorful fun to watch.
Two young bluebirds keeping an eye on me as I skulk on the deck with my camera
I've already had some great gardening conversations about dealing with the annual assault of seed catalogs
I've had superbly enjoyable conversations with Joe Lamp'l (the joe gardener show podcast) and Margaret Roach (A Way to Garden podcast), and, late last year but just posted, Jackie Beyer (The Organic Gardener podcast), all of which can be heard by clicking the links.
The speaking calendar is becoming a juggling act, and it is time to get busy on planning for upcoming trips
The action begins in mid February and carries through to the end of April (at which time Sue and I will jump into our car and drive cross country to visit both of our daughters and their families). I look forward to so many opportunities to bring my tomato and gardening stories around the country.
The email inbox is always filled with interesting gardening questions and challenges
I am not a phone person, and find it hard to have really good tomato talk on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or Twitter. It is email for me, and I've been delightfully challenged by many great gardening questions; this isn't so much seasonal and pretty consistent throughout the year, and I love my late nights answering the questions. It always astounds me to find something newly asked each week; receiving, researching and answering challenging questions is how we all learn together.
A lot of seeds are on their way to tomato enthusiasts, but the seed sending surface hasn't even been scratched.
Tied with my joy in receiving emails and dealing with questions are sharing seeds with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Lots of seed is finding its way across the country (indeed, the world), and I've not even begun distributing the Dwarf Tomato Project assignment seeds for 2018 yet.
So now you know what sorts of things fill my January days - devoid of digging in the dirt, but packed with interesting things to ponder and do!
Sampling of seeds ready for handing out at my 2018 events, thanks to the generosity and support of some of my favorite companies.
Recent progress in the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project
more releases, more choices, and a request
Despite recent cold (very cold, as in one morning at 6 degrees F - not extraordinary for some of you, I am sure...but a rather unpleasant surprise for Raleigh NC) and snow, our minds are turning to garden plans, planting seeds, and warmer days.
View out of my office window on January 4
Late in 2017, a package arrived from Bill Minkey, a Wisconsin gardener and fellow long time Seed Savers Exchange member who has been solely responsible for growing out the release lots of new varieties that emerge from our Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project. Bill outdid himself, as did some of our most active volunteers, resulting in the introduction of 24 new varieties through one or more of the 4 main seed companies that have been selected to unveil them to the world.
When we first started finishing and releasing new dwarf growing tomato varieties, in 2010, there were 10 to consider. We are now at 90, and hope to cross the 100 mark late this year. That being a nice round number, and having co-led this unique project since its conception in 2005, we are actually going to formally bring things to a close. If all goes well, my book describing the project will be published at the same time.
We are at the point where I've not even grown some of the newest releases, as there is some significant delegation happening, a necessity in a project with such size and complexity - but that also signifies great trust in our volunteers.
Looking through the new releases, you will find the first dwarf growing cherry tomatoes from our project, in colors of white, pink, purple and red (there are yellow, orange, brown, green and striped cherries coming along for future releases). There are larger slicing tomatoes in yellow, red, green and purple, as well as a yellow/red bicolor and three showing distinct stripes. The first dwarf paste tomatoes make their appearance this year as well, in colors of pink, or striped green. Those I've tasted are wonderful. I can't wait to try the rest.
With 90 dwarf varieties in all, the obvious question - "which ones taste best?" is getting asked of me more and more. As with all flavor questions, it is all about each of your preferences, so my opinion may or may not be of any worth to those who ask.
I will go ahead and list my flavor favorites to date, in no particular order. These are the dwarfs that I most crave: Dwarf Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Emerald Giant, Summertime Green, Rosella Purple, Summertime Gold, Dwarf Mr. Snow, Dwarf Kelly Green, Dwarf Sweet Sue, Summer Sunrise, Rosella Crimson, Wherokowhai, Dwarf Blazing Beauty, Sweet Scarlet Dwarf, Summer Sweet Gold, Adelaide Festival, Dwarf Orange Cream, Dwarf Golden Gypsy, TastyWine, Dwarf Confetti, Dwarf Peppermint Stripes, and Dwarf Black Angus - that's 20 of our 90 releases that to me are the equal of the very best indeterminate varieties in flavor.
I would love to hear from you.
Now, here is my request of you. I'd love to know what you think of our dwarfs. Please share your experiences - I will do a future blog that captures your opinions - and pictures, if you wish to share! Drop me an email with whatever you wish to share!
Dwarf Tomato R&D in 2007 - ALL tomatoes on this table are from our early Dwarf Tomato Project efforts.
Happy New Year! Here's to a memorable 2018 for us all....
Our frigid back yard this morning, after filling the feeders and bird bath
Brrrr....14 degrees this morning in Raleigh NC. I just stepped out to fill the bird feeders and bird bath, and to fix the covering on our big pots of greens. We are due for a solid week of freezing or just below days, and absolutely frigid nights. What a way to say "hello" to a new year.
Poor pansy....will it make it through to warmer spring temps? We shall see!
Since Epic Tomatoes came out early in 2015, I've maintained a journal. I've found it to be a really helpful way to capture thoughts and memories, to "write out" the many feelings that occur throughout the busy years. This morning saw the beginning of my 4th journal, and I began by taking a look back on what was a very complicated, rewarding, busy year.
2017 saw my involvement in 6 interviews, 13 radio spots or podcasts, and the Growing a Greener World TV episode.....providing 20 presentations, including venues in Michigan, Connecticut, Washington DC, Burlington Vermont and Huntsville Alabama.....vacation trips to Seattle, Yellowtone/Grand Tetons and the Florida Keys....a sizable garden, lots of progress on the Dwarf Tomato Project (much more on that in future blog entries - we are nearing 100 new tomato releases)...and, sadly, loss of some of our beloved pets - Kip, our Maine Coon cat, in July, Holly, a most delightful dog we were fortunate to "share" with another family, in August, and our chocolate lab Mocha just a few weeks ago, in December.
It was wonderful to meet so many enthusiastic gardeners at events or in my driveway. We got to consume loads of delicious tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I began to employ my daughter, Sara, for help with my endeavors, and, in the coming year, much will emerge from our collaborative work. We ended the year running a contest with the Victory Seed Company, and hope to follow that up quickly with some of my favorite authors and companies.
As for what lies ahead this year, some things are known, but much remains a puzzle to be solved in the coming weeks. I've got some eagerly anticipated events scheduled (refer to my upcoming events page). I look forward to trips to Hartford CT, Chicago IL, White Stone VA, Lake City SC, Gillette WY and Detroit MI, which is just a selection of this 15 events scheduled to date.
Sue and I hope to embark on a long cross country drive in the spring, focused on visiting our daughters and their families in Abilene TX and Olalla WA. We hope to hit some national parks along the way.
If all goes to plan, 2018 will see my third book - the story of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project - as well as a new webinar series (probably the key part of my work with my daughter Sara). It may also see the formal closing of the Dwarf Tomato Project (we began in 2005, and after a 13 year run, it seems time to wrap it up - but we shall see). Because of my speaking and travel schedule, it may also be the first year that we won't grow a significant garden since 1981 - which was our very first garden. Little to no garden, few if any seedlings - yes, this will be an unusual year...but change is good! There is no shortage of projects and activities to fill the time - it will just be filled differently.
I think that's enough to get things kicked off in 2018 - Happy New Year to all. Thanks to everyone for their support and friendship - I hope to see some of you along the way as we make our way into this new, shiny year!
Today, our hearts are broken.
Mocha - full name Mocha Latte XXXVI - was born on May 2, 2004 and entered our lives on July 24, 2004, and left it today, December 11, 2017. She was 13 years, 7 months old.
The slide show above (just click the picture and it will advance) has one or more pics from each year of her life. There are no regrets - she was the best, and we are so fortunate for every second of her nearly 14 years.
I just located Mocha's genealogical info. Her full name was Mocha Latte XXXVI. Her father was Rexwald Forbes' Revenge, and her mother Jezebel Forbes' Desire. The breeder was Tonya and Thomas Forbes. She was born on May 2, 2004 - her AKC registration number was SR17568303. Mocha came to us when we responded to an ad in the Raleigh N&O that I found on the morning of July 24, 2004, which resulted in a trip to visit her first parent, Mona Creech of Holly Springs NC. Mocha accompanied us home and settled in to our family on that date, and our lives were changed forever, for which we will be forever grateful.
Tomato dinners will mean something different to me from now on.
I received a phone call on Monday that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was the first notification of a tragedy - the death of a talented chef, wonderful husband and father, and friend, Sarig Agasi, chef at former Raleigh restaurants Butterflies and Zely & Ritz. What a loss for so many, far too young, and far too soon.
Sarig Agasi
I was first asked to participate in an heirloom tomato-themed dinner by Ashley Christensen at Enoteca Vin, in 2003 and 2004. They were small, intimate events, and just a hint into how enjoyable it can be to connect diners with the food on their plate. Zely & Ritz opened in late 2004, to be supplied with produce from Coon Rock Farm, created in 2005. It was exciting when I was asked to provide heirloom tomato seedlings to the farm, realizing that tomatoes from my babies would be used in the restaurant.
Zely & Ritz logo
Sarig contacted me about the possibility of providing some stories and answering questions at their first heirloom tomato dinner, in the summer of 2005. How I wish I saved copies of all of that and all subsequent menus, and spent some time blogging about all of the wonderful events...and that I took some pictures (cell phone cameras weren't the thing back then). My plants produced tomatoes that ended up on Zely & Ritz plates through 2009. Single summer tomato dinners turned into 5 or 6 events, each one filling the restaurant, often with repeat customers addicted to the wonderful food, and festive spirit.
Sarig's menu for the dinners settled down over time, and was beautifully and consistently executed. A typical dinner would go like this...starting with the best Gazpacho we ever had (the recipe for which is in my book, Epic Tomatoes, generously shared by Sarig with an OK to publish), a Caprese salad varied with whatever particular tomatoes were available, adorned with mozzarella and a balsamic glaze. Some variation of a superb risotto followed, typically stuffing smaller variety tomatoes such as Jaune Flamme or Tiger Tom. Then came a braised meat with a rich reduction of tomatoes as a "gravy". The dessert was often a time of mystery, occasional humor, and eventual triumph. From using Coyote in a sorbet to creating a version of tomato bread pudding, the answer ended up being a Panna Cotta using Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Brilliant, and perfect.
Stuffed heirloom tomatoes on Risotto
Sue and I liked best sitting at the big, communal table and meeting a different set of tomato-eating aficionados at each event that we were available to attend. Sarig's wife, Nancy, always provided perfect wine accompaniment for each course and spent some time explaining each one. Sarig loved to come out of the kitchen and tell the guests about what they were about to consume. I was given the floor to take people through some stories about each tomato. I simply loved them, and it was certainly a privilege to have participated in them.
Sarig's special Sun Gold Panna Cotta
Heirloom tomato dinners won't be the same from now on. Actually, my summer gardens will feel differently as well. Sarig would often drop in - perhaps with some figs, or some plants that were extras from a planting at Coon Rock Farm, or a jar of home made salad dressing. Sometimes it would be to get some seedlings, or to walk through the garden - or just to have a chat about food, life, whatever was on his mind.
I've had my last drop-in from Sarig. They ended far too soon; he left us far too soon. Susan and my hearts, thoughts and prayers for peace and resolution go out to Nancy, and the children, Ziv, Geffen and Maytal. All we - any of us who were touched in some way - by Sarig and his friendship and talents - can do is to keep him, his humor, spirit, kindness - alive, and spread some of what we learned from him to others.