The Tomato Harvest

It's not the greatest year for tomatoes - mainly because of my rampant neglect - but I'm getting a continual modest harvest. Here is what we picked this morning!

A big bowl of tomatoes.. Shall I make roasted tomato sauce? 

Sungold versus Woodle Orange - talk about size difference!

Mexico Midget - compare the size to the sungold in
the next photo.

Sungold. Simply the best.

More sungolds! Prolific even with early blight
and neglect!

What a bruiser! Check out Woodle Orange (my first
one so far) 

What's for supper??

I don't know what I'll make with all this bounty, but I know it will taste good!! How about a garden pasta?

Just picked.. 

Mandarin Cross tomato from Renee's Garden

Size comparison - Mandarin Cross, Sungold and Mexico Midget

Ha ha deer, you didn't get these!! Emerite and Purple Podded Pole beans

Donna - these have your name on them! :)

Harvest Thursday - More Zucchini!!

It doesn't take much persuading to drag me away from my work (just weeks to deadline!) to stroll through the garden and see what's in bloom, what's ready to pick and what will soon be ready to pick. I'm super excited that the gourds are doing so well.. we'll have Caveman's Club for the first time this year! Plus, spinning top, snake, long dipper, cannon ball and more. Photos to follow as things begin to mature.

But, for now, it's zucchini harvest - again! We also did pick a big bowl of tomatoes including about 50 sungolds, which are simply the loveliest balls of sugar!


Another Trombetta summer squash - love the groovy shape. I think
it looks like a swan.

The just-picked zucchini.. see the little pattypan in the middle. I
stuck that plant in the leftover pile of my oxen manure and it is
growing like it is on steroids!
A closer look.. HUNDREDS to come..

A few cherry tomatoes - a pink one on left (hard to see the true colour),
yellow grape (forget which one.. need to check my notes), Mexico Midget and Sungold! 

The first Costoulto - Yum! Just picked three..

Ha ha deer.. you missed these last night!

Must get some of these in the ground today. The fall/winter
seedlings..

Have you ever done the zucchini 'doorbell and dash'??

My just-harvested Trombetta squash from
www.reneesgarden.com
Ah summer.. a bounty of beans, tomatoes and ZUCCHINI!! I know it's my fault.. it always is, but when those glossy seed catalogues arrive in January, I order forget that each zucchini plant will bear dozens of fruits! So, I order way too many varieties, start way too many seeds and plant way too many seedlings into the garden. Oops! That bounty has started rolling in - by the tonne - and each day brings about a dozen summer squash in every shape and shape. We have patty pans - in deep green, light green, yellow and green/white. We have the incredible striped Costata Romanesca with a mild nutty flavour. We have Astia, a compact container oblong-fruited cultivar. We have Clairmore, a Lebanese kousa type. We have Trombetta, that amazing trumpet shaped Italian heirloom. Is that is?? Lucky my Lebanese mother-in-law can't get enough of the summer squash.. Otherwise, we'd really be in trouble!

I harvest the oblong types when they're about 5 to 7 inches long, pattypan when they're 2 to 3 inches across and the Trombetta when they're about a 12 to 15 inches.

So many squash, so little time..

If you've never done the zucchini 'doorbell and dash', here is how it goes:


Place your excess zucchini at the front door of a neighbour,
family member or friend..

Ring the doorbell..

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (heels are optional!)

Clairmore, Costata Romanesca, Astia and another
Costata Romanesca