Nice looking tomato, Paul. If there were a prize for gnarliest looking tomato, I think you'd have a lock.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Paul's Big Zac
I'm posting this on Paul's behalf, because he doesn't have a Google account. Not what you'd call an early adopter, I think he's waiting to see if Google is a passing fad.
Nice looking tomato, Paul. If there were a prize for gnarliest looking tomato, I think you'd have a lock.
Nice looking tomato, Paul. If there were a prize for gnarliest looking tomato, I think you'd have a lock.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Alright, Big Dog. Per your prodding, I will add a photo of my best contender. I don't know any measurements nor dubious math weight of this guy but it seems to gain a few millimieters of circumference each day. I just yesterday picked off its companion from the same clump. I let her accompany this giant for several weeks so as not to have him split. He doesn't feel all that heavy yet but I think he's got a couple solid weeks to go. I actually have a regular round mater in the next door plant that is giving him a run for his money. This guy is still juvenile in tomato years. Barring any natural disasters, i have big hopes for this one!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Weigh-in Rules?
A question came up today, as to what are the rules for an "official" weigh-in. Since we're getting close to me weighing my, er, to someone weighing their winning tomato, now is probably a good time to discuss rules. How hard can it be? You put the tomato on a scale and weigh it, right? I turned to the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth for guidance. Here are their rules:
Let's examine these rules. 1) and 2) seem a little extreme to me. I mean, who really cares if your tomato has blossom-end rot, or is split and leaking fluids? This contest is about the biggest, not the prettiest, tomato. For 3), certified scales aren't necessary if we're all using the same scale or have the ability to compare scales later in case of a near tie. For 4) most kitchen scales that I've seen give the best precision when measuring in grams, so please measure in grams, and I'll convert to pounds. Number 5) makes sense. We're weighing tomatoes, not the vine that it grew on. 6) green fruits are actually heavier, I think, than when they're fully ripe. 7) seems redundant. 8) Ok. I don't think freezing a tomato changes its weight, so who cares? 9) This is key - fused tomatoes must be actually fused, not just close neighbors.
Having said all that, here are the rules that I would propose. If there's any disagreement, then our fearless leader Fred should make the final call.
1) Trim the stem to <= 1/2 inch
2) Weigh it on a kitchen scale. Ted volunteered to let us use his.
3) Have the weigh-in witnessed by at least one other competitor.
4) Send me a picture of the tomato on the scale, with the weight in grams
5) In case there's doubt about the fruit being connected, slice it open and prove that it's one tomato!
Let's examine these rules. 1) and 2) seem a little extreme to me. I mean, who really cares if your tomato has blossom-end rot, or is split and leaking fluids? This contest is about the biggest, not the prettiest, tomato. For 3), certified scales aren't necessary if we're all using the same scale or have the ability to compare scales later in case of a near tie. For 4) most kitchen scales that I've seen give the best precision when measuring in grams, so please measure in grams, and I'll convert to pounds. Number 5) makes sense. We're weighing tomatoes, not the vine that it grew on. 6) green fruits are actually heavier, I think, than when they're fully ripe. 7) seems redundant. 8) Ok. I don't think freezing a tomato changes its weight, so who cares? 9) This is key - fused tomatoes must be actually fused, not just close neighbors.
Having said all that, here are the rules that I would propose. If there's any disagreement, then our fearless leader Fred should make the final call.
1) Trim the stem to <= 1/2 inch
2) Weigh it on a kitchen scale. Ted volunteered to let us use his.
3) Have the weigh-in witnessed by at least one other competitor.
4) Send me a picture of the tomato on the scale, with the weight in grams
5) In case there's doubt about the fruit being connected, slice it open and prove that it's one tomato!
Pics and such...
Here is the smallest ripe tomato ever (wouldn't even register 1 gram on the scale):
Here is my first weigh-in @ .348# (a "Big Red" variety):
Here is my front runner, a Zac F3, who got its own hammock yesterday (about 4" diameter 2" height):
And in other news, be sure to add a calcium supplement (spray or fertilizer) this time of year... nearly all of my ripening Abe Lincolns have blossom-end rot.
Here is my first weigh-in @ .348# (a "Big Red" variety):
And in other news, be sure to add a calcium supplement (spray or fertilizer) this time of year... nearly all of my ripening Abe Lincolns have blossom-end rot.
Slaughter in the garden
Tragedy in the garden - Even though I am not really in the running based on other reports in this blog, I had observed various bite marks in tomatoes this last week. Observed a domestic rat in my garden over the weekend (pure white with a brown stripe down its back) and this morning my front runner in the competition was found in the tragic state below. If gardening teaches anything it is dealing with adversity.....
Bob
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Getting closer
At this time of the year, with weigh-ins looming close at hand, people are keeping their prized maters close to the chest. It's hard to get good information, but I have some gardening gossip. Aaron is working on his concession speech, Greg is working on growing the world's tallest cherry tomato plant, and Fred is traveling the world, leaving his dog Chewy to watch over his tomato patch. Bob is doing battle with the cold air that descends off Bear Peak, Travis is admiring the world's best looking tomato containers, and Dustin's seedlings are still under a fluorescent lamp in building 7. I don't want to name names, but two gardeners that I share cubicle walls with have some very promising looking tomatoes.
As for me, I failed to set fruit on any of my megablooms, but I have one regular tomato that is decidedly larger than the rest. It's a Domingo, and roughly 3"x5"x6". I did some very dubious math to arrive at an estimated weight. My personal record is 25 oz, and I calculate this one should go just slightly heavier than that. It's still growing though, so who knows?
As for me, I failed to set fruit on any of my megablooms, but I have one regular tomato that is decidedly larger than the rest. It's a Domingo, and roughly 3"x5"x6". I did some very dubious math to arrive at an estimated weight. My personal record is 25 oz, and I calculate this one should go just slightly heavier than that. It's still growing though, so who knows?
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