Monthly Archives: January 2014

Picking tomatoes… to grow in 2014

I grew about 18 varieties last year and kept records so I am sorting out what to make space for this year and I need to get some seeds started. I picked all of these on the same day and the bigger ones aren’t as ripe as they could be. The growing season in 2013 was very warm and windy early then hot into June then problematically wet into August.

Tomato-Class-of-2013I loved the green zebras on pizza, kind of tart and they popped taste wise. The brandywine is delicious but needs extra space and support. Sungold and Sweet 100s are both good producers and good with greens or in pasta salads. Juliet was a very good producer and very resiliant. A good tomato for drying. Easy to clean and roast with olive oil and rosemary also.

The Stupice (stu-pee-chay) was bland and almost plasticky in texture. Celebrity was a good resister when blight came in, eats like a smaller Beefsteak. I had cracking issues due to water and NPK issues, mostly in the bigger tomatoes. The Beeksteak was a great plant, classic and nice tomatoes, especially good for burgers or sandwiches. I grill thick slices in a little butter and salt. But again, mine were cracky on the tops and my support scheme was inadequate when the plants really got heavy with fruit.

On this day in 2008 it was 60 degrees in NYC

Looking back at old notes I see that I thought it remarkable that it was 60 degrees on the 7th of January 2008.  I don’t know if I would make that note now; it seems more common and expected.  Guide books will tell you what the average temperatures were before global warming kicked in but what should they say now?  The averages for January in New York City going back to the 1800s is a high of 36 and a low of 23 degrees. We are in the 50s this January.

We seem to be getting one major hurricane every year — Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012. How long before we have 2 or even 5 major hurricanes every year?lady-pavillion