I planted 65 tomatoes, many heirloom, and most indeterminate, meaning that they are true vines that will grow and set fruit continuously. Indeterminate plants grow to be quite large and need to be staked. I've already tied up the tomatoes twice and will continue to do so as the season progresses. Most of the plants have set fruit and if this hot weather continues, it looks like it is going to be a very good year! Last year's rain and cool temperatures encouraged a fungal disease called late blight which hit Long Island hard and destroyed much of the tomato crop.
A quick word on heirlooms:
Heirloom tomatoes are varieties often grown from seeds that have been passed down through generations. Heirloom tomatoes are grown for flavor and not for shipping and storage, the reason why you don't very often see them in the grocery store. Heirlooms are fragile and often have distinctive shapes, tastes, and colors. They are best eaten the day they are picked. Some of the varieties in the garden include Cherokee chocolate, Pruden's purple, and Brandywine. If this weather continues, we should begin seeing some early varieties by the end of this month!
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