Tomatoes Take Off

The tomato plants have been steadily growing this summer.  Some of the plants had reached the tops of their cages a couple of weeks ago.  They are also setting fruit like crazy.  The brandywine tomatoes are already so heavy that they have pulled their branches to the ground under their weight.  The moskvich tomatoes are supposed to be a very short season variety though they haven't begun putting out fruit any earlier than the other varieties.  I guess I will find out if they ripen faster than the other large tomatoes, but the cherry tomatoes already have the first signs of color change.  I'm assuming that because the fruits are so small cherry tomatoes would ripen the fastest.

The brandywine tomatoes have been busy.  I'm guessing that they have been loving the heat we have had lately.  I have been doing my best to make sure that they are well watered which is easier to do since they have a heavy layer of mulch to keep the moisture in.  Even in this semi-arid climate I only have to water every second or third day.

 

The whole bed of tomatoes is filling out nicely.  The largest plants by far are the brandywine tomatoes on the right side of this picture.  The plants in the middle are the moskvich tomatoes and the ones on the left are the cherry tomatoes.

 

 

The very first red tomato was from a donated plant that unfortunately came down with some kind of blight and is dying.  The tomato however was still delicious.  I am guessing that it will only be a couple short weeks until we are eating fresh picked tomatoes and canning tomato sauce again.  The busiest part of the summer is almost here.