On August 24th, Solstice celebrated another nice TomatoFest event at the garden, with about 20 attendees, including garden neighbors, and at least 40 varieties of tomatoes. Besides a staggering variety of tomatoes, large and small, we had all sorts of tasty treats, cakes and drinks. Highlights included smoked salmon - from a salmon Kevin caught in Alaska and shipped to Washington - as well as Oregon wines. Thanks to all the cooks and helpers - this is always a cooperative event, and I am grateful for everyone’s helpful spirit.
Here are the results of the annual tomato taste-off, made MUCH more complicated by how many different kinds there were to choose from, divided this year between cherry-type and beefsteaks. In the CHERRY TOMATO dept, the clear winner was SUNGOLD, a tried and true hybrid with a nice mix of acid and sugar. #2 was WILD CHILD, a red/orange cherry that appeared in Karen Lyons’ garden last year and seems to be breeding true - and is wildly productive and early. #3 was SUN SUGAR, another hybrid.
In the BIG TOMATO dept. the winner was GREEN GIANT, a surprisingly sweet, flavorful beefsteak that never gets red. In second place was a MYSTERY TOMATO, that was supposed to be a cherry, but emerged as a very big, dark, flavorful fruit. I will try and plant these from seeds next year - but don’t know if they will breed true (or maybe it’ll revert to a cherry!?) Third place was a tie between GREEN ZEBRA (sweet/tart) and JAUNE FLAMME, a French heirloom that produces a lot of “giant cherries”.
Extra heirloom tomatoes were donated to the Seattle Food Bank.
I have saved seeds from all of these for next year. Let me know if you’d like any seeds - otherwise I will try and have some of them available as starter plants at the spring plant sale! If anyone is interested in saving your own seeds for next year let me know - I can send you easy instructions.
Thanks again to everyone who attended, and got into the summer spirit. It was a lovely gathering of a great group of people.
Enjoy the rest of summer!
Kevin SchaferPlot #6
(with additional content from Karen Lyons)