Category Archives: Tomatoes

Just Add Water

Posted on May 20, 2018 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

It has rained all day, every day for a week now and the sky has run itself out of water!  I stole this break in the rain to check on sown seeds and the herbs and berries. The back half … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Blueberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Chives, Cilantro, Container Gardening, Daikon Radishes, Herbs, Lettuce, Organic, Parsley, Raised Bed Gardening, Sage, Saving Seed, Serrano Peppers, Sustainable, Tomatoes | 2 Comments

Chicago City Farm – Field Trip

Posted on August 22, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

I arrived in Chicago yesterday for an annual conference with a few hours to spare so I took the opportunity to go see City Farm in person!  I have been looking forward to seeing this fantastic piece of urban farming/city … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabbage, Chicago Farm, City Farm, Collards, Farms, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Urban Farm Business, Urban Farming, Urban Renewal, Young Farmers | 2 Comments

Pomodori Aplenty

Posted on August 8, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

I had my largest one-day harvest of Roma Tomatoes at a little over 3.5 lbs, a similar weight in Amana Orange and Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes were ready to be picked along with some cherry tomatoes, a nice bowl of figs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Amana Tomato, Black Eyed Peas, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Figs, Flint Corn, Glass Gem Corn, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry Tomato, Heirloom Varieties, Mortgage Lifter Tomato, Organic, Paste Tomato, Roma Tomato, Slicing Tomatoes, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Mulligan Fire Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa

Posted on July 31, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

A few weeks ago I finally had enough cherry tomatoes to give the Fire Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa recipe I wrote about in February a whirl.  The cherry tomatoes I had in abundance were two varieties of yellow tomatoes and … Continue reading →

Posted in Chef John, Cherry Tomatoes, Farmers' Market, Food Preparation, Salsa, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Imma Be – Black Eyed Peas In the Garden

Posted on July 22, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

So maybe the July garden isn’t classically beautiful, but it does have a quirky beauty… While bolted lettuce is a tall, straggly creature on its own, the Tom Thumb lettuce is also a bit elegant against the backdrop of collards: … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Black Eyed Peas, Blueberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Collards, Figs, Glass Gem Corn, Slicing Tomatoes, Tom Thumb Lettuce, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

July Garden Update

Posted on July 12, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Under the best of circumstances July is an awkward time for the garden. Spring greens (spinach, lettuce, cilantro) still in the garden have bolted or browned, strawberries have stopped producing anything but dozens of straggly runners and asparagus has transmogrified … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Cherry Tomatoes, Companion Planting, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry Tomato, Heirloom Varieties, Mortgage Lifter Tomato, Non-GMO, Organic, Paste Tomato, Raised Bed Gardening, Roma Tomato, Slicing Tomatoes, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Zucchini | Leave a comment

Roma Wasn’t Built In a Day

Posted on July 9, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Roma math: A decent batch of homemade tomato sauce with enough to freeze or can for future use requires a minimum of 15-20 lbs of roma tomatoes. The average day on the urban farm (with 16 roma tomato plants in … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Food Preparation, Food Preservation, Paste Tomato, Pro Tip, Raised Bed Gardening, Resources, Roma Tomato, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Food With a Story – Mortgage Lifter

Posted on June 28, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

When was the last time you ate a tomato and considered the intrigue and controversy surrounding it’s provenance? This big guy, sold by Baker Creek under the name Mortgage Lifter is almost ready to harvest and when I save the … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Farmer Facts, Heirloom Varieties, Mortgage Lifter Tomato, Non-GMO, Organic, Raised Bed Gardening, Slicing Tomatoes, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Towering Tomatoes

Posted on June 18, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The view standing next to my Hartman’s Yellow Gooseberry Tomato. The view a few steps back.  This tomato plant has already over taken the 8 foot bamboo support pole and I need a step ladder to access the top with … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Cherry Tomatoes, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry Tomato, Heirloom Varieties, Organic, Raised Bed Gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | 2 Comments

Finally Spring – Garden Update

Posted on April 16, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The average last frost date for this area has come and gone and the lowest nighttime temp forecast through the end of the month is 41.  I think spring is finally here to stay! The French Breakfast Radishes are speeding … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Blueberries, Collards, Container Gardening, Figs, French Breakfast Radishes, Front Yard Gardening, Herbs, Lettuce, Lollo De Vino Lettuce, Radishes, Raised Bed Gardening, Septoria Leaf Spot, Square Foot Gardening, Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Last Frost Date

Posted on April 10, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Last night was a low of 28 so the tomatoes were covered (again) and I am optimistic that it was the last night of freezing temps (again).  This time, at least, I have the Average Last Frost Date in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Acorn Squash, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, City Chickens, Container Gardening, French Breakfast Radishes, Kale, Lettuce, Lollo De Vino Lettuce, Radishes, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Avant Garden

Posted on March 29, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The single, yellowed leaf I found on one of my paste tomatoes at the end of February was actually the opening shot of a fungal tug-of-war that will likely continue for the whole of 2016’s growing season.  The Septoria Leaf … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Crushed Eggshells, Organic, Pro Tip, Raised Bed Gardening, Septoria Leaf Spot, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Flavor Bases From Around The World In Less Than 2 Minutes!

Posted on March 20, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com
Posted in Carrots, Celery, Food Preparation, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onions, Onion, Peppers, Pro Tip, Recipe, Red Peppers, Resources, Scallions, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Then There Was One

Posted on March 5, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

This morning I did my final pass thinning the tomatoes, peppers, collards, cabbage and kale down to a single plant in each starter cup and then I crossed my fingers that no fungi or pests find my singletons between now … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes, Collards, Indoor growing, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Organic, Peppers, Slicing Tomatoes, Spinach, Sustainable, Thinning, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Don’t Blink

Posted on February 27, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

During the past week of business travel my indoor plant starts have grown with the vigor of youth into a verdant and slightly unruly bunch of tweens. The tomatoes from my saved seed are particularly in need of thinning.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Indoor growing, Organic, Pro Tip, Saving Seed, Starting Seeds, Sustainable, Technology, Thinning, Thrift, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment