The Great Tomato Quest

Man, what a beautiful day outside. If you missed it, shame on you! I got a lot of stuff done today that I've been putting off (not weeding, of course), and it felt pretty awesome.

My first stop was Lowe's. I picked up my yellow squash seeds, cucumber seeds, okra seeds and five different kinds of tomato plants. Then I did some other stuff, but absolutely none of that is at all relevant, so I'll skip it. You're welcome.

I decided to use the ground that I prepared on Saturday for my tomato plants. I bought six plants, and five different kinds. Two of paste tomatoes, two different kinds of large hybrids, and two different kids of heirloom tomatoes. I know that the roma, or paste, tomatoes will grow well, and I have big plans to make some of Rick Bayless's salsa and can them to use year-round. I'll definitely give some more info on this when we get to the canning stage of the year, because I'm pretty pumped. If you don't know me that well, I have a man crush on Rick Bayless. If you do know me pretty well, then, well, you already know and have understandingly forgiven me.

I bought the other four kinds of tomatoes because I really want to figure out what is going to grow best for me based on my location and soil composition. The two hybrids are Atkinson and Red Beefsteak, both developed by Burpee. The two heirlooms are Pink Brandywine and German Queen. The Beefsteak and German Queen are both supposed to be very large, dense tomatoes, and the Brandywine and Atkinson are both tomatoes of average size and yield.

While I love to grow anything, tomatoes are by far my favorite. If you've ever bitten in to a freshly grown tomato out of someone's back yard, you understand. It has gotten to the point where I can't even buy tomatoes at the grocery store anymore because of the way they taste. Did you know that all tomatoes at the store are picked and shipped when they're green? They are sprayed with a chemical that reddens the tomatoes instead of allowing them to ripen naturally on the vine. I'm not saying that this is unhealthy, but you can't tell me that an unripened tomato that is picked and travels 2000 miles to your local grocery store is going to taste the same as one picked from my backyard. Oh, and I don't think I need to tell you how many fossil fuels were used, how much carbon emitted, etc., etc. to get that tomato to you either. Grow it yourself people! Buy at the farmers market from local farmers! If it's not in season, eat something else. Yeah, I get cravings for stuff too, but imagine all the things your missing. Want a list? Hop on animalvegetablemiracle.com and check out the vegetannual. Have you tried half of the things on that bad boy? Do it. You'll be a happy, cleaner person more in touch with the world around you. Oh, and don't buy stuff from Chile. That's stupid.

Thanks for letting me rant a little today. This has become such an important part of my life that I can't help from sharing with everyone I meet. Have a great day, go for a hike, plant a tomato plant in that patch of dirt next to your house, in a pot on your apartment balcony or patio, or even at your parent's house. I'm sure they won't mind!

Today's Playlist

Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare-Matt & Kim
All I Want is You-Barry Louis Polisar
Lookin' Out My Backdoor-CCR
Old Dan Tucker-Bruce Springsteen
Spaceman-The Killers
Shady Grove-Blitzen Trapper
Summersong-The Decemberists
My Name is Jonas-Weezer
Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin
Blister in the Sun-Violent Femmes
Chicago x 12-Rogue Wave
Magic Carpet Ride-Steppenwolf
Naked As We Came-Iron & Wine
Ocean Breathes Salty-Modest Mouse
Ode to LRC-Band of Horses
Sweet Rose-Matt Costa
Dock of the Bay-Otis Redding