I think I have a new favorite tomato

[will1986]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I am trying the Brandywine tomato this year!

At any rate, I also grow Brandwine, and it's another great tomato. They taste delicious, and it keeps fruiting into the heat of summer a little longer than other varieties do. They are also a convenient size. They're just big enough for slicing for a sandwich without having any tomato left over.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i hope the cherokee works for you, it is delicious

that garden looks like a soul refreshing place!

[WaterWitchin]

What a beautiful garden space. I'd hang out all day here in a heartbeat.

What is the plant with the huge leaves on right side of first picture? It looks sort of similar to your rhubarb but different leaves. And that rhubarb is a monstera in disguise. We can't grow them that big here in Kansas. Wow!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

What a beautiful garden space. I'd hang out all day here in a heartbeat.

What is the plant with the huge leaves on right side of first picture? It looks sort of similar to your rhubarb but different leaves. And that rhubarb is a monstera in disguise. We can't grow them that big here in Kansas. Wow!

That plant in the first photo with large silver leaves is a cardoon, which is the nearly the same as artichoke except that you eat the blanched stems. In Lyon, in France it's traditionally served for Christmas in a gratin with white sauce and bone marrow. Normally you sow them in spring and eat them in the winter, but this one has become perennial so it will flower very soon. I keep it around for the nice foliage, and for all the bees the flowers attract! I really should try blanching it in april/may one year. I added a photo from last year, right before it bloomed.

As to the rhubarb, I think it also happens to be an XXL variety, but wet weather plans a big role! If we lived in the same country I would have happily sent you a division.

[Dimples]

Looks just like artichoke!

The Cherokee purple may do better if you graft it onto a rootstock with better disease resistance. It does well in the dry and hot areas of California, but is very susceptible to disease in years we have a wet spring.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Dimples

Looks just like artichoke!

The Cherokee purple may do better if you graft it onto a rootstock with better disease resistance. It does well in the dry and hot areas of California, but is very susceptible to disease in years we have a wet spring.

Thanks for the tip! Too late for this year, but if I had problems with CP again, I'll look into suitable rootstocks for next year.

[kvet]

I'm giving it a go again, take 4! Transplanted seedlings to final buckets yesterday.

Wish me luck.

EDIT - just caught up in this thread, wow Camille what an amazing space!

[Jmoney]

love both cherokee purples (got them and something new, cherokee green going this year) and brandywines (pink, red, and yellow). anyone have advice on how to keep the chipmunks and squirrels from feasting on your tomatoes? I'm in CT, adjoining the woods, and these critters find my fence a non-deterrent. won't really bother anything else I grow though