Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 6 Entries. Monday, January 1 View Page Goal this year is 5 pounds. Trying something different in the soil. Picked up about 50lbs of seaweed from the beach and 10 pounds of sardines. Mixing that with about 300 egg shells 2 yards of compost, 10 lbs of bone meal, and a yard of alpaca manure in my 20’ x 20’ plot. I will also be adding some green sand. Trying to figure out how to slow the ripening of the fruit. Winter has been super warm and my cherry tomato is still producing.   Wednesday, January 31 View Page Mmmm. Raining outside. What to do? What to do? Time to break out the lights and go through the tomato seed collection. Look out 2024!!   Monday, July 29 View Page Ok this is probably my large for the year. Excessive heat was a serious issue. Over 18 days of 100-115 degree weather really hardens up the skins. I used shade cloth and cardboard to shelter my little friends but it didn't help much. I have a few singles still on the vine but I think it is time to start some broccoli. Will do the same prep as last year. 3 yrds of alpaca manure in my 20x20 community plot. I did save some seeds from my two largest tomatoes this year. You can see pictures of both and their lineage on the Zekes tomato challenge diary. PM me if you are interested in a few. It is amazing how few seeds you get out of one of these large tomatoes.   Monday, July 29 View Page Ok this is probably my large for the year. Excessive heat was a serious issue. Over 18 days of 100-115 degree weather really hardens up the skins. I used shade cloth and cardboard to shelter my little friends but it didn't help much. I have a few singles still on the vine but I think it is time to start some broccoli. Will do the same prep as last year. 3 yrds of alpaca manure in my 20x20 community plot. I did save some seeds from my two largest tomatoes this year. You can see pictures of both and their lineage on the Zekes tomato challenge diary. PM me if you are interested in a few. It is amazing how few seeds you get out of one of these large tomatoes.   Thursday, October 10 View Page I just want to thank everyone for their help and support this year. My findings are that traveling extensively over the summer and growing large tomatoes do not go hand in hand. Congrats to the new CA state record holder Saswampo. Looks like I have to up my game next year. Be safe.   Wednesday, October 30 View Page Langley calculator wanted. If anyone has a copy of the file can you please email it to me. Donald.german@yahoo.com. Thank you