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Post by binnylou on Jan 31, 2021 11:48:51 GMT -5
I admit, I take enjoyment in harvesting a tomato that weighs in at a pound and a half. And we’ve grown some huge onions back when we were growing Copra from Dixondales. Digging up big potatoes gives me a thrill...the same for garlic. With a few gardening years under my belt, I think I’ve adjusted my thinking.
I think we are happier with an onion that isn’t so huge that we only use half of it for a sandwich and the remaining part needs to be refrigerated. But if we are dicing for long term freezer storage, bring on the big ones.
As for tomatoes, one that gives me a slice that just covers the slice of bread will be fine. If I’m chopping/dicing for recipe use/freezer storage, bigger is better, as long as the flavor is there.
I think we gardeners are growing not just to put food on the table, but the challenge and enjoyment of producing the earliest, the biggest, the best tasting produce...finding just the perfect variety of vegetables that suits us and our growing conditions.
Just a thought...it’s the dead of winter here in Iowa. Lots of time for thinking.
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Post by martywny on Jan 31, 2021 14:16:54 GMT -5
I think we gardeners are growing not just to put food on the table, but the challenge and enjoyment of producing the earliest, the biggest, the best tasting produce...finding just the perfect variety of vegetables that suits us and our growing conditions. I think quality is a key component in what we accomplish. Growing for the taste, growing to stay healthy, growing for the state of mind that accompanies working with your hands outdoors. We then compete with ourselves to see if it can be done just a little bit better than last time. Winter in Buffalo, lots of time here too for thinking.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Jan 31, 2021 15:14:31 GMT -5
I have size preferences. I prefer large sweet potatoes, although they are considered so low grade that they are left in the fields. Large sweet potatoes of some varieties have fewer strings. I prefer small tomatoes because they have a better flavor and are less subject to injury and disease. I prefer small sweet corn like the unimproved Golden Bantam. Large onions have a short shelf life. Last year my red potatoes were exceptionally large and healthy. Large potatoes take less time to peel.
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Post by breezygardener on Jan 31, 2021 17:13:36 GMT -5
I always go for flavor over size with my veggies, but have to admit that when I come upon honking HUGE Russet potatoes like I did the other day at the supermarket, I can't resist buying a couple for a main-dish meal. Love to bake them up & top them with good butter, turkey chili, sour cream, cheddar cheese, etc., etc. Just a salad on the side is all they need for a great cold-weather dinner.
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Post by desertwoman on Jan 31, 2021 17:23:02 GMT -5
I'm also for flavor over size. The whole reason I grow food is to get quality, organic , flavorful produce. If it happens to grow large it's entertaining but that's all.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jan 31, 2021 18:47:23 GMT -5
Growing conditions, flavor, suitablility, quality, quantity, and size...in more or less that order. I leave an allowance for experimenting with new stuff. That's how I've learned about some good new things. Size can be counter-productive with certain items. Gotta find the shoes that fit.
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Post by reuben on Jan 31, 2021 19:40:46 GMT -5
It don't mean a thing if it don't taste good.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jan 31, 2021 20:45:27 GMT -5
I grew Celebrity tomatoes for a couple of years.Very productive, good size, disease resistant...but no flavor. So, "not anymore".
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Post by armjr on Jan 31, 2021 20:54:12 GMT -5
There have been a lot of years that I was glad to get to eat something before something else did. There's some cherry tomatoes that taste good and some that taste bland. They are all the same size. There's a little pepper that grows (mostly wild) down here that's smaller than a filed pea. It's got more flavor and HOT than a Jalapeno.
I'm solidly in on the flavor and quality side.
Alan
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 31, 2021 21:05:24 GMT -5
we only use half of it for a sandwich and the remaining part needs to be refrigerated. But if we are dicing for long term freezer storage, bring on the big ones. Whenever I use large onions and peppers as well, whatever I don't use I freeze right then. I don't always use the leftover right away.
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Post by James on Feb 1, 2021 9:13:32 GMT -5
Onions: Plant some seeds for fresh little green onions. Plant some bulbs to let grow for large storage onions. Try some different varieties to see what does well in your garden and to test for taste. Have fun! Oh, and keep a record book! (If you are like me, the ol memory banks don't work very well these days, so write it down. )
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Post by James on Feb 1, 2021 9:33:32 GMT -5
Tomatoes: Here in this high mountain desert, you gotta find one that will mature and produce fruit in our short growing season. So you try many varieties looking for the right one. When you find the one that works, be sure to write its name down and get some more seed for next year. Experiment, see what works for you in your locale.
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Post by mcool61 on Feb 24, 2021 0:00:03 GMT -5
find one that will mature and produce fruit in our short growing season What tomato do you grow James , ? I plant Stupice for early tomatoes. I've been saving seed for several years now.
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Post by James on Feb 25, 2021 11:43:38 GMT -5
I gave up gardening. My garden plot got planted into grass. Now I ride the lawn mower over it. I confess I did plant one tomato plant over by the house foundation by the peonies. I don't remember what kind. Got it at the local Feed and Seed store. Have fun!
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Post by heirloomfan on Feb 25, 2021 13:32:21 GMT -5
I agree that taste matters more than size. A lot of tomatoes that are large in the grocery stores are grown mostly for the size with thicker skins to make them ship better and often they are not flavorful. I have grown this one that gets large and has a great flavor, it's called Kellogg's Breakfast. I have the same situation though that James does, I have to find tomatoes that don't have to take longer than 90-95 days or I can run into our early frosts here in Colorado.
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