Tomatoes
Tomatoes are food crops I have been growing for years now. They are easy to start inside, and once they get planted they do their jobs without too much fuss. I’ve had problems with soft spots (potassium deficiency) and tomato worms (ugliest things I’ve ever seen!) and unruliness (they go wild and fall over, limbs snap off, etc.) I’ve tried different varieties, all heirloom/heritage, including Mortgage Lifter, Brandywine, Red Green Stripes, and Purple Reign. This year it is going to be Mortgage Lifter again. They are big, meaty tomatoes that are great for canning.
Turkeys
Turkeys come through the yard from time to time. They aren’t daily or even regular visitors, but there are plenty of them in the area. Many times they cross the road as a flock. Some drivers are more patient with them than others. They are always welcome here.
Tao Talk 
I love tomatoes 🍅
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:) They love the weather here and they don’t even need full sun all day long.
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That’s nice.
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As Guy Clark sang: “There’s just two things that money can’t buy/And that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes.”
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haha! Sounds like something Guy Clark would sing. He’s right.
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Those tomatoes look delicious! And I love the turkeys. I’ve never seen anything like that before.
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The tomatoes were delicious. I don’t eat them fresh, but I use them in salsas, sauces, etc. The turkeys wander in large groups all over the place.
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We have a lot of wild turkeys in Boston, something that never really happened until about 20 years ago. There’s a flock of about a dozen turkeys that live in my neighborhood. It always amuses me to be out and about and hear turkey calls.
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That’s so cool, Liam, that they can live in a big city like that. Cool on hearing their calls. They are very quiet around here. Once in a blue moon, I’ll see a tom puff up. That’s something to see.
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They’re definitely reclaiming old territory.
We also have coyotes in the neighborhood which is the #1 reason our cat is never going outside, no matter how much he meows at the door.
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Love the idea of wildlife reclaiming some turf. We have coyotes out back but haven’t heard them in awhile. Hoping the neighbors haven’t done something to them :( Cats belong inside homes anyway.
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We used to plant tomatoes every year until the invasion of the giant caterpillars devastated our gardens and I threw in the towel. But there’s nothing like a fresh home grown tomato! 🍅
Once in a while we’ll see wild turkeys running through the yard; they’re so funny and look like they’re drunk! 🦃
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Ugh on the giant caterpillars. I remember the first time I discovered one on a plant I totally freaked out. They blend in perfectly with the color of the plant. And then I really freaked out when I saw my plants were infested with them. Shuddering at the memory right now.
If a turkey is running like that, something is after it! I’d probably run like a drunken turkey if something was chasing me ;)
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Yes, that’s exactly what it was like! 🐛
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Having homegrown vine-ripened is such a luxury, truly one of the best things about the summer. (And yes, it makes me shudder just to think of those tomato hornworms!
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Yes, yes, and yes.
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Those tomatoes look awesome
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Thanks, Sonia!
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There’s a wild turkey wandering around the city that gets plenty of press every day. I guess it’s a good distraction. Like the coyote in Central Park–there may be two, no one is quite sure.
I grew cherry tomatoes in a window box once. That’s quite a harvest! (K)
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Kerfe, I can’t resist saying that I think you have a few turkeys wandering around NYC. Coyote(s) in Central Park? Now that would make a great children’s book with all of the cool things that are in your Central Park.
Doesn’t produce grown by your own hand feel good? My baby tomato plants are reaching for the sky(light) and I also have a batch of peppers and birdhouse gourds growing. Can’t wait until danger of frost is past — for them and for me!
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Fresh tomatoes are the best. Luckily come summer there will be plenty of NJ tomatoes and corn around. I always look forward to it.
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PS you’re right about the turkeys.
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Those striped tomatoes are fabulous looking. I’m very lucky – my brother is the veggie gardener, and he’s very generous in his sharing (and his delivery service). So I get to reap the benefits of his work without every having to face any giant bugs. :-)
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Deborah you are blessed! It doesn’t get any better than that.
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mmmm homegrown tomatoes are the best! Glad they do good for you there. :)
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:)
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Beautiful tomato photo! I do enjoy homegrown tomatoes more than store bought. Do the turkeys eat your plants?
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Thanks, Brenda. The turkeys seem focused on seeds they peck at as they walk. Have never bothered any of the plants.
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Tomatoes are the one vegetable I absolutely insist on growing every year, and while I’ve tried out lots of different varieties, the one that I always make sure to have is sungold, little orange cherry tomatoes. I just pop them like candy, standing in the garden.
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There is something about tomatoes that says home to me. Sungold is a beautiful name for a tomato.
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I love kumato and cherry tomatoes but not many others. However, I’ve always wanted to grow them and try to make my own tomato sauce! How do you use your dehydrated tomatoes?
– Allison
https://lightningflashwriting.blogspot.com/
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What are kumatos? I had a plan to use tomato powder to make my own pasta, but guess where the tomato powder still is? ;) One of these days!
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They’re smaller (but not as small as cherry!) brown tomatoes with a really great taste. They don’t give me heartburn, either, so win-win! I stumbled upon them at the grocery store once and was hooked. Too often I’d buy gorgeous red tomatoes just to find they were watery with no flavor.
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Good to know, Allison :)
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