2024 Leap Year Of The BLT!

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I find a Black Kitten Paws in a search, but no Pink.

Probably because it has obscure beginnings in America's Dairyland...The Gotch is ON IT!

The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

I’ve got some lettuce in the ground, couple weeks and I’ll be back on that free lettuce train.

Kitten Paws Pink is a variety that @bower sent to me as F4 seeds I think. So still growing, selecting, and stabilizing that one.

“Kitten Paws was named for the minibeef shape of the fruits that reminded me of little paws. It was a line out of Stupice X Black Cherry. So this is where the potato leaf comes from that turns up occasionally.”

[bower]

Glad to hear they're fit to eat @Mark_Thompson .
Yeah those big clusters also reminded me of 'catspaws' on water. But too little to be a cat.

[karstopography]

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My first BLT for 2024. Cut one of the Bella Rosa tomatoes I harvested while either green or just breaking color during the second week of January, this the plant that began in the garden as a small transplant acquired from Reifel’s back at the end of August.

I went with fresh white bread as a neutral palate instead of some outstanding homemade bread that might color the opinion of the tomato.

Bella Rosa, I have not grown this variety before this one plant and have no previous reference point with this variety. Anyhow, the good was that the tomato was tangy and that isn’t so bad for a BLT. Tangy is good with fatty and salty meat. The tomato wasn’t sopping wet when cut nor was it especially dry so that is a positive for a sandwich. The negatives were that this tomato wasn’t very sweet. If there was a balance, the scales would be well tilted towards tart. Texturally, this tomato had a little of that flour-like mouth feel, bordering on a mealiness. It is a firm tomato, but definitely not a creamy, buttery, melting in the mouth kind of texture.

I’d rate this Bella Rosa a notch or so above the average store bought tomato, but way below a peak season garden heirloom. I tried a slice with just a sprinkle of salt and yep, this tomato definitely has some major shortcomings. But, on a sandwich with other veggies and meat like bacon, it is perfectly okay.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

@karstopography; ¡Positivamente Delicioso!

Glass half empty?

It's hard to convince someone there's a smorgasbord tomorrow when they're starving today....

The gotch

[karstopography]

@karstopography; ¡Positivamente Delicioso!

Glass half empty?

It's hard to convince someone there's a smorgasbord tomorrow when they're starving today....

The gotch

No, I’m thrilled to have these tomatoes, perhaps not at the pinnacle of tomatohood, but any garden tomato in January is a bonus. The experience of slicing and eating this Bella Rosa sort of awakened me to what’s on the not too distant horizon, Spring, and with spring the chance to grow some truly spectacular tomatoes.

My wife came home just as I finished my BLT to eat her sandwich and had pretty much the same evaluation of the second Bella Rosa tomato. Good on a sandwich for sure, but not a great standalone tomato, a little on the mealy side and a tad tart, but she was very happy to have a January BLT featuring garden vegetables.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

she was very happy to have a January BLT featuring garden vegetables.

Not speaking from any experience...but heck...who wouldn't...in January?

The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Day 29 of 2024 Leap Year Of The BLT!, 337 left. Found this beaut (Black From Tula/Chef's Choice Black?) labeled Heirloom Guatemala at Woodman's earlier this week, only $1.99/lb!

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Seeds galore, didn't save any b/c my 2024 'Mater List has already hit overflow:

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Nice, smoky flavor (no Red Ball/Cardboard, here!) which even drew praise from the lovely and long suffering Mrs. Gotch, never one to unduly regale store bought'n varieties:

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The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

Jealous of that. Take a look at what our storebought looks like…

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[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Jealous of that. Take a look at what our storebought looks like…

The Gotch'd pass on them there! Sheesh...I don't get it...with yer weather, sun, rain, & that's all you's get?

Anywho, I've found a new Go-To for off-season Tomatoes; Woodman's! Beautiful Heirlooms for (currently) $1.99/lb; picked up a couple more today that're ripening in the late INDOOR January sun.

I'd humbly recommend that the Divine @MissS to head east to Waukesha (Birthplace of The Fonz!) and peruse their selection https://www.woodmans-food.com/waukesha

The Gotch

[AKgardener]

I was looking forward to a nice size tomato for the blt.. was bragging and everything felt so proud and well it looks like there stuck at cherry size haha haven’t budged… kicking a box haha

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Day 36 of 2024 Leap Year Of The BLT!, 330 to go. Coupla REALLY BEAUTIFUL store bought'n Bi-Colors:

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Sliced:

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Ready fer Bidness:

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The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

I’m quite pleased with Costco’s thick cut bacon. Plus my first KBX in a while to go with it.

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[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I’m quite pleased with Costco’s thick cut bacon. Pluz my first KBX in a while to go with it.

Looks like nice thick slabs of Tomato, too!

Whaaaa...none for the li'l darlin's'...KBX is on my Grow List for the 1st time this season.

The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

Big sandwich is for me, mini sandwich is for the two year old. She’s my little lunch partner most days.

I’m thinking I have to grow KBX and Sweet Ozark Orange side by side this summer for a solid comparison. I planted this KBX in winter for the purpose of crossing with wild varieties and it’s struggling in the rain.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

it’s struggling in the rain.

Rain?

My Leitches Creek, Nova Scotia BIL (whom I'm certain feels yer pain) yesterday (it stopped today @43.5"/~111 cms):

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The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Day 43 of 2024 Leap Year Of The BLT!..323 remain. Beautimous Sun Shiny Yeller from Metro Market:

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Juuuust a hair past ripe:

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But TRES juicy and tasty!:

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The Gotch

[karstopography]

I decided my Winter grown Bella Rosa tomatoes are a desecration to the BLT. I still have two red ripe ones on the counter, but cannot bring myself to cut them.

Those Woodman’s fancy tomatoes look good.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I decided my Winter grown Bella Rosa tomatoes are a desecration to the BLT. I still have two red ripe ones on the counter, but cannot bring myself to cut them.

I get that truly empty feeling every late November when my stash hits bottom.

Those Woodman’s fancy tomatoes look good.

ERRATUM/(emended above): It's one I simply couldn't pass up @Metro Market, even @$3.49 lb. I did stop @Woodmans on Saturday and they still have crates and crates and creates of Heirlooms @$1.99 lb. Almost bought a couple of Costolutoesque ribbed beauts as "futures" but decided to wait until later in the week.

The Gotch

[Whwoz]

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Was going to be a BLT for lunch today, but power supply going off, changed that to ham, garden sorrel and Elbonian Hip Deep tomato, or at least the half that a grub hadn't spoilt. Delicious tomato @Tormato and bush is still only about 1/2 as tall as the other Elbonian varieties.