Weather on repeat and a new tomato I must have.

 It's really not *that* hot but hot enough that cooking in the kitchen raises the inside temp over the tolerable limit. Other than that, great weather for picnics and shenanigans tomorrow. For those that are having those sort of things.

See? What more can you say? Shade under trees will be staked out before the sun is up tomorrow and prime viewing locations reserved. With the grandkids getting older its not as much a thing anymore for holidays. It would be ironic if that rose name was 'All American Beauty'.

 

I decided to dig up the smaller potato since it was turning yellow. The soil at that end is so shallow I have no idea if there are any spuds under the chicken wire. I need about $30 to make a wood frame to build around that for more soil. So that little spud is maybe an inch across. I left it out in the open, tossed the plant on the compost and then stirred up the soil all around that bed. Almost crushed the two tomatillos when the wire cover I have over it fell back onto the bed when I lifted it.

 

Now you see it, now you don't. I moved a leaf aside to see it better and it fell off. Oh well. More flowers are opening on the plant. It isn't the best soil there, needs sooo much more organic compost to mix in because right now it's silty sandy clay. I know I tossed some fertilizer there but maybe not enough? That's another bed that needs higher walls for more soil. That lone carrot still hanging in there with the cilantro. Just shaking my head in amazement at the persistence of nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to plant that tiny pepper and hoping it's the fish pepper. By the time it gets the size of the other pepper plants that squash will likely have doubled in size. Not afraid of it shading the squash at all. Those two onions are still going gangbusters and seem to be on schedule for pulling in the fall.

Someone in the San Diego garden group a photo of some tomatoes they grew. They are purle and brownish red, huge and apparently tasty. They are called Rebel Starfighter Prime. It's not your typical red tomato, but I want it just for the name.

They are what's called oxheart shaped and the more direct sun the fruit gets the darker the coloring.  Thing is, can only get seeds, a good many of the sites that have seeds are either etsy, over seas or out of stock. One site called Heirloom Seeds is charging $5 for a packet and it doesn't say how many sees or how much the packets weigh. Vintage Seeds has the same price and you only get 5 seeds. Definitely going to be something to watch out for next year and hope the prices come down or a local grower/nursery has them. Just found an organic seed company in Michigan that says they have them, 15 seeds per pack, can take up to 4 weeks to ship because they are a small operation but they are selling for $3.50 but that doesn't include shipping. Just created an account to put it on a wish list. Hahaha!

 

"Rebel Starfighter Prime is an indeterminate, regular wispy leaf tomato. A rare tomato from breeder, Russ Crowe, being a cross of Xanadu Picasso x RHK GWR Heart. Very attractive heart shaped fruits with deep red/maroon flesh and anthocyanin shoulders with anthocyanin and various other colour stripes from stem to blossom end. Fruits can reach a weight of 150-250 g. The flavour is deep and rich, well-balanced between sweet and long-lasting umami. Healthy plants grow up to 160 cm and growing well until first autumn frost. Very productive in cold climate and adverse weather conditions. Like all anthocyanin tomatoes, the more direct, unobscured light received, the darker the anthocyanin presentation."

That description is from a UK based company of course.  What they are also saying is that any fruit that is shaded by leaves is going to be more red and green than purple/brown. Still have good flavor but not look the same. There's actually three or four different 'Star Wars' themed tomatoes all coming from only two breeders. I will have to look into the others and make a decision next year which one I'll plant.