Yes, we have no tomatoes
Every good thing has a downside. I didn't think there was anything negative about this wonderful summer we're having, but that was before I went to the farmers market this morning. (I hadn't been for awhile because of the vacation.) There are no local tomatoes yet, even the early, very small ones that in past summers have been ripe by the Fourth.
When I asked one of the vendors, she said, "It's just been too cool for them."
Comments
I blame "global warming".
Posted by: jl | July 11, 2009 7:49 AM
There were tomatoes, heirlooms, too, at JFX last week.
Posted by: Lissa | July 11, 2009 7:52 AM
Global warming is a lot cooler than the name implies.
Posted by: Bob | July 11, 2009 8:02 AM
There have been local tomatoes from Middle River, Monkton and the "Eastern Shore" for several weeks at the Downtown Farmer's Market. And they have been delicious!
Posted by: PGP | July 11, 2009 8:56 AM
We still get hydroponic tomatoes (including some heirloom tiger striped ones -- though I acknowledge the irony of hydorponic heirlooms!) from a vendor from York at the Bel Air market. Richardson Farm from Baltimore County had several bushels of green tomatoes, and I may actually go back and get some for frying. Calvert's GIft, also from Baltimore County, had fabulous heirloom cherry tomatoes today as well.
Posted by: Canon | July 11, 2009 9:20 AM
I'm in the Owings Mills area and have a garden with several types of tomatoes. I have plenty--all green. I remember being told it has to be warm at night for tomatoes to turn red. We haven't had that yet, but when we do there will be a bumper crop all at once.
Posted by: Desiree | July 11, 2009 10:23 AM
I think the correct term now is climate change.
The farm stand at McDonough and Painters Mill in Owings Mills has good tomatoes. I don't know if they are local or not but I'll keep on buying them.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | July 11, 2009 11:30 AM
Something else to worry about this summer is this article about early tomato blight.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/gardening/2009/07/tomato_blight.html
Earl
Posted by: Anonymous | July 11, 2009 12:56 PM
In this economy update...
Tomato shortage? Worry about the coming bling shortage:
http://sellyourgoldteeth.com/
Times is tuff when you gotta sell your grillz for chedda.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | July 11, 2009 1:21 PM
And here I am in the poor house with no options for easy cash on the account of I've never had any cavities.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | July 11, 2009 3:13 PM
Heirlooms the last 2 wks in OM.
Posted by: Joyce W. | July 11, 2009 3:30 PM
Elizabeth, try Weber's Cider Mill Farm in Parkville. Their own "home grown" produce is coming in, and everything I've bought is wonderful. On Thursday, I got Prudens Purple and Green Zebra heirloom tomatoes, sweet white corn (they also had bi-color corn), and peaches and plums (there are several varieties of both). The prices are reasonable. They also sell home-baked breads, pies, muffins, etc.
Um, before somebody accuses me of shilling, I'm not connected to Weber's in any way; I just think what they sell is consistently good.
Posted by: Dottie | July 11, 2009 11:24 PM
Climate change. Thanks EEL. There's something we can all agree on.
Earl, thanks for the heads up on Serious Fungal Disease. Sounds horrible. No more skipping barefoot through the tomato patch.
Posted by: jl | July 12, 2009 7:39 AM
The vendors at opening day of the Highlandtown Farmers' Market hope to have tomatoes next Saturday.
Posted by: BankStreet | July 12, 2009 1:41 PM
That's funny - my home-grown tomatoes usually don't ripen until September or even October, and I'm pretty sure this year's batch will be ripe before the end of July.
Posted by: Kathy | July 12, 2009 2:58 PM
I thought the way to get home-grown tomatoes to ripen was to go on vacation.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | July 12, 2009 4:07 PM
I got heirlooms at JFX this morning. At the tomato guy just down from mushroom guy and sort of across from the bread folks? I didn't think to ask if they were local.
I don't usually biy tomatos, but those in my garden seem to be almost dormant.
Posted by: Eve | July 12, 2009 5:22 PM
The picture of jl skipping through the tomato patch made me laugh until I realized it was really more scary.
Posted by: Eve | July 12, 2009 5:28 PM