Celia Hart's blog about what's going on in and around her studio.
Art, printmaking, inspirations, gardening, vegetables, hens, landscapes, wild flowers, East Anglia, adventure, travel.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Variations on a theme - Tomatoes

At the beginning if June I would not have believed that the summer would be so gloriously warm and sunny! It's been such a treat to eat all our meals outdoors (I think we had two meals outside last year) and in the greenhouse the tomatoes have been thriving.


Today I was able to pick some of all the seven varieties
Red Cherry
Liguria
Imur Prior Beta
Orange Strawberry
Madame Jardell's Black
Marianna's Peace
Tigerella

I love the variation of shapes and colours. Even more interesting is the subtle differences in texture and flavour.
I'll try to add some tasting notes later, but for now here's a photo.

Celia
x

30 comments:

  1. Your different varieties of tomatoes look wonderful, bet they taste great too. I have a few plants growing outside but you're making me even more determined to get a green house.

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    1. I can't grow tomatoes outside, they would get blight :-(

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  2. Of my 7 varieties this year, I have one that is a match with yours - Tigerella. Mine looks stripier than yours. I'm also growing a black version - mine is Caspian Black. Very pretty, but no flavor. Very odd! In fact, my Better Boy (a basic commercial variety) tastes better. You just never know with tomatoes. But that's the fun, isn't it?

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    1. I think Tigerella should be more stripy - maybe there are variations? I think some tomatoes taste much better if warmed or lightly cooked.

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  3. They all look such fun - I am attracted to the Liguria and will be interested to know if it has a good flavour.

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    1. Liguria is probably my favourite. I bought the seeds at a market in northern Italy 8 yrs ago and I'm still using seed from the same packet! I must save fresh seed this year.
      The flavour is best when warmed, it is perfect for bruschetta!

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  4. So delicious, especially the Madame Jardell Black's! How delicious would that be on a BLT!!!

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    1. BLT ... I always think of those motorway service station sandwiches in plastic wrapper, sorry it's not my favourite combination.
      In a Full English with our fresh eggs and black pudding would be more my style.

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  5. wow they all look fab especially the Madame Jardell Black's..... I kind of fell out with gardening this year but maybe next year it will be different !

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    1. I'm not surprised you haven't been gardening - you're always off on walking adventures or running or cycling!!!
      I've fell out with walking as my ankles are still recovering, but I've been cycling ... just the odd 10miles not crazy distances ;-)

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  6. I have grown little yellow ones this year(can't remember the name but it had sun in it!) they are hard and green at the moment but I live in hope!
    xxx

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    1. Probably Sungold, Lyn. I was thinking I need a yellow tomato to add to my collection - wouldn't that look good among the other colours in a lovely ceramic bowl :-)

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  7. i love that arrangement and labeling you made to share with us.

    i will email to you my favorite "cooked" tomato recipe, tomato pie. It's one of our favorites, especially now when they are at their peak.

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    1. Thank you for the recipe - I'll try this at the weekend - hopefully for a picnic x

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  8. Celia, your 2013 tomato collection looks terrific, and remind me of the beauties I see at the farmers market. I look forward to seeing your tasting report. Then I can make some notes and see if the New York/New Jersey farmers' version have similar tastes.

    xo

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    1. We're eating them between being very busy, so they disappear before I make notes!
      I think that in general the heirloom varieties are best warmed/lightly cooked (personal taste) xx

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  9. Ooo! I have tomato envy. No greenhouse here, so we have just one 'tumbler'in a hanging basket. I especially like the look of Madame Jardell's black.

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    1. I've managed to stuff 30 pots in our very small greenhouse!

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  10. My, don't they look good?

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  11. gorgeous photo.. wouldn't that make a wonderful print?

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  12. I think the 'black' varieties have an excellent flavour. I was too late to raise tomatoes from seed this year and only grew three varieties, one of which was Black Cherry. I like Black Russian, which is a beefsteak variety with very few seeds.

    Sungold is more orange than yellow, isn't it?

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    1. Oh yes Black Russian is a very good one :-)

      And yes you're right, Sungold is more orange than yellow.

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  13. when I worked at a little hotel in Ambleside one summer I was asked if I could cook and was told to start in on Breakfast. The owner instructed me and I make an egg in a ring; a Cumberland sausage or rashers of bacon, and toast. And also on every plate a halved tomato which was cooked right on the stove cooktop alongside the egg. I had never had this combination and also such wonderful sausage or bacon. The warm tomato went so well with everything.
    But no black pudding.

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    1. You were taught well! That is exactly how tomatoes should be cooked for a Full English Breakfast, delicious!

      I've just wandered over to your blog... what charming things! And I think I was near your studio a couple of summers back - what a wonderful place to live!

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  14. Our tomatoes are still green! There are lots of them but they have not started to turn yet so I'm really envious of these.Just like the comparisons with the beans I shall look forward to the taste test results.Nothing quite like the freshness of picking and eating a warm, ripe tomato.......

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  15. Exactly! A tomato ripened and warmed by the sun and that has never been near a fridge, is a wonderful thing :-)

    ... many of mine are enjoyed in the greenhouse!

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  16. Oh Celia what a selection!! Which seed company do you use?
    As part of the community growing project at the farm I am looking to grow lots of heritage varieties next year-they are amazing and yours look so healthy!!

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  17. All my tomatoes are still green (except for two I picked yesterday) but then mine are all outside. I've got a heavy crop though.

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