The Tomato Stake
Issue 2 http://clubs.yahooo.com/clubs/thetomatostake July 2001
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Issue 2 http://clubs.yahooo.com/clubs/thetomatostake July 2001 |
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Iron Bark Bob Hi all. The first addition of the 'Newsletter' has been an outstanding success and many thanks goes out to our dedicated writing team. Things are moving on nicely for us. I would like to welcome our new sponsor on board, "THE DIGGERS SEED CLUB". They are a seed mail order club who also conducts Tomato growing trials. I am hoping to be able to send their catalogue out with a future issue of the newsletter. We are also looking for new writers. So if you have an interesting story or two, not necessarily about gardening or tomatoes, please email to ironbarkbob@yahoo.com Well the real reading is ahead so I will let you get to it. Regards and best wishes to all. ROBERT STANLEY BRISBANE AUSTRALIA P.S. We now have 125 Members at time of printing. Well done and welcome.
Members Links HunterMike http://www.oocities.org/huntermikes/index.html Ikardokus http://hometown.aol.com/Ivyline98344711/myhomepage... Lecat07 |
Woodchuck's Hints and Tips Saving Tomato Seeds...... Scrape the pulp and seeds from the tomatoes into a bowl. Squish and stir with your hands until you have a good soupy texture. Using pint jars (preferably wide-mouth) add one cup of water and one cup of seed soup mixture to each jar. Cover, but not airtight and keep at room temperature 80-90f degrees (28-32c) is best. Keep for several days stirring or shaking the mixture twice a day. Look for bubbles at the surface or for a dense layer of foul-smelling mold. At this point, add some more water and tighten the lid. Shake the jar vigorously until most of the seeds have dropped to the bottom of the jar. Skim off any floating seeds and mold and pour off most of the water. Add clean water and skim again. You may have to do this several times. When the seeds are clean, pour off all the water and spread the seeds on a piece of window screen to dry. When dry store in airtight containers. NOTE: With fermentation, you have to be really careful that you don't over ferment the seeds or you'll end up with sprouted seeds. Needless to say, the seeds would then be useless! Herbgarden7143
Take The Hint Surplus ripe tomatoes can be cleaned and put through the blender. Bring the pulp obtained to the boil, skim off any foam and immediately pour the juice into sterilized screw-top bottles, capping tightly. Place the bottles in a cool dark cupboard. This tomato pulp is an invaluable addition to stews, curries and similar dishes. |
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THE DIGGERS SEED CLUB We supply 50 different tomato varieties via our catalogue and offer a greater range in our collections. We source our seeds from all over the world and enjoy growing tomato trials every year. Catalogues available with next issue of the 'Tomato Stake' Newsletter. orders@diggers.com.au http://www.diggers.com.au/ |
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Herbs BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)This tender annual, grown from seed, is very much 'different things to different people'. Hindus regard it as sacred, Egyptians scatter it over graves and Greeks regard it as a symbol of poverty ... but Tomatoes love it! Basil makes a wonderful neighbour for Tomatoes both in gardens and containers. Sow the seed in fall (autumn) in warmer parts and in late spring where there is any danger of frost. Basil likes the same growing conditions as Tomatoes and as long as it receives plenty of sun, basil will thrive as happily on an indoor windowsill as outdoors. Basil should be used sparingly in salads but is ideal in pasta sauces and with poultry and stews. When next cooking with Tomatoes why not try a little basil to spice up your dish. Catnip4508 - Brisbane Australia
←Hunter Mike→ Many Tomato Stake Members are just starting to come into their harvest period. Reading the posts I see that some of you are starting to pick your early tomatoes. Some of these may be cherry, grape and other type of tomatoes. While I'm sure you want to eat everything you can grab right now, and who can blame you, don't forget to save some seeds. In order to get our seed bank started and growing, we need contributors of seeds. Early this spring, one notable member sent me seeds from their private stock of seeds. Hopefully, these seeds will produce more and more seeds. Eventually, we are hoping that each Tomato Stake Member who wants, will get a package of heirloom seeds in the mail in time for spring planting. So save those seeds. If you need to know how to save tomato seeds refer to page one or visit Mikes Gardening Page (see the links on either Tomato Stake Site). After the fall harvest, I'll let you know how we did saving seeds. HM Ivy Lines PLANTHUNTER Modern gardeners today have fairly easy access to a wide variety of plants. All we have to do is go to the nursery and buy our plants, take themhome and plant. Maybe though, if it weren't for the Planthunters centuries ago, we would not have such a wide variety of plants that we enjoy today. Being a Planthunter was probably an interesting job, but it was also a dangerous one. Nurseries and botanical gardens sent out Planthunters to bring back new and rare plants. One example was a fellow named David Douglas who was a great Planthunter employed by the Horticultural Society of London to collect seeds in Many Planthunters also went through similar trials such as charging elephants and lions. Today it is much easier but law now protects many plants. Planthunters have to obtain collection permits in many countries. Newly discovered plants appear thanks to the Planthunters. For example, the recent discovery of "Impatiens Kilimanjari" in 1990 and named in 1997. I guess you could say that all gardeners are Planthunters. We are always searching for that certain new to us plant, that more than likely originated on the other side of the earth, or is the product of careful breeding, until the goal of a perfect specimen is produced. IVY KARDOKUS LINTON USA |
Tomato Mayo Ingredients 4 to 5 ripe tomatoes Directions Peel tomatoes. I cut a cross on bottom and cut around stem cap, then plunge into HOT water. Finely dice or put through sieve makes about 1 1/4 cups. Fold in mayonnaise, chives, green pepper, Worcestershire Sauce and seasonings. Chill thoroughly.
A person with a green thumb is sometimes a fine gardener ... but more often a bad painter!
Photo of the month These apples would keep a bus load of Doctors away! Supplied by (Morningloris)
*Rouge de Marmande* Rouge de Marmande is an excellent, early ripening, determinate (bush) variety tomato. It produces a large beefy irregular shape fruit with remarkably good flavour. The 'Tomato Stake' has available Rouge de Marmande Tomato seeds for $3.00 per packet. This donation helps to subsidize the production of the newsletter and of course postage and handling. Please send to the address below and your seeds will be sent by return airmail postage. The Tomato Stake 6 Mary-Leigh Street Deception Bay QLD 4508AUSTRALIA
Ask the Mayor? Ask the Mayor ? is a new segment of the newsletter where you ask the questions and a real life mayor will try and provide the answers.If you have a query you need help with, email the 'Mayor' care of ed_tomstake@yahoo.com the question will be past on and the answer will be printed in our next newsletter. All questions published will receive a surprise packet of seed. (Please supply your postal address) So go to it... Dear Mayor ... In about what year were tomatoes first cultivated and by whom?Answer ... 700 AD by the Aztecs and Incas. |
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MY LITTLE WORMS ARE HAPPY THEY CHEW UP ALL THEIR FOOD MY FAMILY THINKS I'M WACKY TO BE EXCITED BY WHAT WORMS DO MY WORMS AERATE THE SOIL IT MUST BE HARD TO DO I CHUCK IN ALL MY VEGIE SCRAPS AND WAIT FOR SUPER – POO!! Shazannj PUCKAPUNYAL AUSTRALIA
Tomatillos Tomatillos are green, tart-fruited and considered by many to be the same as the tomato. (I understand it is not related) This vegetable comes in a brown paper like husk, which is easily removed. Tomatillos vary in size from a large pea to the size of a golf ball. When selecting Tomatillos you want the husk to be on and to be firm to the touch as with selecting a tomato. Tomatillos unlike tomatoes, can be stored for months if placed in a cool, well-ventilated location. You must leave the paper husks on when storing. Tomatillos are also called tomato de cascara.This vegetable does not develop its best flavor until cooked. Here are 3 Basic Cooking Methods.----------------------- 1. Remove husks and rinse the Tomatillos. Place in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring 2. Remove husks; rinse the Tomatillos and pat dry. Place quarter or halved Tomatillos in a small amount of 3. Put fresh Tomatillos in frying pan over medium heat with husks ON. Toast, turning often, until the husk isbrown and the Tomatillos flesh is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove the husks. Vladilyich |
Green Taco Sauce Ingredients 2 qt green Tomatillos. Finely chopped (save juice)1 1/2 cups cider vinegar 2 medium onions, chopped 1 1/2 tsp. pickling salt 1/2 tsp. Black pepper and cayenne pepper 2 tsp. dry mustard Directions Combine all ingredients and simmer for 2 hours. Pour into blender and process till smooth. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. Can as usual (process boiling water bath 10 minutes) or sauce can be frozen if preferred. Vladilyich
Do you have a suggestion for the newsletter? If you do - email your suggestion to the Editor at ed_tomstake@yahoo.com
'About ED' People may think that the Editor 'ED' is the one and only ironbarkbob. But alas this is not so. 'ED' is none other than his beautiful, patient, loving Wife who volunteered (Yeah right) to do the job. 'ED' |
