It Is Winter In San Antonio, TX

Yes folks, it is actually winter here. It has been drizzling for the
past couple of days. Getting stronger now. Wind has picked up, trees
are really shaking. The forecast is rain, freezing rain, ice, hail,
snow, more cold weather until Thursday. Even then it will stay in the
thirties. However, although there is no forecast for next week I would
not be surprised if it climbs up into the 89's again. Actually, it is
a bit nice after all the dry, hot days of the past year.

**Dalin**...

You're getting hit with everything, aren't you! What did you do?

I hope you can stay indoors and you don't lose power. We have a thin
layer of ice on everything here but not nearly as bad as they
predicted. It's still slippery though, ice is ice, but at least none
of the power lines came down. I hope you're as lucky. :-)

JD Cooper...

Marilee...

Combining replies here:

I've started buying grape tomatoes for hamburgers during the winter. The
flavor is so much better than other out of season tomatoes.

Marilee...

Here, too, of course.

We usually plant several different varieties in the garden. You never know
when the growing season temperature/moisture will adversely/positively
influence the number of tomatoes a plant is able to produce. Or the
diseases one plant may get and another one resist.

I have found that a 'store-bought' tomato improves significantly in flavor
if left at room temperature for a day or two before use. I never
refrigerate tomatoes--unless already sliced.

Joy...

I'm glad you're enjoying it. It sounds awful to me. I'm trying to stay
warm with temperatures hovering around 60 F outside during the day.

Arch (TX)...

Oh, it is warming up here too. It is already about 34 degrees! But it is
supposed to cool off again tonight. LOL

Marilee

I planted my onion sets Saturday and got a little bit wet in the
process. Sunday and today have not been successful days for me because
the chill and slight precipitation has been an aggravation. Some folks
will have a hard time believing that I saw the first Purple Martin scout
Saturday while I was planting onions. I waved my fist at him and scolded
him loudly to go back to Mexico! (They ordinarily do not come back here
until the first or second week of Feb..)

..even harder to believe is that spring is just a short time away and I
will set out potatoes in three weeks.... and that I ordered my heirloom
tomatoes today. They will be shipped to me the first of March.

**Dalin**...

Jean B....

I pay about that here for small plants, Dalin. Yes, you can
taste the difference. When I clean up this room, perhaps I
can find my notes on tomatoes. I don't think I typed them up,
alas. OTOH, I would never have thrown them out....

Jean B....

Really! When I was buying those they had much better flavor
than the usual out-of-season crud, which isn't worth eating.

We've had such a mild winter I can't complain, but still I am anxious
to plant some tomato plants and see them start to grow. What kind did
you get, all of them look good and there are many I've never seen
before.

Jean B....

Oh, this was a q to JD, but... My favorites are Green Zebras

Jean B....

Gee, I wish they sold seeds and not just plants. They have
some interesting varieties. I hope I see the Green Tomatoes
up here, but I wonder how you can tell when they're ripe. I
did figure out how to tell when the Green Zebras are ripe--the

Joy...

Jean B....

Wow, Joy! You really are a SoCal gal! Sixty would be
downright balmy here this time of year. Oh yes. I saw
various sprouts outside today--just in time for the big
freeze. :-( I gather they'd be insulated if we had a snow
cover--which we lack.

Our low last night was 34 degrees. Either I'm a weather wimp because I've
lived in Southern California all my life, or it's a good thing I live here
because I'm such a weather wimp. ;-)

stripes get kind-of golden.

JD Cooper...

The last time I saw a succesful geen or green/zebra was many many moons
ago. Please try and remember that the environmet here is quite harsh and
I need to be especially selective in things. I've always raised good
'maters here, but "special" maters are something else.

Perhaps if I get some real success this year with heirlooms I will save
some seed and will send some out to folks.

Jean B....

Well, I am selective too, JD. :-)

Also, remember that you need to ferment the seeds, which I
always forget. I think the procedure is to add a bit of water
to the seeds and the goo, let it ferment, rinse, and dry.
Then save.

I wonder whether my totally shriveled Matt's Wild Cherry
tomatoes will yield any good seeds? Or the ones that are
decomposing elsewhere? I have to figure that's what they do

JD Cooper...

**Dalin**...

Oh I'd love to see them. You have such nice scenery to start with.

wow! I have *never* heard of fermenting tomato seeds. All I ever did in
the distant past was save a very good tomato and let it ripen and then
wash out the seeds.

As far as stored old seeds are concerned, the rule of thumb is to test
them in January. Take ten seeds and place on a wet paper towel and
partially cover with plastic wrap and wait. Insure that it remains
moist. In ten days or so the seeds should sprout. The rule of thumb is
that if, say, three of the ten sprout, you have a 30% germination rate
which is bad. eight of ten is good. Throw out bad seeds. Sow good seeds.

Jean B....

Really! I always read you should ferment them--and then I

Jean B....

Well, as you've pointed out, we adjust to our regional
conditions. I am more worried about broiling in the summer! :-)

don't, so I think all is lost. Well, I'll try your method. I
still have some tomatoes... In the garage... which is now COLD!

JD Cooper...

JD Cooper...

nononononono! the scenery here is just plain AWFUL! When I post a pic it
is because I *CAREFULLY* made sure not to show too much of the bad. If I
were to post random shots you'd see what I mean.

**Dalin**...

Now I want to see. :-)

"Cold""

Jean.... I have now going on the worst case scenario imaginable: For the
last five hours the temp hovers at 32-31 and dropping, yet the rain
keeps falling. Out there, the trees and power wires are accumulating ice
which is very, very, very rare here. We are in deep doo-doo here. unless
I miss my guess, I figger the power will go out tonight and may or may
not take days to restore. I dunno. last time this happened we were
living on kerosene for three days.

Maybe we will get lucky.

...or maybe not. Who knows?

Jean B....

Yes, that IS most definitely the worst situation--and what I
dread. I wonder whether you ended up with considerable ice,
whether you have power, or can get online? I hope you check
in today....

naturally.

and Matt's Wild Cherry. Somewhere in this mess, I have a
heavily annotated list. I think I also liked Mortgage Lifter.
I prefer tomatoes that have some (or much) acidity and are
not just sweet.

Chakolate...

We've been having 'light wintry mix' for the last couple of days. Very
slippery stuff, that.