Just Two Tomatoes

This spring I'm just planting two tomatoes...the two who decided to actually grow despite some major neglect.  There's just enough time to actually get something out of them before it gets too hot.  The other tomatoes I have getting started are just little sprouts and will go up north in June.

One is a Granny Cantrell German Red which I can't wait to try.  Baker Creek says..."This meaty, beefsteak-type tomato is named after Lettie Cantrell, who received seeds from a soldier returning from Germany during World War II.  She grew this tomato in the hills of eastern Kentucky for many years.  This was her favorite tomato and the only one she grew. Each year she saved seeds from the largest tomatoes, some of which reached 2 1/2 lbs.  Our growers find it to be quite productive."

The other is the infamous Cherokee Purple so of course I don't need to say anything more.

I'm so glad these two brave tomatoes decided to carry on without me through December and January!

Granny Cantrell and Cherokee Purple getting adjusted to things outside

The Two Faces of Some Tennessee Okra

This is the first time I've grown Harlow's Homestead.  Pretty stocky little okras, and half of the okra pod is a burgundy while the other is a more traditional green.  I can't put my finger on the difference between the Louisiana and this variety's flavor, but there is one...both are delicious.

Trying Out Some Corn

I've been eagerly watching the corn patch hoping some of it would turn out since I've never tasted this heirloom variety.  Three ears looked relatively fat, so I pulled and shucked them.  As you can see, only one is presentable, but the others will donate viable kernels for something, be it a batch of frozen corn or a fresh salad.  Tonight we're going to try that one good ear out and see if it's sweet.  There are other ears growing still and I'm hopeful some will get decent over the next week.

*must say it was delicious...I've always liked a white sweet corn and as soon as I took that first bite I was met with what I must say is the best balance of sweet and corn flavor I've tasted yet.  Maybe I'm bias, but maybe not...Country Gentleman will be planted again.

Louisiana 16 Inch Long

Before you keel over at the fact that I let my okra get this big, I'd like to mention that this is Louisiana 16 Inch Long.  However, I must admit I'd been picking it at something more like five or six inches afraid it would get too spiny.  Although the okra is suppose to get long, it is also suppose to be picked "young."  Hmmm....  So, this week I committed to letting some grow and seeing if they were still edible.  If they are, I think I've found my favorite variety.  How could one go wrong when given the option of more okra?  I'll let you know how these compare tonight when they get fried up alongside their shorter brethren.

*update:  overall the okra pictured was delicious with a light coating of flour, cornmeal, and seasoning...dinner crew only had to pick through the longest okra's donation, but I do believe I'll make sure the okra does not go over 8 inches for the most part--the longer one's that escape picking will be for seed.  Must say Louisiana 16" has good flavor.

Okra Anticipation

My okra is soaking as of now and will be planted tomorrow evening.  I’ve expanded to two other varieties besides the Hill Country Red this year and am very excited about it all.  Last year I planted much too late and the seedlings were incinerated.  This year, by the time the heat hits, these plants will be feeling frisky.  I love the history behind the heirlooms I get for the garden.  I have something from the Arkansas/Texas hills, bayou country, and Tennessee—can’t wait to pickle, fry, and gumbo away.

Here's what my catalogs have to say about each...

Hill Country Red (Seed Saver’s Exchange)

(Abelmoschus esculentus) South Texas heirloom. Beautiful 6' tall red-stemmed plants produce wide green pods tinged with red. Full of the good okra flavor popular in the hill regions of the south. Excellent pickling variety. 60-70 days.

Louisiana 16 Inch Long Pod Okra (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds)

Large, branching plants produce huge yields of truly giant pods, up to 16 inches long! This heirloom comes from Evangeline Parish, where it has been grown for a very long time. Sent to us by Cajun and Creole seed collector Kurt Bridges, who says the plants often get “big like a fir tree” in Louisiana. Pods stay tender for longer than most, but should still be picked young. We loved this variety!

Harlow’s Homestead Okra (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds)

Our grower received this okra from a man named Mercer, who had received it from his grandfather in the late 1960's. This okra is said to be passed down from some of the original Tennessee homesteaders and grown for generations. Pick at finger-length for superb pickles, or slice the ribbed pods and fry. Plants grow to 6-7 feet tall and are drought tolerant.



An Experiment

This morning I put a starter pot of Cherokee Purples out to acclimate to the sunshine.  It will not be hard to acclimate plants here.  In fact today I'll be in the low 80's.  I can't wait to get these and the other tomatoes in the ground.  This pot is an experiment.  I'm going to plant these-bury the stem style-in the garden.  Nights have been in the upper 40's lately.  If these fair well going right into the garden I will not shift the other starts into larger pots inside before moving to the garden-they'll just be moved right into the garden too.  I'm curious to see how these take root and adapt.