For the past couple of weeks, I have tried to take photographs of my tomato plants but in the photographs they look like big green blobs. Tonight while dumping some tomato peelings on the compost pile after dark, I looked at the plants with the flashlight and noticed how one plant could stand out in the dark and, maybe, in a photograph. Below are photographs of three of my tomato plants.
The image on the left shows the two varieties that I took photographs of.
I planted the tomatoes early May 2008.
Note: The cages are homemade and 5 feet tall by 21 inches in diameter. Naturally, there is just one plant per cage.
Grape Tomato #1
I have two of these grape tomato plants, the one above and the one below. They are extremely branched out and have filled each cage. Each day I had to push errant branches back into the cages and I missed a few. They are now growing over the top of the 5-foot tall cage and this is normal.
Grape Tomato #2
Notice the zinnias in all of the pictures? Some of the zinnias are 5 feet tall now. I grow the giant variety.
Park’s Whopper
I have 4 of these park’s whopper plants. I chose this kind because it makes nice normal sized tomatoes. As you can see, the bottom tomatoes are starting to ripen, the real work is about to begin in full force.
Today I broke out my old Juicemate and used it. This thing is good for processing a lot of tomatoes. I blanch the tomatoes first. I’ve tried it both ways and blanched is easier. The grape tomatoes go into it too. I am an equal opportunity tomato squasher.
I have a feeling that I will be using this thing a lot until the tomato plants get frostbit in October.
That’s all for now. 
Happy Gardening or Happy Homeschooling,
our tomato plants look just like that except we don’t have quite so many grape tomatoes. Big green bushes.and something ate Cami’s green pepper flowers and most of her leaves! 😥 she is pretty upset about that let me tell you.
all in all your tomato plants look great but I”m not so sure about squashing tomatoes.
I am so insanely jealous that I would throw tomatoes at you if I had any. 😈 No, wait, I’m lying. I would throw air tomatoes and eat the real ones.
Your plants look terrific! Your flashlight idea was a good one.
That is a load of tomatoes! They are rewarding your faithful attention to their needs. 🙂
And to think that I didn’t want to peek b/c I was afraid you’d scare me with tomato worm pictures!
Those look great, Donna.
Hubby and I have agreed that we’ll build a green house, or buy a pre-made one, and grow our tomatoes in there. I was hoping for a warmer summer to grow them out side but that didn’t happen. I also think that I put too many plants in 2 of my pots – there are 6 in each of 2 pots and my other just has one and it seems to be growing more. A lesson learned for sure.
I’m glad that you have been chronically your garden here at your blog as I’ve learned a lot here.
WoW! Beautiful tomatoes and zinnias! 😀 Grape tomatoes are my favorite tomatoes, they are just so cute and sweet 😀
Your tomatoes are taller than I am! I may not be tall on the outside, but on the inside I feel as though I’m at least 5’7″
Nice!! I wish our tomatoes had survived, but we’ll try again next year. 🙂
“I am an equal opportunity tomato squasher.”
Donna, you have always been so kind.
That juicer thing looks neat. Do you freeze the juice afterwards or can?
MichielleRose I’m sorry about Cami’s green pepper. 🙁 especially that it upsets her. I hope the plant can recover.
Melanie I just happen to have a couple of rotten tomatoes, real ones right here in my backyard!!
You can have one and I get the other one. 😈 (I’m just kidding)
Sheri I am glad you chanced a peek anyway. And Thank you. I worked hard on the plant’s health. It has not been a perfect time this year. Some of my plants have diseases that I’m trying to help them recover from.
Elaine do you have a friend who has a green house? Or perhaps a nearby plant nursery? It’d probably be a good idea to discuss some of the issues that you can expect from green house growing and maybe get plant recommendations too. 🙂
Heather you are very tall indeed! 😀
Appliejuice the juicer thing is pretty nifty, but it is limited to soft fruit and vegetables. It’s job is to separate the skins and seeds from the pulp. After I run the tomatoes through it, I usually simmer the juice until it is reduced to the thickness that I am going for and then I freeze it.
Those are definitely whoppers of tomatoes! 😀 Have you ever thought of entering your bounty in the fair?
Thank you Tressa. 😀