is that they are not perfect. I had always felt that I failed when I had my tomatoes look less than ideal...and you have made me realize that they won't be. The perfect tomato is one that tastes like nothing.

for better or worse, you get the straight story. Joys, fears, tears, wonder - it's all there!

Tomatoes end up being what nature intends - not only the genetic material for the particular variety, but the effects of weather and culture. Such fun!

I felt like I must have done something wrong. No more.

and that's why the fates decided to bestow this nutty tomato obsession on me!

the best chile I'd ever tasted. A friend gave me about 6 0r 7 of them and I never had seen them before. Making chile seemed the best use for so many tomatoes. They were sweet tasting. So much better than any canned tomato! I do think they were the chocolates. Astonishingly brown looking! So very good

Are the cherokees in the photo?

And Cherokee Green (not pictured) may be the best flavored of the three!

I have them all growing - where in NC are you? Visit Raleigh sometime - driveway tomato plant tour!

Unfortunately, I am bed bound and on palliative care. However my brother, who is my primary care giver and bought your book, would probably love to see your driveway plant set-up. His wife, also! They have both read your blog.

They live a bit further north of me, near Falls Lake and are the proud parents of four hens and one rooster! I hope something can be worked out eventually.

Second to last row on right side, second from left. They all look so stunning and delicious!

fruit are 4-6 inches long by 2 inches wide, scarlet red with vertical gold stripes, and delicious for fresh eating as well as sauce - and it is super productive.

My friend and fellow seed saver member John Swenson discovered and stabilized it as a bee cross between a long red paste, Antique Roman, and Tigerella (from where it got the stripes).

Your tomatoes are the most amazing I've ever seen. Haven't seen good ones at the farmer's market yet and they are soooooo expensive. Nothing looks as good as yours! If you ever want to retire, you could make a killing selling those in California.

I've grown many in MN and other high Northeast areas. Now,the average temp here for this time of year is supposed to be around 84. But this year we are at 104 and thereabouts for the past week and no end in sight. They seem to be holding up okay so far. I have tons of flowers and a few babies. Early Girls that came from a local farm.

I dump a bucket full of water on the soil every morning. They are surrounded by 4" of straw and I don't water there and I don't put water on the leaves. Yesterday I took some dark screen I had and put it over them, for a bit of shade. Do you think they can survive this heat? Dry heat. Do you have any suggestions about other things I might do in this case?

Thanks for any suggestions. I have so much time and effort in these already, I really want to be able to eat some.

they will indeed survive - the main question is whether they will set fruit at high temps. Try to keep the plants from visibly wilting - if they do, water at the base of the plant. good luck!