Thursday, August 30, 2012

A Disappointment and Good News!

Today we harvested a bright orange, yummy looking tomato that we'd been watching slowly ripen. We anticipated each of us getting a slice, chins running with orangey, tomatoey goodness.
This was a new kind of tomato for us, "Golden Queen".
I couldn't wait!


With slightly shaking fingers I gently grasped the fruit, tugged it gently from it's green plant, and found;






Blossom end rot.




I can't tell you how many dirty words were uttered in the chipmunks' presence. But I'm sure I expanded his vocabulary.





I brought it inside and cut it open, and found this.



Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. And the cause of many nasty, foul words uttered by a gardener. The soil PH can also contribute to the deficiency, so between this month and next spring, I'll be amending the soil. Surprisingly, we've only found one other tomato with this maddening issue.

But every cloud has a silver lining, and this is mine;


Our  "Small Sugar" pumpkin is almost 11" around!!


So I celebrated by toasting it with a glass of orange juice.


A lesson for the day, and hope.
What's new with you?