Miscellaneous: No Green Zebras

We planted about eight tomato vines this year. Two of them were supposed to be the Green Zebra variety, an heirloom that has done comparatively well in the garden before. Both plants were mislabeled, however. The tomatoes we're now getting from these vines (pictured) are definitely not Green Zebras. I don't know what they are, but they are tasty and attractive, so I can't complain. Despite cool weather, our tomatoes have done very well this year. These are the best I've grown since living in Ohio many years ago--a place where any fool can grow good backyard tomatoes. I've always believed tomatoes are harder to grow here because of our cool nights, but this season has made nonsense of that idea. More important seems to be fresh soil, a lot of good, organic fertilizer, and attentive watering, although the shallow soil in our new beds carved out of former lawn have not allowed deep watering and we've had a fair number with blossom-end rot, a condition I'd read about before but never actually seen. Interestingly, the rot, when it occurs, is very localized. It's easily cut out, leaving usable fruit behind.