I can think of nothing that is much more anticipated than the first ripe tomato of the season. And I don’t mean a cherry tomato – not even the highly regarded and highly flavorful Sun Gold.
No, I’m talking about the first ripe tomato that can be sliced. Then salted lightly. And then eaten with gusto.
Champion II and Cherokee Purple tomatoes (click on any image to enlarge)
Last night we enjoyed our first ‘big’ tomatoes, a Champion II (hybrid) and an heirloom Cherokee Purple. Later ones will be great on a BLT, or on a hamburger. But these deserved a starring role all of their own.
They were a real treat. Simply prepared, greatly enjoyed, good homegrown food at its best.
Cherokee purples are my favorite all around tomatoes. I grow a few every year. So far mine are very green. Yours looks great and very edible!
There really is nothing quite as fine tasting as the first vine ripened full size tomato. Pure heaven. 😀
Enjoy!
Congrats on the first big tomatoes. Those look great!
Oh boy…..it looks like tomato season has started at HA!!!
My mouth is literally watering looking at those tomatoes! I can’t wait for that moment to arrive at our house.
Many summer meals growing up consisted of a plate of sliced tomatoes fresh from the garden and a heap of corn fritters. Perfect!
Your first two slicers look great – hope you get many, many more.
Those look great! I will have to enjoy a good homegrown slicer vicariously until mine start coming in, oh say around September at the rate things are going around here. I think you are going to love the Padron peppers. 🙂
Love first tomatoes! Those look sooo juicy and sweet. Ours are a few weeks behind here in Utah. First time growing Cherokee, can’t wait.
I can’t wait for mine to start coming in. I love the tomato glut season.
Good grief, that does it, I need to move out of California. Two very bad tomato seasons for us in a row here along the coast, and so far this year looks worse than last (I didn’t think that was possible)! We hardly have any fruit on any of the 20 varieties we have planted that are bigger than my thumbnail. Even the cherry tomatoes are floundering! I’m soooo envious. Take an extra bite for me, they look scrumptious!
I’m with Curbstone: CA tomato growing has been bunk these past two years. However, we did just harvest our first pound of Roma, and made a fine raw tomato pasta. That being said, we’ve also lost at least a half dozen plants to disease, and a half dozen more are just sluggish, at best. Even the Roma is a sorry looking specimen. All that’s thriving is our Amish Paste and two cherry tomatoes.
Happy eating!
I grew some cherokee purple this year. We’re in zone 4 – so a bit behind you in our growing season. Your post heightens the anticipation – I can’t wait to try them!
I have some lovely yellow pear cherry tomatoes that are ripening. No big ones yet. Soon. I’m jealous.
We’re so jealous, ours are just starting to get red now.
Congrats on your big tomatoes, I’ll still waiting for my CP to change color.