Ruth de Jauregui
American gardeners plant a variety of fruits and vegetables, but nearly every garden features a few (or a lot) of tomato plants. From the classic 'Rutgers,' released in 1934 and used by Campbell Soup and Heinz, to the recent development of "black" tomatoes like 'Indigo Rose,' gardeners have favorites that they plant every year.
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| 'Indigo Rose' - A small "black" tomato |
My little tomato book,
50 Favorite Tomatoes for Your Garden, was conceived after my Mom saw the row of tomato plants along the fence. "What are those black things?" When I said tomatoes, she actually jumped out of her truck and went over to look at them. Along with 'Green Zebra,' 'Medford,' 'Sun Sugar' and 'Yellow Pear,' the purple-black 'Indigo Rose' has joined the row of tomato plants growing in my backyard.
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| 'Sun Sugar' - An orange cherry tomato |
Not only does the book feature 50 favorites, from heirlooms to modern hybrids, it also contains a little history about the tomato, a native of Mexico, Central and South America, and how-to-grow instructions.
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| Last year's tomato garden |
Right now is the time to get the seeds and start seedlings indoors. In six to eight weeks, your tomatoes will be ready to plant in the garden or in containers. (Note: Because I rent, I grow my tomatoes in Dollar Store laundry baskets lined with black trash bags and filled with inexpensive potting soil. With a soaker hose wound around the plants, they thrive on the east side of the house.)
50 Fabulous Tomatoes is available on Amazon and Smashwords. It is distributed by Smashwords to a variety of ebook vendors, and thus available in favorite e-formats.
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| WIP |
I'm currently working on my first novel
Bitter Nights, which I hope to publish this year, and have outlined several more "
50" garden books, including
50 Hummingbird Magnets for Your Garden. I also have several more nonfiction and fiction projects on the back burner.
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| WIP |
In addition to writing books and a garden column, I have a part-time job and maintain a website dedicated to science fiction and fantasy for teens and young adults of Color,
Alien Star Books. It is diverse and inclusive. There's room for all good books.
Amazon:
Ruth de Jauregui Author Page
Smashwords:
Ruth de Jauregui Author Page
Sneak Peeks of Works in Progress:
www.ruthdj.weebly.com
Alien Star Books – Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens and Young Adults of Color:
www.alienstarbooks.com
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A useful book for gardeners as well as for those who just want to grow a few tomato plants in the backyard. Laundry basket? What a genius idea! I might try it this year :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Well, they're cheap, LOL, and just big enough for one plant. I do stake the plants or they'd be all over the backyard.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your tomato book and look forward to your other projects. I can appreciate your creativity in finding ways to keep a garden, as I too rent.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! My budget required inexpensive solutions -- plus I have little dogs, so the plants needed to be either fenced or high enough to keep them out of the dirt.
DeleteThanks for the info. I used to have luck with tomatoes but in the last few years I have struggled and given up.
ReplyDeleteTomatoes need fresh soil or compost/fertilizer added to the bed, plus moist soil to thrive. A soaker hose is a huge help!
DeleteMany people love tomatoes and with their vivid red or orange jackets and full of juice, I can understand why. Unfortunately, they do nothing for my taste-buds. I've tried small,very sweet ones and giant monsters but none made me want to take another bite. Good post though.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sorry. Yes, they aren't for everyone. Thank you!!
DeleteI need to get my own tomatoes started this week! Maybe I'll make it to the garden center today, so I can get some seeds -- I need 'Indigo Rose' and 'Medford' seeds.
ReplyDeleteMy father always grew tomatoes (among other edibles) when he was younger - like fig trees - but I never was interested in anything except eating them. He would have loved your book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joe! My Mom always had a garden when I was a kid, but we lived on the coast, so no tomatoes. Mr Gowan would bring boxes and boxes of tomatoes and corn and warm-weather fruits and vegetables over from Philo. My first memories were of the huge red tomatoes he'd bring. Mmmmm...
DeleteGood article, Ruth. I didn't realize there were so many different varieties of tomatoes. I would love to try the Indigo Rose!
ReplyDeleteIt is a delicious, meaty tomato. Mmmmm...
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