Hey there gardeners! Let’s meet in the tomato patch where, with a bit of imagination, a whole bunch of us can gather together to sing “O I’m lovin’ my tomatoes in the good old summertime, my tomatoes, in the garden, in the row, my tomatoes where they grow.” Now back to reality. Today’s page is filled mostly with information about one variety of an heirloom tomato and some growing tips for it. Some of you may be familiar with what I mention — to others, the information could be brand new. Gardening isn’t something we do and then think we know it all. Not by a long shot! We’re all at various levels of skill, not only at growing tomatoes but also as lifelong practitioners of our gifts.
Have you tried the 4-7-8 breathing technique yet? If so, has it helped reduce the harmful effects of stress and led you to better sleep and a well-rested feeling? There’s power in deep breathing. It does more than simply help with relaxation. A study which followed more than 3,000 men and women over more than a decade found people who breathe well generally live longer. I wrote a song called “Laughter Is So Contagious” and it was inspired by belly dancing, deep breathing and laughter. While taking yodelling lessons as a mature student, I had to learn breath, mouth, tongue, throat and sound controls. I can remember practising my yodelling lessons outside in the open expanse of the garden. My yodelling teacher Toni used to say, “Someday you’ll get it right,” and she was right. These harried days I’m not surprised to learn more and more people, whether well to do or not, are turning to professionals for breathing and meditation lessons. In case after case, their clients have learned to harness the power of proper breathing to help prevent heart attacks, lower blood pressure, improve digestion, control the onset of panic attacks, ease migraines and reduce the severity of asthma attacks.
Likely you’ve seen various world leaders gathering together at summits. We can’t help but notice the flag of each country. To me none is more beautiful, nor says so much, than our Canadian flag with those two superb red and white colours. That flag makes me tingle with pride and inspired me to write “I’m Proud to Sing O Canada” many years ago. Well get comfy now folks, take a seat at the front row and make yourselves at home. We know the treasury of spring is not far aloft when pussy willow buds turn a silvery hue, for ’tis then a sign that spring is almost due. I don’t take up a collection with my tip o’ the hat. It’s my welcome-to-all passport and the gardening and farming ways of life.
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To grow these, you’ve got to select the right variety first, or you’ll never come close to growing a whopping two-pounder or one that’s even larger. Let me give you a bit of history on a distinctive heirloom tomato called the Mortgage Lifter. This old guy dates back to the 1930s and is still in demand, and I’ll tell you before long where to buy seeds. It’s nicely shaped, deep pink-red coloured fruits are very meaty with few interior seeds — similar to a tomato known as Giant Belgium, some of which are known to have weighed in at an amazing five pounds. Deep pink Giant Belgium fruits are known for solid meatiness, possessing smooth blossom ends (no big scares), and get this — Giant Belgium has such a delicious flavour I’m told many folks planted extras to make wine from this very sweet tomato.
Getting back to the Mortgage Lifter, folklore reveals that a farmer who planted dozens and dozens of Mortgage Lifter tomatoes was able to sell his entire crop of fruits of the vine to pay off the remaining debt against his farm after the mortgage had defaulted due to hard times. Mortgage Lifter plants are indeterminate, or vining climbers, that grow up to one metre (40 inches) tall and perform best when sturdy support is provided. Ripened fruits become visible about 75-80 days after transplants are placed into an outdoor garden. Seeds are open pollinated and can be saved for future planting to produce fruits true to parentage. Mortgage Lifter seeds can be purchased from West Coast Seeds in Delta, B.C., by ordering them online at www.westcoastseeds.com/ or by phoning 1-888-804-8820. When speaking with the West Coast Seeds’ receptionist, you can request a copy of their 2023 Gardening Guide. You can also mention you learned about Mortgage Lifter tomatoes on the Singing Gardener page in Grainews.
From Ted’s treasury of tomato tips
There’s so much to share that it can’t all appear in a single column. Let me start with the hot water treatment to disinfect seeds saved from other heirloom varieties you may have grown. Do this first just before planting them. Cover seeds with hot water (50 C, or 122 F), using a thermometer for accuracy. Let soak 25 minutes, then drain off water and spread seeds to dry on a glass or ceramic dish. This treatment is especially effective at warding off bacterial speck and other fungal diseases that are spread from infected soil splashing onto tomato foliage and fruits during rainfall.
Next, we turn to acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as ASA. It’s readily available and is a pain pill we’re all familiar with. Some research indicates soaking tomato seeds in an ASA and water solution before planting or spraying tomato plants with such a solution can increase plant health and boost yields. Gardeners could try growing tomato plants sprayed with an ASA solution and also a second set of tomato plants that aren’t sprayed in another area, to see how the two compare. Two forms of fungal disease — fusarium wilt, which prevents the movement of water and nutrients, and verticillium, also a wilt affecting the vascular system — can appear after summer rains through spores carried on the wind. Tomato blight can strike swiftly, wiping out an entire tomato crop within days. There are some hybrid tomato varieties described as blight resistant. Remember, the key word is “resistant,” not “foolproof.” Here’s a recipe for preventing blight. It may not work so well once disease has set in — in other words use it before the first sign of blight. Dissolve one regular strength uncoated ASA tablet in four litres of water, then spray or shake the solution onto tomato plants two or three times a month. Organic gardeners may choose not to use ASA solution. In this case, they can experiment using willow water, which is naturally high in ASA. You can make willow water simply by soaking fresh cut pieces of willow wood stems in water for a few days. You can then use it as a spray, either diluted or at full strength.
