I only grow half a dozen or so plants, enough to feed us, make some relish, sauce, etc plus the few that usually come up by themselves in strange parts of the garden. I do plant more every couple of months to have them coming on all the time. Occassionally I run out but usually have more than enough for our everyday needs. This way I have room in the garden for other staples of life such as beans, potatoes, etc.

Generally have a couple of different varieties - smaller ones for the kids to pick and eat straight from the garden eg yellow pears or similar, some larger ones and Romas for eating fresh and cooking.

Until I joined this forum, I didn't even know there was so many different varieties and fanatics :)

Anyway it's good to hear you all participating in something healthy.

Anyway, I have no problem at all giving away excess tomatoes. There are always quite a few people lined up that are eager to receive them. Unlike with Zucchinis, Tomatoes are always welcome.

We are still enjoying our preserved tomatoes, pickles, chutneys, sundried tomatoes, Sauce, etc.

The number of varieties may seem a bit excessive, but hey! it's better than collecting vintage cars or strange earwax formations.

:)

And then there's the search for the Holy Grail of tomatoes that suits your exact microclimate and gives 30kg of scrumptious fruit per bush without even a hint of early blight.

Instead of trying your ear canals, I came across this site a while ago about growing tomatoes upside down. Funny what comes to mind when you think of things coming out of your ears :)

I've never tried it though I might when I get more time.

I suppose you Southerners have to grow as many as you can when the seasons suit! Sorry if it might sound like I'm bragging but I do live in Qld, the best place in the world :) (Don't take offence, just joking!)

I hope I get this link thing right as I haven't done it before (technically challenged or too many kids - blame whichever seems appropriate)

I havent even grown the whites the greens and bicolours yet, BUT there is always next year.

I'm afraid I'm no connoisseur (had to look that one up in the dictionary) when it comes to tomatoes or any vegies for that matter. As long as they aren't bought from the shops.

I generally stick to what grows well for me with minimal care. The yellow pears come up by themselves after the kids have tomato fights, but the kids love them and eat them like fruit (yes, I know they actually are a fruit).

I'm hoping next year when my youngest starts pre-school to start experimenting a bit more. Since the garden club at the school has started my kids have really gotten into gardening and each now have their own vegie patch. The only trouble is I'm expected to buy whatever they grow! Good way to make pocket money I suppose.

Now all I've got to do is find a way to stop the bandicoots from digging the vegie gardens up. The gardens are fenced to stop dogs, chooks and kids running over them but that doesn't keep the bandicoots from undermining the plants. Yesterday I found a tomato bush with fruit just starting to ripen, nearly falling over because of a hole dug down beside it :( and my watermelon seedlings have eventually given up the ghost after having to be replanted every morning.

one jar of chutney each week - 52 jars

chutney for family and friends

two sundried tomatoes (four pieces) per person for each salad you have until the next crop of dried tomatoes arrive

jarred and stored sundried tomatoes for yourself, your neighbours, your friends, your family

fresh toms in your salad (and neighbours,etc etc)

tomato sauce - 52 bottles - a years supply plus extras

tomato jam - work on one jar a month

tomato relish - again, one jar a month

and then if you have kids there's the end of season over-ripe tomato fight. It was obligatory for me.

and of course there's the green tomato - fried or made into green tomato chutney (delish!!)

If you have more tomatoes left over after doing all of the above - there's always chooks or charities

Even though it was in fun I am interested and I have even been checking out different varieties myself, much to my hubby's disgust because I'm always complaining about having to extend the gardens.

My kids prefer to eat their tomatoes fresh from the bush or sliced on a sandwich or in a salad, though I make up a few bottles of relish for myself and friends and I make a tomato soup/sauce which I keep in the freezer to add to meals. My youngest won't eat cooked peas or carrot but loves peas straight from the bush and raw carrots (turns her into supergirl, as she says).

Sugar Snap, I was quite excited when I first realised bandicoots were visiting until they uprooted strawberries, corn, tomatoes and watermelon :(

Also bandicoots are the main carrier of the paralysis tick. I have a 4 month old pup which has recently recovered from tick paralysis. He hadn't been out of the houseyard for a fortnight and has daily tick checks and had regular tick rinses but I missed a tick deep in his ear. Normally I use frontline but I had run out of it and as I was selling him I hadn't bothered to buy more. The frontline I use on his parents is a larger size so couldn't use it on him. At least now that he is fully recovered, I can try selling him again.

I've just come off the phone negotiating the handover of seedlings. People are keen to try all these tomatoes. Even green ones. It's amazing! I may have to insist on visiting rights. :)