Garden Detective: Tomato growers report progress
Theresa Lawrence of Farmingdale started tomato seeds on her windowsill in March. Credit: Handout
Who's growing tomatoes? Funny you should ask, because readers all over Long Island are fertilizing, watering, tying and staking, and -- finally -- harvesting the ripe, red, plump, juicy fruits of their labors.
With The Great Long Island Tomato Challenge less than three weeks away, let's check in with some of the contestants.
"I don't want to divulge my 'trade secrets,' " he said coyly. "The nutrients given are all organic, and I have even added some Town of Islip compost that's provided free by the town."
Schlesinger added he hopes to be "carrying a tomato of hefty weight, worthy of royalty" when he attends the Challenge at the end of this month.
Return challenger Patrick Dean of West Islip isn't taking any chances: If these cages won't adequately protect his Great White tomatoes, his guard dog dachshund will! Dean said he got a "late start due to weather this year, but it's OK, as they hit 5 feet tall." Last month, he reported spotting 60 tomatoes on the plants.
Are you in? This year's contest will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Newsday headquarters (235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville). To participate, bring your biggest, heaviest ripe fruit to the event. I'll be on hand to weigh your tomatoes personally and crown the 2013 Tomato King or Queen. In the meantime, send a photo of yourself with your tomato plants, along with details about your growing strategy, to jessica.damiano@newsday.com, and you might be featured next.
