Used the last of the tomatoes yesterday on four pints of salsa. I’m sad to see tomato season end, but I’m also glad the work is over. I’ve had about enough.
I used heirloom tomato plants this year as an experiment after hearing rave reviews from serious organic gardeners.
I have to admit, I’m disappointed with the season. There were plenty of green ones, but most never ripened. More than half of them rotted due to more than one problem, including blossom end rot and some other weirdness that ate big holes into about half the fruit. I never got enough at one time to can diced tomatoes.
I think I’m going back to hybrids next year. I missed having the meaty romas and the resilience of the big boys, etc. Apparently heirlooms need more attention than I can give them.
However, the salsa I did get to make is great, thanks to Mrs. Wages salsa mix. I wrote about it last canning season. It’s great stuff. According to the Mrs. Wages web site you can find the company’s mixes at Giant Eagle, Wal-Mart, Wegmans and Shur-Fine. I buy it in cases at www.mrswages.com.
I like to add a diced green pepper, a cup of corn kernels and a 14-ounce can of black beans to each batch.