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This is a pint & a half of stewed tomatoes that I grew last Summer on our homestead.

Opalka to be exact. From Poland, matures mid season (allows time to can up strawberries, spinach, and finish processing rabbits) , good size some up to 8-10 oz. and has a high yield. Very important when your farm is based on square foot/intensive method. The deciding factor will be canned taste.

The reference book is, 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden, by Carolyn J. Male.

The pictures alone are better than Prozac on a dreary winter's day.

My goal is to grow & can enough tomatoes for our menu of Chili, Puerto Rican Rice, and Spaghetti Sauce for one year. Ruff estimate is about 100 quarts for stewed style & 40 quarts of sauce.

The one plant that I grew produced over 5 lbs. which figures out to needing about 30 plants.

I feel a challenge gnawing at me. Will have to kick it up to 10 lbs. per plant. Better make it 15 lbs. per tom. Competitive gardening for type A personalities.

Summer menu tends to be fresh picked salads & grilled meats so those goals are for the rest of the year. Family of 4 -5.

Oh on the canning jar measuring out to a pint & a half ... the person who gave the handful that I have remembers these jars were bought with sauce in them. Marked Atlas Mason.

Wish I knew more love the size.

~~ pelenaka ~~