Arthur's Big Greek Tomato - Oct 13, 2016
Dear Gardening Friends,
A few years ago I noticed an enormous tomato sitting on the counter at my local cafe. It was the size of my hand and it must have weighed over a kilo.
It was an unusual shape too, so I inquired about its origin. It had been given to Carl by Arthur, from Kings Charcoal Chicken in Queen Street.
I asked Carl if I could have a few seeds from the tomato and because he's Lebanese he decided I should take the whole tomato. Lebanese people are very kind. I took the tomato home, removed the few seeds it contained and then ate the most magnificent tasting tomato ever!!!!
The next time I went into Kings Charcoal Chicken in Queen St Campbelltown the family attacked me for stealing Arthur's Giant Tomato. Carl had white anted me and told Arthur that I stole it!!! After much discussion I was able to convince them that Carl had actually given me the tomato and perhaps I could grow Arthur's Tomato and raise some money for a charity.
It turns out that Arthur's Family has been growing this enormous tomato on his families farm in Petri Greece for generations and when Arthur migrated to Australia 30 years ago he brought a few seeds with him.
We have been growing Arthur's Big Greek Tomato for a few years and we have raised about $3,000 for The African AIDS Foundation in Camden. Seedlings cost just $4.50 and all this money gets donated to AAF.
The fruit are enormous and they need to be picked just as they turn yellowish and then brought inside to ripen so you avoid fruit fly damage. We now have Greek Gardeners coming from all over Sydney to get Arthur's Famous Tomato. We have people who just think they are Greek too.
It hasn't rained for a few weeks now so your garden will be drying out. Your outdoor pot plants will need to be watered almost daily. Citrus trees have burst into bloom and if you don't water them now then the flowers will just drop off and you will get no fruit. Citrus trees need at least a bucket of water twice a week to have success. Potted trees need almost daily watering.
If you have a sprinkler get it out and start watering your lawn. Grass grows better if you water it, and you will get less weeds. If you let the soil dry out it is very hard to get it wet again.
We have so much colour here at the nursery. All our rose bushes are in bloom and Raspberry Blast Petunias have arrived. This ground cover petunia is more like a ground cover and it's perfect for pots, gardens and hanging baskets.
Each plants can grow up to one metre across. The Raspberry pink stripped flowers bloom non stop until late autumn. It's a winner.
Look for a new variety called Petunia Night Sky .
This variety has blue/purple flowers splashed with white. It looks amazing.
If it's as good as Raspberry Blast we will be happy.
Pig won Bathurst driving an old VW with no steering wheel on Sunday. He couldn't go over 80 due to P plate driving restrictions but with no steering wheel he was able to take a few short cuts.
I hope you can find your way to our garden centre for some plant therapy this weekend.
Happy Gardening
Tim