Raised Bed Heirloom Tomatoes

This year we decided to try our hands at raising tomatoes from seed.  All went well for the first several weeks, and then, boom, they pretty much all died.  It was probably from lack of attention, due to our being too busy, however, we struck gold at the Watauga Farmers Market this past saturday, when we found a stall full of heirloom tomatoes!  Pictured are the following varietals; Cherokee Purple, Mr. Green Stripey, Mountain Gold, and Marlbarg tomatoes.  We did have success, well, so far, with 5 German Riesentraub miniature tomatoes, which are in the square foot garden, not pictured here.  After the tomatoes are about 2 feet tall, we'll install bamboo teepees around each one.

Two years ago, using this same raised bed, we harvested more tomatoes than we could use, giving bags away to friends and family.  We also dehydrate the tomatoes, and this year, we intend to make pasta sauce, which we'll can for the first time.  As soon as the greenhouse is up and running, more tomatoes from seed are on the way.