All my friends are jealous this week because I just pulled my first large tomatoes. 
In Wake County (NC) big, homegrown tomatoes usually ripen by July 4th, but the weather this year….enough said.
Still my little victory doesn’t mean I’m a better gardener than my friends. I just have an Early Girl plant.
Ok, I was pretty smart this year. I planted seed for EARLY, MID-SEASON, and LATE tomatoes. Now my planning is paying off.
Early Girl matures in about 55 days and while it doesn’t have the juicy sweetness or size of an August tomato, it’s very, very good. 
There’s nothing like homegrown, is there?
Fresh tomatoes are the centerpiece of many summer meals in our house. Here’s one of the favorites: Caprese Salad made with homegrown tomatoes, basil, local garlic; plus buffalo mozzarella, and lots of good olive oil from my favorite Italian Market, Capri Flavors. Check them out, especially if you need oil for roasting vegetables. www.capriflavors.com The house brand, Titina’s Extra Virgin is a bargain. 
So what are you eating from the garden this week?
You Should Grow That! 
4 comments
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July 5, 2013 at 11:46 am
Marian St.Clair
Are you growing the basil too? Your prepared dish looks wonderful. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough sun to cultivate tomatoes or basil, but luckily we have a Saturday market that provides all I need. Not as much fun, I know, but possibly cheaper in the long run!
July 6, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Arthur in the Garden!
Wonderful!
July 7, 2013 at 3:49 pm
growthat1
I am growing the basil, too, Marian. Like you, I garden in woods. Tomatoes, basil, peppers and eggplants get the sunniest spot on the property–my side of the driveway. I use large pots and earthboxes. It does take a lot of water but I have a 500 gallon rain barrel near by.
Also like you, I love my trips to market. It’s wonderful how really cool little farmers markets with organic produce, cheeses and meats are springing up everywhere! There’s even a mobile market in a trailer (Lo-Mo Market) that makes regular stops at my gym on Wednesday mornings all year long. Just because of that, we are eating a lot more vegetables at our house.
Christine
July 9, 2013 at 10:59 pm
K. Melissa Kennedy
I finally got my first big one…Woot!