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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000 THE NEW TANNER Q Once you have experienced the mouthwatering fla- vour of homegrown tomatoes, it's easy to under- stand why they are so immensely popular. Tips on How to Grow Great-Tasting Tomatoes There is nothing better than a tomato that has been allowed to fully ripen on the plant. In fact, tomatoes are the No. 1 home garden vegetable. Growing a great one, how- ever, takes some skill. Whether you're growing the smallest cherry varieties or a 2-pound-plus giant, with a lit- tle know-how, you can har- vest rich, delicious tomatoes of every description from early summer to first frost. For 124 years, breeders at W. Atlee Burpee & Co. have introduced hundreds of toma- toes for different uses and tastes. Here are some tips from Burpee that will help you get a great start on an excel- lent crop this year. * What types to choose - There's no need to limit the number of tomato types you choose when planning a home garden. There are the early varieties, which are vig- orous growers that yield fruit much sooner than others. In terms of size, tomatoes can range from the cherry toma- toes, ideal for salads and snacking, to the giants, with old-fashioned beefsteak fla- vour. The great-producing varieties can promise heavy yields of large fruits. Saladette tomatoes are great in salads and sauces, while paste tomatoes are best for cooking. Winter-storage va- rieties last longer off the vine without refrigeration. With planning, you can enjoy homegrown tomatoes all sea- son long. * When to sow and trans- plant - You can sow tomato seeds directly in your garden after the final frost. However, to get an early start and a sea- son-long harvest, start your seeds indoors six to eight plants with stakes, cages or trellises. This not only keeps the tomatoes off the ground, italso improves air circulation so you will have larger. cleaner, more perfect fruits. * When to harvest - To get the wonderful flavour that only homegrown tomatoes can produce, leave tomatoes on the plant until they ripen to their fullest. Once you pick a tomato, it stops developing flavour. The longer the to- mato is on the plant, the more time it has to develop the natu- ral sugars that make it sweet. Red-fruited varieties are ready when they are a full, deep red. Yellow and orange-fmited to- matoes are ripe when their colour is well developed. Winter-storage tomatoes, like the Red October, can keep three to four weeks longer than other varieties. To learn more about to- mato varieties and care, visit Burpee online at www.burpee.com or call (800) 888-1447. And when all the gardening's done... Enjoy Garden-Fresh Vegetables All Year Long You love to garden, and spend hours outdoors loy- ingly caring for your fragrant flowers, gorgeous green shrubs and vibrant vegeta- bles. After months of hard work, you reap the rewards - the seeds that you toiled over have become beautiful blos- soming flora. Your garden is abloom with sweet-smelling flowers anda sea of green plants, trees and bushes. You also have plenty of fresh, home-grown vegeta- bles that are ready to be eaten. One problem though - you've planted so many vegetables that you have no idea where to store them. What should you do? Try freezing them so you can enjoy the taste of home-grown vegetables throughout the fall and win- ter months. Following are some simple guidelines for freezing a vari- ety of vegetables commonly grown in home gardens, cour- tesy of GardenGuides - a grow- ing resource for gardeners (www. gardenguides.com). Asparagus - Wash and re- move woody portions and scales of spears. Cut into 6- inch lengths and blanch in boiling water for three min- utes. Cool in iced water for three minutes. Drain, Place on trays in a single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack into suitable containers, seal and label. It keeps for up to six months. Beets - Only freeze young tender beets, no more than 2 inches to 3 inches across. Cook until tender and slice. Cool and transfer to plastic containers. Label. Freeze for up to six months. Carrots - Wash and scrub carrots, and cut large carrots 2 je * DIGIROLAMO'S *¢% * GREENHOUSES % Growers of Fine Quality Perennials, Annuals and Herbs LARGE SELECTION FOR VICTORIA WEEKEND 8890 Eighth Line R.R. #2 into pieces. Blanch for three minutes in boiling water, Chill in iced water for three min- utes, Drain. Spread on a tray ina single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack in freezer bags, remove air, label and seal. It keeps for up to six months. Cucumbers - Peel and chop in a food processor. Pack into plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Label and freeze. It keeps for up to six months. Eggplant - Cut into slices, sprinkle with salt and allow to stand for 30 minutes. Drain off excess liquid, and fry gently in butter or margarine until Just tender. Cool and pack into plastic containers. Seal and label. It keeps for up to three months. Ginger - Separate ginger into conyenient-sized knobs. ~ Place in freezer bags: Remove excess air from bags, seal and label. Freeze for up to six months. Peppers - Wash, remove seeds, and cut into slices or leave whole. Place on a tray ina single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack in freezer bags, remove air, label and seal. Freeze for up to six months. Squash - Peel and cook in boiling salted water until ten- der. Mash, cool and pack into, freezer containers leaving room for expansion. Seal and label. Freeze for up to three months, Sweet potatoes - Peel and cut into pieces. Blanch for three minutes in boiling wa- ter, chill in iced water for three minutes. Drain and place ona tray in a single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to freezer bags, remove air, label- and seal. It will keep for six months. Tomatoes - Wash, remove stems, cut into halves or quar- ters, or leave whole. Dry and pack into freezer bags. Re- move air, label and seal. It will keep for six months. * Dip into boiling water for one minute. Remove and peel. Place on a tray and freeze for 30 minutes. Place in plastic bags, remove air, seal and la- bel. It keeps for up to six months. * Simmer chopped toma- toes in a pan for five minutes or until soft. Push through a sieve or food mill to remove skins and seeds. Cool and pack in plastic containers, leaving head space. It keeps for six months. Turnips - Peel and trim young, tender turnips. Cut to Tequired size and blanch for three minutes. Chill in iced water for three minutes. Drain and place on a tray in asingle ~ layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to freezer bags, re- move air, label and seal. It will keep for six months. Zacchini -Slice into I-inch pieces without peeling, Saute gently ina little melted butter until barely tender. Cool, pack into plastic containers leav- ing head space at the top. Freeze for up to three months. SOD FOR PICK-UP MAY ONLY ~ ORDER NOW | HALTON SOD 905-878-1011 '\-- SOD LAYING SERVICE AVAILABLE -- : The Home Store offers a wide variety of unique products and ideas for your home. Created by Peter Zions Construction Ltd. to provide items and information to inspire you to create the home project of your dreams. Already decided to build or renovate? Stop in to our Home Store to learn how our services and different products can make your dream a reality. Experts are always on hand to give you helpful information and advice. We at Peter Zions Construction Ltd. offer complete residential services from Start to finish. No job is too small and we would gladly quote on any of your projects. For a convenient no cost Garden Sheds, Gazebos & Pools wecks before planting. After estimate, call or drop in at our Cabanas Now Available they are well rooted. plant them outdoors. spaced 30 GEORGETOWN Home Store. We are open to the public. Supply or Supply & Install Save 5% on Orders Placed in May inches apart. For lusher plants and healthier fruits, Burpee recommends using a plant food with calcium. Calcium helps maintain the flow of water through the plant into the fruit so that during rapid growth periods. the tomatoes will have adequate fluids and wont rot. * How to support - Burpee recommends supporting your HWY #7. @ ACTON GEORGETOWN * = A Division of... 2 Peter Zions Construction Lid. TRAFALGAR 8th LINE SSIDE RD. STEELES