TOMATOES & WEATHER

The wintry weather is continuing with rain most of the day and a temperature which, apparently, reached 23 degrees although it didn't feel like it.  Luckily it was fine early this morning for our weekly visit to the Growers Market, then walking Sophie and doing our weekly supermarket shop.  I did an early wash but no sooner had I put it out than the rain started and eventually I brought it in, put it in the washing machine to spin dry and put it back out under cover.

But to the tomatoes.  We have our fingers crossed and Doug does a regular copper spray and so far they are doing really well.  Last year I froze a lot by just removing the core, cutting them in half and bagging in bags that took roughly the same size as a tin of tomatoes.  I was really pleased with the result which I used in mince and casseroles so I am doing the same again this year.  We have been picking mainly Russian Red but yesterday picked our first Black Krim.

The Russian Red are doing well.  It is like that right along the row.

The Black Krim alongside the Russian Red.  We ate it last night and it was delicious.  I picked another couple today.

In Nelson at the top of the South Island they have major fires.  Apparently it all started with a spark from some farm machinery.

• Pigeon Valley fire continued to "burn actively overnight" as it heads into its fifth day.
• The blaze covers 2100ha with a perimeter of 27km.
• About 100 personnel fought the fire overnight.
• About 1000 houses and 3500 people had been evacuated.
• With 22 helicopters battling the blazes, it is the largest aerial firefight on record.
• It is also the largest forest fire since a blaze in Canterbury in 1955.

With winds of 50km/h forecast in Nelson tomorrow, concerns are the conditions could fan the flames of the massive Pigeon Valley fire and prevent helicopters from flying.

Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence management controller Roger Ball said anything over 20 or 30km/h winds was pushing the fire over the control line.

Helicopters could fly in conditions of up to 50km/h winds, but they had to stop for safety reasons in winds above that, he said.

A declaration of emergency remained in place in Nelson today.

Ball told a press conference this afternoon that the situation remained "dynamic" with a risk to life, animals and property.

He said the focus remained in the area of Wai-iti, close to the township of Wakefield.

Police Acting District Commander Zane Hooper advised Wai-iti residents to prepare to evacuate.