Tomatoes as far as the eye can see: Marianne Penger from Nandlstadt has grown 32 different varieties in her garden.
The reason: "We just like to eat them," she says.
Nandlstadt
– In Marianne Penger's huge garden in Nandlstadt there is actually everything your heart desires: strawberries, beans, raspberries, carrots and much more.
However, what Penger is known for throughout the town are tomatoes – tomatoes as far as the eye can see.
A total of 32 varieties grow in her garden, from very small to very large.
The answer to why she loves growing tomatoes is simple: "We just love to eat them!"
So that Marianne Penger can keep track of the 2022 season, she has again neatly entered this year's varieties on a list.
"Banana yellow", "Beauty Queen", "Big Rainbow" or "Black Krim" are exotic names for some of the nightshade plants that feel right at home on their property.
For around 30 years she has had a passion for tomatoes of all sizes and colors simply because the family likes to eat the fruit.
"We have tomatoes every day," said Marianna Penger, who also revealed her personal favorite recipe: "Preferably fresh, with a little onion and garlic and a piece of bread and butter - done!"
However, since the amount harvested during the ripening period is enormous - around 15 kilos per week - not everything can be eaten away.
"I like to make ketchup out of it, or tomato sauce or tomato soup," says the 70-year-old with the green thumb.
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Marianne Penger is a passionate hobby gardener.
© Lorenz
What she would also like to try this year: "Dry tomatoes so that you can eat them in winter." Because one thing is unthinkable for her: buying tomatoes in the supermarket in winter.
"They don't taste like anything, I don't need that." In general, her motto when it comes to food is relatively simple: Better less, just better quality.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.
In mid-February, the Penger family starts with the tomatoes, because then tomatoes are planted, of course in the house, and tended to and cared for.
Although she currently has "only" one plant of each variety in the garden or greenhouse, she certainly plants significantly more, namely around 120 tomato plants.
"I give a lot away, some just don't turn out well," explains Marianne Penger.
In mid-May we'll go outdoors - and there's work to be done there, too.
In the greenhouse behind the house, Marianne Penger also refines some varieties every year.
"I buy the seeds together, I also do a lot of research on the Internet," says the hobby gardener, for whom her large tomato cultivation "is quite a lot of work", but it is always a lot of fun.
But why do Marianne Penger's tomatoes actually grow so well?
The native of Nandlstadt reveals a secret: “I always fertilize my tomatoes with chicken manure!” 15 chickens and Ferdinand the rooster, who can watch the tomatoes grow from the open-air enclosure, ensure that she gets it fresh.
What surprises Marianne Penger herself: "I'm actually a bad caster, sometimes too much, sometimes not enough - and yet everything grows here."
Everything also grows on another plot of land in Haslach, where the "rougher" things tend to thrive, such as potatoes and pumpkins.
"We could even provide for ourselves with that, but that's not why we do it at all - it's just because it makes us happy," says Marianne Penger about her great passion.
Of course, her grandchildren Luise (6 years old), Charlotte (9), Flora (3) and Ferdinand (6), who help with the daily tomato harvest, are also enthusiastic about such a grandmother.
Richard Lorenz
You can find more current news from the district of Freising at Merkur.de/Freising.
