Some people say that tomatoes are choosy, delicate plants requiring only the best in soils, nutrients, and growing conditions. Rogue tomato would beg to differ. You talkin’ to me? Rogue tomato sprouted from the seed of a fruit left to fall and sit on the ground through the winter because it was too gross to … Read more
Once upon a time, I planted a tomato upside-down. It was not pleased. There was denial, there was determination; there was even a victory of sorts. But there wasn’t a whole lot of actual tomatoes. Things are a little different now. I wasn’t sure that this side of the bay, with its fog exposure, was going … Read more
There is exactly one fully ripe fruit on this plant. Can you spot it?
Looks like I’m going to have some cherry tomatoes after all. More than a few, actually. I admit, they have a ways to go. And could probably use some warm weather. But I feel like this is a good start. I probably should have gotten around to staking them, though.
It’s been a rough spring here in Patioland. Aside from the unseasonable cold and wet weather, to which we Californians have been responding with our usual sangfroid*, there is the very real possibility that I made a mistake by reusing the soil from last year’s herbs, which may be infested with Herb Funk or something. … Read more
Sometimes you want to stretch yourself; find a way of doing something that by rights you shouldn’t be able to do. And sometimes you just need to accept who you are, and where you are, and buy a patio tomato. Granted, this is about as far from an heirloom variety as I’m going to get– … Read more
That’s right everyone, we’re back, and tomatoer than ever. Actually, that’s not true. My patio-gardening plans are much more modest this year, as evidence by the fact that I didn’t start any seedlings at all. I wasn’t actually sure that I was going to grow any heirlooms, but my coworker Jenn, who I had given … Read more
One thing about growing tomatoes; at some point you’re going to get to eat them. Even, apparently, if you make as many mistakes as I have. Which is a comfort, really. It gives me hope that even at my core level of competency I can grow food that I can eat. Given, of course, easy … Read more
Could it be? Just when I was resigning myself to a reasonable-if-unspectacular crop of tomatoes as the end of all my work and worry, I go out and discover that several of the plants have sprouted new, um, sprouts. With flowers! And green leaves! The rest of the plants have been looking kind of gray … Read more
You arrive at work to mysterious baggie full of home-grown agricultural product sitting on your desk. There is no note and nothing in your email to indicate where it came from. What do you do? Well, you eat the tomatoes. Obviously. And then you go and find Joanna and thank her, because you can’t think … Read more