TOMATOES - SUMMER SERIES
What summer series would be complete without tomatoes? What can I say? Maybe it’s because, in the words of Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias, I am “an old Southern woman…”
MY TOMATO STORY
“Because I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny-looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me those questions. I don’t know why. I don’t make the rules!”
In 2009, we moved to a home with a lot of trees in the yard. I loved those trees so that shade did not stop me one bit. I had to have a garden with raised beds. It was a lovely plan. I located the only spot where I could look up and see the sky above (i.e., no trees). Perfect.
Next, I downloaded a list of the supplies I needed and the instructions to create the raised beds. I was sure this new garden would bring gardening joy. Well, for whatever reason, my plan for the original garden site was “moved” to the other side of the yard. When I surveyed the new location, there were many tree limbs above the garden site, but the garden was relocated and that was that. I struggled and thought my sheer determination would produce - well, produce.
I gathered heirloom plants and filled the garden beds with new soil, I planted, watered, and waited. My little garden struggled too. Until one day, there was FINALLY one, lovely, green, tomato. I checked on this sole tomato more than I should each day. Then, one day, I looked out the window because a squirrel was running down the length of our fence with what looked like a green tennis ball in its mouth. It was such a strange sight. Every few feet it would stop to better secure the orb in its mouth. As it got closer, I was able to see that what looked like a tennis ball was actually my perfect tomato.
That one tomato was the only thing that garden produced - ever. In the entire 11 years I lived there, nothing ever came from that garden… except what I refer to as my $50 tomato.
THE UPDATED TOMATO STORY
Tomato Crop 2021. © 2021 SuZan Alexander. Digital Photography
Now that we are in Montana, we planted a few vegetable plants in a few of the prepared garden beds. I’m happy to report that a few tomatoes have made it. We have to harvest them and sit them on the windowsill to ripen because apparently, we have visitors during the night who enjoy the fruits of our labor.
The stripped plants are evidence of the buffet that has happened just off the side of the deck. Every time I see the half-eaten tomato (and other detritus) left behind, I’m reminded of the tour of a Native American cliff dwelling I once took. The indigenous inhabitants of the cliff dwellings were known for their agriculture skills rather than their skills as warriors. Consequently, they were regularly invaded. Our tour guide shared that their tribe had a saying about planting enough for themselves AND the warriors of the other tribe too.
At the time, I laughed and thought that was clever. Now, I’m thinking that is sage advice. Next year, maybe we will plant extra for our hungry visitors.
Your Turn
So, tell me. Do you have a summer garden tip, trick, or story?
