When the weather turned steamy I started spending as little time outside as possible. Even though the plant was in a bucket right next to the compost pile I barely glanced at it as I dumped the food scraps and scurried back inside. At the beginning of August I noticed the plant had grown tall enough to lean on the pots hanging on a nearby shepherd's hook. By that time, though, it was so entwined with the hanging plants I decided to leave it.
The beginning of September was so cool I thought about pulling out the plant. After I harvested the first tomato of the season, thought, I decided to leave it in place. Then the weather got hot again, and the plant went into overdrive; it's now it's the monster of all tomato plants! The stems that were leaning on the shepherd's hook are now poking though the deck rails onto the steps, and others are sprawled out on the ground, making it hard to walk in the area.
The plant is big, but I'm not complaining since I've been harvesting a ripe grape tomato or two every day for the past week. I know that as soon as the weather cools off production will drop off to almost nothing.
Five years ago today: Music, Music, Music
You are inspiring me to try the s next year!
ReplyDeleteTo try this next year is what I meant to say
DeleteOh, you definitely should! Nothing is better tasting than a tomato straight from the vine.
DeleteTomatoes like hot, dry conditions. You just finally got the right weather for it to flourish. The San Joaquin Valley is famous for the canning tomatoes grown here. Miles and miles of fields on the westside keep many canneries operating. Our highways are slick with tomato juice during the summer months when the fruit is harvested.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, it was overly hot in the middle of the summer; not conducive for tomato growing at all. That's probably why the plant lagged. Very interesting about the canneries.
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