TOMATO UPDATE II

TOMATO UPDATE II

There is something fulfilling about this tomato growing thing.  It is kind of life affirming not too dissimilar from having a baby.  When we left for the Jersey Shore last month I feared for the life of my plants.  I asked my next door neighbor, the one with a car in the driveway with two flat tires for the last three years and to whom I seldom say more than “Hey how ya doin,” if he would water the plants every day.

Darnell, my neighbor, did in fact keep the plants alive, he will be rewarded with a nice tomato.

I have two plants, Topsey which is growing upside down, and Groundy who was planted in a more traditional manner.  Topsey is not growing as large as Groundy and does not look as robust, but Topsey has 11 very nice looking tomatoes ripening on its vine.  Groundy has flowers all over the place, but so far I only see two small tomatoes and two teeny tomatoes.

Topsey

Four of 11 nice Topsey tomatoes

A more robust Groundy...Topsey in background

Tiny Groundy tomatoes

At this rate given my expenses so far, my tomato crop is going to cost me about $3.50 a tomato…$4 if you factor in the tomato I owe Darnell.

In addition to the expense, effort and worry over my vegetable babies, I have discovered there is something on the vine that I am allergic to.  Whenever I check for new fruit and touch the vine in any way, I come down with a two-hour sneezing fit.

Expense and allergy be damned, there is just something about getting your hands in the soil, watering, feeding, pruning and protecting your own plants, that makes reaping any crop seem worthwhile. 

AFTER THOUGHT:

I just Googled to figure why I don't get more tomatoes from Groundy. Turns out she did not start to flower until the start of hot, humid, windless weather and this is a pollination issue.  Seems you have to jiggle or vibrate the vine to assist in the pollination.  

I wonder if next year, along with watering while we are away if Darnell will also jerk-off my tomato vine.