One Tiny Summer
See that tomato? It’s our one and only tomato. Oh, we’ll have more later (with some 12 tomato plants in the yard, we’d better!) but right now, this is it. Our August bounty.
Hey! I think we just saved fifty cents on our grocery bill!
We really do have a great yard for gardening — good soil and decent light when the pruning gets done — it’s just that this year (The Interminable Year of Reclaiming our Lives as I’ve been tempted to call it) we kinda forgot about Summer.
Seriously. It was April and we were talking about getting some plants into the garden as soon as we could find a spare moment. Then somewhere in June we found one day to till a bit of soil and drop in a few assorted tomatoes, chiles, and herbs. Then, next thing you know, it’s August and the damn plants are just sitting out there in the jungle — barely growing — in this absurd late summer weather of sun one day and rain the next.
So now we’re crossing our fingers for a summery September, or if not for that, then at least for a harvest that doesn’t involve heavy rain and an onslaught of tomato blight.
Meantime, I’ve made a note in the Reclaiming our Lives mental file: Please try not to be completely busy and broke next planting season, and for the love of all that’s photosynthetic, remember: even if you’ve got just five spare minutes three times a week, pruning shears and chain saws are your friends!
(WHAT’S NEXT: Ahriman and Port will be hosting Weekend Cat Blogging on August 25th & 26th. Look for a Friday afternoon post where you can add your kitty links in the comments. The round-up will begin on Saturday and be updated in fits and starts over the weekend.)
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:06 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I set out our tomato plants earlier than just about anyone (there was a frost afterwards, if I remember), and we’ve gotten a total of four ripe tomatoes so far….on SIX plants. Yeesh. Not enough sun this summer at all. But our pole beans are going completely crazy and we’re picking those every day. Try some beans - they’re low maintenance and pretty, too.
August 24th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Hi, sorry to leave this here (I couldn’t find an email address for you!) but I have to go to work all day today so I wanted to get Puddy’s WCB entry in sooner than later! Here is our linkie, there’s a guessing game this weekend - when did Katie sustain her injury? :D
http://www.byootaful.com/?p=1072
Thanks for hosting, looking forward to the round-up!
Katie and Puddy
August 24th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Come see the little Ohio kitten who got to go home.
http://kitikata.blogspot.com
Thank you for hosting Ahriman and Port. You two are so cute, sweet and lucky to be at such a great home!
August 24th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Kathy, it’s all about the timing, isn’t it? But, hey… trade ya pole beans for grapes!
Hey Katie, no worries putting your WCB link here! Sorry about the flesh wound. I’ve no experience with cat harnesses, but I will say that I don’t think I’ve ever made it through a cat bath unscathed. I’m not sure if that’s even possible.
Ah, Kitikata-san beat me to the posting punch as well — and with a cute little baby kitty!
August 25th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I too have had terrible luck with tomatoes this year. First, there are the groundhogs. I love critters but these rascals seem rather difficult to keep away from my vegetables. I’ve the garden, fenced the base of the fence, place rocks and did it, they’ve learned to climb the fence.
So about 2 weeks ago I planted a bush tomato plant in my flower bed in the front yard. So far so good, and I keep my fingers crossed.
Matt - The co-keeper of two feral kitties, Buddy and Baby, that happened by 3 years ago about this time of year. Now, living in our spare bedroom and not eating grasshoppers anymore.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:31 am
Well, you are quite lucky, at least you got some tomatoes. Our plants almost all died this year, because of the heavy rains round here, and in spite of all the pruning, and care, etc. Depressing.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Matt: groundhogs! Argh! They’re such pests, but so cute in that silly large-rodent way. Good luck with the bush tomato in front!
Hi Gracianne, wow, that’s awful. Your part of the world really deserves a respite from all this miserable, soggy weather.
September 6th, 2007 at 5:13 am
I’m having the same damned miserable tomato summer! We put down ten plants late May, and the total payoff has been:
-4 grape tomatoes
-1 small brandywine
There are two green tomatoes sitting on a stalk that petulantly refuses to grow bigger or ripen.
Meanwhile, my friend’s garden is so prolific he can’t pick it fast enough!
September 12th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
S’kat, I’ve been hearing much the same thing around here: Most people I know have had horrible luck for tomatoes all summer, but every so often one person shows up with a bounty. It’s as if the lucky few picked the one right day to plant this season, and the rest of us are SOL.