Our tomatoes have gone a bit nutty. The tomato garden looks like a jungle. This is what happens when a) you don't snip off the tomato suckers, and b) you don't stake, cage or otherwise support your tomato plants while they are young. Some years we have it together, other years not so much. This is an especially not so much year. Greg and I would plan to get the cages out and then we would forget. One time we got some cages out around some plants, and then became distracted by some appointment or other or a squabble or someone hurting a toe. I can't remember what happened. You can see the results. When looking at the plants this way, I am reminded that tomatoes really are a vine and they will creep and crawl wherever they can unless one takes measures.
This plant in the middle is one tomato plant. It's a Red Siberian that we grew from Landreth seeds. This type of tomato is supposed to withstand cooler temperatures which we have had in the past. It's been warm very hot lately so I don't know how they will fare.
Finally, we took measures. We managed to purchase some more cages and get them around the plants that had gone without. We have found that the mighty 'tomato tower' works well for us because we usually don't get around to trimming the suckers and consequently the plants grow tall and wide. Also, instead of having to lower the cage over the plants, this design allows us to 'wrap' the support around the tomato plant. The only thing about the towers is that they get all kinds of tangled together during the winter season. The hooks that attach the sides to each other seem to move by themselves somehow. It is worth the five minutes or so it takes to untangle them as the tomato plants are supported very well as the fruit gets heavier and heavier.
Of course the kiddos got into the action. Well, mostly Elijah did. Doran played; Eden tried to pick tomatoes and Helena ran circles around us. The towers were as tall as Elijah, but he was determined to get them around the tomatoes and into the ground. He did not want any assistance. None. I finally stepped in when I thought he would lose an eye on one of those hooks. After we got the tomatoes safely caged, it was time for some relaxation. What better way to relax than to adorn oneself with flowers. I truly get a kick watching these children execute their ideas.
Those towers are huge and unwieldy! Elijah was doing his best to maneuver them. On a side note, the silly band is courtesy of their doctor. Despite their requests for them, we had escaped the bands until now. Maybe the fad will be over by the time they have their next appointment. ;-)
Eden is not really loving the flower accessory, no matter how lovingly given.
Having been rejected by Eden, the flower moves on to Elijah.
I have actually been planning our fall garden. In the midst of planning though, my thoughts have actually jumped ahead to next Spring. Next year, I have pledged to pull off at least a few tomato suckers, plant even more tomatoes, and cage those babies early! Is anyone else already making plans for next year's spring and summer gardens? Have you committed a gardening sin this season?
And the flower makes its final stop here.
