Well it's been a while since I have told you about my garden. Let's just say that I am currently in control of the national tomato market. I didn't do this on purpose. In fact I can blame the rabbits for this situation too.
You may recall I previously wrote that I planted about 25 tomato plants in May. I planted them far too close together at maybe a foot apart. They were so tiny I couldn't believe they would need more room than that and they didn't since they were all eaten by the hares, or so I thought.
After this mass destruction I planted maybe another 20 plants and again planted them about a foot apart. Things were going well for a while after I put the wire fence around my plants. The rabbits couldn't get at them and there was plenty of rain and hot days to get the plants on a roll.
It was about Mid-July that it became apparent the rabbits didn't get all of the plants as I had assumed. I also didn't know that a tomato plant is a tough little thing that will grow even after having almost all of it put in the belly of a rabbit.
A florist friend explained that you can just cut the top off a tomato plant, stick it in the ground and often it will grow roots quickly and become another tomato plant. Now someone tell me this.
As the days went by, I watched as my now very large plants were getting pushed around by a group of other very large tomato plants that I had given up on as goners. There were now grape tomatoes intertwined with cherry tomatoes laying on top of Big Boys tomatoes in such a mess that even my wife gave up on trying to untangle them.
As I looked at them I thought that they looked like my extension cords, which after one use, are nothing more than a hornet's nest of knots and tangles.
I have created such a mass thicket of tomato plants that the U.S. Army has been in my back yard making observations and writing a study of my garden. Since it has become impossible to get through this area, the armed forces are thinking that tomato plants might be an alternative method to keeping enemy forces out of the perimeter than the more expensive barbed wire.
It might be true. I am picking tomato after tomato that is perfect with absolutely no bug bites or chew marks or nasty worms inside of them although I have used nothing on them to prevent these critters from chowing down on my plants. In a way maybe the bugs are afraid of the thicket too. Perhaps they have spread the word to all their insect friends not to go into the tomatoes because it's impossible to find your way back out.
It certainly isn't because I have poured bug killer all over the plants. All my plants are 100% organic which is a great word since it means I didn't do any work or spend any money on them for sprays. In fact I am using the word organic often these days. When asked if I am going to paint the bedroom or fix the porch I explain that I prefer they be organically worked which means I haven't done either chore.
I also have a new fun hobby which I prefer to consider a sport. It is called "Find the ripe tomatoes" and it takes time and skill to master. The plants are so thick that you have to move branches around and look from various angles or you will easily miss a batch of ready to eat "maters". Of course when you find one or a batch, you then have to figure out how to get at them to pick them off the plant. Sometimes getting your hand back out without dropping the tomato is tough. But I seem to have an acquired skill which no doubt will lead to several books explaining the best methods to use after this sport catches on.
I'm not sure how many tomatoes I will now end up with but I have been contacted by Hunts to cut a deal on supplying three of their catsup plants. I am also looking into getting government money next year on a set-aside program. I like the idea of getting some organic cash.
Freelance writer, columnist, author and writing coach, ex-Chicagoan Mike Fak presently resides in Central Illinois. More information about Mike's services are available at his home website www.mikefak.com
Mike currently writes primarily humor columns for searchwarp bi-weekly and is the managing editor of www.lincolndailynews.com
Like you DanieleSan, your tomatoes have strong root DanielSan! but like people to grow, tomatoes also need room. don't be scared to trim off excess stalk of the tomatoes because they can act like weeds and rob your fruit of its vitality. but not too much, it can be a natural shade.
Marsha suggested you put a fruit stand on your front yard! Then you could be Fruit Man in Lincoln. But, are tomatoes fruit or vegetables, you could be VEGI MAN.
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