To-may-to, To-mah-to . . .?

Every autumn since 2006 I have said to myself: "Next year, I am not going to grow tomatoes". Then the winter catalogs arrive and I am once again seduced. This year, though, I've got it figured out. I will continue to grow tomatoes, but only small ones!

Top: Red Currant. I pick a handful every day now and toss them in a salad. Delicious flavor; this tomato deserves its name.

Center: Micro Tom. Only three harvested so far; I have not yet tasted them.

Bottom: Red Robin. None picked yet.

I also have "Early Wonder" in my garden (nothing early about it, in comparison to the three noted small ones), "Black from Tula", which has developed blossom rot, and "Black Krim", which has so far produced, in addition to some "green golf balls", one fist-size fruit that is still green (and creased) on top and already dark red at the bottom. For the past few days I have wondered: "Should I pick it or leave it on the vine longer". It's still on the vine.

Another Year, Another Freeze

It was not as bad this year as in 2007, but last night's freeze was just as unwelcome. It did cause damage to some of my plants, including a new Pineapple Sage (prematurely planted - what can I say?) and a dwarf Crape Myrtle, even though they were covered up, but most seem to have made it through just fine. One reason is that the temperature was just a few degrees below freezing (two years ago, it went down into the teens), and the other is that, March not having been as mild (read: "warm") as it was in 2007, not as much growth had taken place. So, minimal damage, from what I can see this afternoon. The best news is that there is not another freeze in the forecast - time to go and buy tomato plants!