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Tag: Gardening

Do Tomatoes Self Seed?

These persistent cherry tomatoes keep coming back to my garden year after year.

An acquaintance and I were chatting on iMessage about all sorts of things – from big pharma and religion to bird snaps and gardening. An odd mix, I know, but that's how my neurodivergent brain likes it.

He popped the question, "Growing any veggies lately?" I mentioned the cherry tomatoes on display in the backyard, and he replied that he hadn't planted any tomato plants this year, but a plant had started growing in the spot where they used to be. I assumed tomatoes were self-seeding, but I did a quick Google search to verify. Yep, I was right.

Self-sowing annuals are those plants that toss their seeds into the garden before calling it quits. Those seeds sprout all on their own the next year. They come back yearly, just like perennials, but it's from their seeds, not their roots. They're playing a game of tag with themselves!

I've had tomato vines in the same spot every year since I put four plants in a couple of years ago. They just won't quit!

… a thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts

Vision:

Humans are odd. They think order and chaos are somehow opposites and try to control what won’t be.
But there is grace in their failings. I think you missed that.

Ultron:

They’re doomed.

Vision:

Yes. But a thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts. It’s a privilege to be among them.

Isolation Photo Project, Day 46

I read this humorous article on 35mmc by photographer Gerard Exupery in which he writes about his family history, preferring Christmas over Chanukah, and eating Nathan's Famous hotdogs at in Coney Island with his father.

When I tell you that Nathan’s has the best hot dog in the entire world, you better believe me. Whenever I come across a hot dog place, I have to check it out. It’s kind of turned into a thing with my sons too. I’ve been many places on this earth and have never found a tube steak that tasted as good. I became addicted to Nathan’s as a very young child, and I still am.

The fries at Nathan’s are nothing to sneeze at either. Especially now with our spiffy new pandemic. The flavour is unlike any other french fry or really crinkle-cut fry in the world. My mother told me once they tasted the way they did because the potatoes were blanched in sugar water.

Gerard's article reminded me of the spring and summers when I consulted for the State of New Jersey in Trenton when I visit Captain Paul's Firehouse Dogs for lunch. My favourites were the Devil Dog, Boot Camp, Dog Tags and Deputy Dog. I would get one or two hotdogs, sit outside to eat them slowly while sipping a coke. Most often, I ate alone, but sometimes I would invite a friend or coworker to join me. This is one experience I miss during these pandemic times but maybe I can place an order for pickup tomorrow or Saturday and sit outside and pretend everything is A-Okay.

Thursday 7 May, 2020 | Day 46 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/2.8 | ISO 2500

I’ve grown tomatoes for my daughter since she was a little girl. She called them “tumtums” when she was too little to pronounce the word. Sometimes I ordered speciality plants online, sometimes I picked up heirlooms tomatoes from a garden centre in Stockton. This time, we almost forgot about our tradition but Bhavna bought some plants from the grocery store. I waited and waited and when the weather seemed like it had finally settled on warm, I put the tomato plants into the planter I bought nearly 15 years ago. Then tonight I learned that New Jersey is expecting a frost and possibly snow tomorrow. Ugh!

Submitted as part of the 100DaysToOffload project.