Well, it is official, I have lost most of my tomatoes! Not that I don’t know where they have gone to, that much is clear, with garden beds under water for the last few months and ice on the ground during much of spring, there was little chance for them and they shriveled, withered, turned brown, drooped sadly down and bid me a fond farewell!
All that is, except for the two that are still upright and clinging for dear life to the Tall Mini Frame, and although they do not look the happiest, and traditional wisdom says tear them out and start again, I think it’s too late for that, so I am going to stick with them. To that end I have cleared away all that is around them, given them a heaped spadefull of compost, whispered sweet nothings to them, attracting strange looks from the animals, watered it all in and am now just waiting to see if happiness pursues. They look a little greener already, but we will have to wait to see what happens with the downpouring and lack of sunshining.
But more importantly, isn’t that the way of gardening, and maybe one of the only places left where we can freely try and fail, grow and learn without repercussions, wisecracks or being put away. And that is surely why so many love to garden, the freedom to do as you want, when you want and how you want. It’s our garden and our time and we can do with it as we like, try out what we want, reap the rewards or get frustrated at the results, but regardless it’s done in our way to our tune, and you can't say that about many things in today's world. And every time we do it, we learn more, know more and sometimes experience growth, not only of the things around us, but of ourselves as well.
And if there was ever a time to look and learn, see and grow, it is now at this time and in this place.
If it works and the tomatoes flourish, I will share it with you. If they don’t, I won’t!
Christmas is around the corner, but the tomatoes are not getting fat!
Enjoy
Peter