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Live and Learn - about gardening

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

One of the best things about gardening is having fresh tomatoes. I look forward to them from the time we use the last one in late October until the first ones ripen in August. (Yes, it's a short growing season here in N. Idaho.)

So in May, when I purchased tomato plants, I thought it was fun that there were already a couple of small tomatoes growing on two of those plants. 

I was wrong. I planted three tomato plants and of course watched them grow. One of them got considerably bigger, but two did not. Guess which two? Yes, the ones with tomatoes already growing. 

Meanwhile, in early June my son showed up with some plants he'd started from seed. They didn't look very happy, and they were only about 10' tall and spindly -but I planted them anyway.

And there they are, on the left side of this picture. 

The plant store tomatoes are the 3 on the right - the farthest right one being the one that did not have tomatoes already growing in May. 

By the way, 3 of the 4 small tomatoes that were on those two plants finally got ripe this week. No, just like the plants, the tomatoes didn't grow much. 

Tomato plants are like dogs, horses, and cows.

When they have babies too young, it stunts their growth. 

Meanwhile, my son also brought other plants that were so small and unhappy looking that I almost didn't plant them. But I'm glad I did, because they're all big and strong and filled with green tomatoes. 

Next year I'm starting them all from seed. I'll end up with too many plants because I won't want to just pick the best ones, but that's how it is. 

 

 

Comments(10)

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Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Marte- A friend gave me a patio tomato plant years ago and it was fun to grow. I haven't grown one since. I don't think I've ever started a plant from seed!

Aug 20, 2024 05:17 PM
Marte Cliff

Kathy Streib - I love growing tomatoes because they taste so good. They're completely different from those things we find in our grocery store. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:13 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I know I have never started a tomato plant by a seed! Can't wait the hear how it goes next year Marte Cliff !

Aug 20, 2024 07:10 PM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Dorie Dillard Austin TX - starting from seed is difficult (for me) because the plants always want to get too leggy. One year I kept planting them in deeper and deeper pots - and I started too early. By the time it was warm enough to take them outdoors, my whole sun room was filled with 5 gallon buckets with 4' tall tomato plants. 

My son carried the buckets while I supported the plants to get them outside. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:16 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Marte, had to smile at your post, and I have written about this probably a hundred times how my father tried growing tomatoes and how he fail at it and that was about 50 years ago, so kudos to you and your success, Endre

Aug 20, 2024 10:21 PM
Marte Cliff

Endre Barath, Jr. I wonder why your father had a hard time with it? 

Aug 27, 2024 08:17 AM
Michael Elliott
Fathom Realty - Burlington Township, NJ
Burlington, New Jersey Residential Sales

Tomatoes here in NJ are fabulous, I grew up growing them with dad and want to have my own again.  Maybe next year.

Aug 21, 2024 12:41 AM
Marte Cliff

Michael Elliott I might not bother with growing them if we had good farmers markets nearby. But we do not, so I do.

Aug 27, 2024 08:18 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Even though you aren't having the best of luck with your tomato plants, I am sure you are doing better than I would, haha.  I don't have much of a green thumb at all.

Aug 21, 2024 03:49 AM
Marte Cliff

Brian England They're doing fine now - tomato plants all over the place filled with green tomatoes. As usual, I have too many plants. There are even volunteers coming up in the compost pile. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:19 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thank you, Marte, for sharing your gardening insights and the valuable lessons you've learned about growing tomatoes! Your experience reminds me of the importance of patience and nurturing in both gardening and life, and I appreciate your encouragement to embrace the process!

Aug 21, 2024 04:01 AM
Marte Cliff

Lew Corcoran It is hard to be patient, but wishing they'd hurry doesn't help at all. I do love watching things grow, and I appreciate the things, like peas, that grow fast. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:20 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Marte - I admire your green thumb too.   It can be amazing what we discover when digging deeper.  In the garden and elsewhere too.  

Aug 21, 2024 04:13 AM
Marte Cliff

Michael Jacobs - Yes, it can. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:21 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I feel for you with the short growing season! The same is true here. My tomatoes are just now finally starting to get red. Well one tomato did but there are quite a few that are slowly turning. I had a problem growing my own from seed this year (it involved a mouse) so I wound up buying most of my plants. The Costco ones have nice big tomatoes. I'm excited to eat them.

Aug 21, 2024 04:58 AM
Marte Cliff

Kat Palmiotti I didn't try starting them from seed this year because my son said he was doing so and would bring me plants. At first it looked like that hadn't turned out too well, but those little spindly things grew well. My problem (and his) with starting from seed is having too many plants - and I do dislike tossing them when they bothered to grow for me. 

Next year hide your plants from the mouse! 

Aug 27, 2024 08:24 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Marte... I've never planted a vegetable or fruit in my life. I have the world's worst black thumb... delighted that your green thumb has generated some very good results.

Aug 21, 2024 05:42 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Nina Hollander, Broker - I do enjoy watching things grow. And I even enjoy crawling around in the garden pulling weeds. Guess I have a strange brain! 

Aug 27, 2024 08:25 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Marte Cliff I know lots of people who love crawling around their gardens... not strange at all. Just wouldn't be me!

Aug 27, 2024 08:27 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Marte, it would be fun to enjoy fresh tomatoes, and sure miss my garden from the previous home.

Aug 21, 2024 01:01 PM
Marte Cliff

Joan Cox I look forward to them all winter and spring. To me, the grocery store variety are just to put color in a salad. 

Aug 27, 2024 08:26 AM