By way of log, it is time to mark the garden.

We planted five tomato plants this year- we also culled eight volunteers. We planted basil, cilantro, lettuce, parsley, and a jalapeño pepper. The no-need-to-plant plants, are mint and oregano- more of both than we can give away. It is now September 22, and what seems to be a late harvest, but what do we know- plants have been fruiting much longer than we have been wondering why.

Tomatoes

The five we planted in our cage (anti-squirrel device) are all doing well- fat, happy stalks, and what will be large amounts of fruit.  We have been able to harvest from the Early Girl, the Sun Cherry (extensively), and a couple from the Super Marzano. The other two, San Francisco Fog and Watermelon Beefsteak, are producing well, but nothing harvest ready yet.  The volunteers have been fascinating to watch- mostly because we had (still have) no idea what version of tomato they would be. We now know we have a yellow pear and a cherry.  The yellow pear is going insane- it is swallowing the wheel-barrow we left beside it.

Yellow Pear volunteer- swallowing large wheel barrow

Another volunteer, who has yet to declare his type, a few feet away, is also growing like gang busters- I think we are tapping into the neighbor’s good watering habits.  The only volunteer to produce edible fruit yet is the cherry.  By way of stating the obvious: they are all fantastic- the cherry tomatoes from the cage taste as though someone has been dropping sugar in their water.

Unknown volunteer

Basil

We have been buying basil plants from Trader Joes- they are two or three dollars, and from the first harvest, you are eating free food. We have planted them in the ground, and in pots. They do very well either way, but, for some reason, the potted basil seem to be less bothered by bugs.  Sun is key, but too much direct sun seems to bleach them- the best of all our basil plants is one in a pot, in a very hot corner of the yard, that receives direct sun, but not all day.  That said, basil is easy, and so good to have around. Basil also makes a great co-worker gift; the aroma is there, but not unpleasant in the office, and no one dislikes basil.

→ The pictures were taken on 9/27.t

In the end, it was an up and down season: we ended with 35 pounds of tomatoes. Not great, but well worth the time and money.

Cilantro

Another year of attempt. Another year of failure. We planted the cilantro in three different areas, in pots and in the earth, and we have just enough to make one’s hands smell nice trying to save the orphan stalks.