26-05-2003, 02:56 AM
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advice needed for a beginner gardener
writes:
So, you think my 22 tomato plants are a bit much for the wife and me?
Probably no more so than my 4 dozen or more the last couple of years for
"just me." However, "just me" involves my children, neighbors and many,
many friends. Last year, even the trust officer at the bank asked me if I
had planted Yellow Pear yet because it was her favorite in the basket I
gave her the year before.
Through the years, many people have done very sweet and often kind things
for me. I use my tomato harvest as a thank you to many of them. Goodwill
and the Salvation Army usually have all sorts of attractive baskets in a
variety of sizes for decent prices. I watch for the smaller ones (and
often unusual ones as well) for tomato harvest time. Most of my plants
are heirlooms and include many colors, shapes and sizes so when someone
gets a basket of tomatoes from me, it is like an Easter basket. I've yet
to have anyone turn down a basket and usually they ask the next early
summer how my tomatoes are doing. That tells me the sharing of bounty is
appreciated.
Best of all, those baskets of "strange" tomatoes have encouraged others to
try different kinds.
The baskets? When people ask me if I want the basket returned, I tell
them when it's empty, put something in it for someone else and pass it on.
And . . . there are always plenty of tomatoes to can, freeze and dry.
Mmmmmmm.
Glenna
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