scorching summer

Last Monday I returned from a week's vacation in coastal Maine, where the highs never crossed 80 and the evenings required the wool sweaters and socks I'd long ago put away in Memphis.  Before we left, my sugar snap peas were in full swing- I had to harvest from my galvanized tub garden every day to keep up with them.  When we got back, the blistering temperatures had fried the poor plants and they were brown and crispy. The chickens, at least, got to enjoy the last of spring's peas.

I had prepared for the second round of crops in my tubs by pinching some of the tiny yellow currant tomatoes that grow in the church garden that hosts my acupuncture clinic and rooting the cuttings.  I've watched these plants for a few years- they are vigorous (and vigorously reseed), disease resistant, and more importantly, delicious!

 I keep this old brown snuff jar on my window sill, filled with herbs and other cuttings.  I have a few of them and have successfully water-rooted lavender, rosemary, basil, and angel-wing begonias.  During the summer, I keep my CSA's basil in these jars and they usually root within a few days, too!  Tomatoes root so easily that I knew they'd do well, and these tomatoes were ready to be planted in about two weeks (with them were some lavender that dried out while we were gone, and some thai basil that I put out in my front garden.

Early one morning last week I added a top layer of compost to my newly-cleared tubs, pulled out my eggshell bowl to add to the bottom of the planting holes, and popped those baby tomatoes into their new tub.  It was very very hot last week, so I made sure to give my plants some afternoon shade with old sheets draped over the bamboo teepees, and watered them twice daily.  This week they seem more settled in and only need every-other-day watering.  I hope that these tomatoes will produce into November!

If you live in a climate like mine, hot now, with a long growing season, you might consider rooting some tomatoes now and planting in late July and August to get a fall crop!