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Growing Tomatoes

In Mourning

14 years ago

The very first tomato that started on one of my very first Cherokee Purples got knocked off the plant today. Such a beautiful, perfectly shaped, rapidly growing little tomato. I was trying to get water into the fill tube of my SWC where this little tomato was partially blocking the way (which I know to make longer from now on). The second time I tried to up-end my water container, I notice in horror that my baby tomato wasn't blocking my way anymore. I rescued it from the top of the container and it is sitting on my kitchen counter where I can look at it and think of how great it was going to be.

In the meantime, all four of my CPs have blossoms and tiny tomatoes all over them although the two in the SWC are over twice as large and thick as the ones in the ground. The German Johnsons and Mr. Stipey are looking good and the Rutgers (planted by a neighbor in my garden) have blossoms and tiny tomatoes on a couple of them. All are so much smaller than the ones in the SWC so I think next year I'll plant all my tomatoes in SWCs - with much longer fill tubes.

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Comments (3)

mojavebob
14 years ago
I'm sorry for your loss. I empathize. With the best of intentions my dog "flushed" the birds out of two of my favorite plants and littered the ground with greenies, 9 of 'em. Add that to the milkweed bugs in my just blushed and largest tomaters along with an unfortunate discovery of BER elsewhere, and I may grow flowers next year. ;)
bcskye
Original Author
14 years ago
Geez, now I really feel bad, mojavebob, - for you. My 103 pound 15 month old puppy can't get into any of my veggies, and I'm very thankful for that. He did think the potato plants were going to be a tasty treat until I told him otherwise. Don't think that would do any good, though, if a critter would be in there. So far I've had no problems with insect pests, knock on wood, or BER, but the season is just beginning. Don't give up and don't go to just flowers next year. They are nice and I have them, but you can't eat most of them and its more gratifying to grow your own eats.
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Then THAT'S the answer!! I actually saw a sharp-shinned hawk a few weeks ago (first time I'd even seen one in our woods -- I was very pleased to be able to identify it). I didn't see this altercation until the two birds were "wrestling" in the snow and I'd have sworn it was one of the mourning doves atop the jay, but your theory makes much more sense. Whatever it was definitely carried the jaw off -- poor jay (and I don't love jays) dangling by its wing and squawking frantically. They both dropped into the snow (for a better grip?) a short ways from my garden, then took off again and only by chance (or an extreme fight by the jay or maybe, my frantic yelling??) did the jay get released. The jay flew back to our pine tree and seems fine. Is that possible? To get hauled off into the hair, hanging by one wing, and still live to tell about it? Amazing! Just curious, how large a prey will a sharp-shinned hawk take on? What about a small cat? Do I need to worry now that I know there's a sharp-shinned in the area? (My cat goes out midday, never out for long ... maybe I'll keep him in?!) Thanks so much for the information -- I am positive you are right. Now I feel guilty for blaming the doves... :(
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mojavebob
14 years ago
I was kidding about the flowers. I don't take this that seriously and think that is probably pretty good advice for most of us. I am determined to get tomatoes right out here though. Others in similar climates are showing off some pretty good looking crops and this is only my second attempt. I do get a bowl of various cherries every day and have for nearly a month now. I ate my first Porter's Dark Cherry yesterday and thought it was fantastic. Definitely the winner so far.

When I realized all my efforts to correct last years mistakes weren't going to work perfectly, I decided not to worry about it much (and start planning for next year). ;)

After I had a talk with my dog, who is a very good dog and understood perfectly her mistake, my daughter and I played golf with the greenies trying to chip them into the pool. It was a good laugh. :)

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