What comes after the Finale?

you know how sometimes there are movies and then there's a sequel and more sequels and just when you think it's the end, Rocky 6 and a new Rambo movie are released in the same year?


Back in October, I reported that my tomato plant had yielded it's last piece of fruit, but guess what? I just picked one today on December 9!! I pulled the plant in off of my fire escape when it started to get cold and that thing is DEAD. But all of a sudden, a little green branch sprung up from the dead one, and then I noticed a flower on it. Although I was getting ready to get rid of the thing all together, I decided I should wait and see what happens. Well, this is what happened.

Then two weeks ago, I noticed another little green branch springing up. I don't even water this thing anymore. I would really like to get this eye sore out of my apartment, but isn't that biting the hand that feeds you?

Urban Garden -- the finale

This morning, I picked the last four tomatoes off one of my plants to let them ripen on my counter. The other one (red) I picked a week ago from the other plant. So, here's my bumper crop of tomatoes! The total, I think, was 10 tomatoes. I'm not sure it was worth it. I had this vision of being able to make lots of good stuff and also give tons away, like my mom always did. I did give two away, but I really only got one tomato at a time. Now I have to figure out what to do with the dirt. It seems like something I should return to the earth instead of just dumping in the garbage, but that means hauling it to Ft. Tryon park. Any suggestions?

I spoke too soon (as usual)

Over the weekend, I saw that I have two new tomatoes growing.

my first tomato

I picked it this morning! I'm pretty sure this is what it's supposed to look like. I was getting worried because it didn't seem to change for the longest time, but finally started to get some red this week. So I have this one from my Brandywine plant, and three on my Bucks County plant, but that's it. Is it too late for any more to grow? It's the middle of August! If this is, indeed, the only one I get from this plant, then this tomato cost $20 when you factor in the plant, the dirt and the pot that I had to buy.

two new tomatoes

Still nothing that is ready to eat, but two new ones popped up over the weekend on my second plant. (images in the picture appear larger than in real life.)

Turns out I can do something right!

Pretty much, I'm failing at everything in my life at the moment. I was able to grow a tomato, though! I mean, it's not ready to eat or anything yet, but here it is. It's almost the size of clementine. I'm so proud!

Plenty of tomatoes in the patch

A few weeks ago, I was at Valerie's house and accompanied her to the farmer's market to buy her tomato plants. As one of the few people in my family to have a yard, she has become quite a gardener. I decided to follow her lead and try to do an urban garden this year. Two years ago, I bought a basil plant as an experiment and it has been thriving in my kitchen window. I love fresh basil, even though I hardly ever use it. Even so, I thought I'd branch out and grow some tomato plants this year. When I got back to the city, I spent the last day of my stay-cation to go to the farmer's market in Union Square and bought two heirloom tomato plants. Here they are on my fire escape! I have since replanted them and will chart their progress here. I do so with some trepidation since it totally has the potential for failure, but I guess we'll see.