A Plethora Of Lycopersica

Humans in Central and South America had been eating tomatoes since at least 500 B.C., but it took the Spaniards to spread this versatile vegetable to Asia, through the Philippines and to Europe.

A member of the deadly nightshade family of plants, rumors persisted for years in Europe that tomatoes were poisonous. And for some time the plants were grown as nothing more than ornamentation or conversation pieces. Of course, there is always some adventurous soul who will try anything. And once Europeans learned that it was the leaves and not the fruit that was poisonous, they couldn't get enough of this strange, shiny import from the Americas.

This year I have about a dozen small containers planted with Tiny Tom, Tumbling Tom and Peardrop varieties. And as you can see from the photo above, the plants have given an abundant harvest.

A Familiar Friend

The stripped delicata squash plant has started fruiting. I love this variety for its taste, its resistance to powdery mildew and the fact that it keeps well for months after harvesting in dark, cool, dry places like the corner of a garage.

The Wait Is Over

I revel in this time of year. The container cherry tomatoes are ripening so fast I can hardly keep up. Fortunately, I know just what to do with them; cherry tomato pizza with homemade pesto and marinara sauce anyone?

First Time's The Charm

There are thousands of people around the country that are dedicated to producing new varieties of tomatoes that can be grown in containers. My hat is off to those who came up with this variety known as Peardrop. They are tasty, juicy and have a sweetness that is just perfect. I'm definitely going to save some seeds so I can grow these again next season!

Crated Basil

A quartet of lettuce leaf basil plants is doing quite well in this planter made from a re-purposed milk crate and a plastic trash bag. Pesto anyone?

Song Of The Cicadas

Summer is ending. Summer is fleeting. Soon it'll be cold, snowy and sleeting.

The cicadas are out in full force and singing up a storm. And no matter what lyrics one might put to their tune, the chorus would undoubtedly be something like the sentences at the start of this entry. Gardening this year had a later start than usual because it seemed that Mother Nature didn't really want to start spring. Planting in this area was three to four weeks later than usual. But the time of bounty is upon us and the first summer squash is in. I hope my straight neck squash plant lives up to the prolific nature of average summer squash plants, because there isn't much time left before the cool nights return and the autumnal equinox is upon us.

A Lot From One Pot

If you're interested in growing basil, but don't have much room. Try the lettuce leaf variety. As you can see from the photo, you can get a lot from just one leaf. And even a modest sized pot provides enough room for a plant with an abundance of leaves such as these. Just make sure to harvest the leaves regularly so the plant won't flower and go to seed.