Inside Cord's Greenhouse
Winter Greenhouse
I remember the smell of lots of tomatoes ripening on the vine from my childhood. There is this sweet, tomatoey earthy smell that is so intoxicating. I taught myself to like tomatoes as a child because I loved the plants and the fruits so much I wanted to like the taste. So I would pick a sun-warmed cherry tomato and scrunching up my face, I’d pop it in and eat it – not sure whether I could stand it or not. It didn’t take long and I was on board. All of that flashed though my head as I smelled that smell in Cord’s greenhouse the other day.
The greenhouses are so yummy right now. Mine is the typical late fall jungle and Cord’s is hanging with giant tomato trees. These are the same tomatoes he planted March 1st! They are ripening and going strong. Even the tomato up against the glass is fine and continuing to ripen. We shared them at the Harvest Feast and at Thanksgiving. I got out a cutting board and we taste-tested. The black Russians had juice running down our chins. My niece said, “I think that was the best tomato I ever ate.”
Ah yes, it makes me feel a little rush of tomato love to hear that. I am fully addicted to the little suckers. Oh yeah, Cord grew many over 1 lb. It was total decadence and still is. I really love this plant and all it does. The flowers are beautiful – the plants are vibrant and strong and the tomatoes taste so rich and full it’s astonishing.
We try not to get a belly ache eating too many at once. You have to pace yourself – you could get drunken and have to go to bed. I tell you the Russians and Siberians know how to select a tomato. It was the best year we’ve ever seen and it is still going strong. All of the green tomatoes I brought in from the hoops are not only red – but threatening to become sauce whether I get them in the pot or not.
We have been saving so many seeds that we were only eating the carcasses – sans seeds and juice. But then when there were mis-marked or unknown or already saved tomatoes – we started eating in earnest. It is too fun to bring out a bowl of tomatoes from around the world to taunt the masses with. I know it’s naughty but I can’t help it. I have learned to have a pinchy bowl of salt nearby for those who need it.
This is an indulgence in tomato talk – I could go on about other plants but since it is so wonderful to have tomatoes in winter in greenhouses we never heat – what else should I talk about?
The greenhouses are so yummy right now. Mine is the typical late fall jungle and Cord’s is hanging with giant tomato trees. These are the same tomatoes he planted March 1st! They are ripening and going strong. Even the tomato up against the glass is fine and continuing to ripen. We shared them at the Harvest Feast and at Thanksgiving. I got out a cutting board and we taste-tested. The black Russians had juice running down our chins. My niece said, “I think that was the best tomato I ever ate.”
Ah yes, it makes me feel a little rush of tomato love to hear that. I am fully addicted to the little suckers. Oh yeah, Cord grew many over 1 lb. It was total decadence and still is. I really love this plant and all it does. The flowers are beautiful – the plants are vibrant and strong and the tomatoes taste so rich and full it’s astonishing.
We try not to get a belly ache eating too many at once. You have to pace yourself – you could get drunken and have to go to bed. I tell you the Russians and Siberians know how to select a tomato. It was the best year we’ve ever seen and it is still going strong. All of the green tomatoes I brought in from the hoops are not only red – but threatening to become sauce whether I get them in the pot or not.
We have been saving so many seeds that we were only eating the carcasses – sans seeds and juice. But then when there were mis-marked or unknown or already saved tomatoes – we started eating in earnest. It is too fun to bring out a bowl of tomatoes from around the world to taunt the masses with. I know it’s naughty but I can’t help it. I have learned to have a pinchy bowl of salt nearby for those who need it.
This is an indulgence in tomato talk – I could go on about other plants but since it is so wonderful to have tomatoes in winter in greenhouses we never heat – what else should I talk about?
1 lb. + !
RSS Feed