The 2024 Summer of (half) 1000 Tomatoes

About 2 months after my 2023 Summer of 1000 Tomatoes post, we found out my husband had cancer and pretty much our entire lives revolved around nothing but that for about 8 months. I managed to keep all the plants from dying and they gave us a better harvest than we deserved based on how little I gave them in return.

Around the time he finished chemo was around the time I should have been planning my 2024 garden and starting seedlings in the greenhouse, and I just… I had nothing. And if not for my mom bringing a bunch of plants from her greenhouse, I would not have had a garden at all in 2024. As it was, it was the smallest garden I’ve ever had, including my time as an apartment dweller when my growing space consisted of a 4×6 foot balcony.

Although I guess some people wouldn’t consider growing only 10 kinds of tomatoes a small garden?

Anyway, I am keeping my goal low this year simply because I don’t have the energy it takes to even hope for 1000 tomatoes. Maybe 2025 will be my year.

From left to right, courtesy of my mom’s greenhouse:

SPOON: Teeny tiny red tomatoes. So named because they are so tiny you literally serve them by the spoonful.
PAUL ROBESON: This plant sadly did not make it. It happens.
CLASSIC BEEFSTEAK
EMMYLOU: Similar to Classic Beefsteak.
CHADWICK CHERRY: A bright red larger cherry.
LARGE BARRED BOAR: A hefty brown striped slicer, usually the most prolific plant in the garden, but not so far this year.
CHOCOLATE SPRINKLE: A brown slightly sweet cherry.

From left to right:

SOLAR FLARE: Red & yellow striped slicer. This was courtesy of mom’s greenhouse in 2023 and I never yanked it out of the pot so it just wintered over and when I went to clear it out in 2024 I saw a whole bunch of new growth so I just cut it back and fed it and it started giving me tomatoes?
SUN SUGAR: Bright orange super sweet cherry. From Grocery Outlet because for this variety they just always have the best plants.
MAMMA MIA ROMA: A classic and very prolific Roma variety.

THE COUNT

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
return to The Blog