It is the middle of August...and I have green tomatoes. Not just one or two, but LOTS of green tomatoes. See how pretty and green they are?

The reality is that tomatoes need warmth to ripen. You can have 20 sunny days in a row, but if it is not warm enough, no tomatoes...then again, if it is too warm, the blossoms will drop off without forming fruit...again, no tomatoes.
And what can we learn from this situation? Tomatoes are temperamental. I know, you didn't want to hear that...you are holding out hope against hope that your tomatoes will buck the odds and be fabulous. And maybe they are, but I can guarantee one thing, if they are, you are working at it.
Here are my little lovlies (purple Roma's) back in the greenhouse...don't they look soooo innocent and full of potential?

If I were to compare tomatoes to a flower that I thought took a similar amount of work, I would say they are a pretty fair match for roses. Tomatoes are affected by various rots, wilts, fungi and critters. They are heat sensitive, they sprawl everywhere and the vines can become so heavy they topple the cages. They are stinky. Yes, I said it, they stink. Not the tomatoes so much, but the vines. I am growing a Sungold cherry tomato that smells to high heaven! Almost more than I can stand...
We take all kinds of steps to nurture the little guys. Start them early so they have time to fruit, use red mulch to increase the likelihood of fruit, surround them with walls of water...you name it, we've done it. Of all of my veggies, these guys take up the greatest amount of resources.
Why in the heck do I grow them? Good question...I guess because there is nothing better than a big bowl of fresh cherry tomatoes, parm and cukes with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar...topped with sea salt and freshly ground pepper...My mouth is watering all ready. It is that kind of experience that pushes me to grow my own, to get the tomato at just the right moment so I can experience nirvana...
And for now, that dream is holding me. It has been warmer here and will be warm this week, so I may see tomatoes yet...sigh...In the meantime, hop over to my Portland Foodie blog for recipes for green tomatoes.
Hopefully, you are all participating in the weekly food fest at Dinner Tonight and Away to Garden.
It is a lot of fun and a great way to share your favorite gardening and
foodie tips. Each week a new topic is selected, this week's topic
is...you guessed it...tomatoes!