Tomato In A Crack
July 21st, 2009 · 6 Comments · Posted in garden
Tomatoes will grow anywhere
Having trouble growing tomatoes? Here’s proof that tomatoes will grow anywhere, under almost any conditions. This one has taken root in a crack in our front stoop.
Yes, a dirty little secret of food gardening is that tomatoes aren’t at all hard to grow. You just need to pick ones that thrive in your local conditions. Apparently, our favorite heirloom cherry tomato, Dr. Carolyn, likes our conditions here in the District of Columbia a lot. Who knows how the seed found its way into the crack, or how it manages to feed itself down there. But look: here is a full-grown plant emerging.
I pounded a stake into the ground next to the concrete and am taking this opportunity to teach myself how to grow a single vine tomato plant, pruning away the suckers (thanks El!). Although I have a soft spot for any plant that has the guts to grow out of a crack, I can’t afford to have a big, bushy tomato growing in this particular spot, which also happens to be the entrance to the garden.
So, for all you wannabe tomato growers who thought you needed an advanced degree, take note. Tomatoes will grow themselves. In fact, tomato seeds are practically indestructible. That’s why we do not compost tomato scraps. You will soon have tomatoes popping up everywhere in the garden.
As long as this one has the fortitude to keep going, I will continue to tend it. As you can see, it’s already bearing fruit.
Loving the new look Ed, very professional! Yep, tomatoes, will grow anywhere. No excuses I guess!
Cheers
David
Ed, I’m having little luck with my tomato plant! I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I get little sunlight on my porch (2-3hrs of evening sun).
Maybe I should throw some seeds around the parking lot!
David, I’m trying to picture tomatoes doing well in your part of Britain. Do they get enough heat? Good to hear from you.
Brett, fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes need at least 6 hours sun. I’m not sure you even have enough sun for lettuce. Really, just two to three hours?
Loved seeing the photo of your plucky volunteer tomato in the crack. Most of our tomato plants are volunteers this year. We planted 3, but have 12 more in various spots. I transplanted a few to our raised bed garden, but others are thriving in their spot of choice. Usually these turn out to be cherry tomatoes or Juliette, a small paste-type. Our monster tomato is growing out the side of our plastic compost bin through a drainage hole. Of course it is not in soil at all but in 100% compost and it is huge! – Cathy
Unfortunately. There’s talk about converting a run-down tennis court in the neighborhood into a community garden. That would be ideal for my current situation until I have some land of my own.
For now I’ve planted some part-shade and full-shade plants that will hopefully take advantage of the copious amounts of shade I get. It does make for lovely mornings temperature-wise out on the porch at least.
Brett, grab one of those community garden plots and grow a bunch of tomatoes.
Cathy, I’ll just hazard a guess and say your tomato LOVES living in the compost pile.