Staking the tomatoes.

After supper tonight, Chris put some stakes into the ground for our two cherry tomato plants. These plants are a variety called "Sweetie," and I can't believe how tall and gangly they've gotten. They were flopping right over the top of the small tomato cages we put in. When we pulled the stems up, the tallest ones were over Chris's head, and he's 6 foot 2! I didn't know that tomato plants could grow so large.

One funny thing about having a husband who is a woodworker, is that he always has something interesting available when I need a wooden stake for something. Those two stakes he's hammering in in the picture are made of solid mahogany! Not your typical tomato stake material. But they were scraps that were too narrow to do anything with.

Now the plants look a little bit neater, and aren't shading the poor little melon vine that was beneath them.

Speaking of the melon vine. It's a miniature variety of cantaloupe called Minnesota Midget. Just today, when we pulled up the tomato plants, I noticed one small melon growing.

It's cute isn't it? Too bad that Jasper picked it about 2 minutes after I took the picture. Ah, the joys of toddlers. :)

Comments

[Garden Mama]

The tomatoes look GORGEOUS!! They *are* tall!
Oh, no! That sweet little melon was picked!
My Dad grew cantaloupe last summer and they were so amazingly sweet. I feel like when I am eating right from the garden it is like my first time eating, everything tastes so so good!

[Kathy in KY]

You're right, Laura - those tomato plants are huge. They do look better now that they're staked. Sorry to hear about the melon mishap. And I hope to get some of your toys for my great-niece and great-nephew, and the soon to arrive great-? in December. I in particular like the stack of rings, and the rattles. I think my nieces would like those toys very much. Have a good Thursday. Take care, from KY.

[Laura Jeanne]

My dad tried growing watermelons one year when I was a child. We only got one watermelon from the vine--but oh my, what a melon! Without doubt it was one of the most delicious things I had ever tasted. So I decided that no matter how small my space, I would try and grow melons of some type.

[Garden Mama]

It is incredible how sweet childhood memories such as these stay with us!
That is one of my hopes for our veggie gardens that the children will remember and have their own one day too : )

[Lisa]

Oh, yes, I know about the toddler thing! My daughter won't leave the strawberries alone. If they are even faintly pink, she'll pick them!
I guess that's part of the joy of gardening with our kids, right?

[alex]

That little melon is so cute! Our tomato plants are like yours, growing like crazy!
I need to ask you a question about woodworking, my son (11) is very interested in learning and I wanted to know if that was possible or if he was too young. Could he use just manual tools and built something small?
Please send me a message when you have a chance. Thanks!

[anita]

I guess I should have been out staking our tomatoes as well - seems that there was quite a bit of damage at our place with the massive rain last night!