Gratifying Moment

[zabby17]

So, last night I was on the side porch barbecuing some burgers when I heard someone calling, "Excuse me?" from the sidewalk.

A young couple I didn't recognize was standing there.

"I'm so sorry to bother you," said the woman, "Do you mind if I ask you somethign?"

I figured they were lost or looking for a recommendation for dinner or something. (This is a small town and my street is off the beaten path, so people I don't recognize at least by sight are usually tourists going for a walk.)

"Sure," I said.

"Those plants growing up your teepees," she said---my garden beds are in the back yard; most are hidden behind the house & workshop but you can see a couple of them from the street---"What are they?"

"Tomatoes," I said.

"THat's what I thought," she said, "But my husband said there was no way because they are too tall!"

"IT's true," he admitted. "I grow tomatoes, and I've never SEEN any that grew that big. What do you do to get them to grow so well?"

Now, I know there are a lot of folk here who have plants a heck of a lot bigger, healthier, and more productive than mine. And I also know that, as they say, size isn't everything! ;-p But I have to admit, it flattered me to have my tomato babies noticed and commented on by strangers literally on the street.

I told them I thought the most important factor was good soil, as well as of course the variety, and explained the difference between determinate and indeterminate. I answered a few questions about seed-starting basics.

We exchanged friendly farewells. And I couldn't help being a little smug as I thought, "They didn't even see the TALL plants!" (The cherries are behind the workshop.)

Such success as I do have I owe in large part to advice and help (including starter seeds and encouragement) from other gardeners, whom I found to be fantastically helpful (mostly on GardenWeb when I started out), many of whom are in TOmatoville now, so a heartfelt thanks to you all.

Z