Rainy Day Tomato Dreams
Saturday, June 20th, 2009
Much as I would love to say I am growing them all from seed, the heirloom tomato plants in my Brooklyn backyard (2 Abe Lincoln, 2 Bucks County and 1 Sugar Lump) in fact came from the Union Square Greenmarket, where I bought them on Wednesday for something like $14 each.
They’ve already blossomed, and the fruit’s set, so all I had to do was transplant them. “Isn’t that cheating?” Lily asked me when I picked her up from work Wednesday with what, up to that point, had been a proud purchase in the back of the truck.
Just because I didn’t raise them from little bitty seed doesn’t mean I love them any less or that I can’t nurture them to late summer deliciousness AND take credit for their splendor when the time comes.
It’s been the rainiest spring in recent memory, which bugged me a few weeks ago, but now I am actually quite glad that we’ve actually had a spring this year, as opposed to the typical NYC weather-jump from dreary winter to stifling summer in a matter of weeks.
I think my tomatoes might wish it were a bit more stifling, though, considering how much they thrive in oppressive heat (remember the tomato crop of 1999? So juicy).
But it’s still only June, and a boy can dream, as I am doing on this rainy Saturday.
I planted basil next to my five plants, for easy access when the moment comes for late summer’s most beautiful sandwich, the BBLT: Bacon, basil, lettuce, and tomato.
Can’t wait. Until then, I can gaze out my kitchen window and keep dreaming.
