Journal July 19, 2016 - Greenhouse Harvest

We have already had several tomatoes from both the garden and the greenhouse.  The greenhouse tomatoes are much much larger than the garden tomatoes; so much so that I have had to remove some of the fruit before it ripens to prevent the weight from pulling the truss from the plant.

The taste of a tomato still warm from the plant brings summer to life for me.  After the season I most likely will not eat another tomato until next season.  I don't know why they even bother to grow greenhouse tomatoes during the winter.

As I think about it, if I can grow fantastic tomatoes in my greenhouse, why the hell can commercial growers not grow a comparable tomato in the winter?  The answer must be: money, of course.

The above photo illustrates why I am growing only tropic tomatoes in the greenhouse.  After several years of trying other varieties I have found that tropic works best for my conditions.  Still, today a man gave me seeds from Italy, so I will start a few next year for the garden and see what they are like.

Another batch of dill pickles is underway in the crock, and, I also have four olive cuttings planted in just plain old builder's sand.  

So far the cuttings look fine, while the sand should definitely eliminate fungus gnats, as there is no organic matter to sustain them.