It Starts with the Rebel Tomato

I had a tantalizing fling with the idea of planting a garden last spring. P & I closed on our house on April 30, leaving just enough time to dig up part of the yard and get some veggies growing. But there was packing and moving to be done, then a long weekend trip to Massachusetts, and soon the window of time closed. So, we planted some tomatoes in pots, bought a few basil and mint plants, and vowed to start a garden next year.

The only thing is, I couldn't stop thinking about our garden-to-be. There's a long, ugly stretch of concrete in the backyard--the parking spot for the former owners' speedboat. Every time I look at this:

I imagine something closer to this:

I

Image from LivingtheCountryLife.com

I dream about tearing up the concrete and building brick raised beds, so I can plant a wild assortment of vegetables and herbs. Sure, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and lettuce are a must. But I get really excited thinking about celeriac, brussels sprouts, chioggia beets, and... someday, a pumpkin patch.

Our potted tomatoes didn't fare too well, sadly. But we were amused to discover not one, but three renegade tomato plants growing next to the concrete! I have no idea how the little plants came to be, but their growth is an encouraging sign that we have good soil.

Healthy rebel tomato v.s. the sickly potted one.

As the weather gets cooler, I'm going to plan the hell out of next spring's garden. Which will involve reading, consulting my expert gardening friend (thanks Lucy!), and scribbling notes in this adorable perpetual gardening calendar from Krank Press. I love that it tells you not just what to plant, but what seasonal food to eat. Note to Midwest folks, Krank will release a calendar for our region in early October.

For now, I'll just be dreaming about that pumpkin patch.