June 12, 2008
"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins ." -- Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking.
We were driving from Colorado back to Missouri this past week when we began to notice signs on all restaurant doors that there would be no tomatoes served inside their establishments, temporarily that is.
Now I get it. That is why my BLT sandwich was minus the T when we stopped for lunch at a turnpike rest stop.
This sudden dirth of tomatoes, due to fears of salmonella contamination, makes me nostalgic for homegrown tomatoes and summers past. In those days, we never heard of salmonella. We simply picked luscious tomatoes grown in our backyards, washed off the garden dirt, and enjoyed.
It was a simpler time.
Can we go back?
I miss those homegrown grilled tomatoes, stuffed tomatoes, canned stewed tomatoes, green tomato relish, tomato salsa, tomato sauce, and my favorite-- barbecue sauce made with tomato paste, vinegar and sugar.
As Lewis Grizzard quipped, "It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."
Oh those were the days.
Since I am waxing nostalgic about summers past and tomatoes, here are a few more thoughts about tomatoes for you to ponder with me. And by the way if you have tomato stories to share, send them to kayhoflander@yahoo.com or blog on The Examiner's website. I would enjoy hearing your stories.
Now back to my tomato memories. Grandma said in order to grow great tomatoes plant them in full sun where they can get direct sunlight for most of the day.
Plant in well-drained soil away from roots and grass in late March but only on an overcast, cool day.
If you plant on a sunny day, make a tent from newspapers to protect the tender, young plants for a week or so. Cage them at first and stake later.
Mulch is a good idea, and one much keep an eye out for pests.
Hopefully, if all goes well, you can pick in June when they are pink not deep red. Sit on your counter top and let them ripen at their own speed. Do not refrigerate until they are fully ripe.
If you missed the March planting time as I did, you can still plant patio container tomatoes and have them by August.
"Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes. What would life be like without homegrown tomatoes? Only two things that money can't buy. That's true love and home grown tomatoes." --John Denver, from a song written by Guy Clark.
