Unbelievably, we planted our tomatoes way back in March. Can you believe I’ve wanted to post about them ever since?

In summary of The Day We Planted Our Tomatoes, we had NO idea what we were doing. Neither of us could claim to have grown anything in our lives, yet we were determined to conquer growing at least one vegetable this spring. Chris voted for tomatoes so that we could can our own sauce. I agreed to tomatoes because I love them in anything. 🙂

The Saturday we had set aside dawned bright and beautiful. Armed with the names of several nurseries and garden stores in the area, we set out on our adventure. Talking with the gentleman selling us our potting soil, lime rock, and tomato plants, we were every ounce of confident. He had made it sound so easy! And with the GREAT discount we got on buying a whole flat of teeny tiny tomato plants where could we go wrong?

 The moment our confidence began to crumble was when we started to space the plants we’d bought 18 inches apart as the directions said. It was not until that moment that we realized that all of those teensy weensy little plants were going to grow into full out tomato producing vines. And our discounted flat of tomatoes? Well, as we started lining up the plants where we had prepared the ground, we realized that we had bought 42 plants. FORTY TWO tomato PLANTS!!!!

I sat on the steps with my head in my hands. How had this happened? How were we ever going to take care of that many tomato plants? What about all the other things I wanted to try growing? And what were we ever going to do with all of them once they started giving us tomatoes?

You will be glad to know that my dramatic moment eventually passed and months later we thoroughly enjoy the hedge of tomato plants we have lining our long driveway. (For those of you who like math, our line of tomatoes spaced approximately 18″ apart is 70+ feet long. – Some areas are double rows) They produce beautiful tomatoes and we are able to enjoy them, make sauce, and share with others who like them too.

Chris was also inspired to create an irrigation system and set out to install PVC pipes leading from a “rain barrel” of sorts that has helped us to keep our tomato plants nice and hydrated.

I planted herbs as well and have thoroughly enjoyed having fresh herbs to enjoy all summer. Chris and his brother, Dimitri, built me a little shelf just outside our living room window so that I have easy access to many of the herbs I use most often. I love it!

And in the fall? We look forward to pulling out the tomatoes that aren’t producing as well and planting lettuce, cucumbers, kale, squash, melons, and other ingredients to sustain our appetites through the winter.