As mentioned in an earlier post, one sad thing about summer in New England is the VERY short growing season. It's true that we didn't move in until the end of July so unless you were a radish or arugula you didn't stand a chance. I started three heirloom tomato plants in pots on Cranberry Lane and transplanted them once we got the garden ready. I chose hearty favorites from Verrill Farms in Concord: Lemon Boy, Black Prince & Mr. Stripy. The plants took off right away in the rich soil and I was so excited to eat our first sparse harvest in August. But then, the weather turned chilly - fast. New England is marvelous in the way it reads a calendar and decides "Oh, this is the first day of fall, time to get cold!" I know it will get much colder, but if you're a tomato (as opposed to a radish or arugula) you just can't grow in shorter 55 degree days. As I gazed at my gorgeous plants heavy with green fruit my heart sank. People suggested I make Fried Green Tomatoes (I thought that was just a movie!) or put them in a paper sack in the basement until they ripen (WHAT???)
In October, I reluctantly picked my green tomatoes, all 62 of them (ouch!) and placed them in the suggested bag in the suggested basement with a note on the calendar to check on the molding mess before I went back down there for my Christmas decorations! To my delight, within a few weeks they began to turn the color I hoped for AND they actually tasted delicious. Granted, not as yummy as when they are warmed by the sun and enjoyed on the back deck because it is too hot to eat indoors, but still WAY better than any tomato at a store in December.
And so there marks yet another New England first. I made a delicious tart out of these yesterday, but it smelled so good I forgot to take a picture! Hopefully I'll remember for the next "harvest" in a few days.
In October, I reluctantly picked my green tomatoes, all 62 of them (ouch!) and placed them in the suggested bag in the suggested basement with a note on the calendar to check on the molding mess before I went back down there for my Christmas decorations! To my delight, within a few weeks they began to turn the color I hoped for AND they actually tasted delicious. Granted, not as yummy as when they are warmed by the sun and enjoyed on the back deck because it is too hot to eat indoors, but still WAY better than any tomato at a store in December.
And so there marks yet another New England first. I made a delicious tart out of these yesterday, but it smelled so good I forgot to take a picture! Hopefully I'll remember for the next "harvest" in a few days.
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