Who does these kind of things?

20 07 2010

It started last week when I found two very green tomatoes lying next to a pot out at the roadside garden.

Then on Saturday, the neighbor reported the disappearance of the singular fig he and his toddler son were waiting patiently to ripen, from the same location.

And yesterday, when I went to grab a bunch of basil, I found one of the flower bracts on a tiny tomato plant with the baby tomatoes cut off. The bract, still attached to the plant, is now completely flower and fruit-less; it’s purpose snipped away intentionally for some unknown reason.

Why?

Why steal the only fig off a tree that does not belong to you?

Why remove green tomatoes and cast them on the ground to rot?

Why snip off something with so much potential as the pea-sized green tomatoes?

I am more than a little p****d off.

If somebody picked and ate the fruit because they were hungry, I could excuse them, even though they were interfering with my property. But this could not be the case with the tiny, inedible green tomatoes. It defies a logical explanation.

What to do?

A sign with a plea or witty comment urging restraint seems too passive for my current state of mind.

A wireless video surveillance camera (if I had one), might “capture” the culprit if he/she returns, but then what? And who’s to say the camera wouldn’t be interfered with as well?

The neighbor mentioned he had material to build a fence around the little garden, if things got worse. (I’ve yet to tell him about the snipped tomatoes.) The fence may work, or it may just encourage whomever to make a return trip, scale the fence, and wreck some more havoc.

Do you have any bright ideas on how to deal with the situation?


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Categories : Garden challenges, Garden edibles, Status updates

Brave Roadside Survivors

12 06 2010

The Roadside Garden has been in place for over 3 weeks now, and some occupants are doing quite well, in spite of the inclement weather of the past few weeks.

On the honor roll:

  • The San Marzano tomatoes: They’re definitely growing and bushing out in all directions. Both plants have plenty of flower buds which are desperately trying to set fruit. The vines are a healthy green with no sign of disease or deficiency.
  • The tomatillo: This is no longer a teeny-tiny plant. It’s grown about 4″ and is loaded down with a multitude of blooms which have yet to set fruit. There’s plenty of time still, I think. A few days ago, the local newspaper published an article on how well-suited the tomatillo is to the cool Northwest. Who would would have guessed that a Mexican native would like our clime?
  • The rhubarb: With all the rain, the rhubarb pushed up a whole bunch of new stalks. Enough to tempt me into making a rhubarb and strawberry pie. I will resist though, and wait until next year when the rhubarb is settled.
  • The strawberry plants are now producing small but tasty berries; perfect mixed into breakfast oatmeal!

Struggling along:

  • Oregon Spring, Sungold Cherry, and Black Cherry tomatoes: Very little sign of growth on these vines. Oregon Spring does have a few flower tresses so that’s encouraging. All plants are looking frail.
  • Ichiban eggplant: It’s struggling to stay alive in our cool temperatures. A couple of lower leaves have fallen off and the others look “ratty” and miserable. It needs some sun, soon.
  • Cherry Bomb pepper: No new growth is visible, and the leaves look a little shell-shocked from the rain and wind.

RIP:

The basil. Blackened and shriveled to the roots, it has been replaced by another basil plant, which will hopefully hang on until  warmer temperatures arrive. Go basil, go!


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Categories : Status updates

Updates on Plants and Projects

22 05 2010

It’s time to give you updates on plants and projects I blogged about earlier in the Spring.

Growing Lettuce in the Shade
Best crop ever this year! Applying fish fertilizer twice monthly really brought the young plants to maturity earlier. The cool wet weather in April and May also kept the lettuce happy. Here’s what the lettuce looked like a few days ago.

Plenty of lettuce to contemplate making lettuce soup. I may try this recipe this evening. Any other ideas for surplus lettuce? (Never thought I would have this “problem” in the shade!)

A Pink Annabelle, Wow!
It’s now fully leafed out and a “happy little camper”. It’s about 10 inches tall and a few roots have just started to poke out of the bottom of the pot. Something has taken a few nibbles out of a few lower leaves so I need to monitor it carefully.  I still don’t have any idea where I will plant it. For now, I’ll probably just move it to a larger pot for a little more TLC.

The Rhubarb is Back!
Well, the rhubarb has thrown up quite a few stalks in it’s new, sunnier location.

Still not quite enough to make a pie but I decided I wouldn’t pick any stalks this year anyway. It’s not the lush 4 foot tall rhubarb of my childhood (Garden Hero thinks it may not be getting enough water!) but it sure is healthier and fuller than when it was in the shade. I think it’s too early to declare victory or defeat. I found Harvey, the neighbor’s dog, rolling over the leaves and stalks, so it will be getting a little fence around it this weekend.

A Companion for the Rhubarb
I haven’t eaten any strawberries yet, but I am declaring success. Take a look:

My neighbor’s wife tells me the taller variety is “Mt. Hood”, a much sought-after variety developed here in Oregon. I can’t wait to sample the berries.

Reigning in Garden Projects
A new bed and pathway to replace the mucky patch of lawn is still on my “To Do” list . At this rate, it may not get done until my Summer vacation. I would like to have the new bed ready in time for a Fall planting of ferns and native dogwoods.


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Categories : Status updates, Success stories


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