I can’t wait to tell you about some of the interesting things we were lucky enough to see in the last couple weeks. While visiting a dear friend, we were strolling through his amazing garden and came upon a large stand of tomato plants. I wondered why there were so many planted so close together, and then he told us that it was all one plant! It was several feet across, dense as a forest, and several feet high!
What was it? He called it the “travelling tomato”, and picked one for us to see. This amazing tomato looks like a handful of cherry tomatoes that have bonded together into a wild and wonderful shape, and has the weird and fun feature of being able to be broken apart into sections.
It was so very interesting that I had to do some research so that I could tell you more. The travelling tomato is actually called “reisetomate tomato”. Though I read that it is a German heirloom tomato, I also read that long ago it called Guatemala home, and earns the name travelling tomato because as folks walked along, they could break off little segments of the tomato and eat while they were walking! No utensils needed!
Here in the northern hemisphere, we would treat these tomatoes just like any other. They like full sun, well-drained soil, and must be protected from frosts. If you have the space to plant a novelty like this, give it a try because it certainly is unique! The fruit is not uniform, but it is interesting and can certainly be used like any other tomato for eating fresh.
If you are interested in growing heirloom tomatoes, give it a try! I found that Hope Seeds in Nova Scotia sells reisetomate seeds, as does Heritage Harvest Seeds in Carman, Manitoba. Log on to them at www.heritageharvestseed.com, and see the amazing seeds they have on offer.
Their home page says that they have over 700 varieties of heirloom and heritage seeds available, and their tomato collection is among the best in North America.
Then last week, while visiting the beautifully kept garden of some other dear friends, I saw something very interesting! The hostess and host of this garden asked me to look at the squash plant. It was lovely and thriving, but they instructed me to look, look, look along the vine. My eyes followed the long vine, and lo and behold, the vine coursed up a lilac bush and there, about seven feet off the ground, was a foot-ball sized spaghetti squash, nestled in the branches of the lilac bush! Amazing! it looked perfectly content to be there, and I imagine it enjoyed growing there because it would receive a lot of sun!
There is always something interesting in the garden, isn’t there!
The first fall meeting of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. at SIGN on North Street. Our special guest speakers, Frank Woloschuk and Glen Tymiak, will be telling us about “How to store dahlias, glads, calla/canna lilies, geraniums and more” for the winter. You don’t have to be a member to attend, feel free to come and hear these wonderful gardeners share some valuable and timely pointers with us! New members are always welcome!
And remember, Friday, September 23 is the date of the Fall Plant and Bulb sale beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Parkland Mall. Get some new plants to re-landscape or refurbish your garden. The plants will still have time to get settled in before winter, so don’t miss this great sale!
Have a wonderful week!
