Red Ripe Tomatoes

It was hot out yesterday. Upper 80s, sunny, humid.

Turns out, it was perfect. Yesterday was the day for the first handful of ripe cherry tomatoes from the garden. Yesterday was the first day this year I was able to bite into a sun-warmed cherry tomato and remember why I take care of those spindly, thirsty little seedlings when it's still cold out.

My tomatoes are a bit late this year. I started the seeds plenty early, but didn't put any of the plants out before the pre-flood rain started. After the pre-flood rain started, it was weeks before the ground was dry enough to work. These plants finally made it into the garden around the start of July, which is why the very first tomatoes are finally showing up in September.

The larger tomatoes are almost ready, too. I think the furthest-along slicing tomatoes (Big Beef) are just starting to tint orange. And even though the Romas I can see out my office window are still green, there are dozens of them on just one plant.

I love the part of the year when my tomato plants are loaded down with ripe fruit, ready to pick. That's why, even though today's cooler weather (under 70, in Iowa, in early September?) feels great, part of me is wishing for yesterday's bright, hot, humid weather. The tomatoes love it.