and back to the drawing board…
So what should I expect after violating one of the tried and true rules: If things are going really well, don’t brag about it.
It had been a remarkable tomato year, and maybe I kinda gloated down below there. Really, really should’ve known better.
Just before midnight last night, a big-time thunderstorm whammed us. It went on for hours, with lots of close lightening strikes amid a downpour.
A big downdraft of wind caught the tomato garden by surprise, and shoved three of five rows of 7- to 8-foot caged and staked plants onto their sides. At least a couple of the main stems, which are almost as big around as a quarter, were broken at ground level. Lots of large stems bearing big, green fruit were broken. Weirdly, each tomato cage was twisted about a quarter-turn, in a way that in most cases separated the vertical wire from a couple of the bottom horizontal wire hoops.
I was able to right all the plants, but they’re wobbling inside weakened cages, probably meaning that each strong wind from here on out will flatten the plants again. Add to that the fact that the entire lengths of the plants were laying in the dirt and most likely will pick up any soil-borne disease therein.
So I’m guessing a 30% to 50% crop loss. That’s what happens when you tempt fate.
Or underestimate, once again, the strength that’s required to hold up these huge vines.
Next year: Cages made from horse fencing with metal fence posts pounded into the ground as anchors.
This week: Lots of fried green tomatoes.
