I picked six cherry tomatoes last week from the lone plant hanging on from 2023. The January harvest reflects our gentle winters in the subtropical southern United States.
The plant had struggled for weeks in 40-to-60ish temperatures but somehow drew strength to make the latest fruits.
And its last. Temperatures fell w-a-a-a-y low this week – to 22 degrees one morning and 18 the next.
“Piffle!” friends up north would say if I’d dared to ask. “That’s nuttin’.”
They’d be right. My purpose isn’t to humble brag (tomatoes in winter!) or whine (woe are we!). It’s to rejoice.
I survived more winters in the Land of Real Winters than I’ve enjoyed here, in this Paradise of Fake Winters.
I’ve done all the winter biggies – minus zero temps for days, snow daily for weeks, white-out blizzards, black ice.
But rejoice?
Yes! Because survival in the Land of Real Winters requires a big coat and hat. And I still have mine. I dug out ’em out this week.
And let me say: without ’em, I’d look shriveled and spent.
Like my tomato plant.
More about winter
A cockamamie scheme for winter
Hahaha!