September 3, 2010: Picking Cherries

I had to get out the 6' ladder today.  I needed it to pick cherries.  Cherry tomatoes, that is.


Black Cherry tomatoes are ripening at the roof line of the patio, as are the Amish Paste and Cherry Roma.  All three plants require use of the ladder for picking.


The lone zucchini is still trying to overtake the back yard.  One of this year's successes, this giant has given me more than 50 pounds of zukes, and doesn't look as though it's going to stop anytime soon.  I measured one of those huge leaves, it was 18" long and 22" wide. 


17 comments:

  1. I wish my zucchini as going insane like that. Sadly the borers got to it early and it has been struggling for a while. I'd pull it out but it gives me tiny zucchinis occasionally and without a zucchini glut they are precious.

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  2. Wow, those are some tomatoes. I too have been reflecting on last years garden and how it too looked so different. Perhaps that's the fun part, never knowing how the new season will unfold. Be careful on that ladder.

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  3. Don't you just love zucchini plants! Those cherry tomatoes are incredibly tall. I can't believe you can keep them upright.

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  4. Be careful! I have a fear of ladders while my husband is gone - I always think I'll fall and break my leg and my kids will just shrug and say "just leave her there" LOL

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  5. Ha! When I first looked at your post, I wondered what you were up to! Cherries in September? Sign me up! Beautiful plants, that's what gardening is all about.
    ~~Lori

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  6. Daphne, this is the first year ever for a decent zucchini harvest for me! I've always been a zuke failure in the past. I wonder if this one is doing so well because I dug my container full of compostables into the soil, and covered it with bagged cow poo. Whatever, it sure is a big 'un!

    *******
    Lorie, I think I'm more concerned about the garden being "pretty" than I am about it being "productive". As long as it stays pretty, I love working in it. Once it starts looking scraggly, and it's too late in the season to change it, I lose interest.

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    Ribbit, no, I usually don't love them. In a "normal" year, mine would be flattened by powdery mildew after giving me just enough zukes to make a loaf or two of bread. Last year I planted two or three hills and harvested 21 pounds. This one plant has now given me over 50 pounds, and it's still going strong.

    Those tomatoes are lashed to an 8' stake every foot or so. I have let a few branches get out of control recently, I need to go do some more lashing.

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    Erin, I'm the ladder person to go to around here. Mr. Granny can't stand to go up the first rung since he had a stroke. He gets dizzy, and I have to hang on to his britches to keep him balanced. He only ascends one when something that takes a lot of hand strength has to be done. Ladders don't bother me, probably because I've been the house painter, light bulb changer, ceiling fan cleaner, etc., for many, many years. And I only got stuck up on the roof that one time, so it's all good.

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    Lori, don't we wish we had a real cherry tree bearing fruit in September!

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    To all: I think I have OCD. I MUST have exactly 8 asterisks between comments. I can't help myself ;-)

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  7. I'm new to your blog. I wish I had that much Zucchini in the garden. By the way from your other post, everything you canned looks amazing! Have a great weekend! :)

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  8. Hmmmm, eight asterisks, huh? Then would **** be considered just a half-ast. job???
    ~~Lori

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  9. Priscilla, welcome to my blog! You have a great one, too.

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    Lori, you got that right. Granny doesn't do anything half asterisk!

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  10. I had a giant zucchini like yours last year and decided not to plant zucchini this year... It took over good 1/3 of my small vegetable garden. I wish I had a big garden like yours!

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  11. Congratulations on an abundant harvest! I've got two tomato plants that I put into the ground late in June. They've only recently begun to give me fruit, and each one I eat makes me so happy that I know where it comes from!

    jessyburke88@gmail.com

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  12. Tomomi, I think the zucchini plant will be going soon. We can't hardly get around it to walk down to the side gate! I hate to pull such a lovely plant, but we're getting rather tired of zucchini!

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    Jessica, how I wish I could share with you! I put a bag of tomatoes out by the street today, with a big FREE sign. Brought them back in tonight, no takers.

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  13. You got me Granny. I thought you were really picking cherries! LOL. I can't believe you need a ladder to pick cherry tomatoes. Wow.

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  14. LOL, Meems....who needs fruit trees when I have tomato trees!

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  15. Fancy having to get the ladder out to pick tomatoes... amazing!

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  16. Granny, my zucchinis also overtook the yard (half my patio) and I had to rip them out. I replanted, and maybe I'll get more before Thanksgiving. More zucchini bread!

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  17. Jan, I pulled out most of the other tall ones, and chopped a few down to where I can reach them. I like the tall ones around the patio, they make me feel like I'm sitting in a garden room.

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    Vic, mine is approaching the patio, and overtaking the path down the side of the house.

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