Those tomatoes, though!

   Just a week ago, I was lamenting the fact that the winter garden had mostly quit producing and had to be discarded.  There are a few cabbages left, an occasional beet and perhaps one more picking of the green peas but, other than that, the garden had given up the ghost.  In fact, yesterday, the wheelbarrow was loaded with discards as I cleaned the rows to plant the summer garden. 

  A couple of weeks ago, an experiment took place under the spent cauliflower plants.  About a dozen seedling tomatoes were set in the same row as the cauliflower.  The large leaves of the old plant would serve as a "tent" for the tiny plants.  Perhaps this would give me a jumpstart on the season!  I figured that the tomato plants would have shelter from the frosty nights that we were still having.  It boiled down to either giving the plants a longer growing season or killing off a handful of seedlings.  

  I am happy to say that the plot agreed with the plants!  Those tomato crates are already brimming over with greenery and, lo and behold, BABY TOMATOES!  Yep, today, I found dozens of marble sized tomatoes.  My experiment worked out grandly.  Since it was storming today, the garden chores were put on hold but tomorrow will find me setting out the remaining 30 tomato plants and planting squash and green beans.  With the way prices are rising, the garden may be a sure necessity.