<![CDATA[I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April.]]>I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. Making sure they get enough sun, enough shade, enough water. Protecting them from the wind. Talking to them. Here are the fruits of my labour. Of their labour. The full five-month harvest. Well, that'll get me through the first 11 minutes of the climapocalypse, I suppose. Once again, my balcony harvest reminds me how important farmers and communal food sources are.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/41c17685-a555-45b5-ba90-9ea369092d01/i-ve-been-giving-my-tomato-plants-tender-loving-care-since-april.RSS for NodeSun, 16 Aug 2026 12:32:59 GMTSun, 16 Aug 2026 09:07:37 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:24:32 GMT]]>@CiaraNi i've a wee south-facing glass house against a white wall, hours of light. only grow tiny varieties. switched to using growbags this year - good move, fair yield. ruthlessly cut back any non-flowering stems. Water water water. taste one or two as they grow, but make wee batches of sauce for winter to be reminded of summer. might try hydroponics next year (said that two years ago already).

most important result is grandchildren learning about photosynthesis

keep sowing, keep sharing ♥️🍅

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/magsamond/statuses/117104697208575600https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/magsamond/statuses/117104697208575600Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:24:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:02:39 GMT]]>@CiaraNi they look delicious though!
If you would like any tomato growing top tips for next year, I’d be happy to share some.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.scot/users/Hellybootwader/statuses/117104611152285576https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.scot/users/Hellybootwader/statuses/117104611152285576Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:02:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:01:18 GMT]]>@CiaraNi

"Rhapsody in Red" they are so cute!

As you described the experience of growing, nursing, watering etc. is worth it. I love it too.
Some sorts are perfect for balconies others aren't. I wish you a fantastic crop next year. 😄🍅

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://dizl.de/users/AgatheBleibtDaheim/statuses/117104605807486171https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://dizl.de/users/AgatheBleibtDaheim/statuses/117104605807486171Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:01:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:58:31 GMT]]>@CiaraNi When the tomato emoji is bigger than the actual tomato… 😉

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/arratoon/statuses/117104594908166037https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/arratoon/statuses/117104594908166037Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:58:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:54:02 GMT]]>@CiaraNi I got a bunch of tiny tomatoes from a plant a friend gave me. They looked wonderful. So healthy and ready to bloom.

I put them outside, got half eaten by tiny black flies, pruned the heck out of them, got them inside.

Tomatoes look unscathed but all branches were cut and they look like some lanky teen who lost the genetics lottery.

Food is hard.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/hemlockcookie/statuses/117104577254061840https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/hemlockcookie/statuses/117104577254061840Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:54:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:43:32 GMT]]>@CiaraNi Small but beautifully formed. Enjoy!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Jillybee/statuses/117104535980894699https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Jillybee/statuses/117104535980894699Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:43:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:35:33 GMT]]>@CiaraNi @BNorbury What variety are you growing? We normally do gardeners delight. We've also had tumbling toms in the past, which might be good for a balcony situation. Remembering to keep them watered has been the challenge this year.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/kbm0/statuses/117104504552931271https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/kbm0/statuses/117104504552931271Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:35:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:22:13 GMT]]>@arratoon 🍅

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104452112863879https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104452112863879Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:22:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:21:22 GMT]]>@BNorbury 'Disappointing' - that's it. Although that said, I enjoyed trying. Five months of watching over the plants like a helicopter parent was more interesting than five minutes running to the corner shop to buy some tomatoes. I shall keep trying! As you say, home-grown tastes good.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104448819988495https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104448819988495Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:21:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:15:00 GMT]]>@CiaraNi We grew tomatoes once very successfully in similar circumstances back in 1975 (?) We have tried several times since. Every time the results could be described as "disappointing ". It’s tricky but some people manage it. Home grown can taste really nice.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/BNorbury/statuses/117104423793943969https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/BNorbury/statuses/117104423793943969Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:15:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:14:21 GMT]]>@CiaraNi Excellent. Well done.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/arratoon/statuses/117104421205011750https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/arratoon/statuses/117104421205011750Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:14:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I’ve been giving my tomato plants tender loving care since April. on Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:09:31 GMT]]>Tin of tomatoes for scale

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104402191819331https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/CiaraNi/statuses/117104402191819331Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:09:31 GMT