There's Ripeness in the Air

I've been spending a lot of time huddling inside, wearing ugg boots and moaning about the weather. The garden, though, has been getting on with its business. In spite of the crazy changes in temperatures, gusty winds, and general lack of summerness, there's fruit on them there bushes, and some of it is starting to ripen.

One tomato in the hot sheltered corner, with the others waiting patiently in line until it's their turn to blush.

Surprise Lebanese cukes. I thought this vine was finished fruiting, but when I went to pull it up, I found these two beauties, as well as a couple more flowers, dangling from the end of the plant. It lives for another couple of weeks at least.

The mystery macho squash. Self seeded in clay, once on death's door after being dug up by the dog, and now about three meters long, healthy as a horse, and growing half a dozen of these fruit. If anyone recognizes them, please let me know what they are.

This eggplant bush gives me a rush every time I see it. Such soft touchy leaves, such gorgeous shiny black fruits. The biggest are only the size of an average lemon, but they're ready for picking. I'm sensing a spicy eggplant relish to dollop on lamb rack. That sounds like a good Friday night menu.

Anyway, back to the tomatoes. Yes this is a tomato. Green sausage by name, green sausage by nature. I didn't hold up much hope for these guys. The seedlings were spindly and looked quite pathetic. And the adult plant was like no tomato I've seen before.

It's wild and lacey. It can't be tied up. Any attempt to train or tame it results in the stem snapping. These are really fragile plants, they appeared not to be fruiting, and for a while there I considered tossing them. Then one day, when I was having a good close look...

... I saw they were absolutely covered with sausage shaped green fruit. They're almost impossible to see because they're the same colour as the leaves. They don't feel ripe yet, but they are not far away.

It's this time of the year that I'm glad about my impractical approach to buying and planting tomato seeds. Sure the garden is a tomato glut waiting to happen, but look at all this magic:

Sadly, this one has lost its name tag. But wow. I want to call it Count Curliqueue or some such.

These black cherry tomatoes have the most alarming hair dos. All swished up and flipped.

A black zebra in the making. Another tomato with great hair.

The romas are probably my favourites. They are so elegant, so beautiful, so Italian. And so good slow roasted with oil and thyme.

The tomatillos are here again. The paper bags are a lovely touch, aren't they? I think they must be a protection mechanism. Tomatillos have sticky skin, and if they weren't protected they'd probably get all covered in dust and bugs -- like fly traps. Anyway, they're quirky, they grow like mad and they make amazing fire grilled salsa. Winners.

I think I'm going to have a tomato festival in a few weeks. Watch this space.

If you want a crash course in growing your own tomatoes, here you go: Tomatoes 101