Flavour in the garden: growing tomatoes

I have a confession to make. Until a couple of years ago, I never really used to like tomatoes. Cooked, yes. Fresh? No way. But, knowing they contain wonderful antioxidants and vitamins, I persisted, trying them with mozzarella, splashed with salad dressing, even just slightly warmed to make them softer and less 'bursty'.

And now? I like them but I'm not one to eat cherry tomatoes like grapes or classic tomatoes without a dash of dressing or lump of cheese. I'm working on it.

One way I thought I'd try to boost my love for tomatoes it is to grow them myself. Perhaps cultivating my very own crop of tommies might make me appreciate the fruit a little more and, with some on tap, it'll give me more opportunity to acquire a taste for them.

So, mid-spring I bought four plants just a few centimetres high. I planted them, watered them, fed them, and waited. Thankfully with all the sun we've had this spring/summer, my four baby plants soon grew, and grew, and grew.

I tied each one to bamboo canes and kept up watering and feeding as much as I could - not withstanding a two-week holiday at the end of May, which left the poor things a little wilted. Still, they soon became stronger and a few weeks later began sprouting tiny yellow flowers, and then, actual mini tomatoes. They were green of course and actually still are but they're growing bigger by the day and hopefully will soon start to turn that wonderful jewel-like red, ripe for picking.

Do you grow tomatoes? What's your crop been like this year? Would you like to share your tomato-growing tips? Please get in touch with your tommie story! I'd love to hear from you.