Ma Petite Tomates
How will they flourish from Vine to Table.....
The tomates are in the terre. And though it feels I was taking a long while to get to the task, it still is early May and many never plant legumes or the love fruit before the 15th of May. But we were enduring a hot dry spell, it felt like August, and when I regard ma plante de tomates with their burgeoning fleurs - I find myself longing to regard sun kissed morsels - enveloping flesh bonne bouche - and to gently reach into the vine and return to my kitchen with a bowl of plenty.
This year I have planted 7even plants of large tomates, all different varieties. I did not mark them so it will be a surprise when they shape into their skin. I also have 2wo cherry tomato plants - purchased at a brocante for 5ive 0ero centimes each. Recently je decouverte a custom locale. Men who control le jardin familial edibles do not like to plant cherry tomatoes near large tomatoes. Actually, they are not sure they are worthy of root in the garden at all. It is the femme who insists - and she is told to plant them amongst her flowers or in a patch far from the main plot dedicated to the legumes. I decided to research the history of the cherry tomato and it is interesting. I will not elaborate (I looked at the Smithsonian site for information) there is lots to learn but here I note that one country insist they invented the bite size beaute, and another country say no, it was us. Generally, it did not hit the western world until the 1980’s. And if a French man in the country has grown up in a gardening family, c’est normale to plant and eat everything their elders grew. It’s what they know, and what they want. Cherry tomates are a folly.
I adore all tomatoes, but I do love tomates cerise. Strolling about the garden on a fine day, you see a gem, pluck from the vine, and devour. You can make a quick sauce by melting butter and throwing in the tomates whole, add a bit of dry chili flakes and soon you will be saucing your polenta or pasta, rice or lentils. And they freeze beautifully. You place them on a tray - freeze, then place into a freezer bag or box. When Winter finds you longing for a taste of Summer, just pull out what you desire. Being they were individually frozen, you will have no issue with clumping.
The first summer I was here, before I moved into the atelier, and the house was trembling with the boots and hammers of a myriad of artisans, I planted tomates.
I was proud of my harvest. The next year I planted a great deal more, again, a crop of wonder en rouge. I try to alternate the plots of where I plant which is a good idea for any planting of edibles. These past few years with unusual weathering have been sad for my attempts of becoming a prospering femme de tomates, but I do not give up. This year I planted in the same plot as last year. Today they look to be runts. Mais, we all know when a runt is nourished and loved, it too can become grand and gracious.
I am choosing to be countrified French in my mannerisms and plant my tomate cerise in another plot, amongst fleurs et rhubarbe. And for the first time I will keep one in a pot - in the courtyard - for easy pickings - close to my kitchen.
Stay tuned for photos of growth, recipes to delight, and my continued prayers to mother nature.
I leave you with words from Sidney Poitier.
“ My father was a tomato farmer. There is the phrase that says he or she worked their fingers to the bone, well, that’s my Dad. And he was a very good man.”
Postscript - I write short essays for the next few weeks - my maison is full of folks from far and wide.
Vive les tomates of all sizes!