Tomato Time

Growing tomatoes was a big deal on our farm. We always grew a couple acres of this very marketable crop. Having planted then in early May, the little plants were nurtured for close to two months by this time. We staked each one and tied them up carefully. They were also suckered leaving only the main stem which held the very largest and juicy tomatoes. Fourth of July was when we expected to harvest our first tomato. This is early for Pennsylvania and Dad always was proud of the fact that we had a few ripe ones by Independence Day. They brought a good price and now Mom Deimler's peddle route had a new vegetable available for the Middletown customers.