Deer Wars (My quest for the perfect tomato)

 

            A couple of years ago, I decided to feed my tomato obsession by starting all my  plants from seed. I decided on two varieties, my favorite, Siletz, and a new one that promised "Beef Steak size" tomatoes on a short season plant. I don't remember what that one was called. I started out with twelve plants, eight Siletz and four of the other variety.
            Mid-February found my kitchen windowsill covered with peat pots under a plastic cover. By March first, the cover came off and the grow light was added. On April fools day, I moved the little plants into small pots on the kitchen table, hanging the fluorescent light above. I dreamed of a greenhouse....

            The first weekend of May was The Day. The plants, now lush and nearly a foot tall would be moved to their final outdoor home. I had been hardening the plants off for the past week, moving them outside during the day, back in at night. The last two days, they had stayed out overnight. Tenderly, I tucked each root ball into the garden bed, surrounding each with a wire cage for future support. I studied the work with satisfaction. My hands held the faint fragrance of foliage and soil, and my back was a bit stiff. The first weekend in the garden was always hard and getting a little harder each year. 

            My teenaged children teased, "Mom is it really worth all this effort? You can buy tomatoes."

            I just smiled, "Not like these, you can't. Nothing tastes like a homegrown tomato."

            As spring turned to summer, the garden thrived. Peppers, cabbage, squash and beans all shared the sunlight with the tomato plants. Small green marbles turned into golf balls, then tennis balls. I watered, weeded, fertilized and mulched. My sons could mow the lawn, but I was very protective of my garden, my pride and joy. The tomatoes in particular were my babies.

            One morning I stepped through the gate to be met by twelve green sticks, plants eaten to nearly nothing. One had a single green globe dangling from the top branch. The beans were all but gone, each cabbage nibbled. Deer!

            Seeing tracks, I saw that the culprit had invaded by going under the deck. This was about two feet off the ground, with a narrow opening next to the steps. It had to wriggle along for ten feet to get to the garden. I was near tears. "All I ask for is this little patch of ground," I sighed in frustration. "The deer can have the other two acres, the whole rest of the island, even!"

            My husband hugged me sympathetically and patched the access point. Three of the plants still had some foliage. It was too late to start more from seed, so I replaced the rest from the nursery, supplementing with Early Girl. The beans were replanted and the cabbage trimmed.

            A couple of weeks passed, and the old tomatoes grew new leaves. The new tomatoes bloomed, the beans sprouted and the cabbage recovered. Again, I started having visions of a bountiful harvest. One night the garden gate was left unlatched. The next morning the bell peppers were eaten and four tomato plants were gone. This time I did cry. By now, the replacement variety didn't matter, I was determined to have a crop. Whatever was available at the Farmer's market would do. I had at least four different kinds in the garden, and I didn't care. I even had a grape tomato in a pot on the deck, just in case. Each morning I checked the perimeter of the fence. Each evening I made sure the gate was secure. A pellet rifle was placed strategically near the door, just in case.

            Our security measures finally worked. Summer wore on and fruit was set. The original three plants bloomed. By mid-August, there were about a dozen yellowish balls per plant.

            September came and the tomatoes began to ripen at last. Much of the fruit would never get past the green stage. Not nearly the bumper crop that I had envisioned when I started the seeds.. There would be no homemade sauce this year. There would only be enough for some salads, and maybe a bowl or two of fresh, spicy salsa.

            As I picked the last ripe, flavorful tomato in mid-October, I remembered the children's teasing and wondered if it was indeed worth the effort. Yes, I thought later, admiring the ruby red slices on a blue china plate, it was worth it. You really can't beat a homegrown tomato…and there's always next year for that stellar crop.

            Here are two of my favorite late summer salads, based on tomatoes, of course.

 

Tomato Salad  Marinate for several hours or overnight

Layer in the following order:

Perfectly ripe tomatoes, Sliced ¼ inch thick

Thin slices of sweet onion, red or yellow

Sprinkle with garlic powder, pepper and fresh chopped basil (or parsley)

Drizzle with 1½  tsp. good wine vinegar

Followed by 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil

Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired

Cover tightly and chill.

Just before serving, garnish with fresh basil leaves

 

Gazpacho Salad                 A Make-Ahead Salad that travels well.     

About 4 servings

½ cucumber, seeded

2 ripe tomatoes, seeded

1 green bell pepper, seeded

½ red onion, peeled

4 ribs celery

3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves or parsley

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 lime or ½ lemon, juiced (or 1 tbsp. lemon juice)

1 - 2 tsp chili sauce, mild to hot as desired

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cut cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, onion and celery into bite-sized chunks. Combine vegetable in a bowl. Sprinkle cilantro or parsley over the vegetables. Combine vinegar, lime or lemon juice and hot sauce in a small bowl. Whisk in extra-virgin olive oil in a slow stream. Pour dressing over the salad and toss. Season with salt and pepper.  Can be made a day ahead if kept tightly covered and chilled