I just ate my first home-grown tomato and, boy, was it delicious!

I think tomatoes must be the most versatile vegetable/fruit in the world. I love them sliced on sandwiches and burgers, too. When I was young, my mother would slice up some that she had picked from our garden and we'd eat them, just sliced with salt or mayo, along with our lunch or dinner. "The simple things make people really happy" couldn't be more true! I think the only truly happy people in the world are those who can enjoy the simple things in life. One day you really MUST eat a fully ripe, freshly picked tomato. Nothing in the world compares to the taste and aroma! I grow a lot of different vegetables, but it's only the vine-ripened tomato that gives me such a rush.

I agree! Hope I get to grow some tomatoes soon.

Ah, bacon sandwiches! BLT's! Yummmmmmm! My hubby doesn't like to eat tomatoes by themselves because of the acid content, but he's happy to munch down on them when they're in a BLT or salad, or any other way. Sometimes two plants is more than enough. Not initially, of course, when one or two tomatoes ripen at the same time, but later in the season when they ALL ripen at once! That's when I make salsa or stewed tomatoes. I've never had them with fresh cucumbers but it sure sounds delicious! I'm definitely going to try that today! Thanks!!!

That's one of my favorite summertime dishes! Just sprinkle with a little salt and pepper to taste! Yumm!

Fried green tomatoes are so good. I had them for the first time this year! I slice my tomato then salt it and let it sit for about 30 minutes then drain them. Sprinkle with pepper dredge in flour then fry them up. They are soooooo good.

I've tried that, picking them when they're green once frost has been predicted and letting them sit in the windowsill. But they don't have that fully-ripened flavor. They taste like the ones you buy in a grocery store. I'm going to try fried green tomatoes this year. I've heard a lot of people say they love them and there's nothing like eating fried green tomatoes. So, I guess I'll give it a try this year. (I've only been growing tomatoes for about four decades now and have NEVER had fried green tomatoes!) I would love to trade with my neighbors, but the only people I can trade with would be my neighbors across the road... they "grow" steer, chickens and goats. LOL We live in the mountains and apparently are the only people around who grow vegetables. We just moved here last year, so I still have neighbors to meet, but the ones I have met don't grow their own vegetables. We have the only house around with enough open land to grow veggies. The others live in the woods. I am planning on giving my "overstock" to any of my neighbors who want them. Maybe I could trade with them anyway! I'll give them apples and they can make apple pies and give me one. Of course, maybe I could trade with my farmer neighbor... fruit and vegetables for some beef or chicken? Okay, a LOT of fruit and vegetables for some beef or chicken. I still have to meet those neighbors, though. I don't know if I'm too old to keep this up, but I do have health issues that limit my energy significantly (fibromyalgia, lupus and osteoarthritis). I will get a small patch of land ready one day, then plant some seeds the next day, and continue this until I have a lot of different vegetables growing. Doing a little bit each day, or even every other day, eventually produces a really nice garden! Maybe you could plant one or two tomato plants? It's very good for the spirit! There are a lot of vegetables that grow in containers very nicely. I wish you the best!

Nothing beats the flavor of home-grown! I agree totally. I've had the same experience as you with radishes. I love them, but the ones from the grocery store are pretty worthless as far as flavor goes. My husband loves my home-grown ones because he loves really hot foods. I'm growing one habanero pepper plant just for him. I wouldn't touch one of them!!! They claim to be the world's hottest pepper. Not for me! Nope! Nuh uh! No Way! But he'll love them! I'm growing potatoes for the first time in my life this year. I'm so excited about it! I can't wait for harvest time. I may just go out there soon and dig some up because I've very excited about them. They may be small right now, but I bet they taste great! If I do well with them this year, next year I'm going to grow some of those blue ones. I'm dying to make blue potato chips, blue french fries and blue potato salad, just to see the looks on everyones faces. Happy gardening!

Hi, your reply to my response was even better. I am sure you are in for a big surprise with the potatoes and they have the added advantage that they are a natural cultivator of the soil, so that patch of ground will even be better next year. All the best. Umart

Yes, I am noticing that; many people love growing their own vegetables and fruit! You are right in not being hard to please. I have learned to take great pleasure in the simple things that life has to offer. I LOVED your comment about your "accidental" tomato plant! Those are the best kind, in my opinion.

I used to live in the same environment like you have now.It was in 1983 when we built our first house and we planted all seeds that i got from a shop.Planted different trees as well.My 3 kids then was young and they enjoyed the fruits like mango,guava ,sour sop,papaya,santol,coconut tree and different kinds of vegetables too.Well that was just good memories of the past.All we have now is plant boxes.Since my kids have the life of their own.My husband and I have to be contented to plant in the rooftop on old pails and drums.I imagine myself now in your garden is like in paradise which I only read in books.I can imagine me and my hubby sitting together watching your fruit bearing trees.Happy to see them in my dreams.

Aw, thank you! It looks like, if I'm crazy, then there are an awful lot of other crazies out there, too! LOL I've eaten tomato sandwiches that way many, many times! Sometimes I just can't wait to get the lettuce out. Sometimes I just want a tomato and mayo sandwich. My husband looks at me like I'm nuts. He just doesn't understand, poor thing. He says that tomatoes, eaten alone, give him acid indigestion. I can understand that, since tomatoes are packed with acid. But, to me, it's worth a whole bottle of Rolaids to eat those freshly picked tomatoes!

Oh hell YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Thank you for the BR my friend!!!

I agree. All home-grown vegetables taste so much better than store-bought. Also, you can know for sure that no chemicals were used on them. I LOVE home-grown spinach, too! Yummmy!

It's funny, but I've never had fried green tomatoes! I had a neighbor once who begged me each year to give her my green tomatoes once frost was predicted because she loved them so much. She always told me that I should try them. I have a lot of tomatoes growing in all stages of ripeness. Tons of them are still green. I just may give them a try! Do you have any suggestions on how to prepare them? I've never done it and would love my first experience to be a memorable one!

I think the firm green ones are best for fried green tomatoes. I just wash them and slice them about 1/4 inch thick. I mix up some flour, salt, pepper, and paprika in a bowl and put some milk in another bowl. I dunk the tomatoes in the milk and then coat them in the flour and put them in a pan with about a 1/4 inch of oil. Fry them up until they start to brown and drain on a paper towel. I sometimes add a little extra salt when I am eating them.

That's so true! You just can't beat the flavor of home-grown! I love gardening, but I sure wouldn't mind it if someone gave me some fruits/vegetables that they grew! Unfortunately, I seem to be the only person I know (at least around where I live) who grows more than just tomatoes. But, that's okay. I love gardening! I call it my 'therapy'. LOL It's great to work out frustrations, calm down when angry, perk up when depressed and get tired enough to get a great night's sleep.

Oh, my, yes! I'm growing many different fruits and vegetables! I have all kinds of fruit and nut trees. Most are not mature enough to produce fruit this year, but I just recently "found" a mature peach tree and pecan tree on our property! I was so excited when I saw them! There are dozens of peaches on the tree and hundreds of pecans. I can't wait until they are ready to eat! I also have strawberries, kiwi, raspberries, blueberries, dewberries and blackberries growing. My vegetables include tomatoes, potatoes, corn, carrots, radishes, onions, celery, peppers, asparagus, cucumbers, beans, squash and pumpkins. Next year, I hope my garden will be twice as big. But there is just something about that first home-grown tomato that makes all the work for a garden worth the trouble.

Please let me know when you get your first ripe one! I know that feeling of anticipation. I had it, too! Nothing beats home-grown! I think it's partly because they taste better, are healthier for you, fresher, and you know if chemicals have been put on them or not. But it's also partly the pride you feel when you've grown your own food. I hope you don't have to wait too long for that first tomato!

I agree! Freshly picked tomatoes with only salt and pepper! Yummy!!! I hope you get some nice, ripe ones soon! I can already see your face as you bite into that first one. I've already picked about 4 dozen of the little ones. I'm growing these weird looking yellow "cherry" tomatoes that look kinda like a light bulb. My husband says they look like tiny little gourds. I don't care what they look like, they taste great! I've had about a gazillion salads now with lots of those little tomatoes in them.

Aww, I'm so sorry for you! I've noticed that some people have green thumbs and others couldn't get green if they dyed them! My husband is like that... he couldn't grow a weed! Home-grown cucumbers... ah, you've made me want one right now!

That is the best kind of growing, when it happens all by itself! That is wonderful to hear, pehpot! You have every right to be proud of yourself, too! Growing your own vegetables is so rewarding. They taste better mostly because they are allowed to ripen on the vine. The ones you buy in the market are picked when they are not quite ripe and haven't developed their full flavor yet. But I think that part of what makes them taste so good when you grow them yourself is the fact that YOU grew them; YOU made something grow from a seed to a full-grown vegetable. That experience can't be beaten! It is so rewarding!

Yes, fresher! I'd forgotten about that. They are fresher and healthier than store-bought because their vitamin content continues to increase the longer they grow. Quality, taste, aroma, all of these things are better from your own garden!

Yep, there's something about working for it. It makes it so rewarding! I sometimes just sit on my deck and look at my veggie garden with a smile on my face. It wears me out, working in the garden, but the rewards are well worth it! One of these days maybe you'll be the gardener and your son or daughter will be helping you water and weed! Once you've tasted "home-grown" it's hard to go back to store-bought! Watch out, though; gardening can be addictive!

Hahaha! Fried green tomatoes MUST be good! I just responded to the response above yours about just that! I totally agree with you about the tomatoes in the stores. They shouldn't even be called tomatoes because their taste nowhere near compares to what you grow in your garden! I'm going to try frying some of those green ones I have... maybe even tonight. They sound like they would go great with porkchops, which is what I'm planning for tonight. Try real hard to let at least two of those tomatoes ripen. One will only make you want more, so it's always good to have at least two. LOL

The home-grown tomatoes taste so much better because the ones in the stores are picked green so they don't spoil when they're being shipped. The flavor stops developing as soon as they are picked. They may keep ripening after they're picked, but they never get the flavor of vine-ripened tomatoes.

Thank you for reassuring me that I'm not crazy! I just got a recipe for baked mozzarella tomatoes. It sounds so yummy I think I'm going to have to try it very soon! Well, that is assuming I don't eat my ripe tomatoes before I have a chance to bake them! I'm glad that you have someone who gives you home-grown tomatoes. They are soooo much better than what you buy in the stores! Enjoy!

Ah, I had forgotten about strawberries! I've been so wrapped up in my first tomato! LOL You are so very right about strawberries. They, also, MUST be picked from the plant fully ripened in order to get their true flavor and aroma! Sometimes, they look so good and inviting in the grocery store that I have to buy some. Usually, though, they taste a bit bitter or sour. I have an ever-expanding strawberry patch and can sit out there and get stuffed just picking them and popping them into my mouth right there. Now you've made me want strawberries! I guess I'll have to go outside to see if any are ripe yet.