This is my garden at my neighbor’s house. Her husband used to grow tomatoes and cucumbers there, but it hasn’t been used since he passed away a few years ago, so she offered it to me to fix up and use to grow vegetables. It backs up to her garage.
It’s sunnier and more sheltered than any spot in my yard so I planted blue beech tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons (as well as a giant amaranth that volunteered from compost). It’s been a cold summer in Northern California and everything is very late producing but the first tomatoes are nearly ready and the cucumbers are just a few days off.
Well, my neighbor found termite damage in her garage and when they took up the floorboards they found extensive water damage as well. It’s accumulated over years, apparently, and they think it has more to do with water pooling in the back corner during the rainy season, but having a garden bed against the foundation isn’t helping it. I have to stop watering it today and we’ll have to take it out sometime in the next week. Obviously I mostly feel bad for my neighbor, who has to replace the whole floor of the garage (we’re going to help pay for it since it was partly my fault) but selfishly I am mourning the loss of all the produce that could have been. My only surviving melon plant has just started flowering (honestly probably too late for us to get anything from it). The cucumbers are still too little for anything but pickling. I don’t even know if there’s any use for these tiny green tomatoes; I think only four of the tomatoes are big enough to ripen fully off the vine. I’m so bummed.
by Due_Fruit_5993
18 Comments
Ohhh that would hurt my soul having to tear out my garden. 💔
Sorry to hear that. But it’s a good reminder to everyone to not plant gardens against the sides of houses.
That’s not your fault you shouldn’t pay for it out of guilt.
I’m sorry! Can you try moving them to containers? They might not survive but maybe worth a shot? I’ve been rough with many of my plants this year..some have survived against all odds
I’m not sure how it’s partly your fault? She offered up the space and you just took her up on the offer. Maybe try to repot? And you can pick all the green tomatoes. Ugh such a bummer, I feel for you
You’re kind to help your neighbor pay for it, but it’s seriously not your fault since it’s a bed that has been in constant use for years rather than something that was just put in this year.
Plus they have *standing water* in a basement that has *floorboards.* And apparently took no action to mitigate that.
If you have any space for it, the tomatoes will likely survive being transplanted, although they might drop all of their existing fruits and flowers. And you might as well transplant the rest just to see what survives. Nature’s pretty metal and you might be surprised.
While this is a bummer, the great thing about gardens is that you get to start anew every year.
Consider all the progress a learning opportunity for the next garden. You have done so well and you can do it again!!! 🙂
Your tomatoes will ripen off the vine.
I know there’s a lot of back and forth about tomatoes ripening on/off the vine. Let me just say that I pick mine the second I catch them blushing or else the neighborhood critters(raccoon and rabbit) will eat them for me.
If the garden had been there, in use, for years, and the water mostly came from the back corner where water pools, *and* there’s termite damage:
This is *Not Your Fault. You Do Not have to help Pay*.
If you are helping from the kindness of your soul, you can afford to, and it is a reasonably small amount like, say, 20%? That’s very nice and a good way to assist a lady down on her luck who generously shared space & water with you for free. But you are in no way obligated to do this, as this was already here and occurred before you began.
Soak them (for at least an hour) and carefully dig them up. Put them in a pot no bigger than the rootball. This will minimize transplant shock and you’ll save more plants that you think!
The tomatoes are small, but you can pick them, put several tomatoes in a brown bag with an apple and continue till they are bagged. They should turn red, albeit will tale several weeks. Just put them on your counter and ignore them. They are great then to freeze and use for chilling, soups and stews.
Just pick what you can and say goodbye
🫂
Try moving everything to containers.
Also having soil and plants right up the foundation of a home is never recommended. Its not your fault there was an established garden here that you were invited to use. The situation is a bummer for everyone involved but I don’t think you should feel guilty.
You are an amazing friend for offering to help pay for it! So sorry for your impending loss.
I dug my tomato plant up a few months ago and pruned it. It is starting to bloom again! Grab some 5 gallon buckets and try to keep your garden! I don’t think non-plant people understands how we feel about our plants!🥹❤️
I wouldn’t be paying for anything
Exceedingly generous of you to pay as one season of a few months watering did OT cause that problem. And as you stated her husband had done this too and she offered it to you for this purpose. So you’re a very nice person if your contribution is more than a gift card.