So, this is what's developing, on my kitchen window sill

[Siwsan]

I think it was late October when I found a tiny "volunteer" tomato plant popping up in my front garden. So, what the heck, I dug it up and potted it. Now it is full of blooms. I have no hope that anything will develop but I admire its resilience.

[Backseat Driver]

1. Photo titled: Hope in Winter?

Crank up the heat, humidity, and full-spectrum lighting indoors, LOL, and give the blooms a little shake or let in a confused bee (practically even hard to find in the summer). Either way, it will keep you motivated until the seed catalogs get mailed out and Burpee packets for 2020 appear in the stores, no?

[Siwsan]

3. Those yellow blossoms do make me smile. And, I'm already planning my garden.

My niece and her new hubby have moved back to Michigan, from Florida, and they are going to be joining in with my garden, this year. I have a BIG fenced in space and have only been using part of it.

I'm going to start the tomatoes and sweet peppers, late in March. The summer squash in April. We will probably do winter squash, too. Then, since they develop so fast, last will be the peas and beans. And there will still be space for something new.

I'm getting my grow light set up to get more herbs started, too. Growing things always gives me hope.

[onethatcares]

2. use a small paint brush

to tickle the flowers. You might get some fruit.

[Siwsan]

4. And, I just happen to have one of those!

Thanks!

[onethatcares]

5. they're easier

to get than a bee this time of year.

[Siwsan]

6. So true. It's not THAT unseasonably warm. Close, though.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Get it a grow bulb, it's a cash cow

Tomatoes can be $1.50 a piece in winter.

[Siwsan]

9. True. But I'm prepared.

I've got a stash of stewed tomatoes, from my garden, in the freezer, just waiting for me to get creative with soups, stews and casseroles and a couple of jars of sun dried, too.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Oh, envy, envy.

I no longer use canned tomato sauce, too concentrated, so I go with fresh. One tomato, one personal pizza.

[EveHammond13]

13. so true! plus they taste terrible. home grown are the best by far.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. tomatoes self pollinate, so you may see fruit develop

flower type indicates a cherry tomato.

[Siwsan]

11. That would really make my day!

I just have this 'thing' about digging up and potting or transplanting each and every volunteer tomato plant I see. Finding them really makes me smile.

When I first moved into this place, I hadn't planned on planting anything, since I'd never had a veg garden. But my uncle always had tomatoes, and the year after he died, the garden sprung to life with all sorts of different tomato varieties. That was a really interesting experience. From that point, on, I self taught and have had gardens, ever since.

[vsrazdem]

10. The resilience of nature is amazing.

[EveHammond13]

12. I'm jealous!

[sarge43]

15. The scent of tomato leaves whisper "summer". n/t