Can these tomatoes be saved?

they're scrawny and rootbound, but they're mine

Boss: The tomato plants out front are free. We got reimbursed for them.

Us: But it's practically August. It's too late to plant tomatoes.

Boss: That's why they're free.

Us: (pulling out cell phones) Hey, it's me... you want any tomatoes?

I told myself I wouldn't be growing any more tomatoes this year. I even gave homegrown seedlings away back in April. But the lure of free plants was just too strong, so a Beefsteak and Early Girl ended up taking up residence in a patch of dust in the backyard this evening. We'll see what a little compost and more root space can do for these undernourished underdogs... probably not much, but at least they have a fighting chance.

Elsewhere on the tomato front, the San Marzanos have hit five feet:



Last year's plants overwhelmed their tiny girly wire cages and flopped over mid-July, so this year, I adopted a more disciplined approach to staking. The Florida Weave system is all the rage on the tomato forums, and so far, it's working really well with very little time invested in maintenance. Every few days, I tuck a few branches into the pre-tied twine... and that's it! The vines are well-supported, and the tomatoes are easy to find and reach.

What's most important: it beats trying to wrestle a six-foot tomato vine off the ground every day, hands down!