So far the “Tomato Teepee” structure has done it’s job this year. I am thankful for this year’s harvest already and we are just getting started. If you click on any of the pictures, you can get a closer view and perhaps see more tomatoes and less foliage. I try not to let the indeterminate plants grow too tall so that the plant can focus on sending nutrients to the tomatoes. Every year is a learning year and this year is no different. One thing I will do differently next year is to not use up a number of pots for something I haven’t grown before. I think I used 5 or 6 fabric “grow pots” on a new variety (for me) that is supposed to be a beefsteak tomato. I thought they would be larger but you can see them on the left of the picture. They have good bunches but they aren’t the size I was looking for. After I harvest most of the ones in those 5 or 6 pots, I already have some “Garden Peach” tomato seedlings that I will plant in the same pots. Garden Peach tomatoes are long keepers that will last deep into the winter.
There are all kinds of things you can use to support tomatoes. Here I have used an old box spring frame.
To support tomatoes I have used simple wire fencing here.
These are “Cosmonaut Volkov” tomatoes that I will be taking to my neighbor, Tom, later today. This year, I have also used seed that I saved from some “Better Boy” tomatoes from 2021. They have done very well. Also, a nice surprise is how large the Roma tomatoes have grown this year. A Roma is a paste tomato that we eat mostly in pasta salads. The sweetest cherry tomato I have ever tasted is a Sun Gold Cherry tomato and they are prolific as usual.
That’s the update for now on the 2026 planting season. There are other things going on. I’ve let the snow peas go to seed. The pepper plants are looking good and the Jerusalem Artichokes haven’t shown their flowers yet but they are loving the rain we’ve had. I’ve enjoyed watching the design of God in all that grows.
12 “The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.” -Genesis 1
Chris Reimers
Wings of the Wind 
I enjoyed the tomato patch update! I hope you get a good crop. My, you know your varieties. Our next door neighbor George has a tomato patch in his front yard, but it’ll be awhile. Tomatoes take much longer up here in Western New York.
Thank you for the well wishes, Tom, and for your comment. The goal is to be able to eat at least one meal a day that has mostly tomatoes in it. My wife makes pasta salads and salsa. I’m on about my second or third week of tomato meals so things are looking good. I hope George gets a good crop so he can share some with you. I’m guessing that many buy their seedlings there to cut down on the time until harvest. I used to start seedlings indoors in February and use grow lights but I don’t bother with that anymore. I start my seeds outside when it warms up because of the long growing season. I used to be in a hurry to get them early but it seems I have fewer pests by going “natural” and by the end of the season I’m ready for a tomato break anyway.
Very impressive, Chris. Do you and your wife can or freeze some? I’ve had trouble with fabric grow pots in Colorado. It’s just too dry here.
Thank you, Sue. My wife has frozen them in the past but I’m hoping to give enough away that we don’t have too many left over. I have started seedlings for a long keeper tomato and the window shelf will have those on them usually until the first month of 2027.
It’s too bad that it is too dry there for the fabric grow pots. It might be a bit too humid here as lichens will grow on the outside of the older pots. Still, they work great. I use small white grow bags to start seeds. That might be something what will work for you.
Thank you for your kind comment!
❤️
so fantastic! 💚
Thank you, Linda!
always a pleasure! 🙂
😊
Thank you for sharing your lovely garden and growing techniques with us. I love tomatoes! Sometimes we cook fresh tomatoes. Sauté some garlic in olive oil, dice the tomatoes and add to pot. Add salt and oregano. As tomatoes start to soften just mash them a little with a fork. Cooks in a very shot time. Spoon over to pasta and sprinkle with a little Locatelli Romano grated cheese. Delicious! Crushed red pepper too if you like it a little spicy. I can’t tolerate the spice anymore. Those days are over for me. 🙂
Oh, my. That sounds wonderful, Cathy. We’ll have to try cooking them like that…thank you for sharing.
I don’t grow garlic but I do grow something that tastes similar. It’s called elephant garlic and it’s more related to a leek but I like them. They are generally similar tasting and milder than garlic is and they will grow about anywhere.
You’re welcome for any ideas you may get from my techniques. Thank you for your kind words. Maybe one of these pictures will help others to use their imagination a bit when staking tomatoes.