It’s your newbie gardener again, reporting live from the battlefield that is my backyard 😭😂
In my last gardening post (you can check it out here), I was so excited because my tomato plants had finally started fruiting. I was feeling like a proud plant mom. A whole queen of agriculture. I didn’t even think about seasonal changes; why are plants so delicate??
This morning, I was minding my business when I glanced out the window and saw my tomato plants looking… suspicious. Leaning. Sad. Confused. I went outside to investigate like CSI: Garden Unit, and boom, the leaves and stems were dry, crispy, and frozen. Some tomatoes were literally hard like ice cubes.
After a quick Google search (because where else would I go?), I realized I was supposed to shield them from the cold.
Shield them!!! Nobody told me that. 😩😭
Suddenly, all those words from Agricultural Science in high school came rushing back: annual, biennial, perennial…
And I remember thinking, “Abeg, I’m not going to be a farmer.”
Well, look at me now 🤡
No wonder all the garden creators on TikTok start planting from scratch every year; it didn’t even click that tomatoes are annuals. ANNUALS. Meaning one-season-and-you’re-done.
So yes… my tomatoes are gone. My basil is also gone (moment of silence please).
Only my mint and green onions survived; such warriors! I’ll have to bring them indoors, but I’m low-key scared the kids will use them to run a pretend kitchen and uproot them in the process.
My thriving mint
My thriving green onions
Just when I thought I had overcome all the struggles in this gardening journey… boom. Another setback.
Now I’m left with a bunch of green Roma tomatoes and zero clue what to do with them. But after some searching, I found out there are actually plenty of ways to use them, so all hope is not lost!
🍅 What to Do With Green Roma Tomatoes
If, like me, your tomatoes froze or never ripened, don’t throw them away! Green tomatoes can be used in so many recipes:
✔️ 1. Green Tomato Salsa Verde: Blend green tomatoes with onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime for a fresh salsa.
✔️ 2. Fried Green Tomatoes: A classic! Lightly coat in cornmeal or breadcrumbs and pan-fry until golden.
✔️ 3. Green Tomato Stew: Chop them into soups or stews; they add a tangy flavor.
✔️ 4. Pickled Green Tomatoes: A great way to preserve them and enjoy later.
✔️ 5. Let Them Ripen Indoors: Place the green tomatoes in a paper bag with a banana and store in a warm place. Ethylene gas will help them ripen.
See? My garden might have betrayed me, but at least I can still make something from the chaos.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Gardening humbles you in ways you don’t expect. One day you’re feeling like Plant Mom of the Year, and the next you’re googling “why are my tomatoes crunchy??”
But we move.
We learn.
We start again next season, but this time, with frost protection, and maybe even a greenhouse if my village people don’t stop me.
Until then, I’ll be indoors, protecting my mint and green onions like precious jewels. 🌱💀
