It’s summertime in the south, where a tomato sandwich is the holy grail of lunches. My garden isn’t failing me and I’m not failing my garden. But today, I had to buy tomatoes from the grocery store.

Fresh garden tomato sandwich a few weeks ago

I have a vegetable garden here in the Lowcountry and it is almost mid-July which means it is sweltering hot. It also means that certain vegetables really struggle to produce. Between unforeseen circumstances in my personal life and a stink bug pest problem, my tomatoes are having a rough life this year as it is.

Something you probably know if you grow tomatoes is that 90 degree weather several days in a row starts to make the plants suffer. So regardless of my lack of attention in the garden, this is normal for most tomato plants to start looking dreadful about this time in the south.

But thinking about the yummy heirloom tomato varieties I could be eating instead of the flavor-lacking store bought tomato is a bit depressing.

Paul Robeson heirloom tomato

Gardening is an interesting hobby because it always has something to give, even when it isn’t giving you what you really want at the moment. For instance, our Sugar Baby watermelon plants are going crazy climbing up the arch trellis they’re planted under, and the birds, bees, and butterflies that are enjoying the flower and vegetable blossoms are both entertaining and beneficial.

Sugar Baby watermelon

So even though I had to buy tomatoes today, I am still thankful for the opportunity to grow and enjoy a garden.

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– Tori