REFLECTIONS
PLANTING TOMATOES
Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
Tomatoes from Dr. Oropilla’s garden
S
he came with a few selected seedlings
and the simple paraphernalia to plant
them- a spade, a trowel, and a pair of
garden gloves. She was going to surprise a
friend who had postponed planting tomato
plants past Derby Day because of back pain.
Surely this spring time ritual must not be
interrupted.
It seems such a mundane task, planting,
watering, and staking tomato plants and waiting until the tiny
yellow flowers turn into luscious red fruits hiding under the vines
come July. Not so, however, when there is a friendly rivalry among
peers on who will be able to show off the first fruits and vice versa,
gather the last useful crop to can or freeze.
Timing is of the essence therefore, plant too early, and a single
late spring frost wilts them. Plant too late, and an early autumn frost
turns the last crop into transparent mushy balls. Besides throughout
the nigh 35 years of this activity, it has taken on an emotional hue
of hope tinged with memories happy, humorous, or sad. The joy of
seeing young grandchildren once full of wonder, proudly fin