Back in January, I seeded tomatoes because I confidently was going to harvest tomatoes in June (for the record, it has happened in the past).
Today is July 12; have I harvested a tomato yet? No. Emphatically and sadly no. I mean a “real” tomato, a handful of cherry tomatoes absolutely do not count. This is what happens when you are unable to up-pot the seedlings as they grow, and grow, and grow.
I have however harvested a pumpkin. Yes, a pumpkin.

To add insult to injury from a volunteer pumpkin (the ones I planted are not as far advanced - by far! a reminder , if any, to plant seeds next year in April not in May)
The pumpkin was not fully ripe, but as the vine was dying off, I had to pick it. Because it is immature, it will not keep long. So I cut it up and baked it to pre-cook it (it is still firm, although cooked). An immature pumpkin is perfectly edible, the taste and texture a little closer to summer squash that winter squash. There’ll be lots of summery preparation for it - for it is, after all, just a squash…
I’ll saute chunks with shredded sage & butter; I’ll slice it thickly and grill the slices; I’ll slice it thinly and toss the slivers with a spicy dressing and lots of cilantro; cubes may even be sauteed in butter, finished with maple syrup and served with vanilla ice-cream. Who says pumpkin is for winter only? They are eaten all over the tropics and it’s hot there, you know….
This morning, as I was working in the lower garden, I noticed however that one Early Girl was definitively blushing. Maybe a tomato on July 15 after all? Or maybe we’ll have corn before tomatoes this year, the silk are turning brown…
Sigh…..