When tomatoes are in season we know it’s summer. Every gardener seems to have their own technique and relationship to growing the round luscious fruit. Yes, fruit. Did you know that tomatoes are technically a fruit? They are botanically categorized as a fruit, but the tomato is commonly grown and used as a culinary vegetable. And while we will never put her in a fruit salad, we can always trust the plump juicy jewel of the summer garden to refresh and remind us of simpler times. If you’ve ever experienced a quintessential southern summer then you know the recipe for a classic tomato sandwich. If you are tilting your head in curiosity, trust us. Go get some white bread, mayonnaise, and a window sill ripened tomato, assemble, and thank us later.  For many of us, tomato sandwiches are the symbol of summer.  And as much as we love the traditional sandwich, there is something to be said for taking that tomato to the next level.  Here are some great ideas to elevate the classic tomato sandwich.

If you can only do one thing for your tomato sandwich, make sure you add Basil!

It's no secret that spreads will take your sammy to the next level! Try savory jams like pepper jelly or a little something sweet like apple butter on your next tomato sandwich.

Think about hearty breads like Ciabatta or Focaccia. How about an 'Everything Bagel’ with an egg?

Add depth by including a slice of cheese. Our favorites are pepper jack and gouda. Don't forget that cream cheese counts too.

Propagating Tomatoes For A Second Chance Harvest

Need a second chance in your garden?  You’re in luck!  In July and August, we can replant many of our spring veggies, including tomatoes.  Cherry tomatoes are a great option as they are naturally heat tolerant and don’t slow down in the 90 degree days like their bigger cousins.  

If you’ve ever grown tomatoes, you know how unruly they can become. It’s a literal jungle of fragrant leaves spreading out and reaching for the sun. Once that first flower appears, I’ve learned it’s time for a haircut.  Trimming some of those gorgeous healthy branches can become a little less painful when you know they aren’t headed straight to the compost bin. Propagating plants is the perfect way to experience the joy of sharing your garden.

So here is how we do it, plus a few tricks to remember for best results. First, you want to pick suckers from plants that are at least 12" tall. No picking until then. When choosing which suckers to root, you will always want to choose those that are fresh and tender and around 4-6" long. Add them to clean jars and ADD ONE VARIETY TO EACH JAR! This can get complicated really quickly. Make sure to only add one variety to each jar and label it. Get creative! Use beautiful glassware. Make this an experience, not a chore.

Change the water daily and after about a week, you should start to see roots appearing. Once the roots get to be about an inch long, move each new transplant to its own disposable cup filled with a clean, seed-starting soil blend. Again, be sure to label each cup to keep track. 

When you are ready, move the plants to the garden or pot to give as a gift. This is truly the easiest and most economical method of growing and gifting tomatoes. And now is the perfect time to begin picking those suckers for a second chance harvest.  In late summer, we can replant tomatoes for a fall harvest, so get to picking those suckers now for more tomatoes later!

Check out the Summer Gardening Masterclass for more tips!