It appears
nylons on legs have become passé.
No longer are a lady’s pale limbs discretely covered with
the coveted silk stockings of the war years or the pantyhose that came in egg-shaped
packaging. They don’t work with flip flops, anyway.
Still, when the
wind chill is arctic and the snow is ankle deep, and when a long skirt is in better
taste than snow pants; some nice thick tights are a welcome protection.
So when my
winter stockings decide to run they get a second life in my garden.
Since our
growing season is well under the time necessary for tomatoes to mature, I prune
the plants down to a single vine by trimming out the branches that sprout in
their “arm pits.”
Then I use lengths
of nylon stockings to tie them to poles so they get plenty of exposure to
sunshine.
I don’t get as
many tomatoes, but the ones that grow get to be good sized and most of them
ripen before the killing frosts in September.
Along with tying
up tomatoes I spent my afternoon ripping out the bindweeds that persist despite
my best efforts to exterminate their evil carcasses. And there’s no digging them up by the
roots. I’m positive they begin their
lives in the underworld and grow up from there.
10 comments:
Please tell me you treat them with something for pests. So you don't experience the HORROR of grabbing a ripe tomato for supper, only to have your fingers sink into the back side, and meet the gaze of a GIANT TOMATO HORNWORM over the top.
You're right about the origin of binder weed (it has an extra syllable out here in the midwest). I had an uncontrollable infestation in one garden at my old house. I could trace and pull those roots for miles. I notice the folks I sold to put an addition on the house, right through that garden, thus eliminating the problem.
Recycling at it's best! :) How about using them to store onions over winter...stuff the onions in the legs, one at a time, tying knots between each one to separate them...
Great idea I wold love to have seen your stockings running to the garden:) Hug B
I love when people know what they're doing.
:-)
Pearl
It's worth all that effort to have a homegrown tomato. :)
Yeah, there are some nasty weeds that seem to spring from nothing. One particular one here (don't know the name) is so innocuous looking, but has tiny little hairs that get under your skin and drive you nuts. I always forget to get my gloves when I see one in passing and never fail to be an itchy nasty mess!
At last, a use for laddered stockings. Not that I wear them much either, but just occasionally. And when I do I ladder them
Bindweeds.... it's a matter really of just pulling them out and waiting for the next lot.
I love the idea of using nylons for that...it's just that I haven't bought a pair for ... well sometime. LOL.
Where do you live that your frost comes in September? That's pretty cold.
Jen
I so agree with you about the evil bind weed...grrrr. I think about pruning my tomatoes but have never done so. Maybe I should..then I will have LARGE tomatoes.
Your bread baking is something I used to do every week...then we found out wheat was poison to Terry. I don't bake anymore. Your loaves looks really good.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
My dad would use my mom's pantyhose (those with runs) in the garden every year. I still have hose from my years wearing them and am glad to cut the suckers up and use them in the garden.
We have a cousin to the bindweed--wild morning glory. Gosh awful stuff that tries to pass as a flowering vine. I know different and fight the mile long root systems too. :(
Post a Comment