“Soonyou’regoingtohavetomoveout!”criedmyneighboruponseeingthelargesttomatoplantknowntomankindoratleastknowninmyneighborhood.
Onetiny9-inchplantboughtfor$1.25inthespringhasalreadytakenovermuchofmyrosebedcoveringmuchofotherplantsandiswellonitswaytothefrontdoor.
Rosesrequireagooddealofcareandifitweren’tforthepleasuretheygiveitwouldn’tbeworththework.AsitisIhaveagardenfullofsweet-smellingrosesformostoftheyear.Bushesmustbepruned(剪枝)inearlyspringleavinguglywoodybranchesuntilthenewgrowthappearsafewweekslater.Itwasthespaceavailableinthegardenthatledmeintoplantingjustonelittletomatoplant.Abigmistake.
Soilconditionsmadejustperfectforrosesturnoutbeevenmoreperfectfortomatoes.Thedailywateringcoupledwithfullsunandregularfertilizinghaveturnedthelittleplantintoatallbush.ThecageIplacedarounditastheplantgrewhaslongsincedisappearedunderthethickleaves.
NowthetaskIfaceinharvestingthefruitistwofold;FirstIhavetofindtheredonesamongtheleaveswhichmeansIalmosthavetostandonmyheadandoncefoundIhavetoreachdownandunderpickthetomatoesandwithdraw(缩回)myfullfistwithoutdroppingtheprizesodearlywon.Ifoundtwofull-blownwhiterosescompletelyhiddenasIpickedtomatoesinJune.Buttheywereweakandtheleavesalreadyyellowforlackoflight.
HereIamfacedwithapainfulsmalldecision:Totearupawonderfulandproductivetomatoplantthatoffersupbetweentenandtwentyripesweettomatoeseachdayorsaygoodbyetoseveralexpensiveandtreasuredroses.LikeScarlettinGoneWiththeWindI’llthinkaboutthattomorrow.
【小题1】Whatatetherequirementsforthehealthygrowthofrose?