The tomatoes grown in Luigi Chiarella’s garden are incredible.
He has grown fruits and vegetables for many years, but recently discovered a heritage tomato plant that produces fruit that ripens into shades of orange, yellow and red. At first he wondered if the tomato was ripening normally; then he watched as the fat, round fruit became a delicious work of art.
Now Chiarella is proud of the six-inch wide tomatoes growing abundantly in his garden in Rockwood. Alongside eggplants, swiss chards, peppers, cucumbers, acorn squash, various beans, peas, spinach and melons, the striped tomatoes are his pride and joy.
Growing up in rural Italy, Chiarella learned gardening methods from his father as they grew olives and figs in the hills of Calabria.
Now his Canadian garden flourishes: he grows 10-foot bean plants and a wide variety of vegetables. The heritage striped tomatoes are the most unusual of all his produce, and will remain a favourite, he believes.
Chiarella recently planted a small orchard and hopes to have plums, apricots, mulberries, pears, cherries and peaches in the near future.
submitted by Patricia Dimeck
