Our very first ripe tomato. This photo cunningly disguises the fact that, as I didn’t stake the tomato plants very well, the weight of the fruit caused them to collapse over each other, and when I lifted part of the plant to examine the ripe tomato, it came right off in my hand. Here, I am holding it artistically against the fence to make it look like a ripe tomato in the wild.

I’m quite amazed that we produced any tomatoes at all, let alone any ripe ones. I planted these tomatoes in a fit of madness at the beginning of winter – “Ah, it’s the subtropics, they’ll be fine” – and they actually grew, albeit a little slowly, and then actually fruited, joy of joys. And I was sure that they’d all die off before they ripened, but no! We have gardening victory in the shape of one tomato.

Actually, the stalk of the plant where I broke the top bit off has begun to resprout leaves. Perhaps this warm spring weather will give my tomatoes a second chance. I promise to stake them better this time.