On Making Tomatoes

I've been asking left and right if anyone knows where I can buy a tomato plant. I want to grow my own tomatoes!

But no lead.

Today, the vegetable man comes by, and as I buy a bunch of veggies and fruits, I ask him if he knows where I could buy a tomato plant.

"No," he says. "But why don't you just grow it yourself?" And points to his tomato section, on the truck.

Well, I have only grown tomatoes in the PNW and w/o a greenhouse so: a short season. I have never even thought of growing them from seeds. Instead, I always look for the biggest plant.

Seeing my doubt, he tells me that he will help me.

A few minutes later, we are in my yard and he is squishing the heck out of a bright red tomato. He spreads the whole thing onto a little planter I got ready with some dirt (note to self: always have a planter handy. And dirt) and then has me add a thin layer of dirt on top while he supervises. He tells me that he'll do the first watering himself now because it must be really gentle and that I must keep the pot in the shade for a few days, and not water it for 3-4 days.

Then he says that he will check on the plant once in a while.

Stay tuned for bright red tomatoes. How long, do you think?