[Bowregard]

[kiliki]

That is absolutely nuts. I'm trying to imagine what kind of miserable person would complain about tomato plants, and I can't. I really mean that. Your array is gorgeous. I haven't seen anything like it. I have 4 plants in my little Phinneywood yard and I have to pick the fruit before it is quite ripe, because the rats are masters at knowing when it's perfectly ripe, and like to sample each one. So they come inside to finish ripening. I've lived in Seattle all my adult life aside from some summers on work assignments and so have no experience with HOAs. It all sounds very odd to me though. My new next door neighbors moved from one in the 'burbs where they had to choose from a very few colors (all beige or gray) to paint their house, and their next door neighbor stopped speaking to them because they chose that neighbor's color. Even though every fourth house had that shade of gray. They moved in next to me and promptly painted their house a gorgeous blue.

[Chief Joseph]

The more experience I have with people, the more I believe that we weren't really meant to cohabitate or even to live in very close proximity. At my property in Verlot I and my 2 adult children all have separate dwellings, and we all like it that way. Here in Idaho, I can't see any of my neighbors and no of us care what others do with their yards. If you live in a neighborhood, there will always be at least one problem resident/s.

[Anne Elk]

My sister moved to an HOA neighborhood last year. I don't think they'll even let her have a catio for her kitties. I don't understand what seems like the extremism of some HOA rules.

[Trailhead]

Maybe there were also concerns over the tomato plants attracting rodents. I know I've had some the fruits of my labor "sampled" in the past.

[Bowregard]

[flatsqwerl]

They probably thought it was weed with unexplained red things hanging off of them..

[Sculpin]

I have heard some HOA stories that are pretty bad, but I have never heard anything like "this is your last year growing tomatoes." Let people plant something other than grass and pretty soon a bird might move into the neighborhood, and you know what birds do, they crap everywhere. I would bet that the person who complained and the person who enforced spend exactly zero time outdoors.

[Randito]

[Bowregard]

[Anne Elk]

[Joey]

Bribe the HOA board members with all the fresh tomatoes they want. We often have a plate with some tomato slices as part of dinner. When our garden tomatoes were ready for eating this year we remembered yet again how *much* better fresh home grown ones taste compared to store bought. Tomorrow I start freezing beans. The sweet corn and melons are enjoying the hot weather and will be ready soon. No HOA here to pester us.

[Jumble Jowls]

Both HOAs and condo associations overstep their authority. They treat the owners like they are renters. Even though they are the servants and employees of the owners they seek to control. First rule is, never move to a place governed by a HOA or condo association. Second rule is, if you make a mistake and accept the yoke of an HOA or condo association, attend the regular meetings and raise the issue if they overstep. Remind them that they work for you. Network with fellow owners. Third rule is, if you get nowhere after attending meetings and using "soft power," hire an attorney and bring the issue before a judge.

[Bowregard]

Update: So far this year we have harvested over 260lb of tomatoes (and we don't even count the Sungolds we harvest) The last 4 days have averaged over 30lb per day. The largest have been: 2.1lb (Big Daddy - dozen or so over 1lb) 1.4lb (Mortgage Lifter 6 over 1lb) 1.7lb (Dark Star - Unusually large for that variety) 10.6oz (Polish Linguisa - bigger ones are ripening on the vine) The Polish Linguisas are just starting to ripen and each of the 4 plants have about 30 tomatoes on them. Lost of Salsa ready to harvest soon. We expect the Big Daddy, Early Girl, and Mortgage Lifter varieties to start slowing down soon. One plant died (too much weight for the supports which kinked the stem). I replaced it with a sucker taken from a Sungold which is doing well and already has small fruit on it after a couple weeks. HOA: We delivered about 50 bags to over 90% of our division of the neighborhood including the board members and president. I got a nice note from the president saying how much he enjoyed the tomatoes, that delivering to the neighborhood was a classy gesture, and that he hates being a board member. Lots of support from neighbors regarding the HOA decision including some offering to start petitions and others hoping we ignore the HOA. We haven't decided what to do/not do yet. I definitely want to cut the number down if we grow again - just too time consuming especially managing the seedlings. Here are a few harvest shots.

[RichP]

That's an impressive tomato harvest. I wouldn't stop growing, just grow less as you have stated. You obviously have the touch for gardening. The world need more neighbors like you and less whiny HOA types.