on my tomato plants, you silly blog readers 😉
a friend showed me how to pinch off suckers from the tomatoes. evidently, if you pinch them off it allows the plant to have more energy to put into making yummy fruits. (yes, tomato is fruit).
i was planning to do this on sunday, but things got a little busy since last week 🙂
so, my bracelet-making daughter and i spent some time in the garden, weeding and anti-suckering, and chatting about life in general. it was so nice to spend the time with her after the crazy whirlwind day we had. tomorrow’s going to be even busier (!) so i’m glad we stole the time tonight. she even took some photos of the garden, and my husband is going to be posting them soon.
my hands smell like fresh tomatoes. we have a tiny baby zucchini that we took a picture of, a tiny baby pea pod that i hope i hope will grow big and inspire other pea pods to grow- yum!!! we found some red pepper plants i forgot i planted (today on canadian radio i said that we had some mystery plants. i didn’t realize how weird that sounded until the host repeated it over- like, wink,wink… oh, dear- more grist for the rumor mill… 🙂  ) we have a respectable amount of green tomatoes (ok, there is no such thing as a “respectable” amount of any vegetable in oak park- i know, i know). we have cucumber flowers and zucchini flowers and plain old flower flowers that are still doing great!
someone asked me to be on a gardening show to give tips- HA! i told them they really should interview ryan, instead…
today was a pretty incredible day all around. in addition to keeping up with our multiple media appearances (hahahaha- SO unreal to even say that…), we managed to make a double batch of sugar cookies, make chocolate lollypops and free form chocolate candies, do 3 loads of laundry, make an actual meal for supper (sweet and sour meatballs and rice), wash only 2 loads of dishes (not including the ones in the dishwasher), stay dressed and dog hair free for most of the day, respond to nonsensical nonsense, AND return almost all of my phone messages. YAY!!
i spent a lot of the day wearing my “migraine glasses”- a set of snazzy green plastic huge wrap around sunglasses that are probably just a little too uncool for my 90-something year old grandma to be seen in… my daughter joked that we should all be wearing them now, with big hoodie sweatshirts and baggy clothes. super incognito, that would be. i could just imagine walking into target with my possie, all tricked out in movie star fake camouflage. nothing screams, “don’t look at me!” like 8 people in huge dark glasses and giant sweatshirts in the summer!!!
i am getting down to the last of my homemade laundry detergent, and i keep meaning to post the recipe here to give some street cred to me being all homestead-y and whatnot. i can only ride the coattails of the strawberry jam for so long before it gets old and i have to prove up again…
because you, dear readers, deserve only the best 😉
and now i am off to answer comments so people won’t put mean things on facebook about why i am ignoring them (i’ve mentioned i don’t actually check facebook, right?). i hope you all have a wonderful night, and please keep sending anti-migraine vibes my way- i think it’s starting to work!
hurray, you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -julie
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:35:00
You are an inspiration, and while I could write for hours about how inspiring you are, I wont. Thanks for not backing down in the face of corruption.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:35:24
I’d really like the laundry soap recipe. It sounds interesting. Keep up the good work. Your garden looks great.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:36:22
I took my phone around with me all day today to make sure I wouldn’t miss your call! 🙂 I know, I’m such a nerd and proud of it!! lol A friend came over for a garden tour and I told her I was bringing my phone with me into the garden in case Julie Bass called me, he hee. I know you’ve got a boat load going on though, so no pressure, really. 🙂 I’m working on a blog post about urban homesteading women tonight, and you’re part of it so I’ll be sure to post a link here. Anyway, hope you have a good night and I hope that migraine bids you a due soon!! Oh, and great job on the laundry and dishes. 🙂
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:41:42
How about posting the names and addresses of the council members who are bringing action against you for an ill advised and badly worded rule so we can write in support and put a wee bit of benevolent pressure on these individuals?
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:44:20
right side of the blog, i believe…
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:44:38
Would you mind making a short video of how that pinching off thing is done? I have entertained thoughts of having a home grown garden for a while now, and while I haven’t actually started it yet, I’m stocking up on all the information I can get my hands on? The written explanation might help too, but bear in mind that not everybody is native English speaker and we don’t always get what someone is trying to say through text alone. Cheers 🙂
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:45:58
What part are the pinchers? I have 11 tomato plants.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:47:52
I could write a whole bunch of stuff about what I think about your garden(I have on Facebook because I have been sharing pictures and articles about your plight) and everything happening to you, but I will just say THANK YOU! I enjoyed reading your blog. I was entertained by your writing, amused by your exaggeration and sarcasm, and moved by your dedication to your family as well as your cause. So THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME!
OK, I said alot of stuff 🙂 I hope your migraine gets better. Get some rest and try to relax. And if that means you ignore the blog and the media so be it!
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:54:59
Doctor put me on B Complex Stress Tabs after a three day event with a migraine. I still have no recollection of those three days. But since I have been taking the B Complex Stress I don’t have headaches any more. Hope it helps a bit. Have a great week.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:01:14
Sounds busy and fun. Even in the stress you have normal days! That is so cool. Glad your migraine is leaving.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:06:39
the suckers (giggle giggle)- whenever there is a V in the branches, if something grows in the base of that V, it is a sucker and you should pinch it off. ryan said he heard you should do it at night so the plant doesn’t lose as much moisture. i’ll bet you could find a video on you-tube or something on exactly what it looks like. good luck!
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:08:17
You should start a grow a veggie garden in your front yard campaign. Especially in your town. Whatever happened to victory gardens? Oh yeah Monsanto happened.
Kudos!
Jimena S.
-San Francisco, CA
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:08:30
yes, well, ahem… i kind of don’t know how to do anything at all technology-related except check my email and this blog. but i’m betting you could find things on you-tube… sorry to disappoint…
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:16:42
Nikola – Google Lee Reich pruning tomatoes … There’s a very good video of how to prune and pinch back tomatoes. I’ve been doing it this year and the plants are much better behaved! Good luck!
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:27:22
Technically a tomato is a fruit not a vegatable… so if it is okay to have a crab apple tree or a cherry tree or a walnut tree in the front of your house, why not a tomato plant. Beats me. Maybe they should ban those gorgeous chartreuse green potato vines that everyone llikes to use in gardens too. It’s getting so you can’t draw a deep breath without the government yelling at you to stop using up all the oxygen.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:28:03
are the “mystery plants” “suitable”? 😉
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:31:57
Glad somebody else asked what a sucker was 🙂 🙂
I was pondering this situation and how pre-Internet the old 15 minutes of fame would have lasted about that long, but virality takes longer and burns hotter… and then wondering whether the mentions of Monsanto were a conscious act — and if not, shoudl be. When international spotlights are honed on a topic and there’s an important little piece of distrust to be planted, then casually mentioning it here, there and everywhere as a “given” could make it much more of a “given” amongst the uninitiated.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:31:58
http://deadleavessociety.com/
Something similar happened to me 20 years ago. The story (posted on the site) will give you a chuckle. I fully endorse the right of anyone to grow food anywhere. We will soon find out that it may be absolutely essential to grow our own food.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:32:46
You should send a basket of veggies to the city office every so often…you know, just a little “here ya go” act of kindness. Just to put yourself above all this pettiness (although in my book, you already have).
Jul 13, 2011 @ 23:01:51
Hello, I must say I have been following your story, and I love your tenacity and passion. I have been in the fresh porduce business most of my life. Live eat and breathe it all day. Your garden is nice, well kept and its absolutely a great way to get kids involved. It’s a great way to learn about healthy eating, keep it up and you’ll have everyone growing a garden in their front yards and put us out of business. 🙂 On a serious note, I would like to sign your petition and maybe forward it around to the produce industry before your trial. If you think your pasiionate about produce, you have no idea about the snowball effect
Jul 13, 2011 @ 23:20:15
I hope the morons at city hall have to beg you for food someday.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 23:28:33
In case you don’t see it, here’s the blog post I mentioned earlier: http://urbanhomesteaddiaries.blogspot.com/2011/07/vision-identity-and-faith.html
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:12:03
You crack me up Julie. I’m sorry about all the fuss over your veggie garden, but it’s kind of nice getting to know you through your blog. You seem like a real cool woman, and a wonderful mom. I love your sense of humor. Your blog is very entertaining. (I”m all caught up now.)
I’d love to be neighbors and talk vegetables and suckers and stuff. Best wishes on all that court mess. I’m confident you’ll prevail. Must be quite a wonder getting all this fame over a few peas and carrots. What a crazy world!
I wrote your city officials a nice, respectful email in your support. Hope it, along with the gazillions of others, and all the press, help get this thing resolved as quickly as possible. I’m sure the good folks in Oak Park have lots of more pressing issues they could/should be focusing on.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:18:43
Thank you for all that you are doing. Some people would just allow things to be “suitable,” but you are working to make things extraordinary. You are doing a great thing.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:19:07
Just keep in mind that only indeterminate tomatoes benefit from pinching out the suckers. Determinate tomatoes should never be pinched, as this decreases production. If you know the name of the cultivar, it should be easy to search for information on whether it is determinate or not.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:28:14
Had to ask if you had heard this song? Farm in my Front yard?
[audio src="http://www.cityfarmer.org/FamilyFarm.mp3" /]
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:36:56
It’s ‘easier’ to back down & say, fine, I didn’t know it was such a big deal. However, even though the city or whoever is making it difficult for you, I’m glad you’ve decided to fight for what is right. I’m hoping when it gets in front of a judge it’s someone that will say. Are you serious? You want to waste my time with this? I fine the city $5K for wasting tax payers money. ($5K is an example ; just whatever the amount would be to actually have the trial) & then you can use the proceeds to start a community garden. & as far as Oak Park City Planner Kevin Rulkowski, he should need to do 20 hrs community service – – I’m thinking hoeing your veg garden would be great!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 01:00:23
I made homemade laundry soap a few months ago with my mom. It smelled wonderful but, unfortunately, was too harsh for my youngest son’s skin. (He has terrible eczema, and I have to be very careful what soaps I use on him.) Still willing to give yours a try, though, if it is sufficiently different from the recipe that didn’t work out for us.
Thanks for the tip on tomato plants. Mine are actually doing pretty well so far, but I’m sure I could use all the help I can get. This is my first year growing real fruits and veggies, and I’m ecstatic that I haven’t killed everything yet! 🙂
Thanks, most of all, for the inspiration. I truly believe that growing food in our own yards is a basic American right, and I can’t stand the thought of our government taking that away from anyone.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 01:18:14
This is a great video on tomato pruning. Try to keep one main stalk as the plant matures. Digging a maturing tomato plant up and burying the stalk deeper in the soil can also aid in developing a more extensive root system. Finally, feed the plant plenty of nitrogen rich organic material, such as compost. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-prune-tomatoes
Jul 14, 2011 @ 01:20:42
This country is feeling more and more like a communistic society. Did you know that Hitler was “Elected” through a Democratic Election? Who on earth gave elected officials the right to stop an American Citizen from growing a garden? What on earth is this world coming to? I served in the Marine Corps, I have fought for this country and our freedom and I am disgusted with this whole charade. I apologize to you for the ignorance of what is happening to you.
There are many many things happening in this Country right now that are very scary.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 02:44:32
Julie
Saw you on MSNBC-TV . Great job explaining your situation.
I chose not to sign the Care2 petition after reading the terms of membership
as follows:
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
Care2 currently provides users with access to a wide array of resources, including, various communications tools, forums, shopping services, personalized content and branded programming through its network of properties (the “Service”). You also understand and agree that the Service may include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for Care2 to provide the Service. You also understand and agree that the service may include certain communications from Care2, such as service announcements and administrative messages, and that these communications are considered part of Care2 membership and you will not be able to opt out of receiving them. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, any new features that augment or enhance the current Service, including the release of new Care2 properties, shall be subject to the CTS. You understand and agree that the Service is provided “AS-IS” and that Care2 assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery or failure to store any user communications or personalization settings.
You are responsible for obtaining access to the Service and that access may involve third party fees (such as Internet service provider or airtime charges). You are responsible for those fees, including those fees associated with the display or delivery of advertisements. In addition, you must provide and are responsible for all equipment necessary to access the Service.
I don’t think I want to be a member of this organization. My attempt though
showed more than 27,000 members already. I would love to sign a petition
on your behalf, but one without so many “strings” attached and
an ability to opt out at any time. Whether you wish to warn your supporters
or not is up to you.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 03:48:16
Yeah, I saw the terms of service for the Care2 and was bothered by it at first, but then I realized that it wasn’t that big of a deal. I can put up with some advertising for a great cause like this!!!
I saw your interview on msn, which was on the FRONT page of msn.com all day today, wow!!! Excellent job, well done and very articulate. I hope you weren’t dealing with a migraine during the interview, and if so then really well done!!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 04:10:45
Julie, I have just recently found out about your situation and am just appalled at the way you are being treated. I sent this letter to your city planner, I hope it helps in any small way.
Dear Sir,
I am entirely perplexed at your stand on this issue. The couple in question is planting vegetables, not pot, not cactus, but rather, vegetables. My question is this, since they had their lawn torn up for repairs, would you rather have the lawn just filled with dirt and have nothing growing there? I also believe that a vegetable garden is far more “suitable” than a pile of dirt and more “suitable” than the lawns full of weeds shown on your local news. Perhaps a more “suitable” solution would have been to let this woman have her garden for this year only.
I am sure you have received numerous emails and seen the sites that totally obliterate your definition of “suitable”, so I will stop beating a dead horse. If you wish to be “common”, then be “common”. There are those out there who are not “common” and choose to be different.
After seeing some of your comments, such as, believing that most people would be against this woman, you would be wrong, as you are finding out via your email, blogs and national news. Another comment you made really got me riled. You said she chose a jury trial. Well, yes she did, that is her choice under the law, a trial by a jury of ones peers. It seems to me that you are wasting money on an unsustainable suit. Do you really believe that after spending money on this trial, and after you lose, that people will honestly re-elect you, the Mayor or anyone else involved in politics in your small burg after wasting money over what, fresh vegetables?
The court of public opinion is already weighing in and, dear sir, they think you are wrong. You are taking this family’s rights and stomping all over them. We all have the right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Gardening makes this family happy. They pay taxes, the taxes that pay you, as do all of their friends and neighbors. They do not have old car husks in their yard, they are not operating a business out of their house illegally, they have a garden. I believe your city;s priorities are in need of revision, as this, in my onion, goes against the American Dream.
This travesty ranks up there with children being fined for selling lemonade. To tell a family that they cannot support themselves and feed their families at their own expense, and not at the expense of Welfare or Food Stamps is purely asinine. I mean, unless you would rather have another family on the dole in your fair state, then so be it, but this is America, not a police state. I know you are saying to yourself and your friends and colleagues, ” When will this stop, after this they will want to raise livestock in their yards.”. Well, why not? Raising chickens for eggs and meat, raising rabbits for food, what is wrong with that?
You sir, are a blight on politics and humanity. You are nothing more paper pushing control freak who deserves the same consideration and a cockroach in a kitchen. Remember the voters and remember they will indeed remember you!
Sincerely,
Chris Bush
Jul 14, 2011 @ 06:57:34
Julie- Stay strong- you are doing an amazing job! When I lived in an apartment complex in Atlanta and grew the most beautiful sunflowers in a tiny square of dirt – once they had bloomed I got a letter from the landlord saying something to the effect that this “eyesore” was not allowed. This was 15 some years ago but I still feel the anguish as I write this to you.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 07:35:17
Sounds like the planning commision could use some pinching or downright hard pruning as well
Greg
The Real Dirt on Gardening
Jul 14, 2011 @ 07:53:26
Loved your post. It really highlights one of the joys of gardening – doing something with your kids and actually talking with them. Mine claim to despise our large garden, but always help water, weed, and harvest. Soooooo maybe a garden is more than a way to grow food.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 08:53:59
Just sent a letter to the City planner and the Mayor:
Common Sense,
Something it seems that you, your Mayor and apparently your City Attorney do not have. I have never heard of Oak Park or any of you, but I have now, along with photos of one particular front yard that happens to have a vegetable garden. The law seems to be vague at best, the garden is well kept and the situation is totally lacking any common sense whatsoever. Recession or not, what a total waste of taxpayer monies to pursue a case such as this. I don’t know how one would embrace this, but as far as PR for yourselves or any future political opportunities … do you really want to be known as the “Vegetable Gate” city officials? Any PR person would tell you to gracefully tuck your tail, embrace and look good for the media. This is a housewife with a very well kept vegetable garden for goodness sake, take your lumps now before it gets any larger, and hope that people forget when it comes time for them to vote. Drag this out in court, no chance of that happening. Common sense, is just something that should not be lost on those that are in office. Unfortunately, this is something being discovered on a daily basis all over the United States
Jul 14, 2011 @ 08:56:56
Looks like Acorn Squash plant vs zuccini? Just sayin 🙂
Jul 14, 2011 @ 09:03:36
I think your garden is beautiful. And letting the neighborhood kids watch and
help is invaluable. My husband has said many times that if we are unable to
get food trucked in, or something like that cutting off our food supply, the young people would not know how to grow the food. I think you are doing a
great thing.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 09:05:01
Did you know you can use your tomato suckers? When you pinch or cut them off, place the sucker into a pot of soil or a garden bed. The sucker shouldn’t be longer than about 4″. Place about 2″ below the surface. Water regularly and you will get more tomato plants. All those little hairy looking things on tomato stocks are potential roots. That’s why it’s good to plant any tomato plant deeply = more roots to support the heavy fruit it will have.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 09:42:29
Great vid… i love learning about the plants they are so shapeable and flexible and they have red balls of life on them.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 10:40:31
I am truly sorry that you’re dealing with the odious and unfair citation against your sweet raised bed of deliciousness….Really, I am! But the gift for me is getting to read your blog. Your writing style is very fun and readable. I hope when the crisis is over, you’ll continue to write!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 11:09:21
I’m thinking I’m tired just reading that, and you don’t have to worry about your street cred as a homesteader any time soon. Whew!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 12:07:34
Is it possible to erect a nice privacy fence around the garden so it will be out of eye site,so you,and your family can still enjoy it! Then you could plant some nice flowers around the outer perimeter of the fence.OR is putting up a fence against the law there also!! I live in the Northeast section of Philly. pa.,and I’ve seen little veggy gardens on front lawns,and also a lot of privacy fences,surrounding the front lawn,so hehe,who knows what’s behind some of these fences!! I do feel that a veggy garden in these economically trying times is a VERY smart idea,BUT,maybe you should grow the veggies behind a privacy fence,and maybe city hall will leave you alone,because,the poor little veggies won’t be offending any one!! And it won’t be any bodies business what goes on behind your fence!! Veggies don’t make noise,and they won’t escape from their veggy beds!! This is what I would do! I also think it will make the veggies grow better without all this stress that you’re feeling. I wish you all the best in this totally unnecessary struggle to grow vegetables on your lawn. I’m still shaking my head as to the subject matter of this reply!! OAK PARK,LET THIS FAMILY,AND OTHER FAMILIES IN STALAG OAK PARK GROW THEIR VEGGIES IN PEACE!!!!! PLEASE.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 13:36:54
Oh, I will totally join the sunglass wearing, sweatshirt rocking possey when I get home! Not only will I join, but I will get the NEIGHBORS to join. Now, hows that for funny….
Jul 14, 2011 @ 14:04:39
I’m just wondering why my comment on pruning tomatoes never got posted…
Jul 14, 2011 @ 14:55:41
1. Keep up the good work – fight the power – all that…
2. RE: ‘maters – another trick to tweak them is regarding fruit size
If you just let them go they will make multitudes of tomatoes on the trusses (the structures the flowers are on), yes, they’re called trusses, sounds kinda architectural I know but I digress. Anyways, you’ll get more but smaller tomatoes if you just let them go.
If you want fewer but larger tomatoes, pinch off some of the flowers. Say there are six flowers on a truss, pinch off three to get three tomatoes with approximately the same net end result kinda volume as if you’d had the six smaller ones. It’s all about resource allocation with this regard of the plant world. This same principle approximately applies to many plants that fruit in similar ways.
3. Pollination trick – use electric toothbrush to help fruit-set.
Place the neck of any ol’ electric toothbrush against the spine of the truss or anywhere ‘suitable’ (couldn’t resist) and turn it on that it might vibrate the living heck outta them there stamens and help them little guys pollinate that gal. You’ll know they’re pollinated when the yellow color changes and it will eventually start to wither/dry. You’ll notice the color change first as the days pass as you get an eye for it. This’ll help you when you with #2 cuz you’ll know if a fruit has set or not sooner than later.
Ok that be the end of the ‘mater rant. I hope you find some of it useful.
Best Regards,
ManicGardener
Master Gardener
Horticulturalist
Jul 14, 2011 @ 15:31:59
I heard you on As It Happens last night! You sounded great–I think those hosts always sound like they are insinuating something, but you did a really good job. Especially for a girl with a migraine! 🙂 Hang in there, and don’t forget to add a cold coke and some tylenol to your routine. It’ll help a little, maybe, although the stylin’ shades may do more for your poor head.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 15:39:41
New studies have shown that it doesn’t make any difference if you pinch off the side shoots. In fact, they produce leaves that help provide more nourishment to the entire plant. So you can actually save that effort and let them grow! 😎
Jul 14, 2011 @ 16:21:29
Gardeners! remember to check your tomato plants for tomato horn worms, peel them off and destroy them (you can drop them into a can of kerosene), I know it is horrible, but they breed like wildfire and stay around year after year getting worse. While they are quite interesting looking they can eat an entire plant in a few days. They start at the top. If your plants look like they are being chewed up, or you see stems, look for the big fat worms. Time to put cages on those tomatoes Jessica! If they get much bigger it will be harder to do. If you don’t , when they fruit they are all going to fall to the ground and then it will look really bad. Also: 45 days from flower to eatable fruit in most cases.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 18:38:49
wow- next time a gardening show calls, i’m gonna send them your way!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 18:41:30
don’t know, but i’m going through comments now, so maybe i will find it… don’t take it personally!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 18:47:37
oh, rats- we already picked them off last night. but it’s good to know for the future- thanks!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:29:22
oh wow- i wish i had the energy or headspace for more plants! but thank for letting me know…
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:34:33
aw, sue- maybe one day we will plant a sunflower in your honor…
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:36:48
it’s pretty much all migraines all the time around here lately. until today i was coping. today i just ended up going to bed in the dark… it was great to actually talk to you!!! hope to talk again soon- julie
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:38:29
thank you for your service. i really admire people like you who fought for us to have freedom. thank you for your comments! -julie
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:40:17
oh dear- another thing to worry about! my tomatoes are all mixed together and i don’t know which is which- ugh…
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:40:49
that is so well said- wow! do you mind if i steal it?
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:55:18
hahahaha- i think they call that “poetic justice”!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:55:45
thanks, linda!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 19:56:14
well thank you, jose- that’s awesome!
Jul 15, 2011 @ 00:16:32
I would be honored (:
Jul 15, 2011 @ 23:55:28
Thank you for the information about the suckers. My daughter and I decided to grow tomatoes for the first time this year. So we went out, bought a few plants at a farmers market and a few more at my local garden store. Since our soil is pretty much solid clay, we got a super nifty, scientifically balanced planter thingy and a pot. The heirlooms went in the pot and the cherries went in the planter.
Did you know there are two different types of tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate? I’ll bet you did. Neither my daughter nor I knew that though, and now we have two seven and a half foot monsters that have climbed out of the tomato cage, around the porch and up onto the roof. Apparently, I was supposed to pinch off those suckers a mite earlier than mid summer,
Upon my daughter’s urging, my six foot six hubby, who doesn’t go out the back yard very much, trundled out to see her garden, blinked a few times then asked how we were going to get the roof tomatoes down. I think he may have made a comment attack of the killer tomatoes as well, but he was giggling too hard so I can’t be sure.
Anyway, we are (now) putting your advice about suckers into action. I will say pinch the extra bits off has had an almost immediate effect. The fruits are growing and ripening fast, almost within a week. We’re going to be swimming in the little buggers.
Hope this brings a little cheer to your day!
Jul 16, 2011 @ 13:01:25
Here is an article with lots of headache remedies that I put together for my cancer website. This was done because chemo can cause lots of headaches. Lots of these remedies work. http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/chemo-side-effects/headaches
Deb
Jul 16, 2011 @ 23:15:43
thank you- i will definitely check those out!