klsm54

I really prefer the indeterminate types, for the bigger yields. But of course I'm living in the past, when I had a real garden. I sprung for the extra tall cage extension so I could grow indeterminates in the container. Speaking of suckers. How liberal is everyone at plucking the suckers? It has always been a point of argument among many gardeners. I always pick off the first 3 or 4 at the bottom, enough to keep foilage for the ground, then let the rest grow. My Dad always picked most of the suckers off. I don't know if my yields were that much more, but the plants look better anyhow... ;D I'm finally getting a few tomatoes starting to ripen.... another few days. So I may have ripe fruit at 70-72 days.

I let them grow, they slowed down a lot so it didn't become a problem. Seemed like once the got so tall the lower branches took over and grew more. Lots of nice tomatoes, but no ripe ones yet. I guess that 78 days will hold true.

Here is another info filled site.... http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef409.asp

Might be some useful advice here also..... http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2001.html or here........ http://www.landscape-america.com/problems/insects/japanese_beetle_controls.html

Thanks for the advice, I won't clip them. They're in that self-watering planter, so they'll have to stay upright. I never had plants this high in my garden. I guess they really like that steady supply of water.

Can you cut the tops of indeterminate tomatoe plants to slow down plant growth? My plants are almost 6 feet tall and not slowing down. I have no way to support them, and it seems to me their energy would be better spent in growing fruit from here on out. If so is there a trick to cutting them, or just chop them off?

Yeah, I'll probably pick up a couple of the inserts for round pots we already have. Or........you can build your own. Here is a site with lots of ideas about making them. http://www.seattleoil.com/Flyers/Earthbox.pdf I'm not able to make my own, so that wasn't an option. After 2 years in this new house, without a homegrown tomato, it would have been worth twice the price. And I'll still have a long way to go before I get to a $64.00 tomato.... ;D

I bought mine at Gardeners Supply. They had sale going, plus a free shipping offer at the time. http://www.gardeners.com/Self-Watering-Planters/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,default,sc.html

I happened across the Havahart site the other day and noticed they have an extensive array of pest control products. From rabbits to groundhogs and deer, they have all sorts of remedies. I thought I'd post the link here since so many seem to have critter problems. http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents

I bought a big self watering planter this year, big enough to grow 2 tomato plants. It's pretty good for a low maintenance gardener, you only water, by filling a 4 gallon reservoir in the bottom of the planter, every two or three days. I am really pleased at how the plants are growing. They have lots of healthy foilage, plentiful fruit, and have grown taller than the 50" cage that is mounted on the planter. I may even spring for another one next year.

Doesn't mention anything about groundhogs on their website......... http://www.liquidfence.com/ Groundhogs are destructive critters best controlled, IMO, with a neatly placed 22 slug to the head.

Is a cactus like that something you grow outside, year 'round? Or do you have to pot it and bring it inside in the winter?

I'm guessing Garlic Scape........... http://www.mariquita.com/recipes/garlic-scapes.html

What a dumba$$ I am..... :B I meant to post this in the $64 Tomato thread..... :-/

Seems to be a greenhouse for all budgets...... ;D ;D http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96176

Here you go Brian..... http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47712 Sure would make a nice gift for your wife.....

You weren't alone, snellma, I just did the same thing.... :B

I'm thinkin' that it won't hurt anything, but I'm no expert on the effects of Chlorine on pets... :-/ If the larvae are still swimmin' it most likely won't hurt the cat or birds.

Here is a link to read about them.... http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/mosquitodunk.htm I've used them, they work good. They are safe too, you can use in pet water and birdbaths. Here is some info on the active ingredient....... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis_israelensis

There must have to be something special in the soil. My father transplanted wildflowers to the back of his yard. He had good luck with Jack in the Pulpits and Trilliums, but could never get the Lady Slippers to last.

I've bought it before at Kmart. You could also check Lowe's and ..... dare I say..... Walmart. Also the garden centers may have it. Of course you can buy it on-line, if you can't find it locally.

Animal control....:sad: Another big issue. Did a fence once at the old house. Too cheap to do it right, so it looked like crap. Just plain gave up on some things. I love fresh picked broccoli but it seems to draw the animals in. I think if I was healthy I would spring for a 6' cyclone fence around at least part of a garden so I could grow everything I wanted. That would be another big expense, but those homegrown veggies are sooooo good..... 8)

I guess it varies. I used to have a big garden, 40' x 60'. I bought plants in flats, started some of my own, and planted a lot of crops from seed. I used free manure for fertilizer, had a friend with a tiller, and kept my expenses low. At that time I know the return was well worth it. After I moved from that house, the hobby started getting the best of me. I downsized to 12' x 24' (two 12' x 12' raised beds) and started spending money. I was tired of weeds and hard soil. I built the beds from used railroad ties and manufactured the soil from clean sifted topsoil, peat moss, sand, vermiculite and pearlite. It was like a garden full of premium potting mix. No more manure, bought fertilzer and a PH test kit so I knew when to lime. I also got picky about plants and paid more since I had limited space. I had a great garden, fantastic yields but it became a passion more than a quest to save money on my food bills. I'm certain that I could have bought twice as much produce for the money I spent growing it, at least in the first couple years. But I just like having fresh veggies in the yard. Nothing like homegrown tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, onions, herbs, squash and more. Now I moved again and due to health problems I garden vicariously through my wife. Everything she grows is in a small raised bed or containers. Since I'm one of those gadget guys, always buying her a new self watering container or something, we probably still don't save any money. But we just have to have homegrown tomatoes, and those fried green tomatoes...mmmm. I think it can save you money, if that is your goal. But even if you are like me, always trying something new and "improved", a few new gadgets every year, it is still a worthwhile hobby and certainly helps you eat healthier.... 8).... even if it isn't a money saver.

Habeneros are one that I've had very mixed results with. On good years the plants get huge and bear really well. But I've had some off years where the plants are about half as large and fruit is about nonexistant... :-/

The subject came up about growing peppers, or attempting to grow peppers, with our fickle weather came up in the Tomato thread. So how about it? What have been your successes, and failures, at growing peppers in our neck of the woods? I've had some great pepper years, but more mediocre to poor years. Does anybody have a secret method, or variety of peppers, that produces year in and year out in our climate? I've had the most consistent yields with Hungarian Wax peppers. I've never had a variety of Sweet Bell pepper that consistently yielded well. Cherry peppers, both hot and sweet have done fairly well. There are a lot of new varieties of peppers out there, surely some do well around here.