[murrie]

Hi all. Greetings from toasty, humid Tennessee. Garden is really coming on, along with all the mosquitoes. Cucumbers are producing well-have been able to put up some pickles Yay! Cantaloupes , sweet potatoes and white potatoes seem to be doing ok. After many years of just growing heirloom tomatoes ( mortgage lifters) I tried the hybrid, determinate variety called Celebrity. I have been amazed at how well they are doing-thick sturdy vines and NO BLIGHT. Praise God. I feel guilty not growing heirlooms ( and saving seed) but I could never get a decent crop but for blight. The bleach solution suggestion is something I will keep in mind. Planted red sunflowers his year. They are doing well. Planted peppers a bit too close to them. The plants are ok but I'm afraid they are getting shaded out and consequently not producing as much. Zuchinni's are doing ok for now. I know they will be dead soon. I can see tell-tale signs of borer damage. Heavy sigh. Really enjoy and appreciate everyone's posts, suggestions and knowledge

[mlizzy]

After many years of just growing heirloom tomatoes...

Your sunflower is awesome! Thanks for posting. I'm growing heirlooms this year (Brandywine) and they are doing very well. Posted a picture here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3045054/posts?page=35#35

While the "bushes" are almost six-feet tall, and have many fruits, none have yet changed color. Do you know if the fruits need to be exposed to at least some direct sunlight (to change)? Many of the fruits are completely (or almost completely) hidden under foilage.

[Ellendra]

Save seeds from your hybrid tomatoes and try them next year. Some of the plants that grow will be blight-resistant, and some won’t be. But, by saving seeds from the plant you like the most each year, you will eventually end up with an open-pollinated variety that is still blight-resistant.