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Tomatos! I planted them on raised hills this year. I had some Red plastic "Mulch" purchased and partially used 4 or 5 years ago and decided to use the rest this year. There is 1/2" drip irrigation, emitters every 18" underneath the mulch. The red plastic is supposed to encourage tomato growth and it appears to be doing that. It also conserves the drip irrigation water and pretty much removes splash back from soil onto the lower leaves. (I usually use straw mulch in a raised bed, but I am getting tired of the wood frames rotting out and acting as Termite food.) These are all started from seed. A hardware store Chefs Choice tomato that I was not able to plant quickly enough stunted and produced 3 tomatoes 2 of which have ripened! June 9 compared to June 23:

The Far Row in the 6-9 picture is shown on 6-23 from the other side. Tomatoes in the 6-23 Pictures (from the righ)t; Heirloom "Old German" (over the pot of Sage); Heirloom Amish Paste; Hybrid Chefs Choice Orange; 2 Heirloom Annanas Noire; Jaune Flame at the end.

Here is a weedy looking Sweet 100 with several braces of tomatos!

Here is Tomato variety "42", which is Determinate, about 24" to 36" high, and supposed to produce with in 42 days. Its about the same size as Stupice, but Stupice is indeterminate and will grow until you cut it down or it dies from mold or disease or frost. It is loaded with small 2-3" tomatoes! I wanted this because the early production and the fact that it is determinate and I can remove it for something else once its done and later maturing tomatoes begin producion. (I used some Kraft paper for mulch in this row!)

Newly planted tomato seedlings, Burpee's Long Keeper and companion plants, and Johnny's seeds Prospera F1 Basil. (Very long harvest season!)

Notes...I cut out sections of 4" drain pipe and push them down into the soil to protect new seedlings from pill bugs and sow bugs. Since I have rice hulls, I fill the area inside with the hulls to prevent splash back and conserve water. It pretty much elimnates this kind of damage. The inverted wire baskets protect transplants from sun and from squirrels until they are established. (Thank you who ever suggested these "Cloches"! (MwH or MetMom or Quiviut?) Note the potato onions in the back ground!

Looks wonderful; thanks; bless you.

Oh, Pete! Everything looks wonderful. Loved your running commentary, LOL!

I like these wire baskets but it wasn’t me. I use 1x2 galvanized fencing 3 feet tall and make a tube out of 40 inches. Can get 4 tubes out of a 25 foot roll, about 26 bucks at tractor supply. Tall enough to keep any deer from reaching down and any other critters. I have some metal tent stakes that I use on some of them.