[JDW11235]

I should add, that what I meant is that the big problem of contamination, and Monsanto suing for seed cleaning, is with the crop types I’ve mentioned. The heirloom seed contamination is varied. I’ve seen notices from some online supplies saying that certain varieties of several crop types are no longer sold because the fields they come from are contaminated, but I don’t remember the plants they listed at the time (there are articles out there about the problem though). I’m planting all heirlooms this year, except *maybe* some cherry tomatoes since I did like the supersweet 100, and tomatoes are self pollinating. But it’s still undecided, I tried some pink brandywine determinate heirlooms, and they were delicious, grew dozens of large fruit, and when winter came, we picked 2 1/2 grocery sacks of green tomatoes and had ripe tomatoes for almost 2 months (subject to possible incorrect memory disclaimer, lol) after (we’d put them in a partially open plastic bag when we wanted them ripened, the same as we do with grocery tomatoes, and leave the ones we wanted later out to breathe).

[SZonian]

I love tomatoes. I live in the “high desert” of SoCal and it can get hot. Managing water vs. sunlight [heat] is sketchy. Last time I tried tomatoes I didn’t get that many, they didn’t grow to full size and those that did germinate, only grew to about 1/3 of normal.

I read up on pruning of sucker leaves, plant food, etc. I think it was the dirt, not enough nutrients.

I’m thinking it’s way past time to figure out this gardening thing. I like vegetables and the fresher the better.

We’re going to put in a box planter in an area of the backyard that we don’t use and see how we do.

I’m not much of a green thumb, but willing to give it a shot. I’ll go talk with the folks who run a local nursery and see what advice they can give about prepping the soil (clay really), etc.

I’ll keep these tomato types on my list of plants to attempt, they sound good.

Thanks again,
SZ