You'll not be seeing pictures of my Scooter any longer as she passed away yesterday and I am just heartbroken as it was so sudden. Her little heart just stopped at the Vet's office. Don't feel like doing much of anything right now although my tomatos are doing great, I'm not and really have no interest at this time. I shall miss my little companion!
Very sorry to hear this news. I know how close pets are to the family. All my best
Aw, Paw...I'm so sorry for your loss...
TPlant--how sad to hear about your little companion, Scooter. It's so hard to lose a pet--they almost are like one of the family. I'm so sorry for your loss. Take the time you need to grieve for your friend, and find comfort in the wonderful memories you have of Scooter.
Tplant, I am so sorry. It is so hard losing them. Though it is hard on us, having them pass quickly can be a blessing for them. Take time for yourself to grieve. Your garden will wait patiently and grow in the mean time. . It will be there for you when you are ready.
Thanks for all the posts you have made in the past. They have been so inspiring to me. Just wanted you to know I have been missing your new posts even though I am new here.
Kathy
I'm so sorry to hear about Scooter. That's awful news. I know what it's like to lose a great animal/friend suddenly. It does hurt...
TPlant: I'm sorry to hear about scooter, it's hard losing pets, they become our companions and our best buddies, my heart goes out for you.
joy
TP, sorry to hear about your little dog. I remember Scooter from my visits. I know she was a great joy to you. Just remeber all of the good times with her. Your friend,
Flip
I'm very sorry I've not responded to your kind words and thoughts but I was hospitalized as my doctor thought I was having a stroke due to the stress of losing Scooter. After many tests with more to come as an outpatient Thursday we shall know. My legs have become very weak and my heart beat was too slow. I'm fine now and at home but still grieving. I shall miss my faithful companion and hope to get another as soon as possible. Again "Thank You" it does help to heal.
This message was edited Nov 8, 2009 2:29 PM
We could all wish for a life...and passing...as blessed as scooters. Hopefully there is peace in knowing he loved every minute of it! I know it doesnt make that hole, and the shock any less.
Im so glad you are thinking of getting another...so many need you. Scooter would not want you out there gardening alone anyway.
I hope the test come back with some 'not so terrible' news. Hopefully just a bad bad day.
I may have a two and a half year old, spayed, healthy female Shih-Tzu sometime this week, maybe even tomorrow. A society has contacted me AFTER CONTACTING MY VET AND MY GROOMERS FOR REFERENCES AND I PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS SO MAYBE TOMORROW AND THEN BACK TO TOMATOS. THANKS FOR BEARING WITH ME THROUGH MY PAIN AND ALLOWING ME TO GO OFF TOPIC. YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL. I HAVE MORE FRIENDS THAN A PERSON SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE. l LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
O that is beyond exciting. Thanks for posting....we were getting worried. This is great news.
TPlant: My daughter used to have a male puppy just like scooter, he was something else, that is a fabulous type dog to have by the way. They have their own personalities. My daughter's puppy fell in love with one like him at the vets office, and the other owner asked if she could have him to take them both home to breed them, and my daughter said "yes". It killed us for a while not having him and little man was upset that she gave him away; but, he was really attatched to the other dog, so his happiness came first.
joy
I am so sorry to hear about little Scooter.
She was a sweet cute little thing, I know you miss her very much.
Please post here when you get your new pet. I think it's good you are getting another one right away, it won't take the place of little Scooter but it does help so much with dealing with the loss. Hope you will better soon.
Thank You! I am trying my best.
TPlant: My puter is on the blitz right now, won't have it fixed til the first of December, am headed your direction Sunday morning, will be there for a week, for Thanksgiving and my birthday.
joy
I've got to get to work on staking my tomatos but my legs are still a little weak so I'll just let them sprawl. I did stake them originally with the thin 3' sticks but they now need the rods.
Tplant- pictures please!!!!!
I second Bob! Photos please!
OK! I have a doctor's appointment at 11:15 today so I''ll take some when I get back. They are doing very well and look very healthy. Because of my health I only have half of what I usually grow so don't expect to much?
=) We won't. We just love that you're posting.
So here they are! All doing well with small tomatos on most because of my late planting. All coco coir this time and they are not complaining?
A better close up. Absolutely no white flies anywhere. I do believe I owe it to the Ortho Vegetable spray. I bought it in the small spray bottles because it is easier for me to work with and keeping it stored in cooler temps of 85* or lower is a problem here. Ortho says to keep chemical in cooler storage.
These are Little Dwarf tomatos. Never grew them before but they are only about 18" tall but very sturdy. They are like miniature trees.
Sorry I haven't been posting lately but with the death of my dog, my hospitilization, my strokes causing weakness of my legs and plain lonliness for my little friend I've just not been up to par but if I can be of help to anyone just ask...
Hey TP - your plants are looking good. I'm glad you don't have any bugs; I wish it was the same for me... I've been fighting them all season...It's been so hot here, they just won't go away. I'm spraying about weekly.
I like everything about the coir except the fact that, for the best results, it needs to be monitored closely and amended with various soil-enhancing ingredients.
Flip
All I use is my 10-10-10 and some dolomite lime??? Don't think you need lime in your soil as it must be loaded with crushed sea shells from the anciernt coral that used to be there. Try dumping lots of the Black Kow fertilizer. It will have an odor but not bad for a day or two and should work wonders for you as you do have difficult soil to work with because of all the calcium in the soil left over the milliniums. Remember we used to be underwater? I still dig up fossils when I work my soil!
Flip is using coir for seed starting, right? And growing in the ground, right? Black Kow Composted Manure is good stuff. I mixed it into my two new raised beds... And don't forget to add the organics like confetti shredder paper (make friends with some office nearby), coffee grinds (make friends at your local Starbucks!), and your veggie peels. That'll change your soil over in no time flat!
Linda
Great pics TPlant. Wish I could grow tomatoes, but all I can do is look for yours and Bob's pics at the moment. LOL
joy
Yes, Gymgirl. I'm using the coir for my containers. For some reason, the results of my Earthbox plants are not anywhere near my previous tries using the typically prescribed potting soil/mix. That being said, the plants in the 55 gallon sections using the coir are all doing very well tho I'm having to stay on top of them with fertilizer, amendments, etc.
TP, I used the lime and fertilizer for the in-ground plants and they seem to be doing well. I added some new dirt to one of the gardens and it seems to have helped some also.
Flip
Thanks, Flip. I've not been happy with my EB results either in the last two seasons. My eBuckets are outproducing my patented EBs. The only time I got good results was the first two seasons I grew tomatoes for the first time. I've purchased all new seeds for this next season, and hope that rectifies my mater problems (or at least the disease problems). But, Paw told me part of that was cause I became negligent in my spraying schedule.
But, 2010 is a new year, right? New successes lay ahead.
Been preparing winter sowing vessels (gallon milk jugs) to start the plant, tomato, and other veggie seeds in. Getting weary of that inside, light process. Plus, the DH's on the warpath about the electricity bill, so that'll be one struggle averted.
I'll keep ya'll posted as I can n the WS progress.
Linda
Don't know what to tell you guys and gals? I guess I just have a greener thumb as I've not done anything different? As a matter of fact because of my emotional loss of my dog I've paid little attention to my gardening, I would normally stake them with the taller rods but I'm just letting them grow and sprawl. My emotions are very low and I am still hurting from her loss. I feel alone in a crowd if you can understand and will be cutting back on my gardening as my health is slowing me down. My legs are getting weaker and making it difficult to garden. My strokes and post polio are a killing combination for me. I want to do more but I can't and now the heat has returned! Would you believe 85* yesterday and past few days? Definetly can not work in hot weather as per doctor's orders plus if I try I become very weak so I must wait it out until we get back to the 70's or so
but the coir works fine for me with the exact same care as prior. Two cups 10-10-10 and one or two cups of dolomite lime depending on my PH meter reading...?????
Gymgirl: I prefer the 5 gallon bucket myself for tomatoes. I'm using the same type Boca Bob uses, the 3 1/2 gallon one in top and the 5 gallon one in the bottom, with the medium pond basket for a wicking device and a 3/4" PVC pipe for the water fill tube, will have about 50 of them this Spring/Summer. I love the EBs though also. One thing I noticed though, my cabbages aren't as huge this year. But, last time I grew my own from seed, this time I bought seedlings????????
joy
((Tplant)) Just wanted to give you a hug and hope things are looking up for you.
As you know mine has been ill and I've been deathly afraid so I can and do understand, but please know that even if you can't garden that all of us here get so much out of your post, advice and knowledge. I'm pretty sure you would be very surprised if you knew how often your name comes up in conversations at my house. LOL pretty sure my DH gets a bit sick of hearing the names Tplant and Carolyn.
Wow! A man could not ask for a finer complinent? My tomatos are doing fine but I had to allow them to sprawl this season as my legs (stroke) have become very weak and balance is difficult when walking around delicate places and uneven ground.
The loss of "Scooter" has also had a big affect on my outlook as she was always there for me but I am slowly getting over the pain and am working my garden. I will take pictures and get back to my old self real soon and do hope Zapata is doing very well? Give her a big hug and kiss for me. I will be getting another dog as soon as I finish paying off her huge vet bill.
TPlant: Are you growing Brandywines? RH Shumways has a sale on them that I'm going to order for this Spring, you get 4 each of the Brandywine, the Brandywine Red, the Brandywine Black, and the Brandywine Yellow for just over $17; that is a steal I would think. I've heard so much about how good they taste I just had to find a place for them in my garden this year.
joy
Yes! I'm growing two Sudduth Brandywine which are my favorites. Wanted to take some pictures yesterday but was horrified to see those darn caterpillars munching away on some of my plants. I went to Home Depot and bought a gallon of Ortho Insect spray for veggies and sprayed but may have to repeat as it rained later in the day and today it is far to windy to spray so I hope the first spray will hold till the wind dies down. Kind of ruined my picture taking as they were pretty chewed up. This would never have happened if my health were better! I will definetly have to cut back next season.
TPlant: Spraying is what bothers me the most too. Fortunately I didn't have any horned catepillars last Spring, shock-shock, as I was ready for the little buggers. Instead I was haunted with aphids, which drew the ants, and the stink bugs and thrips. I am so looking forward to some shots of your tomatoes though, especially your brandywines, I have heard so much about the flavor of those babies, reason I decided to try them this Spring. The Sudduth one wins all the taste tests, don't think mine are the Sudduth; but it's a start right? LOL
joy
Im bringing my EB's with the brocolli and Brussel sprounts in the garage tonight. Low 20's for 4 nights in a row, im afraid the water will freeze and hurt the roots.
If im off base, let me know. I know the pl;ant itself can take some freeze
GG,
If you've got a place I'd say bring em in. 1 or 2 nights I'd say don't bother. But 4 in a row I'd be proactive too!
It's been 29 degrees here, and it ain't harmed mine yet; the days are around 50 degrees. I live in the coldest city in FL remember? LOL Some people spray their plants with water when they know a freeze is coming to protect the plants.
joy
