scary stuff

I just visited the Tomatoe forum and got really scared because I thought these people were going to talk about common gripes like, tomatoe worms and hail storms and rabbit infested yards and how to cure all those problems. Silly me! These people are genuinely intelligent and expert! Whatever you do, if you want to just prepare your garden and plunk in your tomatoe plants, ( as I do ) and hope for the best then whatever you do don't go there, or maybe you should. I for one, like the idea of ( and I don't remember who posted this ) the book of matches, the epsom salt, and a little compost, plant, water it well and then the circle of powdered milk around the plant, water again. This I can do and I'll try it this year. Something has got to work because my tomatoes are less than great.

Purpleice - could you give a link to this thread:

" the book of matches, the epsom salt, and a little compost, plant, water it well and then the circle of powdered milk around the plant, water again."

I'd really appreciate it!

ROFLOL! I peek in there every now and then to see if I can learn something but it is intimadating when the participants are so far advanced! I feel the same about the Brug forum! Some of the members are into them so much that they are miles over my feeble head! But they are nice people so I just read and keep my mouth er fingers quiet! SSHHh though cause they don't know I am lurking around in there!

I feel the same way in almost all the forums I visit. Tomatoes, heirlooms, perennials, brugs....but, I'm just learning and I've found that everyone is more than happy to help out someone who's just trying to learn. I've learned lots from the people who have been doing this for years. There's much knowledge to be gained in those forums from the people who frequent them, all you need to do is ask. You won't be turned away, I know that, because I'm still here with all feathers intact.

That's what I've been doing anyway. LOL

I speak up every now and then but most of my questions are asked and answered in the threads already, I just have to read through to find them! I guess it goes to feeling more comfortable in areas where I am not totally in the dark! But you are correct about the more knowledgable people here being helpful and generous with their assistance!

hey y'all. they havent' kicked me out of either yet. I figure that's what Dave's is all about, and I think it's wonderful that we have such knowledge here. They could be keeping it all to themselves! But no......I ask, they share. Then I ask them to clarify that I understood it right (I'm just a simple girl :) and they still with patience tell me just what I need to know or do.
I love this place!!!!

Hey, Purpleice, don't get your panties in a bunch. We're just gardeners over there, same as you. Everybody is a beginner at some time. And if you don't understand something, please just ask. Somebody will explain it.

BTW, I'm the one who posted about epsom salts, matches, and powdered milk. There are reasons I can present for doing this. But keep in mind, too, that so far as just plunking them in the ground goes, no less an expert than Carolyn Male insists that nothing should go in the hole except the plant and soil.

The fact is, most of us over there are not experts. Maybe just a little more experienced than you, is all. But you'll be surprised at how quickly it all starts making sense.

But the real point is, we are always ready to whoa horses, back up, and discuss things with beginners at their level. So please, don't hesitate to jump in.

Purpleice,
I found dg because I was looking for historical info on white half runner beans, only because my grandmother grew them, Brook and others in the heirlooms forum helped me a lot, from there I got courage enough to ask questions in other forums sometimes even answer questions. When I first came here I knew alot about perennials, nothing about brugs, passiflora, houseplants and several others. but I feel confident that I can start to explore these other areas because there are so my people here with experiance on these subjects and others who are always willing to help no matter how simple the question may be. When I first started gardening I got a job in a greenhouse, and at the end of the season all the girls that had worked there got together and visited each others gardens and they asked me to come with them so they could see my garden too, I had soooo much anxiety about the visit because I had only one lone flower bed with two tomato plants three shata dasiies a rose bush and some salvia in it, I was embarassed because their gardens were so large and full but when they came to my house they said, "oh this looks good, I can dig you some of this and some of that ect.." with their help and experience and advise my garden looks pretty good now, so keep posting questions and read all you can in the forums because it's just like having a friend in your garden with you to help you out whenever you need it!!!
Becky

Incidentally, Purpleice, to answer the questions you posed above:

1. For tomato worms I interplant borage, which repels them. Basil is said to do the same, but I haven't tried it.
2. For rabbits I use a 12 gauge and #5 shot.
3. For hailstorms I utter the "why me, Lord?" prayer, like everybody else.

See? Nothing overly technical. :-)

lol Brook - a comedian as well!! :-)

Thank's everyone, I have soooooooooo much to learn and I really love this garden club. I look forward to reading what's new each day. About the 12 gauge and #5 shot, I think my neighbors would become seriously upset with me if I were to use that approach, especially since I live in town! But I am using marigolds and basil in my tomatoe garden this year, I've heard it's supposed to be a good idea. Happy gardening everyone!