New Member - Northern Virginia

Hi, like many on this forum, I'm new to DG. My wife and I lead busy lives (got a lot busier with the birth of our son 20 months ago!), but I'm finding enough time to re-kindle my gardening skills.

Many, many years ago I had a reasonable sized raised bed garden in upstate NY. I grew lots and lots of vegetables - clearly way more than one person could eat. So, I ate, I even canned one year, but mostly I gave it away to hungry neighbors. I had great success and my garden was the talk of our little neighborhood.

Having moved to Northern VA, now almost 20 years since my last garden, last year I thought I'd take a shot at some tomato plants. I had phenomenal plants which grew to amazing heights, but also found that the bugs, critters, and diseases had gotten much more advanced over the last 20 years. I struggled from July on to keep my harvest going. Leaves curled and turned brown from the bottom of the plant up; many, many, many blossoms turned brown and dropped to the ground with no resulting fruit (dozens and dozens on each plant!); etc. etc. etc...

So that brings me to this year and DG. I'm here in advance of all the issues to get smarter about how to combat the challenges and enjoy a more productive garden! It always tastes twice as good when you know you have grown it out back.

When I found DG last night at 2am, I joined immediately... and waited anxiously for my e-mail confirmation to be able to participate in the forums. Now, I don't know where to begin! Certainly the tomato forum will be a target!

Cheers,
Dave

OH Dave...Welcome...and I LOVE maters!! Horseshoe and Melody are good with maters so watch for them. I formerly lived in Richmond, Va. Beach, Smith Mtn. Lake and Blacksburg....and we have some lovely members living around Charlotesville...Tim, his wife, Erin...and dear Louisa!! I also have a Neice, Dufus1, who lives near Irongate, Va.....I have lots of cousins on here you will meet too...LOL You will love this Garden! Jo

dave - you will be simply admazed at the wealth of information available in daves garden. if you have a question on anything and i mean anything you will get plenty of answers. what i like best about dg is that there are some many different answers to the same question based upon peoples experience. you can look at them all and pick the one you think is best. good luck with you new garden.

Hi, dave! You've found the best place on the Web for friendliness and information -- it is addictive, though, so watch out! ;)

Thanks for the many welcomes. As I posted on the tomato forum, in 2 nights of late night cruisin' the forums, I've already gotten my money's worth.

The information is incredible, and the people are wonderful.

I just wish I could find more time in the day so that I don't keep staying up until 2am to read the forums!

Welcome, Dave. I just joined DG myself and have already gotten more than my money's worth in information about water gardening. I have three tomatoes in containers on the deck and so far, they are doing great. They are already about two feet tall with lots of blooms and not a brown or curled leaf on them (YET). Just wait till the Texas heat and humidity here hits them. I know you will enjoy DG and the people here. Bill

Welcome Davekirk! Glad to have you join us!! God bless

Welcome to Daves Garden.

This message was edited May 21, 2005 2:24 PM

Hi Dave,

Welcome! Yahoo!! Another gardener in the mid-Atlantic that lives in "my neck of the woods"!!!.

Pull up a chair and "sit a spell". Lots of very knowledgeable people and very friendly gardeners too!

Hope to see you around the garden!

Shirley

Also, want to say WELCOMEto etexbill...hope to see both of you in our chat room...that is Tuesday night at 7 PM (EDT) and Thursday morning 7 AM...come meet the gang. Jo

Hi Dave you can teach me all you want about tomatoes - I live for them but have recently moved (in the last two years) to Charlottesville, Virginia and so far have spent most of the time landscaping on new ground, so the veggies and tomatoes have taken second stage. I'm English...well, Irish really, after dad, and have spent most of my life travelling with the forces. Now, I'm stuck, thank God, once and for all!! Welcome, enjoy the gardening and the lovely folk who grace DG!!

Hi
Dave and wife, I live in the Alleghany mountains 35 miles north of Roanoke we love it here the rodademdrum is blooming everywhere up and down our creek as you probaly know by weather reports we have had rain rain rain......you will love it here ....on DG,.....janice

Greetings Dave and family, It sounds like you have discovered one of the many benefits of Daves, the fact that it's open around the clock.

I have discovered that the Dave's group is knowledgeable and sharing. And every new member makes us better.

I think you'll be glad you joined us. WELCOME!