We cracked the code to producing tomatoe plants which grow to 8 feet tall. The secret is in using some type of heat storing material to jump start your root and plant growth early in the season. We use CLEAN used tires but plastic shrouds are available if the idea of tires in your garden freaks you out. Here is a glimpse of our Amazon plants in June. All plants were purchased through local outlets as starters in pint containers.

One Month Later

And this was taken at the end of August.

The proof is in the produce!



As you can see in the pictures above, the materials used for
the vertical uprights in this garden and our "raised beds" are
pallets and discarded tires accumulated for free locally. The only
expenses to this early developing and incredibly productive garden are the potting soil, steer manure, black plastic and, of course, the plants themselves. You can spend a great deal more on a more attractive setup but I very much doubt you can get a better yeild no matter how much you spend!

Any quality fertilizer will get results but if you have access to

rabbit or llama manure you will achieve superior results.

We discovered an unusual way to grow cherry tomatoes 10 feet tall. By accident, or by bird design, a few volunteer seeds were deposited in our morning glory patch which adorns an old oak stump in the drive. It seems that the vines entangle the cherry stems and propel them upward with, as far as we can see, no harmful side effects. Here are pictures of the start of the season and the second week of August. If you look closely you can see the cherry tomatoes at the top of the stump! Imagine picking tomatoes from a ladder!

If organic gardening methods are something you want to use and you could use help with the ins and out-comes of it all, you will appreciate this extremely helpful guide to organic gardening, *plus* you will love the bonuses she provides!
Click Here!

If you are a serious plant lover we have a suggestion.

Try going oriental with the ancient art of tree sculpture.

Start with a plant from this incredible selection!

Bonsai Boy of New York - Bonsai Trees Make Great Gift Ideas!

One of the most amazing garden centers is located in the middle of the country. Their site is easy to navigate and you can find just about anything that grows. If you need organically grown seeds, e.g., they have a huge selection. Or check out their 600 varieties of herbs!
 

Summer fun always brings to mind camping, fishing and picniks. This store has a very interesting and diverse inventory. It's FUN!

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between "organically grown" produce or fruit and the other commercially grown varieties? I mean, it's all organic, isn't it? To put it simply,no. Commercial growers fertilize with chemicals which, as an example, stimulate the vegetables they grow to absorb a higher percentage of water than those grown without these artificial weight enhancers. This means there is less actual "food" per pound. Another huge difference is that, according to USDA studies over a 40 year period, there may be up to 40% less minerals in commercially grown produce. No wonder we are all gaining weight! It seems we have to eat twice as much commercially produced "food" to give our bodies what they need, and the excess goes to seed, so to speak. To learn how to turn things around for your family there is a wealth of great information, as well as great products, to be had here.
Click here for Gardens Alive's Natural Gardening Library

To help keep your lawn healthy without contaminating the neighborhood look here.
Click here for All Natural Weed & Feed Lawn care from Gardens Alive!







Whether you are a homeowner or a "plant technician" the following site has advice you can use. By visiting the site you are entitled to a free eBook called "5 Can't Miss Houseplants" which will boost your confidence if you suspect you have a black thumb. You can also sign up to receive a newsletter to improve your knowledge and give you inspiration and interesting planting suggestions. Here is the link:
5 Can't Miss House Plants
 


Remember how much fun you used to have with paper mache back in school? Now you can enjoy playing in the mud, but in a constructive and financially rewarding way by learning the art of Hypertufa. Huh? Say what?  Also known as the art of mud pie creation, this art employs some inexpensive materials to "create" natural looking rocks and boulders to border your garden or to add beautiful accent pieces to your yard. We dug up this jewel of an eBook so you and your children can have hours of fun using a few tools and your imagination to add unusual touches to your outdoor appearance.
The Art of Hypertufa