One year ago today (8 April 2007) we had an evil frost

[BOSSHOG]

here in South Mississippi. Wiped out my baby tomato plants and I had to start all over. This year I was a patient buckeroo. Planted my tomatoes today and the ten day forecast looks great with a possible low in the upper 40's at the worst. Also planting ornamental peppers and going crazy with herbs ... Gardening is incredibly therapeutic, good for this old fart.

I hope all of your gardens overflow with whatever you want them to overflow with.

[NMDemDist2]

1. well done!

truthfully, I'm a bit worried about my babies. they all popped up fine from seed but they don't seem to be shooting up like I thought

should I be worried? do they need fertilizer??

I'm such a newbie!

[BOSSHOG]

2. If a plant is struggling

don't give it fertilizer. Fertilizer is only for healthy growing plants which have somewhere to use its power and should be only used minimally. Too much fertilizer is worse then no fertilizer at all. Your plants should be fine with adequate water and sunlight. The number one enemy of plants is humans who love them so much they want to just do everything in the world for them. I hope you have an awesome crop.

[NMDemDist2]

3. LOL that's what hubby said, "If you want instant vegtables, go to Albertsons"

lucky for me, hubby grew up on a farm and has had a couple backyard gardens in his life. he isn't really doing anything with my garden except checking on things once a week or so and stopping me from 'loving the plants to death'

:rofl:

and my babies aren't struggling at all, they just don't seem to be growing very fast :shrug:

[sazemisery]

4. How old are they?

Are they getting enough sun and water?

[NMDemDist2]

6. the first planting was March 5th

guess that's only a month isn't it?

they all have 'real' leaves and most are a couple inches tall. and the radish are getting darned close to harvest I think.

they are outside and it's sunny and in the 70s-80s during the day and in the 40s at night

I water them gently most every day, but skip about one day a week

[sazemisery]

7. Sounds like they are growing just about right.

Tomatoes are slow to grow when the temps are low at night. Once you have 50 degree nights they will take off and grow.

[sazemisery]

5. Everything is still in my greenhouse.

NE Oklahoma. This weekend could get down to 36 degrees so I won't be planting until the next weekend. Our last frost date is April 14th so I am busying myself by building a dry creek where the rainwater flows off the hills into my valley.

[Raven]

8. Thanks BOSS! Good reminder not to get ahead of myself. It was

63 here today and I'm so tempted to plant but it still gets below freezing at night and will for at least another month. The ice isn't off the lake either. I love reading others' planting stories and I know I'll be there soon.

[BOSSHOG]

9. Truly love this time of year

And we do have a nice long growing season which partially coincides with the hurricane season.