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jewels · 06-26-2009, 02:57 AM

So a couple of months ago, I spent a whopping $15 and bought myself two tomato plants, one basil, one rosemary, two different types of pepper plants, one arugula, one cilantro and one rosemary and dug myself a garden about 5' x 6'.

When the tomato plants started to spring up and flower (they're about 6 feet tall now), I found a couple of scraps of wood that I used as stakes to guide the plants. After the first summer rain, half of one of the tomato plants had bent down and landed on the ground. I tried to fasten that section to the "stake", but that branch (?) had already partially separated. Meanwhile, I've had a dozen or so terrific tomatoes over the past couple of weeks and many new blossoms and still-green tomatoes, but wondering if there's any way to encourage more growth. Can I prune a tomato plant as I would a tree or bush, as I can't purchase a cage right now and the height seems to be the problem. Any advice would be amazing.

Also, when to harvest? I did some googling and harvested some basil and rosemary from the bottom of the plant, but the basil is growing insanely and is now flowering at the top again, also growing ridiculously tall while there are still tons of leaves. Am I supposed to pull all the bottom leaves?

I don't use the rosemary as frequently and the plant is still small. Should I trim it or pull off the leaves so I have it when I need it?

I know we've got some pros out there, so any general veggie gardening advice or tips would be great. I didn't realize there was more to this than eating fresh veggies.

Snowy?

06-26-2009, 02:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
jewels Eponymous Location: Central Central Florida	Vegetable gardening So a couple of months ago, I spent a whopping $15 and bought myself two tomato plants, one basil, one rosemary, two different types of pepper plants, one arugula, one cilantro and one rosemary and dug myself a garden about 5' x 6'. When the tomato plants started to spring up and flower (they're about 6 feet tall now), I found a couple of scraps of wood that I used as stakes to guide the plants. After the first summer rain, half of one of the tomato plants had bent down and landed on the ground. I tried to fasten that section to the "stake", but that branch (?) had already partially separated. Meanwhile, I've had a dozen or so terrific tomatoes over the past couple of weeks and many new blossoms and still-green tomatoes, but wondering if there's any way to encourage more growth. Can I prune a tomato plant as I would a tree or bush, as I can't purchase a cage right now and the height seems to be the problem. Any advice would be amazing. Also, when to harvest? I did some googling and harvested some basil and rosemary from the bottom of the plant, but the basil is growing insanely and is now flowering at the top again, also growing ridiculously tall while there are still tons of leaves. Am I supposed to pull all the bottom leaves? I don't use the rosemary as frequently and the plant is still small. Should I trim it or pull off the leaves so I have it when I need it? I know we've got some pros out there, so any general veggie gardening advice or tips would be great. I didn't realize there was more to this than eating fresh veggies. Snowy? __________________ We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain Last edited by jewels; 06-26-2009 at 03:14 AM..