<p>I have to share this very easy and incredibly yummy eggplant dish. Made it using fresh basil out of my garden in pot on the deck. Deeeelish!!! [Roasted</a> Eggplant with Basil - Martha Stewart Recipes](<a href=“http://www.marthastewart.com/326596/roasted-eggplant-with-basil]Roasted”>Roasted Eggplant with Basil Recipe)</p>
<p>My container garden has been going gangbusters since I potted them two weeks ago. I have basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, spearmint (for mojitos) and a tomato called Better Bush which my nursery recommended. </p>
<p>Last year I did green peppers which flopped, but the jalapeno’s did great. It was a very rainy summer and the green peppers and my tomatoes (patio) rotted before they had a chance to get ripe. And I found lettuce in pots just didn’t work for me as there was never really enough to make a big salad. </p>
<p>My friend in England, who had very little space until she got an allotment, did most of her vegetable growing in the hanging upside down thingy’s. She was able to grow large amounts of pretty much any vegetable she wanted in them.</p>
<p>Emilybee, I hope I can emulate your container garden success. The two tomato seedlings (Black Krim and Golden Jubilee) have done well and each are about three feet tall with numerous blossoms. The cherry tomato seedlings I bought at a local greengrocer are weak and have shown virtually no growth in three weeks.</p>
<p>The Mexican zucchini and the sugar snap peas (both from seed) are growing like they are on steroids. The Fairy Tale eggplant, Bok Choi, Yellow Topnotch Bean and Lima Bean seeds have sprouted. Incidentally, I planted borage and calendula flowers to attract bees to pollinate the zucchini plants.</p>
<p>The four okra plants (Cajun Delight variety) I purchased are just sort of there. Nothing spectacular. All tips on growing okra in containers in the northeast will be appreciated.</p>
<p>Lake, you are much more adventurous in what you have potted than I am!</p>
<p>I have two “grape” type tomatoes in pots on my deck that seem to be all of a sudden growing quickly and are starting to flower. Aren’t I suppose to pinch some of the stems off to promote more “bushy” growth and more fruit?</p>
<p>Abasket, I’ve read varying opinions on “pinching” tomato plants. All seem to agree that removing the “sucker shoots” is a good idea. I probably overdid it two seasons ago when I hacked off several branches lower on the stalk that were leaves only. Supposedly, removing non-fruit branches allows more energy for the plant to produce blossoms and fruit. Then again, I know folks who never touch their tomato stalks with a blade and the darn things grow to over 4 feet tall with basketsfull of fruit.</p>
<p>abasket: ask a local vegetable gardener. Tomatoes are very location-specific in terms of what is required for the best flavor. Here in the Pacific NW, where we get very cool nights, I’ve never worried about pinching back–but in other parts of the country, it’s very common.</p>
<p>OK-- really dumb question here-
I was watering my tomato plants and notice that due to our hot temps some of the flosers were starting to dry/shrivel up. So I tried to gently, lightly spritz them with the water and of course a few flowers fell off. Should I try to water the plants themselves or just the soil? What can I do to keep the flowers from getting too dry?</p>
<p>When I started out gardening I was told “water the soil, not the plants.”</p>
<p>I’m no expert but it seems that we backyard (or containter) tomato growers can expect a wilted blossom or two that has no chance to recover and produce fruit.</p>
<p>Thanks, LakeW. I tried to imitate “rain”. Epic fail. </p>
<p>Several flowers seem to dry up. I’ll try to water more often.</p>
<p>Pots need to be watered, depending on the size, heat, etc. may need to be watered daily. Especially as the plants get bigger and the root system and plant itself gets bigger. I end or start almost everyday in the warm weather watering my many flower/vegetable plants or hanging baskets.</p>
<p>Only water the soil. Water on leaves can evaporate very quickly burning the leaves, and water on leaves can promote fungus if it damp out and water remains on the leaves too long.</p>
<p>Same for any plant, shrub, tree in the ground. Only water into the soil.</p>
<p>As I think I said upthread, I’ve got several containers with plants on the patio at present, including tomatoes. I’ve learned that container vegetable plants need water every day (sometimes twice-a-day) when it’s hot and dry out because of the evaporation/heat issues that someone else mentioned.</p>
<p>Jym626, whatever happened with that severed tomato branch that you planted about 2 months ago? Has it grown into a true seedling?</p>
<p>Wow, you have a good memory, LakeWashington! It was looking pitiful so I used that pot to plant the eggplant seeds. I did transplant a shoot from one of my other tomato plants and is is growing, though is small. Interestingly, the cherry tomato plants are currently much bigger than the beefsteak tomato plants, which look scraggly. Time will tell…</p>
<p>I’m disputing that butterflies like to eat carrion. At least here.</p>
<p>The plant we know here as butterfly bush is buddleia. It smells delightful and comes in dark purple, pink, white, bluish, lavendar and also orange/yellow bicolor. And now there are some patio size versions, like cultivar Blue Chip.</p>
<p>If you grow buddleia, monarda, chelonia and asclepius (milkweed) you will have butterflies fighting over your yard/patio.</p>
<p>Hope everyone’s gardens are doing well! I accidentally traumatized (aka broke off some flowering branches) of my tomato plants when I staked them and readjusted the cages 
Oh well. The cherry tomatoes are doing great. The Beefsteaks are tall but few flowers and no fruit yet. Suggestions?</p>
<p>I’m not having that much luck either. The cherry tomatoes are doing ok. Going to get some mulch.
[Guide</a> to Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes](<a href=“http://www.gardeningchannel.com/guide-to-growing-beefsteak-tomatoes/]Guide”>Guide to Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes, a Guide - Gardening Channel)</p>
<p>I hve one tomato plant with 5 tomatoes on it and the one which was right next to it has none, only flowers. I’ve moved it into an even sunnier place so I’m hopeful. All my herbs are doing spectacular.</p>
<p>No tomatoes here either.</p>