<p>It’s sweet how you are worrying about this orphan. Any advice for my strawberries? The bareroots haven’t shown any signs of life since I set them on May 4. Anyone think the problem may be the grow bag? (One you hang after the plants sprout.) Maybe I should move them to pots?</p>
<p>The grow bag never worked for me.</p>
<p>Made pesto with the garlic scapes this morning - potent but GOOD!!! Should e great alongside grilled steaks tonight.</p>
<p>Learn so much from all of you! Didn’t know about grow bags. </p>
<p>Got 8 more cherry tomatoes today. As for the broken branch, the branch itself seems still turgid but the flowers and leaves are limp. I am hesitant to disturb it again by taking it out of the soil and moving it to water. So I will feed it again with more plant food when I water them today. </p>
<p>Jym; didn’t you also break a tomato branch last season?</p>
<p>That was 2 years ago! Last years patio tomatoes were a bust. And the constant rain didn’t help. These sweet 100’s grow like crazy and they outgrow my 6’ cages and stakes . I had a 9’ pipe cut to see how that would do-- testing it in one pot. The idea of large galvanized steel pipes sticking out of the plants seems odd, but the weight of them might actually be helpful.</p>
<p>*Update-
Whoever said to be careful about the staking and the roots might have been very right. The plant with the pipe in the soils is suddenly looking very droopy. I watered all of them (ad got majorly bitten by mosquitos) so will have to see what happens. Its the plant thats given me most of the harvest thus far.</p>
<p>Jym, I’ll share something I learned decades ago from a roomie’s brother, (a grad student in horticulture.) He said, when your plants are in trouble, it usually boils down to one of four things: too much water, too little water, too much sun or too little sun.</p>
<p>I know that hardly helps. </p>
<p>Well I watered the plants… and then it POURED. So if they dont bounce back I’m going with #1.</p>
<p>Reminds me of the old dermatologist line-- if its wet, dry it, if its dry, wet it.</p>
<p>There is a moisture/pH probe that takes out some of the guesswork. </p>
<p>well, will add that to the birthday wish list.</p>
<p>LOL. :))
Here it is;$19.99</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.thegardengates.com/combo-ph-moisture-light-meter-p24351.aspx?keyword=ph+%2F+moisture+%2F+light+meter&gclid=CjkKEQjwiPWcBRCTj_-Vz8fE3cMBEiQAZIMSUu3zyC53Q2iFAuM1fPb1bYSs6xQAOz6dqJMtyAkYC6Hw_wcB”>http://www.thegardengates.com/combo-ph-moisture-light-meter-p24351.aspx?keyword=ph+%2F+moisture+%2F+light+meter&gclid=CjkKEQjwiPWcBRCTj_-Vz8fE3cMBEiQAZIMSUu3zyC53Q2iFAuM1fPb1bYSs6xQAOz6dqJMtyAkYC6Hw_wcB</a></p>
<p>why what a thoughtful gift, shrinkrap. Shall I backchannel my address to you? :)</p>
<p>:-c </p>
<p>I am LOVING these emoticons…AND short replies! What was that thing we used to put about 10 letters?</p>
<p>Watch out-- I will call!!!</p>
<p>I should probably just send one of my tomato plants! I actually left some by the mailbox down the street with a sign that said “free”, and nobody took them. :-/ </p>
<p>Have too many tomato plants already. What else ya got? 
</p>
<p>I cannot spend anymore money on garden things! Some of this just has to be left to guesswork! LOL.</p>
<p>Makes sense to me!!
Well the 'maters are now baking in the 90 degree heat. At least they have plenty of water from yesterday!</p>
<p>More branches breaking due to their growing too tall and flopping over ;(</p>
<p>JYM, do you need taller stakes? More sturdy cages? More branch ties??? I read the other day that strips of pantyhose are great tomato ties! The stretchy-ness allows for the plant stems to thicken and the ties will stretch and accomodate. :)</p>