I for some reason put more emphasis on texture or in many spots in my garden with shallow soil raising the level. I have also used grass clippings on top of newspaper. And Rose Tone. Occasionally Composted Cow Manure and some Milorganite. Then I have several old coompost piles that have been lying there overgrown with vines, covered with fallen tree branches and otherwise somewhat inaccessible. In short I have been too lazy to get at them. I promise to do that whenever the soil thaws. I've had at least a couple of soil samples done by Cornell that I find not very useful. Both have come back with the conclusion that NPK is high. Organic level 4.6%, no comment as to whether this is high, low or adequate. The analysis posted on GW brought a response that the iron level, 7#/ acre, was low. Have been adding iron lately that seems to help. I notice in checking the last one that the pH is on the low side, 6.2. Might be a problem so will add lime again. Anyway I'll give a lot more attention to adding organic matter!

Silvia, you always have good advice and I learn so much from it. I am sure I've waited too long for the asian cabbage. Now I can only eat so much per week. I have 4 or 5 left. I will just have to cut them up finely so noone can see the holes! I cannot let them go to waste. Corrie and Tom, I will have to work on insulating my containers or putting them in a little more shade. Tom, I had some curled leaves and I did think thrips, but sadly, I think the real reason I sprayed them is because they are next to the tomatoes and they got backsplash. Also, when you have just a little more spray left.... I guess that's a bad mistake. I will think twice next time. Corrie, I will continue to try different types. I will look for elongated and frying types next. Hi Denise! My tomatoes are ripening also, but they are much smaller than I thought they'd be. Last night we sampled the first ones and tonight we'll have more. Pretty good, pretty good, even though small. Anna

Hi all, I just came back to the computer after a few days of hard-core tomato-picking and processing, and no computing! (I am already sick of tomatoes.) This has been a fascinating thread to read. Linda, I know well your thoughts on Bt and its destructive power, but I grow three corn crops...early, mid-season and late. Usually the early corn ripens early enough that I don't have to worry about corn earworms or corn borers. But, without Bt, I wouldn't get any mid-season or late corn worth eating. If some desirable caterpillars die in the process, that's unfortunate but that's jsut the way it goes. I try to keep the killing of all insects to a minimum, but there's times it's necessary. I refuse to feel guilty for dusting BT on a tiny portion of our 14 acres, since the rest of the acreage is not treated for anything. OKC1, what incredible helpful advice you offered in your post! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! I always love reading what you write. Susan, What am AMAZING amount of DE information you packed into one post! I love DE because I know I'd have to use more "hard-core" bug solutions were it not for DE. And, I'm with you on it being a bad year for the moths and butterflies. I'm wondering if it is drought-related? We have fewer butterflies this year than ever, and it is very sporadic. We'll see a few for a couple of days, and then not see any at all for the longest time. And, it is TOO HOT outside for man or beast now, isn't it? Hi again, Linda. I haven't seen any hornworms in the garden yet either, which seems sort of odd. I do have 3 plants out of about 100 that have some sort of damage that certainly looks like hornworm damage, but can't find one of those caterpillars anywhere. I know they can disappear into the green foliage of the plants, but usually I can spot them anyway. Not so this year. Hope y'all are having a lovely weekend. It is too, too hot and dry here. Dawn

Then, the good news is that there are a whole wonderful bunch of Eastern Seaboard Rosarians to give you the best advice in the world. Heck, Maryland was Ethelyn Emory Keays "stomping ground." She grew and researched the best of them. Look for her book "OLD ROSES" and be inspired.