I used my poor man's walls of water before I got hoop houses. Use 6 liter soda bottles filled with water and lids and ring around a tomato plant and then set a cage around them. I left them on all season and the ones with the extra heat radiating back would come in 2 weeks before the ones that didn't. I also looked for early season that would withstand the cool nights. Some of the earlier tomatoes are gold nugget - yellow cherry, Taxi & Azchtoka (sp?) for yellow tomatoes. Smaller reds are Kotlas and Stupice and Prairie Fire. I say a small ripe tomato is better than a large green one. Good luck gardening.

I am lucky in that I live in zone 8-9. I am lucky in that I have two plant stores that don't rely on the big corporate growers andstart their own heirlooms. So I usually rely on them for transplnts. I always plant on Feb 18th or Presidents day. I take my chance...knowing I will have 1 or 2 late frosts. Every year I try seeds and they always die. Then this year I read about a cheap set up. A plastic clear bin square bucket thing with a top. Line it with alluminum foil. Put it on a seed mat or a heating pad in aplastic bag, not to high. Put florescent light on top of bin with your seeds in their containers ( I used peat pots). After 2-3 weeks put out seeds in peat pots. )This is the first time my seeds survived and I now have tomatoes on these plants! Now why am I telling you all this. Everyone told me start seeds in December, I forgot. So I started on Jan 21st. As of today I have many blooms and a bunch of tomatoes. So what I mean is that...you never know what the weather will do! Seeds that were great for me: www.rareseeds.com Baker Creek Heirlooms. Sarah Black and True Black.

Hi, I have a similar problem in that I only need to lose about 15 pounds, but am having difficulty doing it. When I quit smoking, I gained about 10 lbs and my appetite increased. Bummer! I also recommend the fitday.com web site. When I started tracking everything I was eating on that site, I realized that I was having a chocolate-covered caramel after lunch and dinner, which added about 110 calories to my daily amount, plus my daily glass or wine or bottle of beer. Bob Greene, Oprah's health and exercise guru is very emphatic about cutting out alcohol while you are trying to lose weight. When Lent started, I gave up alcohol and any sweets or desserts. Guess what - I started losing weight! I also exercise on the treadmill about 4 or 5 times a week. Plus DH and I have cut back on our portions and we have become used to the smaller portions and are not hungry. I do get hungry for a snack in the evening, so I either eat 2 or 3 pretzel sticks (the oat ones), a dill pickle, a small apple or the 100 calorie cheez-it packs. I would definitely replace the frosted mini-wheats with the Shredded Wheat and Bran cereal. You don't need that extra sugar. I would check the nutrition informatin in the granola bars, too. Sometimes the so-called healthy snacks are filled with sugar and fat. Wherever possible replace white bread, pasta, etc. with the whole wheat versions. They are healthier (also better for weight loss) and I think they taste better, too. I wouldn't replace your dinner meal with a salad, you will not satisfy your hunger. Protein is the thing that really gives one that full feeling. I know that if I have eggs for breadfast, I don't get hungry until early afternoon, whereas if I eat cereal, I get hungry mid-morning. So do you eat eggs and cheese? Cheese can be high in fat and calories, though, but it is a good source of protein for vegetarians. If possible, I would add fish to your diet. Some vegetarians do eat fish, I'm not sure if you do or not. Keep up the exercise. Is it possible to do it in the morning? That seems to be more beneficial for weight loss, but if after work is the only time for you, that's fine. Exercise increases the metabolism which helps your body to burn calories more efficiently. Good luck.

As Flora said, it's really much better to grow outdoors. But, I've been in similar situation and do a lot of indoor growing, as well as overwintering within apartment (now townhome) situation, using both window and artificial light. It is possible, but you really need to know the plants needs because it is a completely different ballgame in many ways. First, I have several EarthBoxes and Earthbox Jrs. They are by far the easiest way to start, and I have good luck with most herbs in them. For a beginner, it may be a good way to start. Being plastic, they're not the most attractive, but are much easier than assorted pots. Second, I would not recommend a window box where you're trying to grow multiple herbs together. It's possible if you match needs (ex--thyme and oregano have similar needs, and basil and cilantro do, but not mixing thyme and basil). The EB's work a little different, so I do mix in them, but there's other considerations to consider with that. My current indoor herb EBjr has oregano, thyme, lemon thyme, and lemon savory. But I have to keep them pretty pruned back, as all are really small shrubs and want more space. You really are much better of with dedicated pots instead of a plain window box. Basil is a tougher indoor plant because it wants more light and heat than commonly indoors, even in a sunny window. I have done it, but the flavor wasn't same par as my outdoor pots, so I gave it up and consider it a summer treat, and freeze as much pesto as I can. I have not tried cilantro indoors personally--here it bolts so quickly that I grow it for coriander seed and just purchase my leaf at the grocery. Thyme and oregano are small shrubs that need very well draining soil, and are more difficult to grow indoors. They are prone to rootrot, as well as powdery mildew (rosemary and lavender too). For my individual pots, I mix bonsai or succulent soil in with my potting mix to help the drainage, then have to be very careful with the watering. Have you considered chives? They're an easier start and very useful. I'm sure your book on containers is interesting, but many herbs are much pickier than most container plants. Here in Denver I am doing well. It's a beautiful day and my yard is full of plants hardening off and just waiting for better weather?