I transplated a couple tomatillo seedlings I bought about 4 weeks ago, planted into a large container (25L). They're growing like crazy! Every day they've grown another inch or so. Lots of blossoms, and I think a couple might have already pollinated. I'm afraid they're already too leggy. One has shot up to over 2" in the past week, but the stalk is pretty think (unlike my tomatoes/ground cerries that are puttering away) Should I try burrying/trenching them a bit deeper now? There's about 2 feet of thin stalk I'm worried about. Or in a couple weeks I might be able to plant them straight in the ground (new garden). I don't want to distrub fruit growth if it's already started though. Didn't know about trenching. Very good idea!

I was able to do something in my zone that may not work in zone 6 or for a long path, but I'll share it. I have a fairly short (15 ft?) sloped path to the back gate to our deck. I had a similar dilemma. On our property there happened to be some large fieldstone, and I found a number of rocks that were largish and irregular but flattish on one side--but a key thing is the flattish side was a little irregular, not slick and the rocks were thick enough to be partially buried. I dug out a hole for each rock so that it was actually set in the angle of the slope but with the downside slightly up, or the irregularity angled up or level, if you can picture that. I had to set each one fairly carefully, fill in with soil underneath, orient its "irregularities" to the best advantage of how I would place my feet going up and down. Most were only about a foot square or less but a few much larger are the first stones as you step down from the decking steps so you don't have to hunt for footing. Since this would have been a pretty narrow path, a few more are set alongside, but off centered, not exactly aligned. Planted dwarf mondo grass around the edges. This path has worked great for 4 yrs for foot traffic going up and down and while I tend to step on individual rocks, the path as a whole unit is stablized by the slightly angled, rough rock surface so you can step anywhere or roll a wheelbarrow on it. I have another area in which I may do a similar thing, will have to buy rock but now know which ones to hand-pick for the same result. Now, this worked for me because the slope itself took care of the drainage issue, I apparently do not have significant frost heave, and I could manage the installation and was willing to re-set an occasional stone (have not had to yet) , but it would seem less do-able for your many linear feet of path, you may need much more frost-heave protection. So you may need to look into doing the series of short terraced sections using rock or short lengths of timbers for cross pieces, and mulch or rock for the level areas. I've mentioned before on another thread, that you can find lots of photos by Google or in some books on "Paths" and sometimes under "Front Yard" design ideas. Also, look at your yard layout and see if you can determine the highest-priority "main path" on which to focus your efforts. It may be impractical (read:expensive; I have no doubt it can be done) to install paths on the bee-line approach to each of several areas; perhaps there will be one main, highly stable downhill path and some lesser paths.

I dig a trench about 3 inches deep if that will accommodate the root ball or just enlarge the end where you are putting the root ball and lay the rest of the stem in the trench and cover with soil. Of course you can dig the trench deeper if you'd like but at least 3in deep. The top of the plant should not be covered, of course, and I prop up the top with a small nursery pot until it starts growing, usually a week or so. I got a great deal on a bull's heart which was pot bound in a tiny pot and so leggy and tall the stem could not support it, I planted it as I described and it is now healthy and has several beautiful tomatoes on it, not yet ripe. You do have to be careful where you dig after you plant a tomato this way and I water this tomato differently then my others, making sure I water over the whole stem area. I always mark the area with something to remind me where the stem is to I don't forget and dig a hole and ruin the tomato. Yeah, it is a good technique for the really tall and spindly tomatoes.

Ya know, this reminds me of the time I grew bulb fennel ... Big plants, that I had only the vaguest notion of what use they could serve! In this case, I have experience with salsa-making but the plants may make my garden transit more difficult. Some of my decisions on locating will depend on DW. Committed to tomato sprawl, while trying not to end up flat on my face personally, DW is the one to venture into the patch for harvesting. I prowl the perimeter, picking there and in charge of buckets. Last week, the neighbor was telling about her husband and his salsa-making ... I'd still see the plants nearly every day! I'm guessing that I would have to make arrangements so that I could get enough to take home and cook up ... if the plants made unappreciated trouble for her ..? I wonder why I had the idea that they were small plants ..! Steve