Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

I grow all my peppers in containers. They go in a green house in April and by the end of may, they get booted out. But if you have room and resources to keep them in a bit longer, then by all means do so. The cooler nights will tend to slow their growth anyway. It isn't a big deal if the temps are staying above 45 or so, but 55 and above at night is ideal for peppers. I am not sure how big your plants are right now but it is better for them to be a little bigger when you get them outside anyway. Good luck, Bruce

Hi All! My plan was to dehybirdize the Moretons to OPs. I just am keeping some seeds from each plant to insure the best selection of choice from individual plants. So far the tomatoes from the plants have very small taste differences. Some are sweeter and some have a very slight tartness to the taste. I just want to make sure the differences are due to stage of ripeness. All the things I can control are the same for all plants. Nature is supplying the diversity if there is any. The plants came from different sources also. The Uncle Waynes are the ones producing to date and they do have taste detectable differences from plant to plant and even tomato to tomato. I am looking for the plant that most consistantly gives me the taste I want. Sweet with a hint of tartness. I like the taste of KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP DRESSING and want a tomato to not be over powered by it. I also like to eat them with just a little salt on them. Thats why I need a tomato that can be eaten in a BLT on toast or sliced with dressing or whole with salt. I just love tomatoes. Oh! I'm getting carried away by just the thoughts again. My tomatoes have to have the ability to be canned and used on macaroni with a little onion and cheese maybe some hamburger. I gotta quit I'm getting hungary again and its near bedtime, eating just befor going to bed is not a good thing. larry

Red pepper dip.... Roasted red peppers in the blender with sour cream anda few drops of lemon.... Just put sour cream in the blender and add canned roasted red peppers until it's bright red...taste it and add salt of garlic of needed. And guacamole doesn't have to be spicy....just mashed avocado and a few drops of lime juice. If you don't like spicy, skip the tobasco. But you could use pesto....however I think a mild guacamole would stand up to wine tasting a lot better than a garlic-ey pesto. Also there is a sundried tomato pesto available in the grocery store that's pretty darned good....and very red! As for the white dip.... 1 cup of sour cream add 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp horseradish. For this I would use the cream style horseradish. It would be cute to arrange it wreath style...and make groupings of cherry tomatoes as holly berries. Also don't forget belgan endive, makes a great dipper! You also could do a filled veggie tray...filled cherry tomatoes, filled mushrooms, filled sugar snap peas, filled cekery sticks and fat pepper slices filled with a cheese cream cheese mix. Lots of possiblities. Linda C