Growing plants in too small of a container is one thing - getting the water and fertilizer right is another. I grew my first cherry tomatoes in 5 gal pots and they grew just fine and put out tomatoes until frost (end of Oct). I moved them up to 7 gal. pots - they liked that. This year, the cherry tomatoes are in 10 gal pots and they are so happy and productive - they are 7-8 feet tall. I ran out of stakes a few times this year. ;-) I used a 5-6-5 slow release fertilizer and only 2 of my 19 plants have shown signs of needing fertilizer. I gave them some Miracle grow for tomatoes and they look just fine now. Since I have used the red plastic mulch, it is easier to use a liquid form at this stage. I water everyday once the temps really warm up and it is a matter of learning what each type of plant needs. If they are in a good sized pot, watering daily simply keeps the moisture level the same - not too dry and not too wet. If the pot is small, you may have to water twice a day in the heat. If the water is seeping out the bottom of the pot, you have overwatered. Try to find the amount that moistens the plant but doesn't run out. You won't have such an issue with the fertilizer as it won't leech out. I learned that one the hard way. ;-) BTW, I use 15 gal pots for the big tomatoes, 12 gal for my eggplants (awesome harvest), 5 gal for peppers (may move up to 7 gal next year) and all of my herbs are in at least 8" pots with most being in 10" or larger. What I have learned with containers is pretty much what we learn with seedlings - the bigger the pot, the bigger the plant. I move mine up several times before they are in their final pot. My tomatoes were planted the last week of May and all were 2 feet or more. If they have "leg room", they won't disappoint you. I use Pro-Mix and compost with a ratio of 2-1. Most garden centers and farm stores now carry the pro-mix that comes in 3 cu foot bales for about $30-35. It is a real bargain. My plants love the mix. It takes a bit of learning to get it just right for your situation and selection of plants. Just remember that we all started some where. Next year, you will have all this under your belt and you and your garden will have a much better summer. And next year, my herbs and greens will be a lot happier, too!

I'm with Oakley - I don't think its that rare either. I think its something that isn't widely talked about because one might think its contagious. I've never been one to share drinks or lip gloss or whatever, but I do make sure that if my mouth is broken out, I keep my drinks away where my Grandson can't reach it. His parents share drinks with him so he just assumes others will. So many things pop up when you go through menopause, like the Frozen Shoulders I mentioned before. I had a total hysterectomy when I was 36 but stayed on HRT until 10 years ago - a couple years later, these strange things started happening. I know this sounds - weird - but I had to have a tooth pulled a couple years ago and this oral surgeon mentioned that he had read an article about something similiar and it was thought that the constant irritation could be brought about when a person has alot of metal in the mouth from fillings and crowns(gold). There could be a small electrical current going on which would keep the lining of the mouth sensitive, especially if the body chemistry is off - I think he said low potassium, magnesium, and perhaps zinc. I have several gold crowns, and a gold bridge, plus old fillings that contained some metal. I know at one time when I was having issues, my potassium level was low and the doctor started me on a supplement. I still take it daily. Let us know how the allergy tests go - no fun there.

It could be the new house, or maybe just something in the neighborhood. It's time to see an allergist to get prescription type medication. The OTC things are quite good, but sometimes, the body needs a little extra help. Our spring season here did not follow the usual blooming cycle. The trees, etc, started, then there was a cold spell, and then a warm period and the trees started spreading pollen again. I found it to be a much longer period than usual. AND worse of all, the grass pollen seems to have started earlier than usual. Perhaps you have developed a summertime grass allergy. I'm sorry to tell you, but that's not an unusual thing.

skin hives with no other allergy symptoms is a sign of contact dermatitis, which shows as a rash or hives the area has come into contact with. That may be the dog, or could even be from the shampoo or something else on the dog, or something totally different but it will be something that has contacted the area and it can take a bit of detective work because a toddler may not be able to tell you what made them itchy before the hives even came up. I think it's more likely your toddler would have an allergy reaction than contact dermatitis to a dog. I'm allergic to some types of dog hair but it's usually an allergic reaction not a skin reaction.