Dear Hollygarden, My entire wardrobe, a stunning combination of sales rack, thrift store and homemade could probably be described as "amazing". Charitably so described. Like others here, I do very much appreciate the courtesy, helpfulness and friendliness of posters on this forum. Having said that, I do believe there are issues, such as RMV contamination of even recently released roses and marketing and business decisions made in the trade about which I am entitled to have and express an opinion. I think it is important to distinguish between private and public spheres. For example, it would be unforgivably rude of me to angrily criticise your planting choices in your own yard, but I might choose to criticise the company you, or a friend or relative of yours, works for. In particular, I don't appreciate continuing virus contamination in the American rose industry, and, no, I am not going to refrain from stating that opinion because of the possible hurt feelings of people who might work for the major rose vendors.

Seysonn - I don't need to see any pictures. I see such plants every year in our greenhouse after sales are over. They all go to the compost pile I am not denying that highly stressed plants will bloom or even set a fruit. But you are assuming that fruit will actually ripen and be edible rather than develop BER or even be aborted. So I guess I should have said one edible fruit but I assumed that was a given. Nor am I claiming that "container size is the only requirement for plants to fruit." It is one of the primary requirements but then so is the mix in the container, the variety used, the growing conditions provided, the care given it, etc. Nor can you assume that a plant that is currently stressed and trying to set fruit won't recover if given the proper growing conditions. Most do. But those proper growing conditions aren't a 5 gallon bucket, not for even a healthy Brandywine. It would recover only to hit another artificially imposed limit and go right back into stressed mode producing more BER and aborted blooms and fruit. So why would you gift someone something doomed to failure from the get-go? So should I just pinch them to get back in vegetative mode if I'm leaving it in the ground, Sure. Removing blooms and early fruit from highly stressed plants to trigger them back into vegetative mode is the standard practice. Dave

I bought almost all my seeds from Baker creek this year. The pink pearls are the most massive producers I have ever grown, although I havent really grown much, this summer and last summer were the first time I had my own place to try and grow, but they dont taste as good as they produce, they are good, but for as many tomatoes as I am getting, giving away, and throwing away, it would be nice if they were super! My squash from them did great, but I think powdery mildew has finally done in most of them, except the golden zuccs which I started later, and are far away from the green zuccs, and other squashes. but back to toms, I planted, WAY late, carbons and cherokee purples I bought from them, transplanted them when they were very tiny, we had no rain and horrid hot weather all of June, of 17 plants I think I have 11 left, but they sure tried! as badly as I treated them, and still coninue to, ( I dont fertilize, and they get watered when it rains) I cant believe how they are growing, and they have tons of flowers, and pretty fair amount of toms on them, some getting big. Unfortunately I thought they were all CP's. so planted all in one spot, then turned my container around and realized one side of my box was CP's and one side was carbons, so we'll see what I ended up with, although I am not usre what either really looks like:) My Striped Romans and Purple russians I bought from Baker Creek were decimated by early bad weather, but started to come back, then one night deer or something came in and pretty much decimated them again!! I almost cried. amazingly enough they are coming back, whats left of them, and even some some baby romans, ( 2 left of 6 plants after the raid) and even the purple russians are trying to make fruit. I think Baker Creek must sell some pretty sturdy seeds!! I have put mine through hell, and they are still making something for me to eat later! AND, I planted Grerat Whites from baker creek also, from seeds, they looked awful at first but now I have little baby great whites! or after reading these posts, who know?? I havent read much good about any of the white tomaotes flavor since I planted them, but like others, I just wanted to see one! So I hope these give me something, and really turn out to be white! They are next to the white habanero, so they know what to do hopefully1

blfenton, what a nice, no foolin', April 1 thread! I don't post on a lot of the more personal threads, but I do read some of them and am always struck by the wealth of knowledge-even though not related to decorating. People are very nice in this forum, too. Glad the meringue turned out...I didn't realize bestyears had recommended the same thing...I was happy to read your guest wasn't also vegan, so thought of meringue immediately. :)