The vegetable forum might give you better advice since many members use raised beds. The main thing to remember is that the beds should be no wider than you can easily reach to the middle of. Also, while you may prefer raised beds for a variety of reasons, they are a lot of work to make, and many gardeners start with dreadful soil that they build up through lasagna gardening techniques and/or cover crops.

Heats been alright so far High 80's low 90's during the day and the nights are High 60's to low 70's during the night. I water every day, either when I get home from work at 1 p.m. or in the evening. Depends how the day was and what the soil and plant looks like. In the beginning I fought a lot with aphids, but that seems to have died down by now. Now I'm contending with some kind of worm larvae on the tomatoe plant leaves. It's not crazy, you'll just find a few here and there eating the leaves every other day or so. Finally have 4 eggplants on the plant :). I am anxiously awaiting for some of my tomatoes to ripen. I don't think that I'll grow the big boy hybrid again. I've got one plant that only has one decent size tomato on it with a few little ones that have just started and the other plant has absolutely nothing. I put the plants in pots because we're moving. When I do this again next year the only plants that I'll be placing in the pots are peppers and eggplant. Tomatoes will be going in the ground.

Dear Newsview, I am no expert, but I can share what I have learned in 12 years of growing roses in the hot Central Valley. Winter watering is critical. Water is restricted where I live, so I try to irrigate in winter in dry years to help my roses grow a good root system through the winter months. I second your idea of pruning in early summer. Many of my best roses quite sensibly take a nap during summer months. You might want to interplant with some aromatic plants--I particularly like lavender--for summer interest and to help repel insects. Weeding, my worst failing, is also critcal. There is simply not enough water to support the roses and the weeds. Herbs, like the lavender just mentioned, rosemary, etc. have fairly low water requirements. Also, I hope you are spreading a thick mulch to feed your plants and suppress weeds. I have had very good results with alfalfa pellets, available from feed stores, spread around the roots of my rose bushes. These can be covered with a layer of composted manure--available at Savemart at a very low cost--wood chips, or other mulch for appearance. You might want to consider switching to some organic methods, which I think--nonexpert personal opinion--might work for stressed plants. I have had good results with alfalfa tea; there are recipes here on the organic care forum. The search function should turn one up for you. Essentially, you soak some alfala in a fairly large amount of water untill you can't stand the smell, then dilute and use as a soil drench. I have all but given up on bareroots--body bags as they are called on this forum. They might do well in cold climates, but in our warm springs, the tops are happily growing while the roots are still dormant. Some expert CA gardeners still buy them and report good results, but I have found I prefer ownroot plants. And do check out the website for Sequoia Nursery. World renowned breeder Ralph Moore, from Visalia, CA, has introduced wonderful cultivars which do particularly well in warm climates. At $12.50 each for his newest floribundas plus shipping to your location, you will still pay less than at your local garden center for a far superior plant. I have also learned to plant in fall and winter, and never later than April. Unfortunately, what is sold at one's local garden center is not necesarily what grows well in one's local climate. I, and many other gardeners, have to do our own research to learn about what we can and can't grow. You might want to visit one of the splendid public gardens in S. CA. to see what kind of roses you might like to try. I am partial to Noisettes and Teas, but this is a matter of taste.

Just sent you an email. Will see if you get it! We're leaving out of Ft Lauderdale, Carnival The Miracle. Going to Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, Thursday week. You are on a roll! Have fun, Joan! Again! Last year, I did two back to back cruises, well, within 3 weeks.