Check out the "Florida Weave" for trellising toms. This is a super easy and cheap way to trellis rows of whatever. Make sure you don't use sisal twine as it stretches. I use tomato tape...it doesn't cut into the plants. Down south (well, I'm in FL, so I mean zone 10, lol, we just used the oak branches from the Feb. pruning. You can get several very long, very sturdy branches and just use them! I've used bamboo, but find that it's not nearly as sturdy as the oak, which can be used for at least 3 years before they start to rot at the bottom. I only trellis my heirlooms because of their massive size..the rest I let do what they will...I have huge harvests every year and I have the space for it) The Weave is a favorite for doing rows (even in raised beds) and keeping them spaced just right and takes very little effort. I'd prune any indeterminates you decide to grow upright...not so much for fruit production, which you'll get either way, but because it opens them up a bit and it's easier to spot problems before they become real problems. On a personal note: I'm going to try "red mulch" this year on my Roma's because I don't stake them at all. I'll let ya'll know how that works out! Here is a link that might be useful: How do I use the Florida Weave?

I have an Altima 38" grill that is 5 years old. Starting last summer I have made contact with the company to have various parts replaced--parts that are rusting or wires that are deteriorating. Continually they send me the wrong size, wrong part, take weeks to ship parts, etc. The company, Sure Heat Manufacturing, is based in Georgia and at present there is no local (near Hartford, CT) company who sells/services this brand; although Dean Stove shows on their website as a dealer, it no longer is. I have conversations weekly (at least) with their customer service department about my parts situation. Surely the parts I need are not unique to this particular grill. Doesn't every grill use ignitor wires, need flexible metal tubing, ignitors, etc? Does anyone know of a store who might have someone to service my grill? I am getting desperate.

Michael, do I need to sand the intact clean paint ? I am to prime the intact paint as well ? Just want to be sure. I have scrubbed the whole thing with Softscrub. The only rust is along the bottom 2 inches where it must have been in a garage or something. There is rust on the underside of the bottom also but not sure how I am going to get all the rust out of that space. I tried sanding by hand but am going to switch to my orbital and I know it won't fit into the bottom indented rectangle, that space is 30" x 12". THANK YOU for any suggestions . Caroline

Image by: CMWren Wire Art - Hoops Wire & Copper Art - Wire Hoop Garden Stake and Hanger Member CMWren shares more of her TIPS, and her wire art using metal craft hoops (shown in picture): ~You can make wonderful hooks for holding potted plants with heavy copper wire. Turn a coil on a large dowel (broom handle or closet pole) out of a piece of wire a foot or so long, add some kinks & curves, curl a "hook" on each end, try to keep the entire piece linear. Really large marbles (1.5-2+ inches) look good wrapped into the coil. Different finished lengths (4", 6", 8", etc.) will allow you to mix and match the pieces to hang a plant at "just the right" height. ~Varnish craft hoops (with spar varnish - a marine grade, "weatherproof" sealer) and allow to dry thoroughly before wrapping them with copper wire if you want them to stay shiny. They can not be polished back to their original color and shine. Leave them bare to weather on their own if you like the rusted look. ~Also, some people spray on a solution (unknown concentration) of Miracle Grow plant food to get instant verdigris on copper. And last, but certainly not least: Be forewarned: working with copper wire is addictive. And you will start getting funny looks at the hardware store until you show folks what you are doing. Then they will be jealous that they didn't think of it first.