Or it could just be that they are currently in a fruiting cycle since you say there are lots of developing tomatoes. Growth runs in alternating cycles with fruiting. Check out the Growing Tomatoes forum here. Dave

I would put the Bluestone plants in the ground. I bought plants from them during their Mem. Day sale this Spring and last, and they are pretty root-bound in their little pots, so I try to get them in the ground ASAP. They seem to spend the first season getting established and growing roots. Most flowered last summer, but only a few blooms. This Spring, last year's Bluestone plants are taking off like gangbusters! I just hosted a plant swap this weekend, and now have all these new plants that need to be planted, along with lots of winter-sown babies too (zinnias, tomatoes, chile peppers etc). So, if I waited until for perfect transplant conditions, i.e. cooler, cloudy, with a little rain in the forecast, it would be September before all these plants were in the ground! So I started planting stuff out late yesterday afternoon, despite the heat. Water the plants or seedlings well beforehand so the plants are hydrated, don't let them dry out during transplant, and keep them well-watered after. Use something to shade them for a few days if they are going into blazin' full sun and they aren't used to it.

Hi Masha, the beauty of your roses never fails to astonish me! Thanks for posting! It is good to know that SDLM takes the heat well, she is already on my wish list for next year! Crown Princess Margareta is so pretty climbing on that arch! I love your Zephirine Drouhin. The clear pink is just a show stopper and I find the overall appearance of this rose very romantic, not to forget her incredible fragrance. Mine is still not open yet, but with this heat that might be a good thing ;-)! Your photo of Pretty Jessica is so toughing in its beauty. I don't know what it is about this rose, but I find it irresistible. I am so glad that I got her as a band this year, but she still has not set a flower, yet. I really like the pink companion plant, which looks a little bit like a gladiolus, but I don't think it is one. Can you please let me know that name of it? I love all your informal flower arrangements! My favorite is the pale pink first one. I guess I am in a blush pink mood. I really like April in Paris! The weather forecast says 101 degrees for our area today and it was already pretty hot yesterday. So far my rose flowers didn't fry but are opening in an almost crazy speed, except Burgundy Iceberg and Sweetness are a little bit burned. I watered them very well yesterday and cross my fingers that they all will survive today! Tomorrow the temperatures are supposed to be in the 80s again and form Wednesday on back down in the 70s, so there is hope!

With potted plants, the way I tell whether they are just drooping from the heat or in need of watering is by becoming familiar with the feel of the weight of the pot (I just tip it with my foot) right after it has been watered (heavy) and when the soil/potting mix is dry (light). In this heat, most of my container plants need to be watered daily and some that are under-potted need watering more than once a day. It helps somewhat to use some sort of mulch in the pot.