No shipping charges is a good thing. I think you get lots more seed when you buy the bulk scoops. Since I am not a big vegetable planter, radishes are the ones I like to get in bulk. I went nuts on ordering different kinds of tomatoes the last couple of years. This winter I haven't ordered any more. Really I already know of a few I like really well and the getting all different kinds sometimes pushes out the ones I know are good. I looked through my seeds the other day and planted all I had left of Pale Perfect Purple tomatoes and those are coming up. This year I want to keep more of the tried and true and just save a little space for the new ones.

Look agaon when you look at pictures of tomatoes at websites, seed catalogs, etc. Do you see any of them showing the stem end? You do not. So you aren't going to see the typical radial and concentric splitting that many of the OP heirlooms can show. And since horizontal splitting is the result of uptake of excess water following downpours or too much irrigation, b/c the epidermis is at it's maximum size, so just splits, it's no problem waiting for the next flush or ripe fruits to photograph fruits with no side splitting.( smile) So look at all the perfect fruit pictures you want to and then in your mind's eye visualize what the stem end looks like. ( smile) Unfortunately such PPP's ( perfect picture photos) I think give a very wrong impression to those who are growing OP's for the first time and we all know it b'c of all the many questions here and at other message sites asking .....what's wrong with my tomatoes....they have rotten areas near the stem with splits, etc. Carolyn, who doesn't grow tomato varieties for beauty contests, rather, she grows them for primarily taste.( smile)

Hi there, NKUSigEp! I will trade with you. I have Liatris aspera. I think I still have your address in an email from a previous trade. Send me an email and let me know if you want to trade. Katie

Hi Charlie I think you've probably got a few problems going on - phosphorus deficiency is highly likely and there is a possibility you have a few other more minor deficiencies as well. If you check out this page about diagnosing nutrient deficiencies you will be able to get some more information to help you diagnose the issues. The deficiency/ies may be due to a lack of nutrients in the soil but excess water and cold soil will also affect the ability of your plants to take up nutrients. My guess from the information that you have given is that a combination of these things is causing your issues. The above website has a page for each nutrient that describes in more detail the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies (and toxicities) as well as methods for treating the imbalances - including if you need to warm the soil, investigate other toxicities or deficiencies (as these can induce other nutrient imbalances) or reduce watering. As an example, this page describes the symptoms of phosphorus deficiency and how to treat phosphorus deficiency. You may also be interested in this blog post about someone purchasing new soil that was phosphorus deficient. Unfortunately, purchased soil can have as many problems as existing soil sometimes! Luckily there is a lot you can do to remediate your soil. I hope that helps but please feel free to ask any questions you may have.