Some marigolds DO work against nematodes; I have seen the results myself, comparing roots of tomato and pepper plants that were thickly underplanted with marigolds with roots of plants that had few or no marigolds nearby. But as I said, the marigolds have to be thickly underplanted (completely surrounding the tomato plant and quite close to it) to be effective. That means they are competing with your tomatoes for moisture and nutrients. Also, tall varieties of marigolds can outgrow and completely overwhelm a young tomato plant. Another way to use marigolds for nematode prevention is to grow a dense cover of marigolds in your tomato area the season before planting. That should drive off the nematodes for a few months and give your tomatoes a good shot. Of course, that means you're not growing a crop in that area for a few months while the marigolds are driving off the nematodes. If nematodes are not a concern, I second the recommendation for basil. Basil and tomatoes get along as well in the garden as they do in the kitchen. If you let it flower, the basil will bring bees into your garden, too.

If you can put the plants on the east side of a structure they will get cooler morning sun and be blocked from the blazing afternoon heat. Tomatoes do self pollinate but they appreciate a little help. Commercial greenhouse growers resort to hand vibrating or bringing in bumble bees. The bees vibrate the blossoms, which increases self pollination. Studies have shown that the bees do a better job than the mechanical vibrators. You want to attract tiny native halictid (sweat) bees to your plants and the best way to do that is to have lots of flowers in the area. Something with small open faced flowers should work well. But this type of bee is solitary so its population size is determined by availability of nesting sites as well as food (flowers). If there are wildflowers and or flowering fruit trees around it is a good omen.

When deer were eating my hosta, I had my husband pee in a jar in the morning and then I would pour it around the perimeter of the hosta. First thing in the morning is best - most testosterone. OK, I'm kinda grossing even myself out now. The only downside is that it doesn't last that long. And the grossness. If I have deer problem this year, I think I'm going to spring for Liquid Fence - wish that were for squirrels but I guess it's not. Might try some damp kitty litter for the squirrels. And I don't think I need to go into what made it damp. LOL.

I started seeds the first time this year and bought "Hydrofarm Jumpstart 2ft light T-5" for about $55 online. It comes with a stand and everything, I also bought Jiffy Peat Pelle starting kit, the kit was about $10 for 25 count, It is so simple and all I did was ad water (as directions stated to the pellets with other things). Then put the required amount of seeds in 2-3 I think it said and 2-3 weeks after I had seedlings. I then put them under my 2ft Jumpstart light and after a certain amount of time when they got the second leaves, I tore th netting off and I put them in red solo cups with a simple drain hole in MG potting mix. I am just trying to say for under $75 bucks or so you can do it by yourself and have many options for variety and how many you want even for backups. I am a newbie to this but i just wanted to let you know that it was really easy and not much space/cost required. - Mr Beno