Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2020 8:17:12 GMT -5
The only think I know off the top of my head is that I’d prefer perennials over annuals. When I search the web for ideas, I specifically search for low maintenance perennials. I’m lazy. I can keep up a watering schedule, but I don’t want to be constantly having to do stuff to plants and flowers. Nor do I see myself planting new flowers every year. I’d like to get some things going that are easy to maintain, and keep it moving lol. I'm the same way. I refer to my garden as Darwinian. If it needs pampering, it dies. I'm putting in more native grasses- they spread, they crowd out weeds and the local critters like them. I once saw a gardening show with a "Jardin des Plumes" (Feather Garden) in France. Yeah, that's what I want! I have huge gardens on a hillside overlooking a lake. The previous owner was a Past President of the local Garden club (I joined when we moved here 5 years ago and have learned a lot). It took me a couple of years to get in a routine, figure out what half the stuff was, and get the weeds sort of under control. About an hour a day does it although I won't win any awards. So- the Bloomerang lilac bushes I planted in the 2 raised beds on the level part of the yard are HUGE, 4 years after purchase. I threw some peas from an old packet I had into the ground a month ago and I have little plants coming up. I'd left a stand of large, spiky, leafy things alone because I was pretty sure they were flowers and not weeds They've started to bloom- they were larkspur! The plants I bought last week (bluestem, maiden grass and lobelia) are all planted and look happy. The lobelia is a gamble. DH and I first saw it in Iceland, in a beautiful blue/violet shade. We're in Zone 5 and one of the Garden Club experts says she hasn't been able to get it to grow here but we'll see. This variety is red. I complain about the weeding but I think it helps keep me sane right now. And it burns calories.
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oped
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Post by oped on May 6, 2020 8:33:32 GMT -5
I planted the horseradish and strawberries yesterday. They won't mind some colder days and the rain will be good for them. I'll cover the strawberries if there is actual frost warning.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 6, 2020 9:48:44 GMT -5
The only think I know off the top of my head is that I’d prefer perennials over annuals. When I search the web for ideas, I specifically search for low maintenance perennials. I’m lazy. I can keep up a watering schedule, but I don’t want to be constantly having to do stuff to plants and flowers. Nor do I see myself planting new flowers every year. I’d like to get some things going that are easy to maintain, and keep it moving lol. I'm the same way. I refer to my garden as Darwinian. If it needs pampering, it dies. I'm putting in more native grasses- they spread, they crowd out weeds and the local critters like them. I once saw a gardening show with a "Jardin des Plumes" (Feather Garden) in France. Yeah, that's what I want! I have huge gardens on a hillside overlooking a lake. The previous owner was a Past President of the local Garden club (I joined when we moved here 5 years ago and have learned a lot). It took me a couple of years to get in a routine, figure out what half the stuff was, and get the weeds sort of under control. About an hour a day does it although I won't win any awards. So- the Bloomerang lilac bushes I planted in the 2 raised beds on the level part of the yard are HUGE, 4 years after purchase. I threw some peas from an old packet I had into the ground a month ago and I have little plants coming up. I'd left a stand of large, spiky, leafy things alone because I was pretty sure they were flowers and not weeds They've started to bloom- they were larkspur! The plants I bought last week (bluestem, maiden grass and lobelia) are all planted and look happy. The lobelia is a gamble. DH and I first saw it in Iceland, in a beautiful blue/violet shade. We're in Zone 5 and one of the Garden Club experts says she hasn't been able to get it to grow here but we'll see. This variety is red. I complain about the weeding but I think it helps keep me sane right now. And it burns calories. Athena-what gardening zone do you live in and do your Bloomerang lilacs have the typical lilac scents. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2020 10:47:22 GMT -5
Athena-what gardening zone do you live in and do your Bloomerang lilacs have the typical lilac scents. Thanks. I'm in Zone 5 (Kansas City area) and yes, they smell heavenly! I had also planted a few in the hillside garden and they're less prolific. Either the soil in the raised bed is better for them, or the level setting means they get more water than the ones on the hillside, or it's a combination of both factore.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 6, 2020 10:57:08 GMT -5
Athena-what gardening zone do you live in and do your Bloomerang lilacs have the typical lilac scents. Thanks. I'm in Zone 5 (Kansas City area) and yes, they smell heavenly! I had also planted a few in the hillside garden and they're less prolific. Either the soil in the raised bed is better for them, or the level setting means they get more water than the ones on the hillside, or it's a combination of both factore. Thanks. I grew up in Zone 6 (western Massachusetts) so the sight and scent of lilacs were everywhere. Enjoyed them. Here in SW Tennessee, we are either zone 7B or 8A: depends. Lilacs like extended cold weather and they just don't receive it here. There are a couple of species of lilac we can grow here but lack a strong scent and they are small in size. Same thing with tulips. We can plant bulbs in the fall and they will flower in the spring. But the bulbs don't survive well in the ground due to our summer's heat. So if one likes tulips, new bulbs need to be bought and planted each spring. Daffodils survive okay here each year so we do get some late winter/early spring flowers.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on May 6, 2020 12:08:03 GMT -5
I bought seeds to start outdoors but got anxious and started them in plastic trays yesterday. Minimum germination temp is 68* and we are still getting high 40's at night. So I hope they will germinate inside.
I have Sunflower (Moonshine), Zinnia (Giant Double mixed colors), Marigold (Petite mixed colors), Butterfly Weed orange annual (I thought our Perennial died but it's coming up!), and Coleus (Rainbow mixed colors).
We've been honoring the stay home so far but plan to go to the nursery someday soon. Many neighbors gardens are full of colors and we are missing out.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on May 6, 2020 13:34:12 GMT -5
Lilacs like extended cold weather and they just don't receive it here. There are a couple of species of lilac we can grow here but lack a strong scent and they are small in size.
We have a great deal of extended cold weather. Lilacs thrive here and bloom like gangbusters. The smell is heavenly during lilac season.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on May 6, 2020 13:39:12 GMT -5
We have one small Lilac that smells great right now. Against the house on a Northern exposure.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2020 14:11:00 GMT -5
Lilacs. I miss lilacs and the northern lights.
See if you can guess where I will be at 7 am tomorrow morning. DD gave me $100 and then drove me to Kroger to get Home Depot and Lowe's gift cards. Now I have 500 fuel points already on May 6! Not to worry. There's hardly anybody at Kroger at this time of day, and I wore my mask.
There won't be anybody in the garden departments at Home Depot and Lowe's at 7 in the morning, either. And I will wear my mask.
If I peel off from 'Rona, DD and her posse will have a pretty park in back of the house to admire for years to come. If anybody weeds it.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 7:10:35 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 7:57:36 GMT -5
I went to both garden centers and was alone with the flowers. Interesting. The place I went to last Saturday was booming. As I posted in another thread, I had to wait 15 minutes in a socially-distanced line to check out. I wore a mask but the place was partly outside, partly typical greenhouse with VERY high ceilings and doors open to the outside, so good air circulation. It's a family-owned business so I was happy to see that volume of customers. I checked Costco yesterday looking to see if they had switchgrass, which is native to this area. I've got some I bought last year at Lowe's and they're coming back nicely. None available, unfortunately, and I don't want to make a separate trip to Lowe's. Ten-day forecast shows rain most of next week. I'm very glad I got everything planted and settled.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on May 7, 2020 8:32:26 GMT -5
The weekend is the worst time to go to Lowe's or a garden center. During the week if possible has much lower crowds.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 8:41:36 GMT -5
Yes. Absolutely go during the week. Early in the morning. And be one with the flora Today's flora rejected me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 9:02:15 GMT -5
The weekend is the worst time to go to Lowe's or a garden center. During the week if possible has much lower crowds. I agree- wasn't even thinking of it till I got there and saw the hordes. Lesson learned. And, now that I think of it, fairer and safer for everyone if I go during non-peak times since I have that flexibility.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 7, 2020 10:31:11 GMT -5
The weekend is the worst time to go to Lowe's or a garden center. During the week if possible has much lower crowds. Also figure out what day the nurseries which supply the plants to stores like lowe's or Home Depot make their deliveries. The nursery employee will sometime weed out the existing plants in the store because they don't look very healthy. They will toss them in the store's dumpster. I have been known to semi-dumpster dive to get free plants and herbs. I did ask for permission before I dove in.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 13:27:42 GMT -5
Congratulate me. I did go out and water the flowers. While I was out there I noticed that the snapdragons are withering up. Whaaaat? Looks like the same affliction as when they were planted in the ground. It looked then like a fungus. Just yesterday they looked healthy, and I was contemplating taking them out of the pots and planting them in a different area of the garden. Guess not. Hoping it's just that they wanted more water. They got plenty. We'll see how they look tomorrow. I love snapdragons and don't want them to die
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on May 7, 2020 15:23:38 GMT -5
I got a pink knockout rose today at Costco. I recently put in two yellow ones and a scarlet one. Two of my GS’s will be here either tomorrow or Saturday so they’ll help me plant them along with the hosta I got earlier this week. I’m slowly filling up the new flower bed on the far end of the house. I went out by the street where I have blueberries planted and one of them looks dead. I think I’ll get another one to replace it since I think they need more than one to cross pollinate although the other one doesn’t look all that t healthy either, so I may just pull it out and put it somewhere else.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 17:28:11 GMT -5
DH found little tomatoes on our second plant! The variety name on the tag is Moby Grape . If the dang birds leave it alone, we will taste our first cherry tomato tomorrow
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 17:30:07 GMT -5
Snapdragons have perked up considerably. Yay.
I dunno what happened to our tomatoes. There were blossoms a couple of weeks ago. Can't find any babies.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 19:30:21 GMT -5
The only think I know off the top of my head is that I’d prefer perennials over annuals. When I search the web for ideas, I specifically search for low maintenance perennials. I’m lazy. I can keep up a watering schedule, but I don’t want to be constantly having to do stuff to plants and flowers. Nor do I see myself planting new flowers every year. I’d like to get some things going that are easy to maintain, and keep it moving lol. I'm the same way. I refer to my garden as Darwinian. If it needs pampering, it dies. I'm putting in more native grasses- they spread, they crowd out weeds and the local critters like them. I once saw a gardening show with a "Jardin des Plumes" (Feather Garden) in France. Yeah, that's what I want! I have huge gardens on a hillside overlooking a lake. The previous owner was a Past President of the local Garden club (I joined when we moved here 5 years ago and have learned a lot). It took me a couple of years to get in a routine, figure out what half the stuff was, and get the weeds sort of under control. About an hour a day does it although I won't win any awards. So- the Bloomerang lilac bushes I planted in the 2 raised beds on the level part of the yard are HUGE, 4 years after purchase. I threw some peas from an old packet I had into the ground a month ago and I have little plants coming up. I'd left a stand of large, spiky, leafy things alone because I was pretty sure they were flowers and not weeds They've started to bloom- they were larkspur! The plants I bought last week (bluestem, maiden grass and lobelia) are all planted and look happy. The lobelia is a gamble. DH and I first saw it in Iceland, in a beautiful blue/violet shade. We're in Zone 5 and one of the Garden Club experts says she hasn't been able to get it to grow here but we'll see. This variety is red. I complain about the weeding but I think it helps keep me sane right now. And it burns calories. It’s almost as if you are speaking another language, half of the plants/flowers you mention, I have no idea what they are lol. I have a small flowerbed in the back of my house, a bigger one at the end of my driveway near the mailbox, and one that spans the width of the house on the front. I’m calling them flowerbeds because they are enclosed with bricks, which I ASSume means you’re probably supposed to plant something in them? I also have a front door that pretty much begs for something pretty to frame it. The previous homeowner left 2 large black pots on either side, but I don’t know what to put into them, so they are still empty. It seems like a bad idea to put something there that will attract bees and such, so close to the front door. So yeah, I’m clueless. Anyway, my herb garden adventures have taught me that my peppermint and chamomile are like canaries in the mine, alerting me to trouble, I guess. Again yesterday, I noticed that both were looking pitiful.... I watered them, and voila! they came back to life. I didn’t really expect outdoor plants would need so much attention, but it has been unusually windy here lately, so I guess. My lavender plants are definitely budding (not sure if that’s the right word), the little things I’ve called buds are definitely flowers that still haven’t completely bloomed yet. I can see the purple on some of them, but they’re still works in progress lol. The herbs I’m growing inside are doing fine also, with the help of a grow light. I moved the cilantro inside and DBF used some of it the other day to make salsa. He pinched off the rosemary today to add to whatever he has cooking in the oven right now. It doesn’t look like I’ll tackle the flowerbeds this year. I’m ok with that. The empty one in the back of the house would be the easiest to start with, but Tennesseer gave me a good excuse to wait.🙂 The one by the mailbox will take some real big-girl panties for me to fool with it. The ones along the front of the house have some shrubs that would have to be dug up before I try to make it “pretty”. After the latest snake incident DBF is on board with getting rid of all those shrubs, but thinking and doing are 2 different things. So I can wait on that, until he’s ready to remove them himself or pay to have it done. We’ve talked about growing some vegetables, but I’ve been clear about the fact that I won’t dig around in the outside dirt, where there are bugs. We have enough room for a vegetable garden, and an ideal spot, but that would have to be his “baby” and I’ll maybe supervise. He seemed to lose interest when I reiterated that I’m not interested in taking care of vegetables if it means I have to deal with bugs. I’m still the same woman whose 4yo daughter chased her down the street, trying to show her a stupid worm. I’m not proud of it, but yep, I ran from her. I admit I have an irrational fear of bugs. So.....a vegetable garden in the yard? ....... we’ll talk about it..... and we’ll see.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on May 7, 2020 20:10:07 GMT -5
Almost hate to admit that I picked tomatoes, peppers and yellow squash today. Out of my son’s garden. I went there to do a little weeding and watering! I have to work for my bounty. Not a lot yet but enough to keep me happy for a few days. Red and yellow bell peppers getting close to picking. I am only one who eats them. Geeze, they were $2.99 each at store the other day. Won’t be long before everything in garden will be ready to pick. Maybe next week. One advantage of being on Gulf Coast. We can plant a little earlier.
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oped
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Post by oped on May 7, 2020 20:22:36 GMT -5
I’m so far away from harvest It’s supposed to be 29 tomorrow night.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 7, 2020 20:23:50 GMT -5
I’m so far away from harvest It’s supposed to be 29 tomorrow night. Very late cold snap.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on May 7, 2020 20:36:30 GMT -5
I’m so far away from harvest It’s supposed to be 29 tomorrow night. Very late cold snap. It was around 57 when I headed out this morning. Perfect working weather. Cool for us this time of year. But not complaining!
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 7, 2020 20:46:37 GMT -5
It was around 57 when I headed out this morning. Perfect working weather. Cool for us this time of year. But not complaining! We will be nearing record low night temps in the 40s the next few nights. I'm not complaining too much but my utility company might. Not making any money off of me.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on May 7, 2020 21:08:25 GMT -5
Yep, 29 here tomorrow night, we are covering what I have out. We were going to plant the rest today, but hubs brought the wagon in with the plants on it and I also brought in the rest, wonder if this is the last freeze. Wondering about my flowers in pots and the bed. I could put newspapers over them.
I ordered a kneeling bench yesterday, wish it were here, will be nice to be able to get back up using the side bars.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on May 9, 2020 15:02:01 GMT -5
I'm in Zone 5 (Kansas City area) and yes, they smell heavenly! I had also planted a few in the hillside garden and they're less prolific. Either the soil in the raised bed is better for them, or the level setting means they get more water than the ones on the hillside, or it's a combination of both factore. Thanks. I grew up in Zone 6 (western Massachusetts) so the sight and scent of lilacs were everywhere. Enjoyed them. Here in SW Tennessee, we are either zone 7B or 8A: depends. Lilacs like extended cold weather and they just don't receive it here. There are a couple of species of lilac we can grow here but lack a strong scent and they are small in size. Same thing with tulips. We can plant bulbs in the fall and they will flower in the spring. But the bulbs don't survive well in the ground due to our summer's heat. So if one likes tulips, new bulbs need to be bought and planted each spring. Daffodils survive okay here each year so we do get some late winter/early spring flowers. Actually the problem with the tulips down here is that after flowering they split into daughter bulbs that are puny and often don't flower. So I put in a big bed of them years ago and every year got less and less of a show. Now, years later, I notice one bulb got the strength to make a flower this spring. After that, I haven't planted tulips anymore. Sad because I like them and they're such a crazy variety. I ought to get some every fall for one of my raise beds but hate the thought of digging up the bulbs after and throwing them out. It's the same reason I don't plant pansies overwinter down here, I hate to tear them out in the spring and throw them out.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 9, 2020 15:36:26 GMT -5
Thanks. I grew up in Zone 6 (western Massachusetts) so the sight and scent of lilacs were everywhere. Enjoyed them. Here in SW Tennessee, we are either zone 7B or 8A: depends. Lilacs like extended cold weather and they just don't receive it here. There are a couple of species of lilac we can grow here but lack a strong scent and they are small in size. Same thing with tulips. We can plant bulbs in the fall and they will flower in the spring. But the bulbs don't survive well in the ground due to our summer's heat. So if one likes tulips, new bulbs need to be bought and planted each spring. Daffodils survive okay here each year so we do get some late winter/early spring flowers. Actually the problem with the tulips down here is that after flowering they split into daughter bulbs that are puny and often don't flower. So I put in a big bed of them years ago and every year got less and less of a show. Now, years later, I notice one bulb got the strength to make a flower this spring. After that, I haven't planted tulips anymore. Sad because I like them and they're such a crazy variety. I ought to get some every fall for one of my raise beds but hate the thought of digging up the bulbs after and throwing them out. It's the same reason I don't plant pansies overwinter down here, I hate to tear them out in the spring and throw them out. It was seeing pansies blooming in planters during the month of January which convinced me to move (company request) to Memphis back in 1994. Little did I know I was giving up long, cold, snowy winters (Northeast) for what seems endless, hot and humid summers.
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crazycat
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Post by crazycat on May 9, 2020 16:50:10 GMT -5
Congratulate me. I did go out and water the flowers. While I was out there I noticed that the snapdragons are withering up. Whaaaat? Looks like the same affliction as when they were planted in the ground. It looked then like a fungus. Just yesterday they looked healthy, and I was contemplating taking them out of the pots and planting them in a different area of the garden. Guess not. Hoping it's just that they wanted more water. They got plenty. We'll see how they look tomorrow. I love snapdragons and don't want them to die I love snapdragons too . I get at least a couple plants every year .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2020 17:38:27 GMT -5
I just realized why one tomato plant is so short and stubby. The tag says "dwarf variety". Oh duh, should have read the tag I guess. At least the tomatoes are tasty. Next year I'll get three of those little guys.
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