Tomatoes!!

[pneu-engine]

I hated tomatoes until my hubby started growing them in our backyard garden -- now I love them. I realized then that what I hated was the storebought tomatoes.

Hehehehhehe, I agree completely. :thumb

Here is another perfect example of something that God gave us naturally, but human engineering rendered tasteless. Many of the store-boughten fruits and veggies are "methane-ripened". They were picked green, but the methane treatment makes them look ripe and with good color on the outside. However, on the inside they are still very much non-ripe. :gross: This is why they taste like styrofoam or cardboard. :lol:

[Chelle]

Many of the store-boughten fruits and veggies are "methane-ripened".

So that's why. :gross:

Whenever possible (that is, when we can grow them) we eat the veggies out of our own garden. My DH has become quite a good vegetable gardener. :lol

[CJP56]

TOMATOES!!!!! I love tomato anything!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite is a garden fresh tomato sandwich made with bread and butter. YUM!!! CJP56

[LAF]

I love them .The ones in the grocery store that are the best are the ones that are still on the vine .They usually are more pricey but they taste way better .

[bibletotingunslinger]

I gonna plant em next week, I think.

[Chelle]

We've already got fruit on our mater plants. It's nowhere near ripe yet, but I can see it from inside the house -- without my glasses. :lol

[kevinmiller]

WOW, I just bought my tomato plants Saturday. :eek

[pneu-engine]

We've already got fruit on our mater plants. It's nowhere near ripe yet, but I can see it from inside the house -- without my glasses. :lol

There are very few things that can compare to having fresh fruit from our own gardens. :thumb

Right away now I have to think where I can plant two or three 'mater plants. :thumb

[kevinmiller]

I just planted three tomato plants today. :lol

Also got two pepper plants, green beans and squash in the ground. :thumb

[manofconviction]

You folks below the Mason Dixon are blessed in deed. We are lucky to plant in late May.

[Chelle]

You folks below the Mason Dixon are blessed in deed. We are lucky to plant in late May.

It's a mixed blessing, I assure you. :lol We can plant earlier, but we also have more garden pests we have to battle because of the warmer weather (the bugs are less active when the air is colder).

[pneu-engine]

Not to mention the fire ants and tarantulas. My apprentice hates both of those. He says he would pack some heat (i.e. a 45, or a 357, or maybe a "nine") for the spiders. I told him he wouldn't have a house left if he did that.

A friend of his bought a house sight-unseen in a fairly arid part of Texas that sat vacant for 8 months. He got it for almost nothing. When he went to see the place there were tarantulas in every single nook and cranny in the place. They had literally taken over. He had to call an exterminator.

[Chelle]

Thankfully we don't have any tarantulas here in the humid southeastern part of Texas; but we do have to do battle with the fire ants.

Incidentally, I have read several reports of Splenda being used very effectively as a fire ant killer. Makes you wonder.

[pneu-engine]

Thankfully we don't have any tarantulas here in the humid southeastern part of Texas; but we do have to do battle with the fire ants.

Incidentally, I have read several reports of Splenda being used very effectively as a fire ant killer. Makes you wonder.

This is very interesting, Chelle. :lol

I've heard of several different herbs and spices being uses as pest repellants.

E.G. ::::::::::

#1. Sprinkle cayenne red pepper on your flowers when they are wet with dew to repel rabbits.

#2. An effective fly repellant can be made from Tansy.

#3. Crushed wild garlic, cayenne pepper, spent marigold blossoms, and water all blended together with a little liquid dish detergent makes an excellent all purpose spray for your veggie plants.

#4. Sprinkle wood-ashes on your pepper plants when they are wet to repel slugs.

There are oodles of others too. :cooldude: