Nothing beats the flavor of fresh, healthy homegrown tomatoes, and we have a tasty selection to choose from. Typically cherry tomatoes are easier to grow, and the 'Supersweet 100' variety is a staff favorite. Get your Vitamin C while you enjoy the sweet taste. This plant matures in 65 days and is indeterminate, meaning it produces throughout the season. Vigorous vines require staking or cages, and don't forget the fertilizer. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and we recommend Happy Frog 7-4-5 for all your tomatoes.  

 

If you prefer larger tomatoes, you'll probably enjoy 'Celebrity' or 'Sunmaster' varieties. These plants mature in 70-72 days respectively and are very flavorful. 'Celebrity' is an All American Selections Award Winner that bears 8 to 12 ounce fruit on strong vines. It is highly resistant to disease. 'Sunmaster' is a perfect variety for hot Southwestern gardens. Fruits are plentiful and average 7 ounces. They have a nice balance of sugar and acid resulting in full flavor. These larger varieties are determinate so they produce one crop per season.

Art in the Garden 
If your garden is missing that special something, we invite you to see a beautiful selection of original artwork available right here! Each stunning piece is as unique as the artist and also created to withstand the elements. Local artists continue to amaze us with their talent, and beautiful pieces by Sue Betanzos, Joseph Birdsong, and Roy Logan, most recently, are now displayed and for sale. Roy Logan created the elegant, rustic flower sculpture pictured here. 

...and other assorted beauties. Yes, this writer is awestruck by most any flower, but we're doubly blessed with the beauty AND the scent of freesia. Their perfumed fragrance is crisp and sweet and undeniable. The rainbow of available colors is not too shabby either; choose from red, orange, yellow, fuschia, pink, lavender, white, and purple. There are many interesting new flowers this season so feel free to explore. Perhaps Ranunculus asiaticus is your thing or Anemone coronaria or Iceland poppies. The gerbera 'Giant Spinner' daisy is one of Bill Harlow's favorites. Each flower resembles a spray of fireworks. Its shaggy, vibrant display is outstanding in individual pots or the landscape; a real conversation piece. Visit our remarkable Garden Center for a truly sensory experience!

With the abundance of rain this season, you may be looking out your window at a carpet of weeds, so let's remove the confusion about which products to apply and when. Killzall from Hi-Yield is an ideal product to eradicate weeds that have already germinated. It kills the plant but more importantly the root. It is necessary to destroy the rootball to prevent the perennial weeds from returning for another season. If you prefer to use an organic product, BurnOut by St. Gabriel Organics is an excellent choice.

Pre-emergents prevent seeds from germinating. Liquid or granular pre-emergents are best applied in April-May and again in October-November to avoid being washed away during the rainy seasons. Talk to one of our Garden Wizards; we can help you eliminate these nuisances safely and effectively. (Always follow label instructions carefully.)