[RiversideLen]

Thanks Mike, I think I'm going to double down on the calcium and ease up on the fertilizer. They are growing like weeds right now.

The watering is consistent because I keep the water compartment of the tubs filled. At this time of year I fill them at least once a day. The system is designed so the water wicks up into the soil, thus providing a constant source of water as long as the bottom part has water in it. The tubs have a coned plastic divider with holes in it that separates the soil from the water reservoir. You can see the clear plastic door in the tubs, that's where the water is added.

Another thing I did this year was to put some dried banana peels in the soil.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by RiversideLen.

[RiversideLen]

Thank you BakerAunt.

Chocomouse, I have 2 tomatoes in each planter although it probably would be better with just one. In the planter on the right, I also have one mint in the front. And I have one parsley in each container but they are not shown.

A problem I have had with this arrangement is blossom end rot which I believe is a calcium deficiency. So I use a liquid calcium magnesium supplement and also give it a steady diet of Miracle Grow.

I picked my first ripe tomato today, just a small one.

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[RiversideLen]

My tomato plants are getting pretty big. Lots of little fruits on them.

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[RiversideLen]

I have some Ryobi battery operated tools including a line trimmer and leaf blower. I get plenty of run time on the line trimmer. The leaf blower goes through the battery pretty fast but I have a several batteries so it works for me. If you have several acres to deal with I think you will need gas powered equipment.

[RiversideLen]

Strip steaks on the grill today, served with pasta salad.

[RiversideLen]

Today I made a pasta salad to be served tomorrow, with small penne pasta, grated carrots, chopped celery, red bell pepper, shallots and grape tomatoes.

[RiversideLen]

I was just going based on the label. I don't know what the process is to make "natural maple flavor" though.

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[RiversideLen]

Is maple flavor a natural product?
"Ingredients: Natural Maple Flavor"
It appears so.

[RiversideLen]

A quarter cup of maple syrup is only 2 ounces. I have subbed a half cup of maple syrup for all the sugar in Quaker Oats Low Fat Chewy Fruit & Oat Bars and it still doesn't have a pronounced maple flavor. To up the maple flavor, try adding a 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon maple flavor (available from King Arthur as well as other outlets).

[RiversideLen]

Yesterday I made potato salad using tahini sauce. I made the sauce too thick, lesson learned for next time. It tastes good though. Also made a round roast. So dinner for the next several days are thin slices of roast beef with potato salad, just need to make a fresh veg. Nice easy meals.

[RiversideLen]

On the 4th, I cooked strip steaks on the grill, served them with potato salad and asparagus.

[RiversideLen]

Baker Aunt, "emergency desserts", I like the way you think!

Mike, the red cake wasn't a deep red, maybe slightly pink but more red then pink. I didn't use a lot of food color, I think 3 or 4 drops.

[RiversideLen]

Re my Red White and Blue cake, do you know what happens when you add blue food color in a yellow cake batter? I do, it turns green. So my Independence Day themed cake looked more like a Christmas cake. That didn't detract from the taste, though.

[RiversideLen]

After much debate about delivery or cooking something, I decided to cook a hamburger. I wanted to use up my potato salad.

[RiversideLen]

I baked a layer cake today, one layer red, the other blue. I'm going to pop it in the freezer until Wednesday when I will decorate it with white frosting.

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