The Tomatoes are Thriving

The weather has been great for gardening this year.  After last year's "Freeze Dried" season its a welcome blessing.  We've only had a to water the garden a few times.  Unfortunately it seems a bumper year for the Japanese Beetles and Bunnies!  The bunnies have been murder on the tomatoes.  They skipped the lettuce earlier but have loved the tomatoes.  I've had to keep the bases trimmed up.  Even with a fenced backyard, they get in!  

I have had to stake some of the later tomatoes now too as they are outgrowing their cages.  

Partly because you can't buy a decent tomato cage anymore.  They are small and weak.  So now I have to stake and tie.  I have used bamboo in the past but have to replace them every 2 years. 

This year I chose these new plastic coated poles from Lowes that have nubby texture to grip the ties.  The should last a LONG time.

Even with frequent caging, tying and trimming of the suckers, the tomato plants are huge and getting bigger.  They are full of fruit, so the trimming is working.  I just wish more would ripen at once!  I'm greedy!