Hi Silvia! (And everyone else). It's really great being here, I feel like I now have some assistance. Since I know I'll need it! I'm not sure about the Cuidad Victoria as I have not grown it from seed, I bought a seedling from a local farmer. I'm having my boyfriend build a trellis just in case (and will keep my fingers crossed it works if it's needed). I'm hoping to just luck out this year. If not hopefully I can learn from my mistakes!

Thanks for the picture, it gives me a bit of an idea of what to do. We've planted watermelon as well. I'm not sure if they'll take. If they do then I guess we'll play that by ear as well since I've only eaten it and never grown it before.

Sharon- Tomatoes are like people, even from the same variety, same packet, same seeds some do better than others. It happens all the time is like the seeds some will come first others later and others don't even germinate. You did not say which one was the tall one.

Beefmasters get pretty tall and I have never grow the red cluster tomato, I grew Ildi a yellow type of cluster and was not too happy with the results, maybe it was only that season, I will try them again. When flowering they were so pretty, tons of flowers but did not produced as well.

Vicky- I was right I grew ciudad victoria in Arizona is native from Mexico and is super hardy!

For watermelons you need a big container or if planted in the ground big space.

I grew an orange-peach variety last summer.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: ciudad victoria tomato

Silvia That Watermelon Looks SO GOOD Yum, Yum YUMMY!!!!
NC

Silvia - Your tomato plants are just amazing! I started a lot of seedlings but the weather was just too cold for them to grow outside. I ended up buying 4 proper sized plants and planted some of my tiny seedlings anyway. On the up side, the winter garden crops are still holding on longer than expected.

Christine

NC- I am going to grow some galia melons this season, I will show the picture and tell you about the taste.

Hi Christine- The weather is crazy this season, we just don't know what to plant or not to plant :)

Remember I told you at the Leu that they did not have as many herbs as last year? Everywhere they experienced problem with this cold winter.

I planted the carbon tomato from you I also got seeds from somebody else in another zone 9b, she said she only grows carbon and principe borguesse for drying in the sun.

On a good note, all my bananas are coming back to life and I have nectarines from a tree just planted this past winter.

Let's hope that we have a good summer!

Silvia

Silvia,

Did you grow your watermelons in a container? If so, how large was it?

I've wanted to try watermelons for the longest time, but do not have the yard space. Would love to learn more about container growing them!

Saintpfla

I grew watermelons and other melons in a container a little smaller than half a whiskey barrel and a little bit bigger than the ones for the tomatoes.

They had a good sale of plastic containers at big lots, that is where I got some for the tomatoes, I don't know if is still on.

Some varieties if small you can trained them on a trellis and if bigger let them run around mulch.

I will be trying different varieties of melons and squash this season, will report on how they do.

Container gardening is easy, I had one truckload full of fruit trees when I lived in Arizona.

And you can also make it pretty and change according to the seasons.

Silvia

So my seedling Black Seaman and Silver Fir Tree tomatoes are growing! They've grown so big, the silver fir is almost starting to dangle from/over the planter. I officially have FOUR flowers on my silver fir tree plant. So now the question has come up of how exactly I can support these plants in the containers they're in. (Both are in ~5 gallon containers) Thanks for the tepee idea Silvia, though I'm not really sure if I'll have access to bamboo. We do have some tree trimmings/branches. I tried using those, but my first attempt at making a tepee proved to be a extremely wobbly contraption....

P.S. Of all the seeds I planted only the pumpkins really took off. So I "cheated" and went to our local nursery and got seedlings. We planted the seedlings where the seeds had been, so worst case scenario we just have a lot of everything. So hopefully some time soon'ish I can also tell you about my watermelon (and squash, and peppers, and zucchini).

All of these pictures are making me hungry, lol. Silvia, there are two tall tomatoes plants the same size. One is a beefsteak and the other is a red cluster. Strange how one red cluster is the same height as the beefsteak.

Vicky- The bamboo sticks are very inexpensive and available at the big box stores. If you put the tomatoes against a wall or a fence and put one stick in the middle, that will help with the winds and when they get heavy with the tomatoes.

Now on your plantings of squash, watermelons and other things. Did you amend the soil? do you have a raised bed? All this things are important to grow veggies in Florida.

Also you don't need to put a lot of seeds. For small family few seeds are enough. Few seasons back I planted seminole pumpkin and took over the garden,lol

Sharon- I hope that you get a nice Easter, we are going out with the family to an Italian style villa to eat dinner, I am getting hungry too, lol.

On the tomatoes, maybe you have one exceptional good tomato, if so save the seeds.

One time I grew a Costoluto Genovese in Arizona that I wished I had saved seeds from that just one plant, we showed it to the vendor at the farmers market and he hated me after that, he said how did you get those tomatoes? where did you get the seeds? lol

Take some pictures when you are getting fruit of the red cluster. Are the beefsteak beef masters? They are good too.

Silvia

Hi Silvia!

The 2 tomatoes I spoke of are in 5 gallon containers on my back porch. There's no wall I can lean them against that'll keep them in the sun. My boyfriend rigged 2 different types of tepees/trellis/home made cage for them. Guess time will tell if they'll hold up this summer.

As far as our veggies/watermelon goes we have 4 raised rows that we're growing everything in. We mixed our natural soil with compost and worm castings. While I didn't really do my research I figured those were good starts. Originally, I planted the seeds exactly as the directions suggested. My best guess of why most of them didn't take off: squirrels. They have their way with everything in the yard and I guess they could have used my seeds as a nice snack. (And I we also have ants in that area, I don't know if it's possible for them to go after seeds for food....)

Hi Vicky,

It looks like your tomatoes should be fine, they are smaller varieties.

And your soil it looks like you have a good start, amending the soil is very important.

Seeds have to keep moist at all times to germinate, if you have squirrels maybe you can use a row cover, it is a very light material and you can see through is also called insect barrier. When you see the seeds germinate, you can take out the cloth.

Ants will not bother the seeds in my experience. Zoe should be working and patrolling the yard like mine do, especially the little ones they scared anybody.

Remember the seminole pumpkin that took over the garden? Here is Nikki in her daily patrols.:)

Silvia

Hi Silvia, nice to see Nikki's doing her part to protect your crops ;-)

Vicky, sorry I didn't see your request earlier. Here is how I support my tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets.

Tom

{{gwi:26462}}

Glamos 42" tomato cages turned top-to-top and bolted together with 1/8" wire rope clips.

This is how I support my tomatoes. I used leftover no-climb horse fencing and leftover electric fence wire.

Hi All

Here are some nice pictures from a garden that I saw today

View to the lake

A green wall

Olive trees in pots

Citrus and flowers

Flowers in containers

Silvia

pretty good

Last winters tomatos in the background. This yrs are Cherokee purple, brandywine black, topgun, dutchman, and a black cherry tomato.
Plant em if you got em.
Sam

Hi Sam

WOW!!! You have some big tomato plants and gorgeous looking tomatoes, congratulations!

You should give us some tips, we all like to learn what works for others.:)

Silvia

Silvia,

You must be on vacation somewhere exotic.....I don't recognize those pictures as being from any part of Florida. ;-)

Very nice!

Saintpfla

We are going back there today, it is 10 minutes from my house. I told you containers can be really pretty, I am going to get ideas for full sun plants.

Going to take more pictures and will post them later. Did you see the movie "Under the Tuscan sun"? It reminds of that, especially the beautiful landscape grounds.

Happy Easter everybody!

Silvia

Yes - I love that movie!!! In fact, some friends of mine are friends with the author of the book.

That garden is gorgeous - it looks just like Italy!

Here are more pictures for you, maybe the inspiration for your future container garden.:)

Flowers

Grape vines and roses

Violas under the shade tree

A water feature

Passage way

I hope that you like them as much as I did

Silvia

Whgille,

At what point do you start using the serenade and spinosad combination?

bamboo rabbit- I use spinosad and serenade as a preventive rather than as a cure. I start a very light spray when seedlings, once a week. I spray manually so I can control the amount of spray, I don't want to drench them especially when young.

Tom- The tree tomato is growing faster than the other tomatoes that were started earlier. The twin brother is growing around your neighborhood in my friends house. She did buried the buckets like you used to do. :o)

Here is a picture taken today, the tree tomato is the first one in the middle.

{{gwi:39711}}

Christine- Remember the amaryllis that I asked you about planting last year? Well, I got a surprise bloom, they were supposed to be pink, lol

Silvia

Oh wow, I've been gone too long! Silvia, where is THAT estate? Is it open to the public? If so, Cathy and I need to make a road trip.... Nice to hear about the tree tomato, I just don't have room for them :-(

Sammy, you d' man! Or woman ;-)

Tom

Tom- It is a private club, if you join you can take anybody you want. They have everything, golf, spa, restaurant. The inside is gorgeous! The furniture, decorations, ceilings and floors. Even the grass is different, soft and beautiful, I don't know what kind it is but I am sure it is not St, Augustin or Bahia or anything I have seen around here.

Remember my house? Just 10 minutes from here and you get transported to another zone. I said to the family think like if we had a mini vacation for 2 days.:o)

I love the tiles inside and outside, some of the ceilings remind me of the Bellagio in Vegas.

Silvia

Hi, Silvia,

The tree tomato that I adopted from you is bigger than the Neves, Islea and Kumato you gave me. The kumato is growing steadily. It is the smallest but has the most fruits :o) All of them are growing at least two inches a day. Thanks for sharing you plants with Art & me...

I feed them Micracle Grow Organic Choice Plant and Vegatable Food.

The two papaya trees you gave me are adjusting to the ground. Both of them have new leaves and are healthy looking. What plant food can I feed them? Just waiting for the moringa to show me some leaves!

You have seen my asian greens from the seeds you gave me. Been eating Pak Choi and Choy Sum everyday. Last night, I made Pak Choi spring rolls. Yummy and sweet. Much, much better from the ones I get from the asian market.

Hi, Tom,

I adopted a tree tomato from Silvia. This is one giant tomato! The leaves are as wide as a saucer. Can I save the seeds from this? Thanks for sharing you plants!

Sincere thanks to both of you!

~Freya

Hi Freya

I am glad the tomatoes are doing well, the Kumato will catch up with the others, it was transplanted later. And you can save seeds from all the tomatoes, they are open pollinated varieties.

The tree tomato is called Italian tree tomato, I am also growing tree tomato (tamarillo) and is a fruit, they survived the winter.

I use on all my fruit trees palm fertilizer, you can find it at any big box store.

Those spring rolls sound yummy, you are a great cook! Cheryl said your egg rolls are addictive, and they don't taste anything like in the restaurants. Yours are so much better! Thank you for taking the time to make them for me.

Silvia

Silvia,
I have to update you since several of my tomatoes are from you. Obviously, this winter was horrible, but now I have 16 plants all covered in ripening tomatoes.
The puppy got the single silver fir tomato, and damaged the vine, so I've got nothing to report there.
Your green zebra is turning out bronze, so it must have crossed with something. But it's yummy and prolific.
The uchuva was damaged, again by the puppy, but that was early on and it came back. Not really big, but I've enjoyed its fruit.
The coure di bue, which I think was yours, looks perfectly happy, but has never bloomed as far as I can tell.
I don't remember if you sent me sungold or not. The ones I've gotten have been great - I love that tomato - but the plant got some sort of black spot problem that I first thought was cold damage, but it spread even after the cold was over. Strangely, this problem didn't spread to any other plant. No idea what happened.
The Amish paste is literally covered with tomatoes. None ripe yet, but I'm impressed with its yield, especially this year.
Not yours, but good producers are Margo and Arkansas Traveler, though the Arkansas Traveler is a bit disappointing in texture. Still waiting for Margo. I planted it because I was almost wiped out by whitefly and TYLCV last year, which of course wasn't a problem this year.
Oh, and my own green zebra is doing well, but I'm not sure how I'll know when those are ripe.
I have one other of yours, but I can't remember which one right now. It has several cool ridged and uneven fruit. I'll have to go out in daylight and check it.
Thanks so much for all your generous help!
susannah

Susannah,

Don't worry, there is always another season to perfect the craft of growing tomatoes. At least you will get enough time to enjoy some of the ones that you planted this season.

The green zebra it always produces green for me, the only difference is the size, sometimes larger than other times, pick when still green and a hint of yellow, do not let become over ripe.

And yes the Margo and the Sungold were from me, both hybrids, we can not save seeds. Margo is a good cropper and Sungold you know sweet and fruity. Big tomatoes like the Italians take a long time to produce fruit, I hope that you still have time left before the big heat.

Remember one season can be different than other, give them another chance to all, that is why I have them rotating, I am the eternal optimistic, unless you did not like the flavor. I am surprised that the Arkansas did not taste good, it has been a good tasting tomato for me, we shall see it is in the rotating list for this season, :o)

Silvia

Hi, Silvia,

What is a tree tomato (tamarillo)? Is it also a tomato?

Thanks for letting me know what fertilizer to use for the fruit trees. I would not have known that the palm fertilizer can be use for the fruit trees. This afternoon, IÂll get some for the Brogdon avocados. Also, the lemon tree and lime tree desperately need to be fed. I also have a very tiny Calamondin that does not grow. Is it OK to use the palm fertilizer for this, too? Thanks again.

Can not wait to start harvesting from my adopted tomato plants! The Kumato has a big one now :o). I am glad to hear that I can save seeds from my tomatoes!

As to the eggrolls, you are always welcome. It is my pleasure sharing my cooking with you. Tell Cheryl I always have eggrolls in the freezer. When ever you want to swing byÂ.

Freya

Silvia,
The Arkansas Traveler was sweet, but the texture was a bit disappointing, more like a paste tomato. But I've only had one so far, and there are lots more out there, so that might have just been that one fruit. And it might be this weird weather. Wish we could get some cool nights.
I forgot you sent me the Margo. I'm very happy with its yield, and carefully watching the fruits - haven't tried it yet though. What a weird winter!
I'm watching the water very carefully at this point, just hoping to limp along until all the fruit on the vines ripens enough to pick. And there's a lot!
I'll watch for that little bit of yellow on the green zebras. The bronze ones are interesting. Not at all striped, and a really unusual color. But sweet, so I'm not complaining. A little bigger than a cherry, but not quite plum size - basically green zebra sized.
The one I couldn't place is labeled Green Cherry Doctor, which doesn't make sense, because the fruits are really big right now. They're still green and very clearly striped. Wondering if I mixed that plant up with the Green Zebra you sent me. I thought I was being so careful, but I may have mixed something up. That would mean the Green Cherry Doctor is turning out bronze and your Greezn Zebra is turning out huge and ridged!

Freya,

Look at the images for tamarillo, I have both kinds growing now, actually I have 3 plants. One survived last winter, and the other 2 were planted recently. They are supposed to fruit in 2 years, I hope to see a harvest soon. They also grow it in New Zealand, sometimes you can buy at Whole Foods but like tomatoes they are just not the same taste.

They can be used fresh as a fruit, or as a veggie and they make a wonderful hot sauce! One of my favorites!

When I went to Excalibur I asked the expert what they use on the fruit trees that are always producing, he said palm fertilizer. In the big box stores they also sell fertilizer just for citrus and others, check the numbers. So far it is working for me.

Give it time to the calamondin, mine is small too but gets loaded with fruit. I do prefer my red lime for citrus, with my mint it makes a wonderful mojitos.:o)

And thank you for the offer on the eggrolls, I can never say no to yours...

Susannah,

I figured it out the puzzle, you mixed them for sure! I grow at least 100 tomatoes a season, for me and the friends and neighbors. And I am so careful labeling, that I don't remember making a mistake. I am so serious with the names, I do make a shortcut to names and when I save seed I put them so separated that there is no chance they can fly to the others.lol

The bronze one seems like a green grape, it is bigger than a cherry. Green doctors is a cherry size, no stripes, green zebra is small to medium size and will show a tinge of yellow.

The green one that you described maybe will turn red and be a Goji? Only time will tell.

One of my neighbors comes and asked me for the tomatoes names and he said how can you tell the names? I said it is because I see them every day and compare the name with how they are doing, after a while I know it just by looking at them.lol

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: tamarillo

Silvia,

Again, I learned something new from you. I have never seen a Tamarillo fruit. To me, what makes vegetable gardening fun and educational is learning from the GW experts. I will now be in the look out for a Tamarillo fruit when I go to Whole Foods in Fairfax, VA. Maybe I can save some seeds?

I was able to buy Citrus and palm fertilizers from one of the big box store. This time, I bought the brand time :o). Once I get comfortable using these, IÂll go generic!

On a positive note with my calamondin, it is loaded with flowers and it smells so good. I have a one year old lime and the fruit is exactly like the green limes from the store. Is your red lime "Red"?

I'll post my tomato pictures soon.....

~Freya

Thanks Silvia. I didn't plant Goji this year, so that plant is a bit of a mystery. But it's got tomatoes on it, so I'm happy. The bronze one is kind of mysterious too.
But I'm happy with whatever tomatoes I get. I was hoping to be a little more scientific this year, just so I could start figuring out which tomatoes do best in my conditions. Of course, anything learned from this unusual year would be useless. Even my sungold, which was unstoppable last year, has produced poorly, while a Marmande, which has never produced for me before has lots of neat ridged tomatoes getting pretty big.
Thanks for all your help!

Freya,

If you get to try the tamarillo and you like it, I can share some seeds with you. The fruit that comes from another places is radiated for bugs, the seeds don't produce well.

When I get my red lime producing again, I will send you seeds, they are really good and can come true from seed.

Susannah,

You are not the only one with doubts, read the link about the goose creek, lol.

Here are my Green doctors, I am not growing any zebra this season, because I had a lot of new different varieties to try.

I will be sending you the black lima beans monday and also have some pigeon peas that somebody gave me, if you don't have those.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: goose creek?

I just have to share: I have my first tomato!!!

I worked on the garden a lot today and only as I was going inside for the last time did I notice it on my Silver Fir Tree plant. It is beautiful and about the size of a quarter. I'm incredibly proud/happy. That plant and my Black Seaman both have blooms so I'm excited that I'll hopefully have a bunch more little baby tomatoes soon!

Vicky, that is great! You are early for tomatoes in your zone, good job.

Be prepared, silvery fir is very productive and will get small sized tomatoes, not cherries, it produced abundantly for me when I grew it. It was small plant but very bushy.

Keep us updated on your progress, I like to hear tomato stories.:o)

Silvia

Hello, Silvia,

I would like to try growing Tamarillo. Do you have some seeds to share? Thanks.

Tomatoes are now loaded with small fruits. IÂll send you pictures.

I saw pictures of your Tatsoi on another post. Where did you buy the red Tatsoi? I would love to plant those with the other varieties you gave me to add some nice color to the other greens, that you shared :o)

Art said that a red lime will really be different. Please post pictures. Thanks!

Oh, I almost forgotÂ. the Moringa you gave me is showing some growth. We checked the trunk yesterday and there are some "bumps" which we are keeping our fingers crossed that those will come out as new branches. Yes!

Happy gardening.

~Freya

Silvia,
You are so generous. Sure, I'd love some pigeon peas if you've got extras. We had a little cool snap last night which I'm hoping will help my tomatoes. They were really beginning to look heat stressed, but temps have come down a good bit.
The goosecreek thread is funny. Kind of like my last year when I gave away a bunch of green zebra plants from my farmer's market seeds and then mine produced bright solid-red fruits. Everyone else who got seeds or plants from me got stripped, green tomatoes.
And, by the way, I cannot believe the yield on the Margo. It wouldn't be impressive for more experienced, and careful, tomato growers, but for me, it's just crazy how many big fruits are on that vine!
Susannah

I planted a Better Bush seedling in a bag of garden soil in early March. It's looking good, although still pretty small. And it's in bloom. I've been told that tomatoes won't grow here in the summer because they don't like the heat. I don't want to believe it. They did very well for me in Virginia summers that are just as hot.

Freya,

Now is not the time to start tamarillo seeds, I start around the same time like tomatoes.

I thought you are going on a trip, if so it is too late to order seeds, wait till fall to plant them again. The packets I ordered were small, so I used them all but when I order them again I will share some with you. This was the first time growing this that they said heat tolerant, so far so good.

And I think your moringa is going to live, and when I get fresh seeds of the lime, if you are home I will send them to you. Or if you are away, I maybe start them for you. Same with the tamarillo.

Susannah,

I agree with you about the thread being funny, and funnier it is that people from the tomato forum are asking me for seeds of the variety I have, the compact variety. I am going to tell them that after this season I will save seed and share with them and will not tell the source or I will be sued, lol.

And this afternoon I will mail you the black lima beans and the pigeon peas. The black lima are a cross made by a southern farmer between a willow and the best tasting he had.

Timetraveler.

Nice name! I grew tomatoes in Phoenix and Italian beefstakes for that matter, so it can be done. The trick here is start them early enough to produce before the heat arrives. In my case I had to deal with over a 100 degree heat, I had them under shade cloth and under the trees and in the porch. I was the only person in the neighborhood having tomatoes because the native Arizona did not believe they can grow tomatoes, everybody got the tour of the yard and when I left they all want the tomato plants.lol To make them happy I left them with fresh starts one last time...

Now, you are in zone 9b and planted a Better bush in March, you should be fine, have flowers, small variety, hybrid and decent soil. You have nothing to worry about, keep them on a spray program only early morning. And I hope you get a nice harvest! Post pictures of your success.

Silvia

Hi, Silvia,

You are right, we are getting ready to go on a trip. lol

You see, I have been having so much fun with the garden, I forgot the trip!
Thank you in advance for starting the Tamarillio and getting the red Pak Choi!

I'll keep in touch.

Hugs,

~Freya

I'm new to the forum but determinerd to grow tomatoes. Right now I've got good looking bushes but few tomatoes. Blossom drop! I've appropriated my wife's electric toothbrush to see if I can help with the pollination.

apapjim in Apopka

My Stupice, Sunsugar, Coyote, Champagne Cherry, and Red Robin are still producing at a slower rate. I sprayed some spinosad to kill the hornworm monsters. All the big ones are finished though I am keeping two alive.

Hi Apapjim

Welcome to the forum! And if you manage to keep your tomatoes alive through the hot temperatures, they will produce for you again when the weather gets cooler. Any cherry or currant tomato will make it.

Amberroses, I am glad your cherry tomatoes are still alive, one summer I had a small ruffle variety called Ceylon and was pumping tomatoes in the over a 100 degree weather in Arizona, the only problem was they are on the acidic side. -(

Soon it will be tomato season all over again and we are going to get ready.

Silvia

Hi Silvia - I posted this earlier but it didn't go thru', so will try again.... please can you tell me, what do you use for your sweet-potato seed-eyes, do you just cut the ones you get at the store or do you order-in seed-potatoes, for the sweet-potatoes..... do you ever have a problem with wire-worms? , when I tried potatoes here they got wire-worms, also radishes, and other root-crops.... I'm guessing your 'lasagna beds' deter that problem.??.... Thanks, sally

I am really enjoying all these beautiful tomatoes pics here.
Mine are doing okay and have lots of tomatoes on them but...I am so disgusted with these little brown shield type bugs we are getting here. They are climbing all over the tomatoes and actually eating them!! I have tried hand picking them but there are too many..more just show up.
I can't spray with Neem because it is too hot now and I don't really want to use any more pesticides on the fruits themselves because it kinda defeats the purpose of growing our own. Not sure what I should do now? I have been having to pick off the partially eaten tomatoes and just feed them to the chickens!

Those are probably stink bugs what you are describing, and this year we had it bad!

In the other thread summer in my garden, I had some info and organic treatment if you are interested.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: stink bugs

My tomato season has been a disaster ! Bought and nursed 8 good looking 6 " tall plants from Home Depot. Varieties like Big Beef, Red Beefsteak, Beefmaster, Big Boy, Solar Fire, etc. I previously grew these in the Upper Keys and had no trouble. However the bugs and caterpillars got these,..anytime I looked over a new tomato, it had small holes in it and all ended up undersized.
I never sprayed as that wasn't an issue in the Keys. Lately someone mentioned I should have sprayed with a solution of dishwashing liquid ( Dawn ) and water. Is this necessary ?
I am still determined to grow full sized tomatos here in Englewood, just south of Venice. The next season is not that far away, if I start with seeds.
Do I need to change the varieties I am using ?
Is spraying necessary ? If so, what is the best to apply ? Some I see are quite expensive.
Others sound dangerous, " Do not use close to harvesting time "
I had 4 in the ground ( raised bed ) outside and 4 in pots on my lanai. All were eaten by the insects/worms/caterpillars, etc. The plants outside were soon attacked by birds ( woodpeckers ? ),..setting the stage for a total wipeout.
I am hoping there is an inexpensive way to get my tomato's to harvest. The soap & water mix sounds great,...but maybe too simple ?

Jofus,

Sorry to hear about your bad tomato season. The varieties you planted should done well for you.

When growing crops especially tomatoes the bugs are very attracted to them, we also get fungal diseases.

For caterpillars you can use Bt that you can find it at HD, I just don't think water and soap will do it, other than hand picking that can also work if you don't want to spend the money.

Gardening is not cheap that is for sure but I look in a different way, eating fresh fruits and vegetables is worth it to me and my health.

All the sprays that I use are labeled organic, that makes me feel better.

Now about the tomatoes it is better to start from seed, you get to choose more varieties.

Don't give up and get your supplies ready for the new season coming up.

Silvia