tomatoes

Last night I ruined my tomatoes. I had a wonderfully full container of 'Cherokee Purple' and a cherry variety...along with 'Habenero' and 'Cherry Bomb' peppers. See the thing is a grasshopper or caterpillar likely the former...ate a huge section of leaf and flower of my tomatoes two nights ago.....I felt so violated! I have babied this years planting...organic and chemical free well h2o'd and radachacha...so I made a ten strength homemade insecticidal soap...and scorched the foliage on everything....see baking soda and Dawn become a bit caustic when mixed into ridiculous proportion. I never claimed perfection...well not on things like that...math and such. The truth is I dont even really eat eat tomatoes...well the cherry kind if they are around...but not enough to plant them and expect to offset food cost....I think its just the idea of being southern and having fresh from the garden whatevers just in case the mood strikes or a party comes up. So the recipe is this


TO A GALLON (NOT A 32 OZ SPRAY BOTTLE)

TWO OR THREE DROPS LIQUID DISH SOAP

3 DROPS VEGETABLE OIL

1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA


This is a good plant wash for a number of insect and disease problems. Spray the entire surface making sure to get underneath the leaves. I was overzealous and unfocused. Ten strength will take a layer of bark off a sycamore. Happy summer!