Lauren Wiseman:
Adrian, thank you for the herbal mosquito-repellent remedies. I will give them a try and let you know how well they work while gardening. If it weren't in the mid-90s each day, I would wear some longs-and-longs (shirt and pants, that is), but it has just been too hot. I will take my chances and hope that my exposed arms and legs fare better with some eucalyptus oil.

On to the more enjoyable aspect of gardening. I am currently in the middle of a total tomato craze. I went away for four days, and when I came back, tomato plants had taken over my deck. Some stalks had grown two feet, dominating the pots and railing of my deck. The health-kick hybrid is the tallest, but it does not have any fruit yet. Some of the plants are standing straight up on their own, but others, such as the Early Girl, are weighed down by their green, growing tomatoes.

When I first planted the tomatoes, I inserted one-foot stakes about six inches behind each plant. Some varieties naturally lean on the stake, others need some help. What is the best way to tie the tomatoes to keep them upright and less unruly?

Because of the recent heat wave, I have been watering the plants every day. I have been making sure to eliminate any suckers growing in the creases of the plants. Unfortunately I found a plethora of yellowed leaves on most of the plants. You mentioned that these are diseased. I removed the infected leaves, careful not to spread the disease to the rest of the plant. But should I be concerned that my plants are sick?

This is by far my favorite project. Such instant gratification! I love the plants' rustic, homegrown smell on my deck. I am already concocting various recipes for the red, ripe, juicy tomatoes: tomatoes and mozzarella with basil, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, grilled tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato pudding and maybe even a tomato pie.

August can't arrive fast enough.
-- Lauren

Adrian Higgins:
Lauren, let's hope these plants live up to those ambitious culinary plans. The beauty of joining the homegrown tomato fraternity is that there is always someone else with too many beefsteaks, Romas and cherry tomatoes and are eager to share the bounty. I fear the stakes are too short, even though we have planted dwarf varieties. Still, the worst that can happen is that they sprawl a bit. It is important to tie tomato vines as they grow, because attempting to tame them afterward is far harder. Jute twine is not a country singer, but a form of string that is handy for plant tying in general. It is soft, somewhat broad, biodegradable and can be tethered to stems without cutting in to them, as long as you don't tie it too tightly.

I would make one tie near the bottom of the stake and a second near the top. That will keep them somewhat controlled as July turns to August. The ties should support the vine without cutting in to it. And yes, keep removing the lower leaves as they yellow, and keep them away from clean leaves to prevent the spread of blight, which is an inevitable part of growing tomatoes organically.

Tomatoes in containers are particularly prone to a disease of the fruit called blossom end rot, and one way to reduce the risk is to make sure that the soil doesn't go from an extreme of dryness to prolonged sogginess. Sogginess is minimized in the pots because we made them so free draining, but don't allow the soil to get inordinately dry. The tomato plants will help tell you when that is happening because the leaves will droop. At that point, water the pot until you see it drain at the bottom. Wilting in any leafy plant is a defense mechanism to reduce moisture loss, but if permitted to become acute, it can damage plants or even kill them, especially seedlings.

Lauren, I know you can be squeamish about certain aspects of the natural world, so I want you to take to your chaise before reading on. Have a companion with an unfolded fan at hand.

The tomato hornworm is a common pest of the tomato, and it is the largest caterpillar that most people will come across. In its late stages, it is bilious green, plump and several inches long with a massive feeding head. It can quite quickly defoliate a plant and even munch on the developing fruit. It is important thus to get rid of them as they appear, but because we are organic gardeners, the best course is to take the hornworm between your bare fingers and dispose of it. The feet are quite tenacious, and when you remove them from the vine, they may start attaching themselves to your hand. It's a weird and uncomfortable multiple pecking sensation. But don't be ... Lauren, Lauren? Could somebody call for an ambulance?
-- Adrian