To-MAY-to, To-MAH-to...whatever, don't fret about your maters!

I've heard a lot of gardeners complain that they're already behind the eight ball when it comes to getting their tomatoes into the ground.

STOP WORRYING!!!

According to the Farmer's Almanac, Good Friday is your starting point to put your stuff in the dirt. And think about it, tomato plants always have a good run into the late summer and early fall. If you sink your plants into the earth a couple of weeks from now - no problem you'll just have the joy of enjoying the fruits of your labor a little later in the season.

With that being said I wanted to let you know about a gardening recipe. It's a selection of plants that get along great together and help ward off pests. Think of tomatoes, peppers, basil and marigolds as best friends. Now I can't tell you the technical ways these guys work together but I can tell you its always worked for me. Plus don't worry about overcrowding...even if you're planting your plot in a pot just shove them all in to mature at once. Teddie Berry, a local Master Gardener, says there isn't any research that supports any of this except that the scent of the marigolds may keep pests away. But she did add that a lot of folks believe in this combination.

Here's another tip and this was given to me by the Bacon family in Irwinton. Ray Bacon grows a gazillion tomatoes. One year he shared his secret for huge ripe fruit, just put a handful of powdered lime in the hole when you plant your tomato. Don't hold back...make it a nice big handful of the chalky stuff. This will help (not prevent) but help with blossom end rot.

Hope these tips help and remember don't stress out over one of the season's greatest joys.