Well, the salvia they're next to, instead of topping out at 2' like it did last year, decided to go crazy and is now 4' and still seems to be going upwards. So my De Baroas are now back in shade and aren't doing much. But they've been in the ground for nearly two months and were doing well up until Mistique Spires decided to be Mistique Expires The Tomatoes.

How well would the tomatoes take to being dug out and relocated? They'll just go on the other side of the bed, in more sun.

Or should I sacrifice the flowers on the salvia and shear it down, which would be really mean to some hummingbirds and bumblebees?

As to your other choice, well, it is your choice as to cutting back the salvia which yes, hummingbirds and BB's do like, but you said it was a perennial garden area and surely you have some other nectar producing perennials in the area.

Yes?

Carolyn

Personally I would chance moving the salvia, but it's a much milder climate than many here, and I'm experienced enough I break rules like this as a matter of routine. Though I'm not promising a newer gardener would not cause a problem doing that.

Perhaps cutting some blooms and staking and pushing the remaining saliva blooms could work. Plus maybe thin the tomato enough you save just enough to get it to grow to one side, giving you a taste test of this variety. Might be your most interesting combination of the year. :)

If not, I would take it as a lesson learned and buy tomatoes at the farmers market. Can't buy bumblebees and hummingbirds.

Side note ... I looked up your saliva since it's not one I have, but certainly will now. Most interesting thing I found is :
Quote:
according to Plant Delights Nursery, Salvia balsamisp 'Mystic Spires' started as a radiation-induced mutation on S. 'Indigo Spires' in 2003.

All my other toms are doing great. My cherry tomatoes have been putting out fruit for a few weeks and my black dragon has one tomato on it, and hopefully more soon.

This is a new perennial bed. Last spring I removed everything that was in it - which wasn't much, two boxwood hollies and an invasion of liriope - and planted what's in it now. The Mystic Spires (thanks for correcting my spelling, I should have looked it up first) did well last year, but has gone crazy this year.

Looks like my issue with trying to find spots with enough sun. Seems the saliva could use more light too, but it's able to do okay there, so one more reason to put it on my shopping list. That back area where I see brick and concrete looks very promising for tomatoes. I,'m finding the more heat I can have around them ( here in Portland) the better luck I'm having.

The tomato sure shows the lack of sun. I'll let the tomato experts here address that part. I just wanted to let you know some of us share the looking for sun spots to grow tomatoes. Your not alone.

Rodney

Plaidbird, that area of concrete/brick is already growing lots of tomatoes. And a couple of herbs. Heat isn't really a problem here in coastal South Carolina, but this garden definitely has more shade than I've had to deal with before.