I feel like a proud parent!

[Aerows]

I actually have 5 little tomatoes on two of my plants and cucumbers just starting to form .

It's the first time I've ever grown anything and it's awesome!

[beac]

1. It's SO satisfying, isn't it?!

Now you might want to think about some garlic spray to protect those babies so only YOU get to eat them (i.e. no nasty buggies take a bite before you can harvest.)

The garlic spray doesn't impact the taste, FYI-- just makes the plant and fruits repulsive to pests.)

[Aerows]

2. Could you point me to a link where I can get the appropriate kind?

I'd like to learn more about the benefits and possibly buy some. I also have a bed of onions close by, and various hot pepper plants (that are just starting to bloom!)

[beac]

4. People probably think I work for the company by now but

I am really just the MOST satisfied customer of Mosquito Barrier. http://www.mosquitobarrier.com

They also make a less-strong version called Garlic Barrier but, since everyone has/hates mosquitos, I find the MB to be a bit more bang for the buck, so to speak.

It's a super-concentrated garlic liquid that you mix with water and then spray on plants. The garlic smell goes away quickly and no nasty things bother you or your veggies. One bottle lasted me two seasons (keep it in the fridge after opening) and that was when I had over 100 herbs, veggies and flowers in pots plus several beds and using it to spray the grass all around the house regularly (for mosquito repelling.)

[Aerows]

3. Ooo! I went to water them

and I counted NINE! On three plants. I may be seeing things, but the cucumbers look like they are obviously forming behind the flowers

I am PLEASED as PUNCH!!!

Maybe I am not brown-thumbed after all!!!

[Curmudgeoness]

5. You are not seeing things.

Little cukes start to be noticeable before the flower has fallen off.

No one has a brown thumb, as long as they pay attention to the plants....water them, fertilize as needed, watch for pests. The only people I know with brown thumbs are people who neglect the plants and let them wilt for lack of water.

[Aerows]

6. Thank you for the encouragment

I've had attempts at growing plants fail for various reasons including cat eaten lavender plant, jealous girlfriend that put bleach in my cilantro plant that my attractive female boss gave me for Christmas, tabasco plant that got wipe out by a tropical storm ... etc.

I WANT these plants to succeed, and nothing, not cats, jealousy, tropical storms or the variety of things that happened (When a pot falls over the balcony of a condo from 3 floors up, you have to wonder if you are just plain cursed) will stop me .

EDIT: And I don't hate cats - my current cat is the best thing in the world for pest control and as my foot warmer . My other cat (died at 17) just munched up my lavender plant like I had brought home a salad.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Your cat was just telling you

that you didn't bring home something for him/her when you brought that lavender plant. Next time, bribes with a catnip plant will be most welcome. I repotted a catnip plant that I just bought and forgot to hang it immediately. I have to buy another plant.

[Aerows]

8. My little darling Roma Tomato Nose (I named her that 6 years ago, well before I started growing them

Is pretty good about all of it, except she sprayed the plants to let them know she belongs there because I was paying too much attention to them :/

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Oh my......that won't do them much good.

But if you can water it down really quick, it might be great fertilizer for them.

[Aerows]

10. It started raining cats and dogs (pardon the pun)

right after that, so I think it's okay .