Hi. Tobacco varieties that are grown for commercial use are resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus. There may be pockets of TMV in some greenhouses that are growing heirloom varieties for their own use (or for decorative plants), but the smoker who uses commercial cigarettes/cigars will not transmit the virus. No problems there. I see some black specks on the leaves in the photo that's 3rd from the bottom. Could there be some pest activity going on there? Your plants look generally healthy. I think most of the problem is attributable to the need for fertilizer. It looks like you are doing a good job with watering too - not too little and not too much. Good on ya. The last photo, of the fruit, looks like blossom end rot. Most of what I've seen indicates that you need to fertilize the plants. With container plants, you need to fertilize regularly with a fast-acting fertilizer that has nutrients that are immediately available to the plant. Most potting soils do not contain nutrients and they don't hold nutrients because they wash out from watering. Get some inexpensive, water soluble, fast-acting fertilizer, such as Peter's or Miracle-Gro or one of the others. Dilute according to package directions for INDOOR plants. This is important. If you make it too strong, like for outdoor plants that are in the ground, it will damage the plants. Feed every 2 or 3 weeks or as suggested by the directions. Slow-acting fertilizers will not be useful to potted tomato plants so don't bother with things like Tomato Tone or bone meal or other amendments that take a long time to break down. They will be washed out before they get a chance to be useful. This should vastly improve the health of the fruit and leaves. Your fruits, with regular fertilizer and watering evenly, will stop getting blossom end rot. It should also help with the leaf issues. I don't see any disease. Maybe a little pest activity but that's easy to resolve with your favorite garden insecticide. Fertilizing is your most important issue. It will make a big difference. Enjoy!

I got a lovely box from my Secret Pal today, it really cheered me up! There was a very pretty dangly made of colored glass that is already hanging outside, and some seeds (always a good choice), and the cutest Mary Englebreit cards. I loved your note too, Secret Pal, sorry it has been so hot where you are, we had some very hot days this past week too, where the heat index put us up in the triple digits, the humidity was just exhausting. Thanks for the pretty pictures of your flowers, I love the daylilies. You did offer two of them, and I have to say I would love to get them! Both of the ones that you put stars next to the photos will look lovely in my garden. This fall I am going to redo the bed by my driveway (for about the third time since I put it in) and those daylilies will look wonderful in there. Thanks again for the great and very welcome package, Secret Pal! Alison

We aren't doing laminate again. I despise laminate. And the cabinet color may be interesting, but for me it is undesirable, in my opinion it's too dark to go in such a small kitchen area. A green paint on the walls, white paint on the cabinets with new silver hinges and knobs, and a darker tan tile is the look we're pursuing. We are also not going to put any more money into this project than we have to, and that includes ripping off the counter top and replacing it. I guess the only choice I will have is just to try and cut thin vertical strips of tile to go around the outside edge, and I'll end up with a counter that looks like the edge of a quarter somewhat.

Ginny...is it possible that we're married to the same man?! ;) I think...no..I know I've made up my mind! Since our appliances are new, and white, and of course our Bunn coffee maker, Keurig coffee maker and other little appliances are black, here's what I propose: We're putting in a laminate countertop because putting in granite is too costly for this place and I really don't like the noise it makes whenever I've put a plate or utensil down on it and my grip isn't as...grippy lately, so I know I'll drop things in it, too...so! Slick black laminate: it's matte with shine...a sort-of pebbly finish but NO flecks or colour in it! It'll be butted to the wall without that cuvey dooey that takes up space. I think it's called "bar cut", so it's a wider countertop. Backsplash: pure white subway tiles, with a stip insert of "Eclipse black" tile..which I can't find anywhere on here to show you! It's made up of small tiles about 1"x2", all the same size, but randomly placed, some matte black, some a shiny pebbly black, and some are mirrored black! It's shiny!! Which makes me happy. I'm not called "Glitter" for nothing! But it'll be just a 5-line strip, and filled in behind the stove, then continuing along the other piece of countertop, 2' long. So it'll run for 15', but it'll fill in behind the stove (there's a cabinet above, so there isn't a huge space there, so I didn't want to break it up) So! I can put any colour of accessories in there I please, because black and white goes with anything! I can't wait to dress it up in red for Christmas! Anyhoodles.....your thoughts, anyone? You've all been so helpful..honestly..you gave me the "push" I needed to actually get out there and find what I wanted! I fell in love with that black Exlipse tile! We're even considering putting an under-mount sink in there, too, since they can do that now with laminate. I'm thinking a black sink....sigh...which will be the same as our daughter's countertop and sink....! LOL!!! But whereas she has those glass tiles in brown tones, I'll have my black and white!! Yay, me!! ((((happy puppy dancing!))))