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By Kathy Caraher, Resident It's getting to be that time! So, get out in the garden and pick a spot, whether in the ground, a raised bed or a deep pot. Tomatoes love at least seven hours of full sun and well composted, organic soil. It's a little more expensive but your tomatoes will reward you. Add in a little Happy Frog fertilizer to get the soil microbes working. You want fluffy soil so please don't walk on the planting area; the roots need to be free to spread out. Moisten the soil and, if you have time, let it sit for a week or two. This allows the natural microbial systems to begin their enrichment of the soil. Also, the soil should be a consistent 50 degrees, so plants won't be inhibited. Now you're ready to plant. Remove all but the top three to four branches of foliage… the plant will look like a palm tree. Plant it deeply, so only its top foliage is above the soil line. Nice strong feeder roots will grow all along the length of the buried stem, giving you a much healthier plant and a more abundant harvest. Feed them a little organic fertilizer every three weeks. You'll be glad you did. Water your plants regularly but also get yourself a water meter… over-watering causes blossom end rot, yellow leaves and blossom drop. Try not to get the leaves wet when watering. Get some type of support system for your plants as they will be much larger than you expected. Homegrown heirloom tomatoes have the marvelous, mouthwatering, warm from the sun, old-time taste you've been missing. Plant some of my favorite tantalizing heirloom tomatoes this year. They're easy to grow, hearty and as disease resistant as commercial hybrids: varieties such as Mortgage Lifter, Green Zebra (yes, it's green when ripe), Anthony's Passionate Heart, Paul Robeson, Julia Child… be sure to stick in a few Basil plants in their shadow. It'll help with pests and taste great together with a little Balsamic vinegar! By Keith Davis, Club President/Resident Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and across the world. The game is somewhat of a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It is played on a court about half the size of a tennis court, using paddles instead of rackets and a wiffle ball instead of the heavier tennis ball. The Solera Diamond Valley Pickleball Club is one of the largest charter clubs in our community with 55 current members, and we are growing. We have club playing hours every day of the week, with both morning and evening play. This is a fun game for all ages and skill levels. The club offers members camaraderie and a fun way to get in some exercise. Come join us on the courts! Are you Thinking of Planting Tomatoes? Solera Diamond Valley Pickleball Club SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2022 17