Born with a stubborn streak I have refused to buy plants from the store, instead favoring the plants already on the property. This works well if you like an abundance of sword ferns and hydrangeas. We lacked color in key places like up the driveway and the wife noticed. I broke down and bought more than a dozen wax begonias. These come in packs of six for about $10/$15. They set quickly and thrived along the steep driveway. The pink and red flowers against the green leaves added beauty. Now I know why many of my neighbors invest on annual plants each spring. Their homes brighten up all summer long and into fall.

Wax begonias are annuals here. In other words, they last for a season then die. They die at the first frost which is November 15th. This doesn’t have to be. Theoretically I can transplant them into pots and bring them indoors where its warm and I can keep their soil moist. The plan will make an annual into a perennial. But will this work with a tomato plant?