I am pretty excited about them - I am not sure I would call it "dedication", its more of an obsession (though dedication certainly sounds healthier)
Mary , once I put my tubers to bed for the winter, I don't check on them until its time to start waking them up. I figure, if they are gonna go, then they are gonna go. If I had to run an obstacle course like you do, I definitely wouldn't be checking on them.
I lost quite a few last year too, some of which I am replacing, some I just let go and move on to others. Its amazing how many beauties are out there that I still want.
I have two 4x10ft beds that have been home to my tomatoes for the past 5-6 years. I have decided that next year I am planting dahlias there and only growing 2 tomato plants elsewhere, instead of the 8-10 I have been growing. That will be enough for fresh eating, and I have frozen tomatoes and frozen sauce from the last 2 years. I figure I can squeeze another 8-10 dahlias into each of those beds!
