The 1st 14 to go out, was probably "sumwhare"s. "sumwhare", let me know if you don't get any. Today, these will be going out... "sophie" ~ "cowbow dad" ~ "Sarah" & "Vaflowernut" I'm still figuring out "grdngramma" & "seedkeeper" "mrsmodernhousewife" is ready, but waiting on an address. If you requested seeds, but don't get any in a week, let me know, I don't deliberately overlook people, but with so many different IDs, emails, etc, it is possible that your request got lost among them. I'm still waiting to receive the "mack" SASEs. ENDIVE IS ALL GONE (hopefully some outside for "mack" if she wanted any) THERE'S ONLY 1 HYBRID RED CHERRY LEFT

I was wondering how long I can wait to harvest all my radicchios. Seems I have some time yet, thanks Glib! Yes, sauteed bitter greens is the way to go. Our favorite, which works with raddichio (even some of the outer green leaves) as well as endive is to chop into relatively small pieces then sautee on fairly high heat in butter with just a sprinkle of sugar added. The heat and extra sugar carmelize and you get this unique bitter-sweet flavor. I saw it on a Jaques Pepin show... it's done when there is a little brown on your pieces, too long and it gets either a little soggy or too burnt, depending on the moisture content of your veg.

I am also from Michigan. I live in Marysville. Just south of Port Huron. My answers and questions come from experience not from being an expert or a botanist. Let me start out by saying that a Hard frost can kill anything you plant as an annual in your vegetable garden regardless of how it is described on the seed packet or catalog. I will presume to give you a rundown of the types of things and dates i would plant if I were You. You said you would be container gardening. I am also going to assume that you will give them enough space according to each ones needs Those items in the cole family , cabbage , cauliflower mustard greens , etc. can tolerate cool but not freezing temps as a young plant.I would start them indoors on March 15 . Give them sunshine for 3 weeks. Assuming they are growing well transplant into 12 ounce styrofoam cups. Begin hardening them off outside for acouple of weeks. if you have a mobile cart you can roll them into a garage or shed all the better. In any case they will need protection at night.This will bring you to about april 22 .Trans plant them to permanent containers at this time. Keep them in a southern exposure.Be prepared to cover or remove to a sheltered area if the temps are to drop below 40 degrees. I know 32 is freezing but I do not always trust the weather people. And besides we want to optimize growing conditions. That was a quick rundown on the Cole or Kohl crops. I would not trust direct seeding them unless you can protct the soil temps in the containers. Later yes , but not before mid May . Lettuce can be directly sown but not until the weather has settled in may. If you want early head lettuce do the same as for cabbage but wait a couple of weeks.I suppose you could do the same for leaf lettuce if you want it early. Peas are a crop that can be directly sown early. If the soil is not too wet and about 50 degrees peas will readily germinate out side. Again be prepared to protect but they are truly a cool weather crop. Potatoes can be planted out side directly in mid April if ground is not too wet . Containers would be great. Another thought is that sometimes what is confused as a cool weather crop is really a day length and sunshine issue.Lettuce in high sunshine tends to bolt. Heat or Sun? The dandilion green is is a common lawn weed. The one with the yellow flower. It is definitly hardy even in Northern Michigan. There are many cultivated varieties and I think they are all winter hardy in the North.Picked at the correct stage they are wunderbar and very good for you. The lawn ones are full of all kinds of pesticide junk. I hope this helps you some. If you would like let me know and I would give you my E-mail address . By the way some of the things you mentioned seemed somewhat exotic for a less experienced cold weather gardener. Why not try some of the more common things at first.Broccoli , cabbage , peas /leaf lettuce. Just remember that a lot of the catalog verbage is relative. It depends on where they are coming from. Happy gardening Johnny

Dprothy, That's a lot of rain. I think ours was only about 53" for 2009 but haven't added it all up and that would not be a record for our county. And, of course, for us 53" was a whole lot, especially compared to 2008, when we received just under 23". You're in Adair County, right? I've linked your county's one-page climate survey from the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, and it shows your county's record rainfall at just over 80" way back in 1927. Other climate data compiled at the state and county level is available to everyone at the OK Mesonet website and at the website of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Adair County