Haahaaaa bragging rights no, I'm not into bragging. Debate yes. The only reason I mentioned cutting is because the cutting often looks better than the adult. I have a collection of Ming Araila's that show that. But the same thing would go for how hard it is to propagate because that wouldn't make it a better plant in the time frame. But once again I'm flexable. I have read about you outside the GardenWeb. You seem to have the same afliction that I do... the need to grow anything and lots of them. I say that because I want you to understand my passion for growing but it's number 7 on my skills list. Photography is number 2. now I understand that you don't take pictures. While I'm very adept at it. Including stills. So how do we work on leveling those playing fields. That's why I was thinking over all plant. In the time frame given it cuts alot of advantages. And just in case I'm looking for seeds or shoots for this plant.

PAMark- I liked your haiku a lot! Ortho brings you rest, indeed! How about these? An oversized duck, I dabble amoung my rows, tending. Bottoms up! Good neighbor, don't ask Why do I steal your fall leaves? Compost heap needs browns. Green gifts on my porch? Who could grant so much bounty? Zuchini fairy.

For caterpillars, the BT which I've seen in Home depot or lowes as Thuricide is a good choice. The broccoli being eaten down to stumps, hum, wonder if something else got them. Luckily with broccoli, you can still start over since they will like the cooler weather better. I've had trouble with squirrels eating the leaves and vine tips off my sweet potatoes, could the culprit be a bigger critter than a bug? Neem oil can be good against many things though it could also be bad for bees so don't spray flowers or while bees are present. Neem oil is not unpleasant to use. Organoside is another oil product that I've used against the scale that attacks some of our palms. It works and is quite safe to handle though it smells pretty bad (is mostly edible fish oil.) Soap spray is fairly good but make sure you test it on the plants before using it full scale some mixtures need to be washed off or the plant can't breath either. Most oil or soap mixtures are good for suffocating soft bodied bugs like scale and aphids. If the problem is squirrels, there are methods using hot pepper sprays that might discourage them from eating your veggies. Another method I've heard of that might gross some people out is a dilute urine spray around the garden area being invaded by the critters. Either one of these probably needs to be re-applied after a rain or every week or more. Here is a link that might be useful: TCLynx

Warren, congratulations! That is wonderful and you are certainly deserving of bragging rights, finished or not. I've been bragging on you already, I was discussing your yard with my parents a few weeks ago. They're planting an orchard in the front yard of their Duncan home - they own two houses right next door near the high school and have completely planted one with ornamentals (within an inch of its life, really, you cannot see the house at all for the wall-to-wall plant jungle) and now the next door one is undergoing a change to an orchard with a gazebo, grapevines, etc. I was describing where I thought your house was to tell them to drive by and get inspiration! Congratulations again!