I grew them for the 1st time this year. I started them inside since it was still a bit cold out, in a burpee eco-friendly starter tray from Lowe's, which is coconut coir. I soaked the seeds first overnight. In literally just 3-4 days, I got 100% germination. I swear, one day I went to work and nothing was there, then came home at night and poof! they were an inch tall. I could hardly believe it. I put them under lights immediately, and transplanted them to bigger pots right away. I kept them inside about a week then started hardening them off. After about 7 days of hardening, I planted them outside. Now they seem to be growing fine. So for me, no problems! I'm not sure what could be going on with yours. Although, as you can see in the pics below at least one of mine was kind of leggy. I only needed 4 plants, so just I didn't plant that one. The day they germinated: Before planting out:

This is a very interesting discussion. This is the hottest and driest spring/summer on record here and I have had only one one cucumber out of many that was bitter. My understanding was that bitterness was primarily environmental. We only grow a pickling cucumber (National Pickles this year, usually Homemade Pickles, but that's a different story). We like to make pickles (hot-water bath, fermented, and ice-box) and we also eat them raw. However, all my gardening friends grow slicers and have the same complaint of bitter, inedible cucumbers. Admittedly the picklers have a somewhat different taste and texture, but they seem to work under these extreme conditions. Also, I keep them under optimal soil moisture conditions, harvest them every day, and the ones that are the least bit overgrown go to the chickens without a taste test from us. Tom Logan

Here's my observation from a first time gardener (although it is working out pretty well.) I had hundreds of small brown beetles (the same size as the cuke beetle). I had planted bunches of radishes wherever there was room and lots of Sweet Alyssum, both with the intention of being trap plants. I freaked out when I saw this massive invasion of these beetles almost overnight. I took a deep breath and went to bed. The next morning, the beetles were entirely on those 2 plants mentioned above and hardly any other plant. They completely ate up just those two plants, then took off after mating (that's what those hundreds of bugs were doing the few days here). What I think I witnessed was companion planting at work!! Then, I had cuke beetles and a bunch of assasin bugs showed up. The cuke beetle population plummeted after a week or so. I think if I had sprayed, then there would not have been prey for the assasin bugs to settle in here. The AB are still here doing a great job. They seem to like the dill weed that has bolted as an attractor flower. This "dance" going on in my garden is really amazing.

Hi Guys! I've been on vacation and in and out a lot. Sorry this is the fist I'm getting back to this. I put them on each side of the window. I do like them there. I wasn't sure about the height at first but after looking at it for a few days I think it's good. They're a little lower than 60" in the middle. It does slightly bother me that they're not centered on the wall on each side of the curtains. They are even in height. Different angles of the room give that illusion. Should the one of the left be lowered a smidge to adjust since people will usually be to the right of the room? If that made sense!! Better? Still not done messing with a plant for one top of the bookends. Squirrel - Thank you for all the PS! I agree the lamp shade isn't the one. Awhile back I got tired of searching for it and just kept that one for now. One of the problems I was running into with larger shades was they would cover a lot of the scrolls and crystals and didn't seem to look right either. I know people have suggested a large drum shade was probably what was originally on there but I don't care for it on this lamp. Tried a couple different fringe ones and it it seemed to be too much with the base of the lamp. I will continue my search at some point! I just needed to get something on there and walk away for awhile.