Jenfm, I've always thought about the dwindling daylight hours effects on our fall/winter vegetable gardens. Not just fewer hours, but less intensity as the plants grow. Then there's the seasonal lag through January before things really start the upturn toward spring. It's no wonder the largest pumpkins and squash grow in Alaska and Siberia. Unlimited sunlight on those large leaves! Along with the soil sterilizing deep freeze every winter. I've never had luck with summer squash here. They come up and flower fine, but immediately after flowering the small fruits rot or vine borers get into the stems. I'm going to order some of those Tromboncino squash seeds very soon. Ill, did you say you planted that in the fall? Cucumbers do only slightly better. I don't think they handle humidity well at all (mildew) and get the same bugs as the squash. I'm planning to start some cukes in late Dec to take advantage of the dry season and lengthening days. In a large pot with a trellis. I think you can sow amaranth anytime of year. Once it's established and you let one go to seed it pops up everywhere. I really see the best growth in the spring. It goes to seed more quickly later summer and fall. I've found the red one does better for me. The green one must be very tasty though. It's always eaten up in the garden, by little caterpillars. I love nasturtiums among the veggies too. They pop up every fall like magic.

Hi Tanya, Sounds like a good plan. I'll attach a link below to find your average last frost date. I would wait until that date to plant your seeds outside. Otherwise, be prepared to protect them in case of frost. Ed Here is a link that might be useful: Frost dates

Galaxie, you'll note that I said I was going to do a post about the varieties mentioned to date, which did not include the tree tomato you referred to, which is Cyphomandra betaceae. I couldn't get GW to open for me yesterday. Ok, so Italian Tree, Climbing Triple Crop and even the variety Giant Tree which no one mentioned, are ALL just regular indeterminate varieties. Nothing special, I've grown them all. A so called "tree" type tomato is as follows, as cut and pasted from Victory Seeds: One class of tomatoes exhibits characteristics of both determinate and indeterminate types. Historically they are called "tree-type". " . . . the tomato De Laye, often called Tree tomato. This originated about 1862 in a garden at Chateau de Laye, France. In this the plant rarely exceeds 18 inches in height, is single-stemmed or with few very short branches, the nodes very short, the fruit clusters few and small. From this, by crossing with other types, there has been developed a distinct class of dwarf tomatoes which are of intermediate form and character and are well represented by Dwarf Champion.1 ***** And the tree type dwarf varieties all have rugose foliage, which is a beautiful deep green and the leaf surface pleated and bumpy. Back to the Tree Tomato that's found in ads in the Sunday supplements and elsewhere. As I said above, it's not even a tomato being C. betaceae. Fruits are red and roma shaped and it's a tender shrub and no fruit production for two years. It's also known as a Tamarillo and there are many cultivars of it that are prized and grown by lots of folks in the Far East as well as Australia and New Zealand and also in Califormia. I'm told by friends who grow them that the fruits are acidic and not eaten fresh but are wonderful as used for jams and jellies and in cooking. Carolyn

I will stay with the my glass is half full. First, please do not compare a rottie with a golden retriever, there is no comparison. The golden may be excitable, but no where near the weight of the rottie, and golden gets excited with new people which is totally NORMAL. If the decision is that you get new kitties, the must be confined to one area that cannot be breached by either the dog or your existing cat unless you are supervising. Limited introductions over a period of time, I think it will be okay. I have had several labs over the years. The labs are like the goldens. They get excited because they want to love you to death. And that can happen, new kities need to be protected always from both golden and present kitty. I don't think the old kitty is going to harm them, probably if it happens, it would be the other way around. To OP, has your golden been trained with a gentle leader? If not, schedule an appointment with your trainer and get a lesson with the gentle leader. It is amazing what the mere presence of a gentle leader in the room with an excitable retriever will do. Talk about calm, it is the new valium. Also, since there has been training, go back to the beginning and work with your dog to remind her that she has previously learned manners, but really has been allowed to get away without using them. Not golden's fault IMHO. I really can't comment about adding new kittens to an older cat since I always have a group of different ages. What is the problem with your cat that everyone but me seems to know about? Why is the older cat dictating what your pet situation is going to be. I know you have a responsibility to her, but this seems to be a little more than that from what I am getting from the posts, or I am just more laid back than everyone else. I think she will be unhappy at the very least in the beginning. All cats are when a new kitty is added, despite their age. They get over it. Again, what about your older cat makes you or the other people posting think she would suffer irreparable harm if you bring kitties into the house. You aren't making an impulse decision as described above because your kids are saying mom, mom we want a kitty. I think volunteering at a shelter is a great idea. But in our State, they won't take anyone under 18. My DD volunteers at our vet on Saturday mornings to do kennel work for pets who are there for observation or surgery and the like. She also belongs to an community service organization in our county who will be washing blankets previously collected at the laundromat this weekend. The blankets will then be delivered to all the different shelters in our county. We have a group of parents who will take 2 kids per car, each to different shelter. Please remember, my DD is 16. I really don't think your younger three are going to be well received at the shelter, and I am not so sure about the 13 year old. My vet let my daughter start volunteering at 13 or 14, but that was at a private practice. At shelters, they have to operate under county/state laws since that's where the money comes from and there are liability issues. Be sure your kids want to do it firstly, and that their service will be accepted secondly. Lastly, for service at shelters, you may want to consult your pediatrician regarding any vaccines you may want your children to have before going to work in a shelter because the shelters see it all. There are at times rabid animals that come through. It's just the way it is and you want to be prepared for all situations. You have to sit down with the kids and educate everyone in your home about the "game plan" you will put into place BEFORE you pick out kitties. You will prepare the house BEFORE you bring new kitties in. If you control all of the variables, but for existing kitty, and barring something unbelievably crazy that I'm not in on about existing kitty, I would go ahead if you want the kitties. You are the boss of your house, do what you want. Most animals assimilate very well to changes. I know I am still operating without some pertinent piece of info on your existing cat???? Do share. I guess you can tell that I usually make things work out in my home, or will die trying in the process:)))). Best of luck and please let me know what all the ta do is with your existing cat.