You can probably get away with soil temps a little lower than 80 degrees if growing conditions are good, especially with dark-seeded beans. Limas need higher soil temps than other beans. If your soil is very heavy, an inch may be too deep. I use a dibble to poke holes for planting beans and fill them with loose potting soil. If soil is thoroughly dampened, beans will often sprout without additional watering. This year I started pole beans indoors due to a cooler-than-normal spring. In addition to bean weevils and scavengers of rotting seeds, another possibility for the critters you saw is the corn seed maggot, which is common in good soil with a lot of organic matter.

Nice very very nice!!! I got about 6 lill broad leaf D. Capensis growing in my lill "propegation chamber", there is also one big mouth flytrap that worked out from a leaf tugging (I must take some pics for you guys) My typical capensis flowered and produced a mass of seeds, I put these in my chamber on damp peat which is heated and sits under lights. Im hoping that within a few weeks I see many Capensis sprouting. Cheers Sheldon

Ben, not to worry. If you transplanted it to a new pot, it is adjusting to its mild transplant shock. And, it has been so very hot here in our area, that our citrus growth will slow down. Just continue to keep watering appropriately, lots of sunshine, fertilizer as you are doing, and you will be rewarded with flush once our temps drop down around 80, again. I am just now seeing another round of flushing starting on my trees, so give it some time. It looks to be very happy, very lush and green. I just potted up a mandarin myself, and it also is just "sitting there" as well. But, I did notice in the nodes some faint bulging, so something is happening, finally. You are going to love this mandarin, I guarantee it. Just so rich and delicious. Patty S.

Hello every one! I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you 3 for your words. Much appreciated! Lulie, Can't imagine how it is to later also loose your 19 year old. Some say it's even "harder" than loosing a parent. Though, in my humble opinion, a loss is a loss. We feel the same hurt and emotions. Although, I obviously miss her very much, I am happy she didn't really suffer and that it was relatively quick. Just felt it was too soon and definitely preventable. Makes me a little angry thinking about it to tell you all the truth. If only she had been willing to see the doctor on a regular basis. Unfortunately that was her own choosing. I realize there was nothing I could have done there. I keep thinking of that point over and over from time to time. I know I shouldn't. To avoid thinking about the "...should have, could have..." scaariios. How did you get from the day you lost your mother/daughter to this day? Just try to take things one day at a time? Keeping busy doing things you normally would have done? Curious. Any one can comment on this btw... Me, I'm just taking it day by day. As I said. Lately, it's just the mornings that are hard for some odd reason. As the day goes on I have an "easier" time. Though, for the past few days, my mornings have been better. Shorter bouts of saddness. Jennmonkey, As I mentioned. I'm presently unemployed so I haven't gone through what you just mentioned yet. Though, when I was working I never called home to my mother. I think it's coming home after work and not seeing her around that might hit me initially. Or not. I don't know. Can I ask you how it was being only 19 and loosing your mother at that time? If it's too hard to talk about I'll understand. I'm just thinking that is about the time you're in University preparing for your life. How for some people it might hinder their ability to function. Especially in such a difficult time. And I though my time with my mother was "short"...39 years. Also can I ask you how old you are now? I just hope I don't suddenly loose control of my emotions at work. Maybe I'm a little old fashioned. That "men shouldn't cry" at least in public. I suppose it's the same either way when you're at work. You don't want your co-workers to think you're freaking out. Going postal. That and you don't really want to tell them all you had recently lost a parent and treat you "special". Any how, thanks again for your comments people! I will definitely keep you posted. I do feel better being able to talk with people who have also lost a family member. It never hits you till it happens to you. Have a good week!