This is my first year gardening, we picked up a good sized back yard so we put in some fruit trees and built a raised bed. So far we're doing ok, I learned a lot just doing it this first year that I think will go a long way in the future. We have one 4x8 raised bed with some squash, bell peppers, and pumpkin plants in them. I had no idea the squash and pumpkin would get so big, and packed the bell peppers in way too tight to get big plants. Still seems to be growing well, and this is the first pumpkin. We've already pulled out about 20 pounds of squash and get another pound every other day or so. I have another smaller box made from recycled pallets that I put some jalapeno plants and soybeans in. The soybeans are tiny but the jalapeno plants seem to be doing ok. I put a fig tree in the ground back in October or so last year, it died down to the ground but came back from the roots. It's pretty tiny now but seems to be fairing well. The stump next to the fig is the former trunk, I cut it to get it mostly out of the way. I almost pulled it out but we'll see how the recovery goes. I put a Granny Smith apple tree in the ground back around April and got a few flowers. We get some pretty bad spring time winds though so most were blown off. One of them did start to develop and I figure I'll see if I can eat it this year. I have a couple of fuji trees in the ground that seem to be growing really well, but haven't gotten flowers yet on them. We have a few other things growing in pots, my wife put some basil in the same pot as a mint, strawberry, and some random flowers (I'm not a flower guy). We also have a meyer lemon tree that was totally neglected and left outside all winter. It looked like a twig but came back in the spring, so now I'm excited to see how it does next year. And I have a cayenne pepper plant that only produced 1 pepper then quit for a while. Once the monsoons hit it kind of exploded with peppers. Good learning experience this year, next year I think we'll expand it a lot if I don't get deployed again. I think it's going well though for being my first time gardening ever and doing it in Arizona :D

@Brian - I use a pinch of endomycorrizae (from Fedco) at seeding and transplant. Via side-by-side visual comparison, there is no doubt that it works well for plants. This winter I added it for the first time on fig cuttings, i.e., coming out of the baggie and going into the pot. @Akram - Premier Horticulture has Pro-Mix BX, HP, and BRK with "Mycorise Pro" (orange bag). JD PS. All that follows is direct from the Premier Horticulture website: PRO-MIX now offers the latest in biotechnology, MYCORISE PRO in PRO-MIX professional formulations. MYCORISE PRO is the most advanced mycorrhizal fungi product on the market with benefits that are revolutionary and renowned. PRO-MIX 'BX'/MYCORISE PRO is a "general purpose" peat-based growing medium with vermiculite and perlite, used for the cultivation of a wide variety of plant species. MYCORISE PRO ensures stronger, healthier plants due to more developed root systems and better fertilizer uptake. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (80-85 % / vol.) Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone (pH adjuster) Endomycorrhize (Mycorise Pro) Macronutrients Perlite horticultural grade Micronutrients Vermiculite Wetting Agent PRO-MIX 'HP'/MYCORISE PRO is a "High Porosity" peat/perlite-based growing medium. This mix ensures optimum growth, especially when high air-capacity and extra drainage are required. It is ideal for water-sensitive crops, rooting cuttings and/or low-light growing conditions. MYCORISE PRO ensures stronger, healthier plants due to more root systems and better fertilizer uptake. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (70-75%/vol.) Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone Endomycorrhize (Mycorise Pro) Macronutrients Extra Perlite horticultural coarse grade Micronutrients Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone Wetting Agent PRO-MIX 'BRK', now enhanced with MYCORISE PRO a "General Purpose", peat/bark-based growing medium offering the renowned quality and consistency of PRO-MIX. Its processed Pine bark adds weight and reduces water retention of media while its quality Sphagnum peat moss ensures optimal balance between air and water. This mix resists long-term compaction and improves container stability. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (40-50 % / vol.) Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone (pH adjuster) Endomycorrhize (Mycorise Pro) Macronutrients Processed Pine Bark (35-45 % / vol.) Micronutrients Perlite horticultural grade Wetting Agent Here is a link that might be useful: Mycorise Pro

Anyone had Orthosiphon Aristatus (Cat's Whiskers) plants for trade? Please take a look at my trade list- SEEDS: *Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails) *Agstache rugosa (Korean Mint) *Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree) *Alcea rosea 'Nigra' (Black antwerp Hollyhock) *Allium (Purple Tall Chives) *Allysum Carpet of Snow *Amaryllis Red *Angelonia *Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple, Sweetsop) *Antirhium majus 'Montega rose bicolor': *Ardisia squamulosa tree *Arrowroot- Red *Arum italicum *Asclepias currasavica (Orange and yellow butterfly weed) *Asclepias currasiva 'Silky Gold' *Asclepias tuberosa (Orange) *Asian Gummy melon *Astromeria Parrot Lily *Averrhoa Carambola (Belimbing, Star Fruit) *Baby's breath *Balsam Heirloom Impatiens - single/double flowers *Bauhinia purpurea (Pink Orchid Tree) *Belamcanda Candy Lily *Blanket flower *Bulbing Fennel *Butia capitata (Pindo/Wine/Jelly Palm) *Cactus Prickly Pear *Calamondin orange *Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) *Camillia, pink *Canna seeds - mixed *Capsicum annuum 'Medusa' (Medusa Pepper Plant) *Cassia Alata *Capsicum 'Medusa' (Medusa Hot Pepper) *Cattail, Dwarf (Aquatic) *Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor buttons) *Cerinthe major purpurascens (Blue Honeywort) *Cherimoya/Atemoya *Chimonanthus praecom (Wintersweet Shrub) *Cichorum endivia 'Curly' *Clematis Autumn sweet *Clematis Nelly Moser' *Cleome hassleriana (Spider flower) *Cornus florida *Crotalaria spectabilis *Cypress Vine, White *Danish squash *Duranta erecta *Datura purple swirl *Datura, white with purple cast *Daucus carota (Wild Carrot) *Delphinium consolida (Giant Imperial Larkspur) *Dietes vegeta (African Iris, Butterfly Iris) *Dioscorea bulbifera (Air Potato Vine) *Echinacea (Pink Coneflower) *Echinacea Tennesee *Emilia javanica (Tassel Flower) *Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Ear Pod Tree, Elephantâs Ear, Monkey Ear) *Gaillardia x grandiflora (Indian Blanket) *Madagascar Jasmine vine *Gomphrena purple *Gourds, ornamental 'Small Autumn Wings' *Grapefruit *Guava *Gypsophila elegans (Baby's Breath 'Convent Garden') *Helianthus debilis (Beach sunflower) *Hibiscus cannabinus *Hibiscus sabdariffa (Florida Cranberry) *Hibiscus Texas Star, Red *Hollyhock, mixed, single *Honeydew melon *Honeysuckle (red-orange) *Ipomoea hederacea (Morning Glory lavender-pink) *Ipomoea quamoclit (Cypress Vine) *Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag Iris) *Jerusalem cherry *Koelreuteria Paniculata (Golden Rain Tree) *Kum Quat *Lagerstroemia indica 'Rosea' (Pink Crepe Myrtle) *Lantana mixed colors ­ seeds *Larkspur, Giant Imperial *lathyrus perennial blend *Lathyrus odoratus 'Ms Willmott' *Leucaena leucocephala (White Lead Tree) *Leonotis menthifolia (Lionâs Tail) *Liatris spicata (Gayfeather) *Lily Star Gazer *Lemon, yellow, thornless, very juicy *Liriope Muscari (Lily-turf ) *Lychnis calcydonica (Maltese cross) *Malva moschata (musk mallow) *Marigold, Tiger Eyes *Marigold, mixed *Medusa Hot Pepper *Melia azedarach (Chinaberry) *Merremia dissecta (Alamo Vine) *Merremia dissecta *Mexican Petunia, âChi Chiâ, pink, tall *Mexican Petunia, dwarf blue *Mexican Petunia, dwarf pink *Mexican Petunia, dwarf white Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clock)-different colors *Mimosa tree *Momordica charantia (Balsam Pear) *Moonflower, white *Morning Glory - Grandpa Ott, Heavenly Blue, Star of Yelta, Jamie Lynn,Rose Silk, Scarlet O Hara *Morning Glory - Ivy leaf *Morning Glory - tricolor *Morus alba - white mulberry *Mucuna Pruriens (Bengal Bean) *Musa Velutino Pink Fruiting Banana *Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-Me-Not) *Nerium oleander , pink *Olea europaeae (Olive Tree) *Optunia humifusa (Hardy Prickly Pear) *Orange fruit, Florida *Orange Trumpet Vine *Podranea ricasoliana (pink trumpet vine) *Papaver *Papaya 'Caribbean Red' *Perilla frutens (Shiso, red) *Periwinkle pink with white center *Periwinkle white with pink center *Phyllostachys pubescens (Mosso bamboo) *Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore tree) *Pomegranate *Poppy (mixed) *Portulaca magic carpet mixed colors *Prunus spinosa *Pyracantha coccinea lalandi (Scarlet Firethorn) *Radermachera sinica (China Doll, Serpent Tree, Emerald Tree) *Redbud *Robina viscosa (Clammy locust) *Rosa Canina (Wild Rose) *Rhubarb *Sabal bermudana (Bermuda Fan Palm)* Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palmetto) *Sago Palm *Salvia coccinea âCoral Nymphâ *Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage *Salvia farinacea (Mealy Blue Sage) *Sapium sebiferum (Chinese Tallow, Popcorn Tree) *Senecio bicolor (Dusty Miller) *Senna alata candlesticks *Senna didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia, Peanut Butter Cassia) *Sesbania panicea (Scarlet Wisteria) *Stachytarpheta urticifolia (Blue Porterweed *Stachys cretica *Sunflower mammoth *Sweet Pea *Sweet William *Talinum (Jewel of Opar) *Tecoma (Yellow Bells) *Tithonia (Mexican Torch) *Trumpet Vine, Orange *Trumpet Vine, pink *Urena Lobata (Caesarweed) *Withania somnifera 'Ashawaganda' (Indian Ginseng) *Zinnias, mixed More seeds - vegetable/fruits Angled loofah Apple, granny smity Bean, tricolor - gold, purple n green Cantaloupe 'vine peach Carrots- Big Top Danvers Half Long Chinese Greens- choy sum, sawi kangkong chinese chives gay lun gun choy Cucumber - Fuzzy gherkin Picollo di Parigi Honey Dew Royal Golden - fruit weights 10-15#, red sweet tender flesh Shark Fin (only 2 seeds) Swan lake Eggplant - Apple green Casper, white Chinese,Ping Tung Fennel - bulbing Trieste Smokey Bronze Gourds - 'crown of thorns', ornamental heirloom - birdhouse Autumn Wings, small, ornamental Long, black from India Maize, japonica Zea Mays, ornamental Black Aztec corn Melons- Asian Gummy Canoe Creek, green n orange, football shape, >20# wt charentais Chinese Winter Jenny Lind, heirloom cantaloupe, light green flesh, 1-2# wt Woman - Ukranian Heirloom, extremely sweet n fragrant, yellowish-white flesh, sz 7-10" (Gd for northern climate) mustard okra - Burgundy Green Lady, hybrid long horn Peppers, hot- Chinese chilly, hot Greek pepercini Scotch Bonnet Serrano Thai chilly, regular Serrano Thai chilly, purple Sweet Pepper- Alma Paprika Green pepper Pumpkin Chinese Pumpkin (From China) Small pumpkin- for pies Radish, red boy Rhubarb Rutabaga Salad greens- loose leaf red salad bowl big hoss butter lettuce red romaine Sorghum - Broomcorn White Popping Squash- Crookneck, yellow Danish Sphaghetti Winter squash Tomato - Cherry/grape Hess Pink Brandywine Speckled Roman, heirloom Tig Rovy Watermelon- 'moon n stars' Sweet Siberian PLANTS/CUTTINGS: Abelia Edward Goucher- cuttings Abelia Francis Mason- cuttings Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails)-plant Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda' Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty' Allamanda schottii Bush, yellow - cuttings Aloe Vera American Agave (Century plant)-­ pup American Agave, variegated - pup Aptenia ice plant - cuttings Artimesia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight' variegated Asperagus densiflorus "Sprengeri' - plant Calamondin orange - plant Callisia navicularis (Chain Plant) - cuttings Callisa repens (Bolivian Jew) - cuttings Canna Peach Gigantum rhizome Canna Florence Vaughn rhizome Canna Bengal Tiger Catalpa Soutern - cuttings Chickasaw Plum cuttings Chrysanthemums: yellow, violet Clereodendrum bungei Climbing Aloe -plant Conferate Jasmine - cuttings Cyclamen Cyperus involucratus (Umbrella Palm) - cuttings Cynotis somaliensis (Pussy Ears) - cuttings Delosperma cooperi (Hardy Yellow Ice Plant) Ice plant, purple Ice plant Aptenia Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum' (Pothos) Fig tree - sweet n juicy - rooted starts Gardenia - cuttings Gaura, white - plants Gaura, pink - plants Golden pothos - cuttings Heliconia Hanging Crab Claw Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 3-in-1 - plants/cuttings Hibiscus Rose of Sharon minerva, purple Hibiscus Rose Of Sharon, white cutting Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 'Blue Bird' cutting Iris yellow flag Japanese Boxwood - plant Jasmine shrub cuttings (from overseas with small white star-shaped, single-petaled fragrant flowers) Kalanchoe diagremontiana (Mother of Thousands) Kalanchoe fedschenkoi - plant Kalanchoe tubiflora (Chandelier Plant) - plant Lantana Camara (Lantana, mixed) Lantana creeping purple - cuttings Lemon, yellow- plant Lily, pink - plant Lily , white- plant Live Oak Seedlings Longanberry plant Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) - cuttings Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) - cuttings Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Tree) - cuttings Mexican Petunia - tall, Purple Mexican Petunia - tall, Pink Mexican Petunia - dwarf, purple Mexican Petunia - dwarf, Pink Mint, chocolate - plants Nephrolepis cordifolia (Southern Sword Fern) - plants Odontonema strictum. Red Firespike - plants or cuttings Oleander (have 4 types) - white, pink, yellow, red - cuttings Optunia ficus indica (Smooth Prickly Pear) pads Palm Pindo - seedlings Philodendron 'Brasil' cuttings Plumeria, white -cutting Podocarpus macrophyllus (Buddhist Pine) - cuttings Pyracantha Scarlet Firethorn - rooted starts/cuttings Rain Lily Pink - plants Rain Lily white - plants Rose cuttings - Almost Black Rose cuttings - Knockout, pink Rose cuttings - red climber -profuse bloomer Rose cuttings - shrub, huge blooms, pink - profuse bloomer Russelia equisetiformis (Firecracker Plant) - select either red or yellow Salvia Coral Nymph Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage Scilla Society Garlic Variegated Soceity Garlic Spider Plant - green Spider Plant, variegated Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Variegata' Trachelospermum jasminoides (Confederate Jasmine) cuttings Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' Wandering Jew variegated cream and green - cuttings Wandering Jew Variegated green and white stripes - cuttings Wandering Jew Green with white flowers - cuttings Weigela, pink - cuttings Wisteria Purple -cuttings

RoseTx, I'll have you some loofa (complete with the sponge) and also the cypress vine plants., I'd love to try your yellow bulbine and the yellow iris too if they are still available. I love yellow blooms! I'll be at the park early. I also have to leave early and won't be able to stay for lunch (I'm sure I'll regret this!!!). We've a prior commitment for a 'b'day party at 3:00 in the afternoon. I must get home for rest, shower & change before on to the party. See you Saturday. Sheila :)