I purchased a number of packets of seed and have found that some will germinate and grow easily, while others seem determined not to germinate at all. One variety germinated great for me in January. But I accidentally killed the seedlings. When I started some more they refused (to date) to germinate. I don't know just exactly why this is. I'm quite excited about the potential of growing from true potato seed (TPS) and saving my own seed. But this does have me feeling like quite the novice! I did get seeds from Huagalina and Chaposa to grow and they are doing very well, out in the garden. Here are a couple of pictures: Huagalina derived seedlings May 9, 2012 Huagalina derived potato plants June 21, 2012 I have learned that once they seedlings develop their first set of true leaves, no matter how small, I need to start with weekly fertilizing until I put them out into the garden. Otherwise, with the soil medium I'm using, they simply languish and die. Here's a link to Tom's site. George Tahlequah, OK Here is a link that might be useful: New World Seeds & Tubers

Carrie, No garden is ever done...I ave tons left to do, but love it and thank you for the gracious compliments. Cheryl, the ones that are blooming are mostly form the first patch i planted two year ago. Most of the newere ones aren't blooming yet, and may not bloom this year. Cristie, the peach one is a NOID. I'll be dividig some of that this fall. Got postage? Linda, gardening replaces xanax or paxil or any of those other mood altering substances. Being in the garden alters mine plenty! Thanks to all of you. kay

Sierra, I am so sorry that you are dealing with frost at this time of year. I just can not imagine such a short growing season. I hope things warm up and you have a nice long Indian summer! Cameron, I hope the bee sting is improving. My DH has been stung several times in the last few days. The darn things fly inside his shirt and then move from spot to spot stinging him repeatedly. Cortisone cream has helped him a lot. I have tried to catch up on housework this week while the temps have been so high. I'm good up to about 90 F. but anything over that makes me physically ill. We have two window air conditioners that do a decent job of keeping it bearable inside. DD2 and I were able to clean a large closet, sort out all of her clothes to make room for new school clothes, get the house in decent order and scrubbed a few walls and the floors. I'm terrible about letting the house go during summer so I can spend time outside. We still have her room upstairs to tackle when she gets home from her weekend with her dad. I have a good carload of goods to take to the community thrift shop next week and won't even feel bad about using the fuel to make two trips if it means we can get her room back under control by clearing out lots of excess STUFF! In the meantime the weeds I've been so diligent about keeping cut so they don't form seed are getting tall and setting seed anyway. Next time we mow we'll be forced to bag too. Sigh. We've had rain off and on for two days and it's been nice to not have the hot sun beating in the windows all the time. 11 days until DD2 starts High school. Lots to get done before then because I already know how crazy things will get around here then. Thankfully most of our harvest is done. Just one more cutting of hay to do. We still have to rebuild the calf lot fences but will wait until the weather breaks before we do that. PS to Eduarda...we did our branding and tagging two weeks ago and the #44 cow survived the cut one more year. Her yearling grandaughter almost got shipped out but has been given a one year reprieve to settle down. How did it turn out that my heifers are all decendants of that crazy old #44? Hang in there everyone! MeMo

June is a great time for commercial cut flowers, there are tons of choices. Many are locally grown "garden type" flowers beyond the roses, carnations and mums that are available year'round. Delphinium bella donna is available in bright cobalt blue or light blue. Larkspur in dark or light blue. Dutch iris in dark or light blue or purple blue. Alstroemeria comes in orange, red or yellow. Many garden flowers don't work so well in wedding bouquets, they don't hold up. They would be fine in pots for decor but should not be counted on for a bridal or bridesmaid bouquet nor corsages. Commercially grown flowers will hold up better than flowers just plucked from a garden in most cases. (I was a florist for over twenty years)