Agree that unlike normal garden plants, container plants all require regular nutrient supplements to compensate for all the nutrients that wash out whenever you water. Unfortunately it isn't as easy to time those applications to the growth cycle of the plants as it is when planted in ground. Normally with tomatoes I only feed after each cycle of fruit set but when it is in a container it isn't possible to wait that long between feedings or the plant suffers. Frequency of application also depends on which type fertilizer you are using. You might check with the folks over on the Container gardening forum for tips on how they do it. Dave

You can start the pits in damp potting soil as well as in water, so you could probably put it in a pot now, with just the upper part of the pit sticking out (just barely). I would think a 6" diameter pot would be about right. You can always repot it into a larger pot later on. So the shock of being in a drier environment doesn't kill it, I would put a clear plastic bag over the newly-potted pit, but cut some holes in it for ventilation, and enlarge them when the top starts growing, then leave the pot uncovered for air movement. All you would need would be some mold or fungus to start. I would also put the potted pit in indirect light to encourage the stem to start growing, although it may grow well behind (time-wise) the root, like an acorn does. Once you've got some leaves, I would feed it with some diluted worm tea or apply a thin (1/8") layer of good homemade compost to the surface of the pot and water it in. Sue

Hey Crafty - how are the peas doing? I'm still waiting a bit for the pea planting but I am going to start on lettuce, cabbage, carrots and kale today with floating row covers pinned down over them for now. The cabbage will have the row covers for the summer after having bugs eat and poop to the point of not being able to eat not one of them. Do tell - I'm curious to see how they are doing. Cheers, Peggy

That makes sense. Its probably Love Grass because of the consistency in seedlings. It'd be hard to imagine that many seedlings of one type all being weed seeds that got in the packs. By the way, Purple Love Grass reseeds like crazy. If you plant them out, and I definitely would this year after letting them harden off a couple weeks starting in shade, you will laugh to remember babying them like that once you see how many volunteers you end up with the following year. I've done that before too. Karley Rose is a hybrid pennisetum with sterile seeds. Only the species comes true from seed and in some places its considered invasive. Santa Rosa Gardens is a great place to order from. I'm getting ready to place an order on some sale grasses before the fall prices set in. They have a fall sale later on and I've had 100% success planting at that time, its the best time in Oklahoma for that. If you are wanting pink, P. Karley Rose grows REAL REAL fast, you'll have mature looking plants next year.