I have about 4 varieties of culinary and ornamental oregano and none have been invasive or self-seeding. I put them all in a very hot western exposed area of the garden and do not enrich the soil very much, except for maybe one layer of compost in the spring, and no extra fertilizer throughout the year. They seem to love the neglect and the heat, and do survive our wet winters with aplomb. In fact, I've started ripping out other more tempermental perennials and am in the process of replacing them with the tougher herbs, nepeta, and sedums to make my western exposure front garden pretty much waterless throughout the year (well, maybe one watering in late July....)

I feel your pain, this is my first year market gardening as well. In the past, my garden was large enough for friends and family--this year it's an acre with other smaller plots spread around the farm. Boy, did I underestimate the amount of seed I needed. I know the people at the seed companies are laughing their heads off at my many extra orders. Stupid Me. I noticed you left out sweet corn. But maybe you're like me and decided that the risks (violent psycho deer and Jap. Beetle invasions, space hog, etc.) outweigh the rewards. In my lurkings at the farmers' markets around here last year, new and fingerling potatoes sold real well, but it's probably too late to get good choices now. Banana Peppers, hot and sweet were popular, as was the sweet pepper variety Carmen if you don't have an aversion to hybrids. Peas and spinach are also reputed to be money makers in spring. Those guys, along with a variety of lettuce and radishes and speciality green mixes are how I plan to start my season. But, yeah, being new to this is killing me too, but I love it. I love the fact that I have finally learned to drive a tractor, although I had plowed about a fourth of my field before my uncle (farmer for 80 years) comes rushing down and it becomes clear by the look on his face that there are some things you can't learn by reading about. But that was cool in itself, because now I know half the field is done right and I did it myself. Oh, I'm so proud. Now if the weather would just cooperate so Farmer Susan could plow the rest of her field I'd be in high cotton. Right now I don't like the fact that I just spent all day searching for a more energy efficent way to heat my makeshift shed/greenhouse only to discover at 12 o'clock tonight that if I hung plastic down from the loft, the inside temp raised 10 degrees right away. Note to self--keep little space heater--take back 200 dollar propane heater and never listen to that salesperson again. But tomorrow, I'll slap myself on the back for being a genius. Now if that irrigation system I pondered over for weeks on end arrives and works the way I plan...but there's fun in that too. I love this. Wish you much luck this season, and may we both be successful at juggling all these little balls in the air. Oh, shoot, sorry. Got off topic there and forgot--have you thought about investing in strawberries, blueberries or other small fruits? It may take a few years, but the end returns should be worth it. I'm starting out with strawberries and blueberries (hoping to add year by year) and plan to spend any extra time I have this season getting some land ready for bramble crops. And easy cut flowers, maybe?

Jennifer Guilin --from you--it was quite productive,thin fleshed and quite hot.I tried this last year and none germinated. Antonia P. Rhomedia-- this pepper with the unlikely name came from a non-pepper person.I first thought it might be Antohi Romanian because of similarities in name. This pepper was green rather than pale when immature and the shape was different- thick flesh ( like a bell) juicy, sweet, and tasty. Tuste Blanco-- is a Zapotec Indian pepper- C. annuum, tough skin, moderate heat,fairly productive CAP 469-AB-- was sent to me as C. praetermissum even though the seed bank lists it as capsicum species. I had two plants CAP 469-AB 2 turned out to be a C. annuum, large,bland pepper with no heat. The other plant was a praetermissum which I brought in but the aphids became too much and I chucked it before the pods ripened so no pod picks. Here are the flowers CAP 469-AB 2 CAP 469-AB 1 St Helena Is Acorn is also from you-looks like I didn't get a picture of the ripe pods-they turned yellow and then red, fairly prolific, slow building but very hot. John

Hi, Lisa Su, and Friends, I guess I caught rose fever and took to ordering and planning more roses for spring in last few days to add to above orders.... I started looking up your roses and found ones I wished to add to my gardens... so I have ordered a few more also..... Souvenir de la Malmaison, Boubon 1843 rose, strong fragrance...nice big bush w/big blooms....for my femce border... Clotilde Soupert, polyantha , nearly thornless, strong moderate fragrance...actually may be a small rose that blooms in intense clusters like The Fairy...for my front hillside ground cover... And I’m planning on adding China Doll polyantha and Elegant Fairy Tale Roses to lower part of back yard hill, waiting for them to come available to order.... Oh, to plan my dream gardens. I now am up to 88 roses... roses in front yard...roses down side of house and lining back yard and some on hill by spring.... 20 new roses so far coming to plant....fun..fun.... Soon to sleep...per chance to dream...of roses...roses...roses.... oh, my! Post your photos, too? What are you favorites to have this spring? Happy Gardening! Kitty