Gardenman, A gardening friend of mine had mentioned that he grows cucuzza on a trellis and that it can get rather large (4 lbs or so). He said that they are self supporting. So I was hopeful that butternut squash might also be self supporting. However, I do note that some butternut varieties can get upt to 8 lbs. Is there ANY butternut or buttercup variety that can be trellised and which does not need helpful support on the trellis? (I am also planting a couple of the bush winter varieties, including buttercup, and was thinking possibly? of attempting a few of the trellis types also - hence my question. i.e. it's one of those many year-in-year-out "gardening experiments".)

Finally..... This is for all that posted some great suggestions with detailed information about each, exactly what I was looking for, I had to go back and look up my password and soooo busy with all that spring brings for me this thank you was long over due. I have since purchased the book suggested Flower farmer very good info in that as well. I will be starting from seed some of the Zinna's mentioned and sunflowers and I have calendula that I will try to combine with my purple coneflowers(perennials)I think this is all I will have time to start from seed as I have no green house and will have to work these in somehow as it is...sorry for the delay in the follow up. Now Pitter Patter lets get atter! Pitterpat

cucumbers, zucchini, and winter squashes would be good to get you going, along with the tomatoes. I grow some beans because, even if it takes a while to pick, it is a sure bet, plus brings customers to your table and then they buy other things...I pick on a low (8-12 inch) stool at the end of the day when I am too tired to do much else. The stool sits straddling the plants in the row, so I pick between my legs and it saves on the back. Or, you could grow the pole types which can be harvested standing. Garlic is also a good crop, but you need to start it in October-ish for next season. RE: the local store saying they'd like to buy produce. You need to find out what they want specifically, how much they might sell, and what price they are willing to pay for it. If you don't know the price, it may be all a waste of time (and money). RE: giving away your excess. All those that you gift with produce will then never become customers, as they'll just wait until you have extra. It might be better to either can/freeze it for yourself, or give it to a food pantry or institution (nursing home, etc.). RE: the area is not rich. Maybe not. Neither is mine, but our farmers market vendors charge a price to make a profit. A community is a mix of poor/medium/rich people. You need to gear your produce for the upper two groups. If you want to donate to the poor, that is good, but don't lower your prices so that you go out of business because you are charging less than it costs (including your time). Various kinds of leaf, romaine and butterhead lettuces sell well if you have an early market, but are more difficult during the warmer part of the season. Special onions sometime go over well...sweet types and red ones. Or leeks. Find a niche that no one is filling and try to be the expert in that area. It might be specialty greens, melons, whatever. Good luck. It'll be an interesting and learning year for you. Ann

Aridandtropical, if you see my username, you would see and know that I am WELL AWARE of my zone. Also, Palm trees are native only as far north as extreme SE, North Carolina. They will not grow in DC without protection, except for Windmills, which are marginal, and Sabal Minor and Needle palms, which are almost fool-proof here. Bananas, well, Basjoos can be grown much much farther north than here with no protection other than a pile of mulch. The only difference between here in Michigan is that our winters are considerably more mild, and we need to protect stuff less. We still have winters, just like you though, and sometimes, as witnessed by our record all time lows, and some winters snowfalls, can be just as brutal as they are far north. 77" of snow in the winter of 2010 was nothing to shake a stick at, even by the snowiest places in the country standards. yep, we had that here. =o) One of the biggest differences is DURATION of bitter cold here is much much shorter on the infrequent occasions we do get down near 0F. I was giving mr banana dude back just what he was putting in. Nothing more. I found it much more hilarious than anything else, and if you think someone typing words on the internet is getting to someone or makes someone angry, well, I'm not sure you know too much about the text only form of communication. In stead of presenting his "opinion" in a constructive manner, he was nothing more than arrogant, rude, and down right insulting to almost everyone here. I might expect that of someone age 8-10, but most people by the time they are 17 usually have a grasp on what being opinionated is, and the difference between that and just being down right rude and insulting. Glad you are having successes with your tropicals so far north. Oh, and thanks Hunter M. It was mainly meant to be FUNNY, and I think it kind of was. ;-) Personally, I think Hunter M, for being his age, participated in a much more adult manner here than did mr banana dude. you'd think that would be the other way around now wouldn't you?