Congratulations on your seed babies!!! I will be starting my seeds next weekend as over the years, based on the kooky weather, I have worked on trying to find the best time to start seeds so that the plants would be at the right size to plant out when the temps have warmed up for summer (I usually try to get them out on or before Memorial Day). I know last year I was a bit late getting started (did it around the 2nd week of April) and the year before, I was about a week too early (starting them around the 3rd week of March, where they were really overgrown before I got chance to plant them out near the end of May). So this year, I'm aiming for the last week of March/first week of April. I have red hot pokers that I started from seed last year and overwintered outside this past winter, and they still have a few green leaves (they form bulbs). I'm hoping they are okay (I kept them mostly dry or barely moist through winter). Am crossing fingers for them! I want to start some scarlet runner beans because they did wonderfully last year and my hummers loved them! Also plan to start some tomatoes, but I'm trying to decide which ones to do this year from seeds that I have from last year.

Fruitnut, Yes overhead sprinklers for frost protection. As you said our normal bloom time is March. He grows a lot of different varieties but the plants we were eating fruit from were Emeralds and springhigh but I would say 70% of his different varieties are in bloom. His plants had already lost their leaves while mine still have leaves. The difference is with 12 acres he has more of a fungal load which you know reduces the longevity of the leaves. I have 2 bunches of bananas that are not even close to being ripe so I am hoping it stays warm:)

Thanks, it is really exiciting, I am thinking I need more hoyas....lol. They are pretty hard to find around here, so I have been looking for others with hoyas so I can get a clipping, I found one woman who is going to send me a couple. I love them, they are such beautiful plants, and the flowers are breathtaking. I cant stop smelling it....lol Tracy

I prefer the Brandywine, but it is almost like choosing a favorite color. The Brandywines are sharper more-complex tasting, but the Cherokee has a flavor of its own worthy of respect. It is just "different" but enjoyable too. But if I had to grow only one, it would be Brandywine. When my (much later planted) Caspian Pinks and Prudens Purple start to ripen, I will have more different tastes, but Brandywine will still be my favorite.