I cut the fronts off the bags and parts of the bottom (though mostly I couldn't get to the bottom without upsetting everything). The soil was evenly moist all the way through, so I think that answers the drainage question. But there were two places which looked a bit root-bound. Which means they are probably root-bound in the places I can't see as well. It's not super bad, but that might be part of the problem. Kind of a bummer. I didn't have root issues when I grew them in a container this size before (which is why I thought it would work), but I forgot to take into account that they were not planted so closely (I think they were more like 4 inches apart in that container). I hope opening up the bags helps. =P

We are getting off the topic, but I remember the lush yard of my childhood w/ all the clover and watching the honeybees, and the exciting days when we would take the honey out of the hives... I planted clover and I wish all the weedy grass would go away! (No neighbors are going to care here as our lots are set in the middle of woods, and we are out in the country.) My clover has had a tough time (doesn't like sand?), but there is one low-growing weed that I am encouraging as it does not need to be mowed. No mowing is my goal. As for my clems (many of which you all enabled!), they are doing fairly well. I was most impressed w/ Arabella- the best bloomer! I have mostly watered from my rain barrels this summer and it is not very satisfactory because the sand soaks up the moisture so fast (great for watering pots and small areas though). I too have to figure out where to plant the ones I stuck in pots in the spring. Most are going into the rose garden (if the roses don't make it maybe the clems will). I have planted several to climb up my deck railings. I know there is a lot of controversy about adding soil amendments, but I am with the other readers who see the fence as a prime planting ground. Maybe someone who knows more about amendments could help out? I wish you the best of luck in finding them a good place, and would appreciate it if you will wish me luck as well. Thanks, Brandy

The stage of flowers you are describing are females and you will not see pollen at this point. The flowers do not turn into males with pollen until the flower is completely open. There is no mistaking which phase the flower is in because the pollen will be noticeable. You must collect the pollen at this point. I have an old 35mm film canister that I put the pollen in. It's small and easy to see the pollen inside. Gently snip off the flower by the stem with your fingernails and again, gently shake the flower over the canister. I then grasp the stem with one hand and the petals with the other (all 3 together). I then twist the stem around inside the petals trying to shed every bit of the stamens and pollen into the canister. Now you have some pollen. It is probably good stored in the fridge for maybe 24 hours. Tapping the canister quit a bit will help release pollen. I also take my little paint brush and swirl around and bang it inside the canister. You can definitely see where pollen has been released. The females are opened a bit. There's an old post on cherimoya pollinating by Eggo you can find if you do a search. It has excellent pics of the flower stages. The only thing I do different when pollinating the female flowers is to remove all of the petals first...where Eggo just clipped a single petal so he would know that the flower had been pollinated. I read in a publication that removing the petals on sugar apples is better and there's no mistaking which ones have been visited. I then make sure I get plenty on the brush and then remove the petals from the female. Swirl and roll the brush onto the remaining flower parts...holding the canister below to catch any pollen that drops from the brush. I treated the pollen like gold dust!! I believe there are certain stages of female that are more receptive than others...the flower is separated a bit more but no where close to opening fully. Same for the males. If you wait until the flower starts to turn a little brown, I don't believe the pollen is as viable...or it has been released already and is gone. I've noticed plenty of pollen and stamens resting on leaves below older males. You have to be on the ball in this game as well. Most publications state that it is best to collect during a certain time and to pollinate during a certain time. This may be true in general but I've found that the flowers usually advanced to different stages on their own terms. I would try to collect pollen and if possible, pollinate any females I could every morning before going to work, after work, and before bed. If I was home all day, I would constantly be on the lookout. The males are sneaky buggers! You can miss one hanging right in front of your nose! The first two years mine started flowering was a very harsh learning curve for me. The trees didn't produce many flowers and I was just not getting the timing down. But repeated readings of publications and Eggo's write-up, AND crap-loads of flowers this year, I was able to get it down pretty good. Don't get frustrated. Have fun with it but pay attention to what works and what doesn't. It will pay off in the end.

This thread brings up yet another lost phone story. DH and I were walking the dog by a school. There was a stone wall and on it, an iPhone. We decided to take it and turn it into the police. It was a locked phone, but a text message popped up. It was the name of a young man who lived around the corner from us! When we got home, I send a message via FaceBook saying we had his friend's phone and where we found it. He said he would contact the friend, but then days went by. We finally knocked on their door and spoke to the parents. They took the phone and were surprised their son didn't get back to us sooner. Kids! What were the chances of us knowing the person who texted and that he went by his first and last name?