OM89, that makes sense for what you're actually growing, your area must be much more like Silvia's. I've given up on growing squash in containers, they don't do well and I've come to the conclusion that although the roots don't appear substantial they are runners and need lots of space so that would account for them not doing well in a SFG. Also, what Lou says about the squash is true and I have to be at work by 6:00 A.M., by the time I get home in the afternoon all the morning flowers from the squash are already too spent to hand pollinate. The last two seasons I've tried two varieties of parthenocarpic squash but they didn't do well either. Now, the parthenocarpic cukes were another story, they did very well inside my swiming pool cage where I didn't have to spray for pickleworm, the quick nemesis of my garden cukes since the garden is only 8' from the lake...very buggy down there until we finally get a cooling off period overnight. I keep my tomato plants well spaced from each other due to the gardens proximity to the lake, extremely humid too, and I never have blight and rarely other fungal diseases because of good air circulation around each individual plant, so for me "less is more" but I do see Silvia's plants up against each other so for you that might not be a problem. Tom

I often do NOT keep the tallest. If it is too tall and weak stemmed and another is stout and growing well, the tall one goes. But unless some look obviously bad it doesn't matter alot which one stays....as long as you only leave one. I usually try to get them clipped back to one plant about the time the first true leaves come on, sometimes even when only the seed leaves are showing. I've taken the netting off some Jiffy pellets. It's easy. Just tear a bit at the top and then it easily pulls off....or at least it did for me. I did it because I get tired of finding the remains in the garden months or even a year later. It does not seem to decompose. I've not run into problems with the roots not being able to get through the mesh. Probably with some soils and some moisture levels it would be different. Maybe it depends on how large the transplant is, also. I have left several in a tray together a bit too long and had roots grow out of the pellets and interlock with each other. It ended up being a big mat of tomato plants. A little pulling and they separated and the transplanted 'maters grew fine.

I've posted the seed pics on 3 different forums but still havent gotten an ID yet. I've tried searching seed ID web sites also but no luck. I'm really really curious! Help anyone, anyone ??? There was only one seed of each type. Think I'll plant the white one and see what i get....such anticipation! hope it grows something wonderful :)

Hi Bill, welcome to Florida and the forum! Congrats on the babies, it will be fun for you and them to learn about Florida gardening together :) I'm a transplant from Ohio. I've been in Florida 10 years, first in Williston (9a) in north central Florida and now in Englewood (10a) in SW Florida. It took me several years to finally quit trying to grow plants down here that thrived in Ohio (I so desperately wanted to grow my bee balm, tulips, foxgloves, lamb's ear, etc). While July and August can be brutally hot and humid in Ohio, Florida's summer is generally 8 or so months long. Many of my Ohio plants couldn't handle the heat and humidity that long. In addition, in Williston I tried to grow all the tropical plants that I thought were cool (birds of paradise, citrus trees, etc) and was sure that I would have my own tropical paradise soon. Wrong! We got several hard freezes each winter and my sandhill property's "soil" was pitiful. Now, just 1 full zone further south in Englewood, those plants thrive and I have a jungle! I think the most important things I can recommend are: - improve the soil in your entire garden (not just the hole the plant is going in) with manure, compost, fertilizer, etc based on your plants' needs for the best chance of success. - try planting natives whenever possible as they will be easier to grow since they are acclimated to our beautiful state - here or anywhere you live, plant nectar and host plants to attract pollinators like butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds so that you have a better chance of fruit and vegetable production. In addition, your girls will learn to identify and love the many cool creatures the plants draw. Sorry for rambling on. Good luck on your new adventures! Rhonda