Thanks Tammy, I do think the defense will go ok though it will be very stressful. I'm not sure which way I'll end up doctoring in the end -- I used to think neurosurgery, and it's still really high on my list but I've been out of the hospital too long to feel very confident about predicting... chances are I'll be a specialist of some type. I'll try to remember to announce the defense over on conversations when I have a date. (or I can send you a blog invite, though you may not want to wade through my miscellaneous ruminations!)

Thank you for your nice comments, you are being very kind.:) About the cucumbers in my experience they will grow bigger and then you can still eat them at any size, just trim the inside. They get bitter when they get uneven watering. When is very hot, I try to keep them moist. It is better for production to keep the fruit picked while young and not to let it mature because that can send the wrong signals to the plant. I just had a cucumber cooler it is made in the blender with cucumber, water, lime juice, mint, sugar to taste, a pinch of salt and pepper. Silvia

the plants are way ahead of the bugs at this point but Ive noticed quite a few plants that are damaged. I released ladybugs into the room and that helped for a couple months but they eventually got sucked out the exhaust fan. My current bugs are: 1. a flat white bug about 2millimeters in size. they are everywhere on the lower branches, especially on the soil plants. 2. a greyish black fly also about 2millimeters. 3. Aphids The plants are growing so fast the bugs dont seem to do that much damage now, but because the greenhouse environment is so ideal the amount is growing exponentially. I sprayed about 3 weeks ago and that really knocked em back. i think Ill spray again tonight when I get home. I make my own using dr. bronners. seems to work great. way cheaper than buying store bought Safer's brand or others. Its impossible to saturate the plants because I have so much overcrowding, so i just get them the best I can.

Thanks everyone, sorry for the late response. I have been out of wi-fi range for a few days. Ah!! Warm fuzzies n bunnies. Woohooman, I had most of my peppers started pretty early, main issue was the learning curve, I replanted some due to lack of sun and some I planted in inadequate soil others were just late additions in the name of learning, now I know what areas get ample sun and have a good idea of what soils to use. Growing em is as addictive as eating them, maybe not the best for my OCD ;-) dj