The link is a UK site I picked at random to show what I mean never used them. Hi Pngwin21, I too have been looking for on line veg, for the same reasons as you, in the UK we can buy things called plug plants, which are delivered to your home in a sort of gel stuff, I concluded that the reason for the lack of these companies is that a) no market (although thats two of us know so maybe we should start a business! haha) or b) the huge delivery area of the US and this can impact in a couple of ways, one the plugs would take so much time to arrive they are ruined (cannot tell you how long it took me to understand the lack of delivery in 48hr here)and the increased weight would of course mean extra postal charges. c)in the uk you order by November I think it was, so they know the demand and can plant accordingly for the same date troughout the UK thus cutting cost, the US has so many zones this maybe a logistical nightmare, although computers could solve this! or D)they just haven't thought up the idea yet! although I find that unlikely! that said, no t bar on a shovel! and runner beans as a flower! anything is possible! I would as now is the right time, cos I am about to start posting my spare seedling, try Craigs list and join freecycle, you are supposed to collect but if someone explained that they couldn't drive I would make my husband take it round, if at a reasonable distance from our home, offer to pay for gas, also do churches, scout groups that type of thing do plant sales?, look out for them and in the UK I also used to pick up loads of free seedlings at the end of peoples driveways, which they had left out as FREE, people may do that here? I intend to as well as craigs and freecycle. last sugestion, walk the neigbourhood pinpoint who has a garden, introduce yourself and ask about the local conditions, pest ect and then tell them you problem, gardeners seem a pretty generous bunch on the whole and I bet you get a bucket of plants and good advice, I got another Veg patch from a neighbour this way, she can't tend it this year and I just give her a share, fantastic! hope I manage to grow something! Here is a link that might be useful: plug plant supplier UK

What your soil most likely needs is organic matter so spending money for something that contains a wee bit of organic matter and is mostly the mineral portion of soil that you already have is a waste of your time, energy, and money. The Mushroom Compost would be a better choice and manure, today, is probably not nearly as good a choice as nothing because of where animal manures come from (CAFOs). You may be able to find a good soil test lab through your AgCanada office and a good, reliable soil test would be a very good idea as would these simple soil tests 1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. that can help guide you in making the soil you have into a good, healthy soil that will grow strong and heatlhy plants.

Thank you - I suppose I should have known even this little piece would require some real research =P At least this part isn't physics! Thanks for those leads, fusion - I had ordered from Southern Exposure in the past, but I don't think I'd even *heard* of High Mowing before. That link is incredible, by the way! Just on a quick glance I found a Native American seed bank group - how awesome! I'll post if I find anything useful as I search, in case googlers stumble upon this thread.

Hey, I did not see any asparagus last night. (wasn't looking) but it would be obvious if featured. Entering, i was distracted by the artichokes. Surprised they looked so good. Did not want or buy. Lucky for me escarole was one dollar a giant head and locally grown. Bought two. So misunderstood. It's in the endive family like radicchio. Very hardy in the garden and survives a few light frosts. The thick/lush green leafy parts keep the core from the sun so the hearts are white and less bitter. Always tucked near heads of lettuce but iceberg it isn't. @Daisy. You will have to do a test. All our stovetops are different and our sauté pans. I'm on gas burners and use a big heavy white ceramic pan. Easy enough to lift and wiggle or use a wooden spoon. I also have a big stainless heavy bottomed braising pan w/lid that works for a large batch. I also have Lacinato Kale AND collards. We'll have this for a light dinner tonight while I'm elbow deep in chopping anyway. Use it as a test run so it will be a 'park walk' tomorrow. Tonight I'll probably saute a slice of bacon in a blurb of avocado oil, add garlic, take out bacon, add loosely chopped rinsed and 'wet' escarole leaves, med heat, cover to steam, then add slices of the white core/heart and slivered kale and collards, toss and cover...3-4 min, done. (kale and collards have been previously massaged with lemon/olive oil.) Toss in a mustard lemon vinaigrette. Garnish with bacon, slivered golden beet and watermelon radish. Tomorrow I'll 'tart it up' with pomegranate and toasted/spiced garbanzos, prosciutto crisps instead of bacon. Just a bit. ...dressing/stuffing has wild mushrooms and lamb sausage, so enough things are on the heavy/rich side.