So my two cents. I started out using a tray of Turffalo plugs in my yard in 2014 to fill in an area which was getting a lot more intense Albuquerque sun and heat than my fescue could handle. It did fill in, and I was impressed by how soft and water thrifty the Turffalo was. My disappointment was that I thought it was just a female plug variety. I didn't know they were using male plants (with their flower stalks) as well. In 2015 I decided to rip my yard out completely and replace it with buffalo grass. Since my Turffalo was already in, I figured the cheapest way to establish the yard was use buffalo grass seed. I called Curtis & Curtis Seed Co. out of Clovis NM, and they recommended a new breed recently released by the University of Nebraska called "Sundancer". I ordered a pound, and spread it in the yard. I have to tell you this stuff is even better than Turffalo. It has a darker green than Turffalo, it woke up sooner from winter dormancy than Turffalo, and it seems the length between nodes on the stolons are significantly shorter, therefore filling in thicker. I'd say almost as well as bermuda. Anyway all this to say if you're considering Turffalo, I'd say save your $$$ and buy Sundancer buffalo seed and use that to establish the yard instead. You'd get better results.

Well all I can relate to is my own personal experience, I was also trained with and volunteered for our local Master Gardeners, and have been gardening for over 30 years now just as point of reference, but I make absolutely no claims on being an expert, (I don’t know if anyone can) and can only know what I know. Which is why I said there are many variables when it comes to plant care. if you are concerned the plant is not draining, sure, checking right at the bottom makes sense, (you can do that by turning the pot sideways too and looking at the drain holes, maybe give the soil a sniff) but some plants would be very dry indeed, if you routinely waited until the soil was absolutely without mousture. Then you might encounter another issue, and that is (as you may have personally experienced) that peat becomes water repellant once it loses all moisture and will have to be reactivated with a good soak. Cactus soils sure, they dry out all the time, but other plants in more peaty soils well it varies but generally they are retaining some moisture.

Yup. Next time, either start them all at the same time, or raise up the little pots so that the plants are all at the same height, then put the lights very close to the leaves. Not knowing where you live (and when you can plant them outside), I could suggest that the super tall ones that you plant them lying down so that only the top leaves stick up. If planting out is a long way off, I would cut those very tall ones to above the first set of leaves, then cut the tops to about 6" and root them in water (or soil). Then you will have more sturdy plants to put in the garden when the time comes.

Our broccoli and collards look great. They stand up to freezes well. Last year I planted spigarello lisca broccoli. It doesn't make heads like broccoli, but it made wonderful greens that didn't mind our summer and laughed at bugs. I need to remember to plant it next year. Nancy, I've frozen mushrooms like that, but I thought you bought them frozen, LOL. Funny Rick I know the terms slave cylinder and master cylinder from a truck that sat in our front yard for a long time. Ron kept replacing parts on the clutch. He finally sold the truck. If I remember correctly Totally Tomatoes was a good company that was sold. Not so good since then. Seeds n Such has beefmaster. I think the owner used to own totally tomatoes. (I think this was a Đawn story.) I have purchased from Seeds n such. They're ok, and I think when someone had problems with germination they were quick to resolve the issue. We do buy canned soup, makes a quick lunch. I prefer Progresso brand. They have great tomato Basil soup. And every now and then I like old fashioned Campbell's tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. That brings back memories. (I am very nostalgic today). Moni, native Ginger and what comes from the store are different. I tried to grow grocery store Ginger without success. I did grow it with a start from Companion Plants .https://www.companionplants.com/catalog/ Also turmeric. Turmeric is a beautiful plant. I even had it bloom. I don't know where Danny got his, which I believe he said was native wild ginger. Re: holidays...I've never been much of a Baker. Occasional cookies. But I realized when Travis was 2 he didn't understand the book with cookies coming out of the oven because he'd never seen it. I always felt overwhelmed taking care of kids and house, so Christmas added to my stress. I don't have those stresses now, but memories make me less then than enthusiastic. Of course Christmas morning is good, just not the lead up. Ok, this was done in "colornote" and the keyboard behaved. In Houzz I would type something and it would jump over to before the last letter of the previous word and type the next word there. Sometimes it skipped letters, usually vowels. It did the same when I changed keyboard apps. I changed to Firefox because chrome gave me trouble with Houzz. I suspect it is houzz, but I don't know where to go now. I don't have room for another app. Also, today FB won't let me paste. Instead of the paste option it says auto complete. If I press that, it asks for a password. In a comment. WTF? Enjoy your weekend.