I tried something similar one winter. I based it on the Joe Jenkins Humanure concept. Five gallon pails, add scraps and cover with shredded leaves. Once I had two pails filled (I kept them in the basement) I took them out and dumped into a bin or tumbler. Based on the 'laziness breeds efficiency' theory I stopped. It was easier just to place the scraps in the veranda and let them freeze. I use two-liter milk containers for my scraps. Once I get a half dozen or so, I take them over to a tumbler, cut them open with a knife and chuck the frozen block into a tumbler. Every once in a while, throw a bag of shredded leaves into the tumbler as well. Come spring it all thaws out, heats up and we're off to the races. It didn't make sense to bring shredded leaves into the house, haul the kitchen scraps downstairs, fill up the pails and then haul the pails back up the stairs. I was handling stuff more times than necessary for the little gain I got. Now I wasn't actively composting in the house, that wasn't my intention (I guess I'm not such a 'whacko'). Lloyd

Them Fokkers are Messerschmitts!!! Sorry Keesha, I couldn't help myself. Nancy.

Hopsalot, Great name btw:) Switching to the Helena fertilizer is a move you won't regret. At $12.70 per #50 bag it is a great deal and a lot easier to apply than the Miracle grow. We picked up our yearly supply last week for the BB and citrus. The application rate per monthly application is 1 oz for first year plants, 2 oz for 2 year olds and 3 ounces for 3+ year old plants. Your plants if they grew well last year would get the 2 ounce dose. 2 ounces is 1/4 cup btw. That is the basic guide but let your judgment rule the way. Basically you look at the plant and can judge if it needs more nitrogen....it is a bit of a learning curve. The leaves should be vibrant green and seem big..you are shooting for 3"+ leaves. Small leaves are an indication you can up your dose. If you are mulching your plants with something other than pinebark you have to adjust the amount upwards some. Let the plants guide you. Watch for tiny red spots on the leaves which is an indication they want more nitrogen. Looks like a sprinkling of paprika on young leaves. Larger red spots mean something different and occurs later in the year. You can still use the miracle grow acid formula also. I use it every two weeks at 1/4 listed strength as a foliar spray. Make sure you hit the underside of the leaves as that is where most of the stomata are located and it is best to do so first thing in the morning when it is cooler as beyond 80 degrees most of the receptors are closed. Feb to Oct yep. Keep the fertilizer away from the stem and apply evenly around the drip line. What kind of plants did you put in? Whether or not to remove some buds is a judgement call and is based on the vigor of the plants growth last year and the number of fruit buds it now has. Can you post some pictures? Make sure you water the plants well Saturday afternoon and that should help protect them from the cold. If the forecast is above 28 they should be fine.

Hi Resort, This is a trial year for me, too. Maybe we can compare notes in spring. If you have too much oak bark, I'm concerned that the soil will stay wet, causing the rhizhomes to rot. Shreiners recommends a 10-12 inch size pot. A too-small pot will not permit proper growth. Despite the advice, I have a couple of my smaller rhizomes in 8 inch pots. We'll see. Regarding the planting mix, I'm sure Redhead probably has more experience to draw upon than I do. But what I have been reading is that good drainage is really important. I mixed approximately one part potting soil, one part concentrated organic soil, two parts peat, one part manure, one part perlite and 2 parts sand. I started growing irises last year, but this is the first year of putting some in pots. I think that some irises are naturally hardier than others. I have read complaints by some iris enthusiasts that some iris specimens (Beverly Sills, for example) are more fragile than others. Some I planted last year just didn't come back up again. (I shutter to think the gophers got to them.) Please put up a post in spring to let us all know how your first iris season turned out. I'm curious what irises you purchased. There are so many great colors out there. So many to choose from! Janice