Would it work to put in a cover crop of legumes like lupins and favas mixed with mustard, cut them down a couple of weeks prior to planting and leave the roots in the ground and the tops as mulch? They could handle unfinished compost and fix nitrogen to avoid a potential carbon/nitrogen imbalance.

You can start them now, but I'd start them *right now*. I find that placing the seeds between the layers of a coffee filter and letting them germinate to the point that the cotyledons are emerging cuts a week off the time. You have to be really careful transferring them to your pots though - they're easy to break at that point. BP

Tym, As Pirate Girl said, you're too concerned about watering these. They'll be fine. They are drawing resources from their lower leaves in order to live, but this takes months. As the resources are depleted, the lower leaves dry up. You can remove or not. This is a natural process, especially when they're in growth - as new growth appears, old growth dies. As you note, until there are roots there is no reason to water them. The only condition where you would is one you can't supply right now - lots of sun and warmth, a broad expanse of sidewalk or a heating mat, and the plant sitting in pure pumice in a pot that will warm easily. Until you have those conditions when an Aloe is rootless, watering is fruitless - or rather it's worse than fruitless, because it will kill the plant. Just be kickin' it with the Aloe - stand it up in a nice sturdy vase/container (a 155mm shell casing works great), or leave it potted in dry soil, and spritz as needed. It will be fine until growing time. I hope this has convinced you, because frankly I'm out of words.

Ohhhh...those red sparkly vine trees are so perfect w/that black birdcage ...& wow, that sleigh ... terrific! ...even filled w/such cute accessories! You did good, girl! That Debbie Mumm is just the cutest, PM ... I remember the woodland Santa cookie jar...so how lucky to find the sugar & creamer! & that Woodland Santa on the sleigh is just adorable...I love his furry boots & trim! Wow! 2 hrs uh...well worth it!!! PM, I also posted the Mikasa Santa that you sent on a separate post...it is just so very adorable! The 'artic critters' are so cute! I love it! & I was wrong again in saying that I have the snowman w/bird ... it is not Mikasa ...it is also a creamy white & trimmed w/gold but it is a 1997 Geo Z Lefton with music box that plays "Let It Snow." I think we discussed this before & I forgot again ...thinking it was Mikasa. ;-) Jeanne S.