This year im going to do canna, vine, canna, vine ect.... I thought with al's mix [ which I will be doing for the first time] being on the light side, and 6ft canna's going down my 200' driveway, I would get blow down. Maybe I wont. I don't think you will get any benefit from Al's mix with Cannas. If anything I think you will get reduced results if you aren't super attentive to fertilizing and watering with cannas. This isn't to take anything away from the idea of an open, well oxygenated mix, it is simply that cannas not only don't require it, but they do not (in my experience) do best in it. It helps to understand that cannas are marginal plants which puts them in a special category. Marginal plants are plants that natively occur either on water borders in soggy soil or in the shallow portion of water bodies and are constantly flooded. Once the tubers sprout they become water sponges and are heavy feeders. The way I grow cannas is to plug up the drainage holes, douse liberally with slow release fertilizer and then flood the container. Only after there is above mix level growth though. Save the open, highly oxygenated, fast draining mix for plants which will appreciate it (of which there are many), cannas are not one of them. Again, I am not trying to undo any learning you have experienced in regards to the role good root oxygenation plays. There are certain plants which are simply well adapted to different conditions and canna are one of them. Once above mix growth appears you can't over water. In fact they are a popular plant in ponds. You also would have a hard time over fertilizing. It is easier to over fert than water (which is impossible), but either one requires serious effort.

Over the last year I've added 2 varieties of apples, purple leafed plum, lavenders, german chamomile, roman chamomile, chicory, yarrow, elderberry, wolfberry, another hazelnut, borage, garlic, and comfrey, as well as veggies like peppers, tomatoes, radishes, scarlet runner beans, and I've just sown 2 varieties of kale. I added some things a bit late (I just recently found out about edible forest gardens!), so I may need to replace a couple of things that look iffy. This fall I'm hoping to add raspberries, thornless blackberries, red currants, grape vine, and a mulberry.

pj1881: a little sprinkler water and no fertilizer. Only horse manure as mulch. Mangokush: I hadn't thought about scab, but I did wonder about spider mites. How do I find them and treat them? Just the outer edges of the tree are watered by my sprinkler. I thought it wasn't hitting the tree at all because I fixed the sprinklers last year to go up to, but not hit the tree. Well, I guess the tree has grown and is getting hit on that one side where the big fruit is. Only the very outer 6" of branch are getting hit right now. I know I need to get out there and work on the sprinklers again, but I didn't even know they were hitting until I started really examining the tree to take these pictures. My sprinklers run twice a week for 24 minutes. That's all its getting by way of water. I was wondering if putting manure on the tree while it's got young fruit would make them split. I may have done that. I'll hold off on all manure for now, and fertilizer I guess. I think I bought the tree at Home Depot and I think it had a Pine Island tag on it, but that was 5 years ago, so not sure. MangoDoc: wow, didn't think I'd actually get a mango doc with my post, but that's good! I haven't ever used sulfur because I like to use oil for insects and they can be a really bad combo. I think you are supposed to wait a month between sulfur and oil sprays. I'm trying to stay as close to organic as possible. I'll give the sulfur a shot next winter for sure, and I hadn't thought about checking the PH of my water.

Good morning all! Thanks for all the nice and all the funny things you said! CEFreeman, oh I didn't realize I'm supposed to hang curtains next to my gas stove...I'll get right on that! ;-) "How do I paint (gel stain, prime, etc.) my kitchen cabinets?" is probably the most asked question over on the manufactured homes forum as well. Mayflowers, send in the clowns! But only if they're juggling in my cooking station! Mama Goose, I will take you up on that offer! My floor plan might be off, but my measurements will be accurate! Jilllius, the cold war does provide good fodder for humor! When we cleaned out my parents' house, in the shed we found a ton of coffee cans filled with used razor blades (2007). When we asked my dad why, he said if the Russians attack us we'll need steel for the war effort. Lol! To all of you, thanks. I can't take 100% credit for my sunny attitude because I believe people are born with certain predispositions, genetically. I've always been a happy person. My brother, raised in the same environment, hasn't had a happy day in his life. But, I also believe in something Abraham Lincoln said. He said, "Most folks are about as happy as they want to be." There's a lot of truth in that. I don't let others decide how I'm going to feel. i choose joy. :-) Have a great day! :-)