So the 'curing' thing is said to be old folk lore but I got a great explanation out of a fellow gardener that I will share. Basically, whether you should cure them depends on temperature. If you are planting potatoes when it's fairly warm out, don't worry about curing them. They will likely sprout and grow almost immediately. Recent research also indicates that there is no damage/growing issues that result from not curing them. The 'curing' process is needed if you are planting early, when the soil is still cool or in an area known for spring cold snaps (so northerners are more likely to cure potatoes because of their climate.) Curing provides a scab to protect the potato from bacteria in the soil that may rot the potato. In warm soil, the tuber grows so fast rotting is not likely to take place. In cold soil, it's more likely that they potato could rot because of the slow growth during that time, so curing gives it a little extra protection. I grew mine uncured last year, but planted when the weather was around 75 degrees (which was a bit too late for my zone...i got tiny potatoes.) This year I planted when it was 50 degrees out, but I cured them overnight and still lost a few to rotting :-( Good luck! Kelly www.vegetable-gardening-made-simple.com Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Gardening Made Simple

hi, I've never done any chemicals whatsoever... I've only used GreenCure and for insects I use wax hot pepper spray. so these are the only controls I use, both organic... But my guess is that your roses have been very used to synthetics, but once they have the chance to adapt to the new organic ways, for sure next year they will have a much better time...I am also thinking-- but I don't have the experience to prove this --that when you have overcast days, it is fine to spray as frequently as you can... People always say once a week is enough, but if you keep getting drenched I say spray as soon as you get a brief respite, even if it's for just 1/2 a day... Those clouds prevent your foliage from getting "burned"...and at least it will zap any yucky spores from getting "established". Me spraying a few times a week has never hurt my roses,... Usually, though, I only spray once a week except for the "torrent weeks". But yes! you being in New England makes a big difference; we get blackspot, but nowhere as bad as a moist, rich climate as New England... Dollsandroses, I also heard really, really wonderful! things about Serenade, another organics biofungicide... you can try this too for the BS that has already established itself on your roses, since I'm still test-trying GreenCure for my mini... What's wonderful about Serenade is that it is so gentle on the bees...I heard it even helps against the harmful bugs... so far I'm very satisfied with what I've got, but in July I may test-try a control group with pepper spray versus Serenade to see which flower the bees visit more frequently... so far the pollinating insects don't seem to mind visiting the pepper-sprayed flowers, but I don't see as much rough-and-tumble rolling around in the pollen action that I used to see when I was a kid growing up... And I want Mr. Bumblebee on camera!!!! rolling and tumbling away in my Lincolns... He seems to like hovering near them...but zips away as soon as I try to come closer... I need a powerful attractor to keep him drunk and oblivious LOL! and having to pick his way thru hot-peppered flowers may take too much effort with my scary presence to add to the mix...

why not try? Better than paying for all the hard lab work. If some clean roses can be propagated from desert grown plants I think its great. Right now I have a beautiful sport from a virused medallion I got from a big box store. I would love to clean this rose of its RMV because it's unique in the world. Just like medallion but ruffly and pink to pinkpeach. RMV is something the rose world could do without. If it was cheap to get rid of, don't you think everyone would do it. I say give this desert idea a chance.

rcnaylor, I remember a lot of days like your photo when we lived in Plainview from 1974-1980. But then, it was the farmers and the plowing in the spring for the crops they planted. I grew up in Pampa and while the wind blew, we didn't have as much dust as Plainview and Lubbock because it was mostly wheat farming, cattle, and oil wells. Very little spring plowing. What I also remember from the Plainview days was that the farmers burned off their stubble in the fall and the town was covered with a layer of smoke then. We had whole house evaporative a/c and I hated to turn it on when on those dusty and smoky days. I remember driving to Lubbock once when the dirt was blowing so bad I could barely see 10 feet in front of me. Really scary. My mom, who has never really paid attention to water conservation, was here for the last few days, and I showed her all my native plants, mulching, and how I seldom water. She collected seeds and marked plants she wants me to pot up for her. Today, when she got off the plane in Amarillo, she went straight to a few nurseries and bought some native plants so she can start changing her landscape. I think the more we practice what we preach, the more it will influence others. And I totally agree that we need to do something about greenhouse gasses, and not just industry. We need to make some energy concessions easier and cheaper for ordinary people. It is great to say we need to quit driving, or quit driving as much. But how many people live within walking distance to work, shopping, or a bus stop? Sometimes I feel so powerless sometimes because I drive to town nearly every day, I keep the temperature cool enough to keep from sweating in the house, and I wash my clothes after wearing one time, at least in summer. I'd like to have solar panels, solar water heater, and a hybrid car, but I just can't afford them.