In fact, on my own I had come to the decision of burying logs under all trellises. Also of note: some trees I planted in Fall died (due to the severe winter), on digging them up I noticed that were there were buried logs the soil was finely ground, where there were no logs it was the usual hard clay. For me it is a no brainer, the question is should I go to the extent of establishing some permanent log beds, only to be populated with micorrhyzal vegetables. I do grow more beta and brassica than most so it would affect my crop rotation. Also what would happen with root vegetables. Would I be able to dig carrots and parsnips if they were to penetrate a log.

I wouldn't know if the chips would work, but how about those tiny water holding crystals that one can add too the soil to hold the extra moisture when potting plants? hmmmm; may have to give this a try if I ever get back to "playing in the mud again". It's been a very busy summer for me and now that those things have slowed down some-what, it's way to hot and humid,and I'm really anxious to try some new stuff, dang! Wendy

Fun to hear about your pepper plant DowBright. Yes, that part of me keeps thinking, since the potatoes wanted to be there and do so well, who am I to argue. That back corner has long been a sanctuary for lost and "discarded by others" things. Ms. Potato fits right in that description, though tossed by me. I'm still undecided. That spot was built specifically to have a place a tomato might do well. I've built about half of a raised bed there, using broken concrete chunks from when I had to replace my front sidewalk. Gradually building up the compost of all the extra leaves, eventually the raised bed should be filled. Hopefully I'll get the other half of the walls done over the next couple years. It's hard work and I'm older, so it doesn't go up in a weekend. But it's sure a prefect use for the materials and the plan is to keep things trimmed nearby , after a major cut back, so the sun can come over the fence and have one spot in my garden with at least the most sunlight. Not that it's the recommended amount of sun, but the best that's going to happen here in the PNW ( average 68 days per year of less than 30% cloud cover and at a bit of an angle). Add to that I'm in the city, close neighbors and fences. ... plus mostly all tall old growth type trees. Yeah, I'm growing in the dark here. Thus my lack of growing food type things. Ask me about woodland plants, I've got the answers if I've not forgotten. But food plants I'm really lacking in experience. So today as I kept trying to decide, I went back to check and see what the temperature of the soil in the raised by concrete bed on a rare warm day. Turns out we now know why this is doing so well. It's at 76 degrees, with 78 being the top recommended. If left to grow, I may have pre-baked potatoes real soon. Opps. But great for a tomato plant here where it's generally cool compared to so much of the country. To my surprise I discovered the compost I swept up and dumped on top of the potato planting last night has magically, in the first 12 hours spawned a beautiful clump of dog vomit slime mold ! Most people discovering such a thing the first time are grossed out. It's an acquired taste. LOL It only happens at this time of year here and is rare enough most have not seen it. It will grow and change daily for a few weeks then be gone till next year. Causes no harm and the cool thing is it has the ability to remove heavy metals. Very cool for such a thing in my mind. That's the news from this potato patch for today ! Here is a link that might be useful: dog vomit slime mold

I think I'm up to 29? I should probably take a break on purchasing more until I know all of the ones I have are healthy and growing. Its just too fun opening the packages and seeing new Hoyas. I don't know which one is my favorite. If I had to say right now, it would be the Obovata Splash from Rachel. :-)