I don't know of a document, but some traders use a notebook or small journal to record things . Here is what I read on another site: Each trade gets a screen name, an address, what I'm receiving, and what I'm sending. Perhaps you could head the page with the following: Date: Screen Name: email address: mailing address : outgoing trade: incoming trade You could then mark the date your trade went out, and write the date when you received the trade.

Probably your pH tester came with some kind of rough guidelines for different vegetables, fruits etc ! But in a home garden we cannot and it is not feasible to provide a perfect pH for each vegetable we grow. But fortunately most veggies thrive in a range of pH. Probably that range is 5.7 to 7.2. From what I have gathered, again, most plants prefer slightly acid soil( say 6.8). However, thre are a group of garden plants that prefer slightly sweet(alkaline) soil (say 7.2) But with regard to your measurement (pH =5), I think that if far too acid for just about any garden veggie.. And another thing is that soil pH cannot be changed overnight . It will take months for lime to become effective. There are some fast acting sweeteners. Also, deficiency in things like phosphorus and magnesium can contribute to soil acidity. Therefore, in my opinion, applying those elements can raise soil pH.

lindann, Welcome! Seeing so many new names here. I'm still a bit of a newbie myself and haven't done the whole cycle enough to know which perennials work best but got daisies and an odd thing and some rudbeckias. The others were annuals. Before I started winter sowing I was spring sowing perennials, biennials and annuals outside in covered salad trays or KFC containers in early spring. It worked, but takes a little longer to mature and bloom, in some ways easier unless I transplant individual seedlings which I do for certain ones. I've learned a lot by reading, reading, reading the FAQ and posts and photos here. Will just address the jugs, and this is the first photo I thought of, but not the best. This is looking down on the jug long after the top was opened and the soil has been shifted by the rains. I use a woodburning tool and round tip, and I burn 12 holes in the bottom of this size regular milk jug about 1/4" diameter. I used to use an exacto knife but burning goes very fast but have to vent the house during and after and wear a mask if I haven't gotten them done outside when nice then no mask, fumes not a problem. The jug is cut about in half all the way around starting just under and to the left or right of the bottom of the handle and leaving the part just under the bottom of the handle intact to serve as a hinge. Everyone has their own special twist, but I punch a slice with my xacto knife to start, put my scissors in and cut around. I no longer burn vent holes in the tops, but they can be useful, for now any like that are covered with tape. Once set outside, CAPS OFF. Yes, I've been setting outside in the snow and cold my jugs and other containers taped shut, started about mid-January. The first year I used duct tape which was awful to pull off when it warmed up. Now I am using clear packing tape all the way around twice. Other details I'll omit. Hope this helps about the jugs. Do the same with 1/2 gallon jugs and juice bottles, always leave a hinge except my 2 liter bottles. This poppy was a fluke, very special, and I won't go into that song and dance again unless you're curious in which case I think I can find the original thread I started about that.

Do you fertilize it??? Maybe after 22 years it needs some micronutrients. I adore Natal Plums, but the last time I went to a nursery (when I was in the desert) and asked for the best-tasting varietal after mine died when we hit low 20's, the nursery guy looked at me like I had snakes growing out of my eyes. "You can eat them?? I've never heard of anyone doing that!!!" Carla in Sac