Hey Nila, thanks! That weird looking tomato is a Blush, kinda like a roma, really tasty and made for eating right off the vine. I don't really cook with tomatoes, just eat them straight. Definitely going to try those veggies for winter! Terrene, seems like whenever i look at tomato seeds or advice about toms it's always 8 hours or more. The white poly film I have up really helps, makes the grow area feel more like a greenhouse. If bright sunlight is between 30,000 and 100,000 lumens, I'm guessing I'm getting 5,000-15,000 of indirect light for most of the day, which is comparable with indoor grow lights. The grow bags are reusable and look like they'll last a number of years. The Root Pouch ones are much thicker than the Smart Pots and have better handles. I get them locally for $4.50 for a 5 gal. I'd like to have a raised bed but there's just no way to do it. My entire space is 4x10 feet with a little walkway in the middle. Total I have 4-6 pots on each side. And I reuse the soil, mix it in with some mulch and water it when I'm not using it to keep the organic bacteria alive. Here's today's harvest from 3 plants. Not huge, but this would probably go for $4 at a grocery store:

I use this pattern...It is the 5/12 for beginners.. Free Crochet Pattern 5½ hour Throw Lion Brand® Jiffy® Pattern #: 519 SKILL LEVEL: Advanced Beginners.. 5½ hour Throw Lion Brand® Jiffy® GAUGE: In pattern, 3 V-s sts = 6", 4 rows = 6". BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles. NOTES: Throw is worked with three strands of yarn held together throughout. THROW: Starting at bottom edge of the throw, with three strands of yarn held together, loosely ch 67. Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook, ch 1, dc in same st, * skip 2 ch, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch; repeat from * to last 2 ch, sk 1 ch, dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn. Row 2: *(Dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 sp-one V-stitch made; repeat from * across, ending with dc in top of turning-ch. Ch 3, turn. Repeat Row 2 until 40 rows have been completed. Fasten off. EDGING: With the right side facing you, work 1 row of sc along each side edge of the throw. FRINGE: Wind a single strand of yarn around an 11" piece of cardboard. Cut at one end, making 22"-long strands. Attach 9 strands per fringe. Fold strands of yarn in half to form a loop; insert the crochet hook through back of work in first stitch along bottom edge of throw; pull loop through. Bring the ends through loop and tighten. Continue to attach fringe in every other space along the bottom edge. Repeat for the top edge. Trim fringe evenly. ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration approx = approximately beg = begin(s)(ning) ch(s) = chain(s) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing) fpsc = front post single crochet hdc = half double crochet inc = increas(e)(s)(ing) rem = remain(s)(ing) rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side sc = single crochet sl = slip st(s) = stitch(es) tbl = through the back loop tog = together yo = yarn over I use about 9 or 10 8oz skins..

I made Ina's Apple Crostata the other nite. It's our favourite apple pie, by far. I thought of taking a pic, after we'd already had our pieces. Apple Crostata (Ina Garten) Pastry: 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons granulated or superfine sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 pound (1 stick) very cold unsalted butter, diced 2 tablespoons ice water For the filling: 1 1/2 pounds Macintosh, Macoun, or Empire apples (3 large) 1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup granulated or superfine sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 12 to 15 times, or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water all at once through the feed tube. Keep hitting the pulse button to combine, but stop the machine just before the dough becomes a solid mass. Turn the dough onto a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate one for at least an hour. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Flour a rolling pin and roll the pastry into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to a baking sheet. For the filling, peel, core, and cut the apples into eighths. Cut each wedge into 3 chunks. Toss the chunks with the orange zest. Cover the tart dough with the apple chunks leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and allspice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Pour into a bowl and rub it with your fingers until it starts holding together. Sprinkle evenly on the apples. Gently fold the border over the apples to enclose the dough, pleating it to make a circle. Bake the crostata for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crust is golden and the appl

Kate- Olivia is on my to buy list for next spring. She will be getting a primo spot in the garden. Austins seem to do pretty good here. My Windermere is almost always in bloom and Queen of Sweden has nice repeat. Munstead was in about 4 1/2 hours of sun and always flowering but got bs and was not winter hardy. I tossed her this year since she only had one scrawny cane left. But her flowers were to die for and the scent was one of the best. Maybe own root would work better. DA Thomas A Becket is listed as shade tolerant and disease resistant but I've read mixed reviews on it. I wish I had more sun but our acre property is literally carved out of the woods with about 1/4 acre cleared for the house and yard and the trees are up on a hill so they shade even worse. Plus there are more across the road. I know I could get more blooms with better growing conditions but it's just not doable money wise so I have to make what I have work the best way I can and settle for the blooms I manage to get. Zack- I would love to be able to remove some trees but they are probably 75 years old or more. The trunks are about a foot across and they're probably 50 feet tall. The white oaks are even taller. It would be very expensive to have them removed. We looked at installing solar since our house faces south perfectly but it would have cost close to $10K to have all the necessary trees removed so barring an inheritance I'm stuck with the limited sun I have ;-). Sharon