Hrm, that might work for my beds built out of wood, but 5 of my beds are built out of recycled plastic timbers - I'll have to figure out a better way than nails to attach those ones. As far as the seedlings, I found that instead of cutting an X like you do for transplants, I made a circle (3 inches in diameter or so) and then put little rocks around the seedling on the black plastic, it kept the plastic from flapping and damaging the seedlings. This does allow for a "couple" weeds to grow, but it's almost non existent, and still gives you the benefits of warming the soil, water retention, etc.. No matter how "tight" you get the plastic across the bed, when you cut those X's they are going to flap in the wind, so you need something localized to hold them down. Thanks for the ideas, I'll have to think about how I will secure them, as I really love the plastic.

I'm a vegi garden newbie. I built 3 rasied beds, 24'x6'x2' deep, one for blueberries(acid),lingonberries(acid), strawberries, rhubarb, garlic, other perennial small fruit/vegi. The other two beds are for the vegi garden, plus I plan on making a couple of potato planters, and a couple of container tomatoes and peppers for potential overwintering. This will be my 3rd growing season in my first home. the first two I worked on the perennial fruit garden/orchard. These vegis are 100x worse than the fruits, too many options, how can one pick, especially when they all say they are the best? I know I want: Tomatoes (sauce, paste, salsa, fresh, cherry, weird colors[that taste good], I would like both hybrid and heirloom for comparison) Peppers (bells, sweets, hot [no hobanero or hotter]) Sweet Potatoes Okra Potatoes Carrots (some super sweet for raw) Beets Summer Squash/Zuccinni Winter Squash (not too wet, prefer drier) Green Beans Sweet Corn Popcorn Turnips Edimame* (especially fond of) Melons (sweet, any) Basil (pesto) Any other vegi you think I should grow. I would be happy with direction, but truely grateful if someone would adopt me.

My box arrived today. Hubby took it down the basement until I got home and things were nice and cool when I opened it. Darrin packed his box FULL. I couldn't believe how much he was able to put into that box. Amazing!! Keep in mind he went with a patriotic theme beginning with a nice note that included a poem he wrote. Job well done too. centranthus alba Iris (All night long?) rain lilies ranunculus anemone orange trumpet vine, (I have always wanted one of these and although I discovered one along the side of the ditch this year, I want one by the house.) Gladiolas, red and yellow Horseradish, can't wait to read up on this and get it growing. Along with the plants was Bag of tootsie rolls Hand sanitizer Strawberry marshmallow cream lip balm 2 notepads with flowers on the front notepad with a bluebird on the front, (I use a lot of notepads) 2 packages of Jobes fertilizer spikes, one for flowers and one for vegies Patriotic cushie for my cans two small keychain flashlights, handy!! Seed baggies Lady bug magnets a two pack of lipbalm Blue dolphin windchime Pocket phillips screwdriver, (keeping this away from hubby) Squirrel pot hugger, cute Plant markers AND a crocheted patriotic butterfly pin, (I am sure this is another one of Elly's creations. Be sure to tell her thanks for me Darrin) Thanks for the wonderful, wonderful box. I am going to keep it all wet and get it in the ground on the weekend. The temperature is supposed to reach 102 tomorrow so there is no way I am planting these lovely things now just for them to cook out there. Dan, I had one of the best times in this swap. Thanks again for hosting it. You did a super job. Margo

Hi, everyone! Mmmm, apple cider doghnuts. I've only had those once, and we ate the whole bag within 15 minutes of leaving the orchard. They're scrumptious! Ollierose, I try to know the botanical names for the plants I grow, (or at least list them with it) so I only look up botanical names that seem really familiar, because those may be seeds I can send in and I'm just not making the right mental connection. If I don't recognize it at all, it's not something I can send in. If you want to look things up, the fastest way I've found is 1. have the google toolbar 2. type the Latin and the word plantfiles 3. read all about it. That's also my first step in deciding if I want a plant, but I always look them up on a few sites, because they all have inaccuracies sometimes. I like to increase my chances for trades by making it easy for the trader to know that I have what they want, or they have what I want, by using both common names and latin. Except I'm sure I've neglected to do that completely :) It's another cold, grey day, and I have so much garden cleanup to do, still perennials to get in the ground, plus a couple hundred bulbs--but all I want to do is sit in front of the woodstove with my tiny kitten!