George, I read about the resistance of the varieties you mention, but didnÂt imagine that would change so much per location. I have to have those seeds next year to try. Si, el cambio es muy grande, after the 6inches/14.8mm of rain yesterday, I had to wear my wooden shoes to go to see the vegetables LOL! ItÂs sooo strange to walk with them but they help in the mud, and you write so perfect Spanish. How come? Raisemybeds, we covered the tomatoes with that lightweight fabric, although not pretty, till now (cross my fingers) the tomatoes and pepper seem to like that protection. IÂve been earlier shaking the stems and was wondering if the pumpkin pollination would be so simple not so, as per what I read. Bill, yesterday I didnÂt turn the compost pile that I left to mature, since I saw there were some pumpkin seedlings showing up, and I thought, well, you never know maybe they grow nice. This morning guess what, they were gone, disappeared. IÂd eat Butternut Squash every day, casually found a grocer that sells it. Back in Argentina my mother had a piece ready for my arrival from the office nearly everyday Now IÂve got some Butternut seeds popping up in a propagator. Violet, I know thereÂs lots of info. However, last year while I was "researching" what happened that time to the tomatoes raised by me from seed, my husband convinced me to check a bit less ugly bugÂs pictures and diseased plants on the internet, and just try again, strengthening precautions. Pumpkin is not so popular here for eating, but for Halloween, therefore availability of seeds for consume (ie. to grow without chemicals) is just starting. I didnÂt plant resistant varieties, because I simply could not find any offered for sale. Thank you all for such warm welcome! Carol.

The sun shouldn't have killed any plants from seeds you sowed directly in the soil, unless the ground was very dry -farmers plant seeds in the open ground with no protection. Might have been slugs, cutworms or damping off fungus, although damping off doesn't usually occur in the open ground. You'll need to harden off the plants you purchase - expose them gradually to sun and the cold of night over a week or two. You start them with just a couple hours of morning sun, until you get them up to full sun. Some of your plants look like they have yellowing veins, which you might google on. Since it seems to occur in different kinds of plants, it's more likely to be a nutritional deficiency than a disease. But don't over fertilize. Your prepared bed looks great.

summersrhythem, I read your comment about the heat from the stones..I just figured out (this year) that my Nahema, Sharifa and some other flowers, are not doing well in a bed by my garage. Reflected heat from my light brick and concrete. If you look at the Belinda full bush picture, you will see what I am talking about. I was facing North when I took the picture. That area gets very early morning sun, then dappled from the pines, then full blast from around 10:30 to 3:00. Pure oven. I have planted a white crepe myrtle right behind Belinda. I can keep it limbed up so it is open, but offers some dappled light. (I have several other white in the yard) That strip behind the fence leads up to my breezeway and door, so I want it to look good!

PM, it's too late for me, I didn't get a chance to sit down until now, and the cornbread is already made and eaten. We had black eyed peas and greens, Mother had chicken strips and mashed butternut squash left over from another meal. I do like the idea of adding pumpkin, though, or maybe some of that butternut squash... Elery's two youngest boys will be here tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. with their families. Mother is here and that's a lot like cooking with a 3 year old, a lot of "what can I do?", but at least she's still here so I'm thankful for that. Anyway, I spent the day roasting tenderloin, making pizza "rolls", cheesecake, caramel nut tart, baking one more batch of cookies. Mother helped me frost. Elery's oldest granddaughter got her wisdom teeth taken out two days ago, so I'll be up early and making macaroni and cheese for her. Happy New Year, everyone, and may it be a happy and healthy one for all of us. Annie