pnbrown What is planting fabric? Landscape fabric? I don't have to worry about weeds in my containers since they're on a high deck. Well, not many, mostly little trees that sprout from those airborne helicopters and whirligigs that I miss when they land. As for spacing them, I think you could go blind with the seeds! Peggy, I've occasionally made seed tapes too, though not for such small seeds! But, to my main question, PNB. You're saying that vendors of onion transplants OR commercial onion growers just plant them close together and then they can be separated and spaced after reaching transplant size? So you seem to be saying that if I plant them at the right time and have some kind of reasonable spacing, I could leave them there to grow in the spring -- is that right?

I don't remember what my rock cress seedlings looked like as its been a few years since I grew them. When did they germinate? Do you have a mouse in the greenhouse? They have bitten off the tops of some of my plants. Otherwise, I would say it isn't your fault, maybe the seed was old and at its end. Start with some fresh seeds.

F&F, "the dictum" is mostly true. Thing is, it's not the only facet one is typically dealing with. IOWs, while caliper will increase more and faster when all branches are retained, one is apt to end up with a too-low branching on their tree(s). So a modified approach is called for. Don't go nuts removing every branch that is lower than where you ultimately want the branching to begin. Take your time. Both you and the tree have plenty of it! As far as seed-grown stuff, I like it the best of all, hands down. And I'd add, trees generally "know" how they should grow. Like Scot said above, the openness of the site is the reason these plants are not behaving like their forest brethren. Sunlight is hitting them strongly from every angle, so they are branching out to take advantage of it. Just curb their natural impulses judiciously. +oM

Hi jifjifjif, Last year was my first year growing hot peppers from seed. I scoured the FAQs last year for tips on growing them. There is a lot of good information but maybe this will help too :) THINGS I WISH I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T FIND ON THE FAQS: 1.) Some cats like to eat Jalapeno leaves when you are not looking. 2.) Do NOT get too attached to your seedlings if you have a limited amount of space (naming them, photo journal, etc..) I'm sure there are others I just can't think of now.. Good luck with this year's peppers!!