prairiemoon, Thai basil has a different flavor, almost completely different, more cinnamon/licorice-like. Darn it's been so long, I can't remember the taste. Unless they are trying Asian recipes, they probably wouldn't enjoy it. Our garage is semi-heated so I have the Confection squash there. Last year it was kept under my husband's workbench in the cellar. The Pennsylvania Crook Necks are sitting on a bench in another part of the cellar where it is cooler. The cellar used to be very damp (old fieldstone foundation) but a few years ago the walls were sprayed to keep out moisture. So far so good. Those are also supposed to keep for 6 mos. I wasn't going to grow them again since like many butterNut types, they are watery but a recipe for caramelized squash was fantastic (roasted with brown sugar). Confection is very dry so I have used it mashed or cubed for Thai curries or other casseroles. I use either squash in recipes for baked goods esp my favorite pumpkin ale bread. I usually add either lime or wood ashes to the garden. We burn wood so there's always plenty of ashes available. I found a source of nicely composted horse manure on Craigslist. The owner mixes manure, kitchen scaps, ashes, etc and turns the pile with his tractor bucket all winter. In the spring it is beautiful and he only charges a nominal fee to load our utility trailer. When I build a lasagna style bed, I give some of the layers a good sprinkle of ashes. I need to re-check suggested application amounts. I love Alaska nasturtiums because the leaves are so pretty. Two years ago I had a lovely yellow climbing nasturtium that did great. Last year it was a bust and didn't climb the ladder I have leaning against the wall. I might not have watered it enough since water priority went to the veggies beds last year because it was so dry. I have cooked with flowers in the past but I'm not a big fan. I grew borage last year specifically for the pretty blue flowers that taste of cucumber but never used it. I have started file folders for recipes to use during different times in the garden year when there's a lot of sugar snaps, spinach or zukes. I started digging out my old herb recipes that I put aside when I didn't have fresh herbs to use. i.e. Rosemary jelly is very nice and good in thumbprint cookies. Opened up pickled tarragon sugar snaps this weekend. Some people liked them, others didn't because of the tarragon flavor and red peppers. The bizarre cucumber from Baker Creek was Poona Kheara. Very nice eaten fresh. You don't have to peel but the skin turns brown as it gets bigger. Starts off almost white. Seemed ok in pickles but I just did easy recipes like freezer dills.

Thanks Vanessa, I have sort of the poor man's watergardens........all stocktanks! And my experiences are pretty limited. When people here start talking about skimmers and waterfalls, etc., I'm lost. I pretty much just do lotus and water lilies and a few marginals. I swore last year that I would cut back this year, and now I'm getting more! I think the tropical water lilies will be good, because they'll let me enjoy something all summer, that I don't have to deal with for winter. I feel bad about throwing them out, but I just haven't had any luck keeping them over winter. I have to be careful about spring fever. I always get it with the water gardening stuff and my vegetable garden stuff......then when late June, July get here, I just can't keep up. What I love about the above-ground stocktanks is that I don't have to lean over to far to really look at things! I think they let the frogs escape from the snake too. Last year I had tons of tree frogs, singing their hearts out and laying billions of eggs. I could even sit on the deck and start a conversation with them! Vanessa........here's an idea we haven't mentioned (maybe we have......my mind is shot! haha).......How about a heavy plastic container that will hold the lotus AND 4-6" of water, but when it comes time to bury it, you drain that 4-6" of water and bury the whole thing? You might even be able to leave some of that 4-6" of extra container a little above ground level, as long as you cover it well with leaves. (Hmmmm??? Do you have leaves up there in the high desert?) I'm not sure how to picture the vegetation up there. Anyhow........that might give you less to worry about......Maybe use a 15" tall rubber container. Fill it with 8-10" of dirt, and the rest water, and you're done. Do you have a tractor supply store anywhere near you? I really like the various "Tuff Stuff" containters. Be sure to get a container with a lip on it to grab.......otherwise you'll never get it lifted. Here's a link to a couple of the containers I've gotten. I use the 7 gallon one for my lilies and lotus. Its LDPE plastic and is rigid, which is good. Rubber is too wobbly. I must warn you though, I'm more into practicality and functionality, so I might not have many pretty ideas! haha You know, I didn't think about my in-ground stocktanks taking longer to heat up......but you're right! The ground definitely keeps things cooler. I envy you being in a little town. I live out in the country, but the development in this area has gone absolutely nuts, and its really changing things out here. Here is a link that might be useful: Tuff Stuff containers

Oh hello - I found you over on this thread! I'm re-posting this from a couple days ago since nobody has been on that other thread. Poochella are you out there? I can't believe I'm admitting this but I stayed up last night till after midnight putting my tubers into baggies with a cup or 2 of soil. Some of the White Perfection tubers were so gigantic I don't know what I would have done if I wasn't using the baggie method you told us about last yr. Anyway 30 or 40 bags later they are in. I wanted to ask you when to plant them out, or how to hold them till the temp is reliable. A lot of my tubers were already eyeing up - except of course the infamous Otto's Thrill which all looked like little shriveled rocks. I was really tough on the spare tubers in the packaging and tossed a few of each type into a spare bag but most went to the compost pile. Last year I wasted so much time on tubers with no eyes. I have always grown dahlias in containers but this year first time I made some space to plant out some of the really big dahlias like Thomas Edison, White Perfection and my buddy Otto. Now I finally have to pay attention to all the discussion about staking. What have you all decided - which is best? Last I paid attention you were on painted rebar - is that still the favorite? Last question - will deer browse the dahlias? Are there any other critters that will bother them? I have every creature available in the Midwest but raccoons, squirrels and all the moles, voles and shrews are the worst. In fact last night while I was weeding after dark - the coyotes were howling down along the river. I have finally almost completely cleared out my old vegetable garden of perennials and shrubs and plan to set out some veggies and most of the dahlias. They will need staking, but the deer could definitely get in since the electric fence is now down. I need to spare them so I can be the only one knocking them down.. Looking forward to the season!

Woofie and others, I am uncertain if the photoperiod effect is seen in species of Ipomoea other than Ipomoea nil. I have read that if seedlings that are grown under long day/short night conditions for 5 days (that is, 5 days of 16 hours light/8 hours dark) then treated to one cycle of short day/long night (8 hours light/16 hours total dark) will induce flowering in the plants. I say total darkness because any break in the darkness, such as a husband turning on the light for just a brief period, will disturb floral induction. What you can try is popping the container with seedling into a light-tight box for 16 hours and see if flower buds start coming on in a big way. I have seen reports of big flowers appearing on very small vines when they are treated in this manner. I haven't tried it but it would be a cool thing to do. Ronnie, I think those products are compounts for inducing root production in cuttings due to presence of certain plant enzymes. The products I was referring to have mycorrhizal fungi that the root must come in contact with so the fungus and root can form the symbiotic bond by the fungus actually infecting the root. The fungus forms a web out in the soil around the roots, and make Phosphorus and other micronutrients available to plants in exchange for compounds the plants make available to the fungi. Google using search term mycorrhizal fungal products should give you piles of products to try out. Check out the videos that are on You Tube, I just watched the one in the link below and it was pretty informative. Joseph Here is a link that might be useful: Mycorrhizal fungi general discussion on You Tube