Hi, Mark, Have you looked at the Cornell Vegetable Varieties site? It's a Citizen Science project to relate ratings of veggie varieties to locations, and they do have a few rating types (overall, taste, yield and ease/reliability.) It's a great resource, and the more data they collect the more information and analysis they can make available to us. Not to discourage your project, but it would be great if everyone who takes your survey also contributed to the Cornell site! Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners

Thank you so much for everyones help. That weedy prunus like thing looks so much like a cherry with its leaves and bark. And its right behind my cherry tree. I have left it for now. I will give it a few days to see if it flowers like my cherry tree which is flowering now. The other plants I pulled all out except for the delphinium/larkspur which I planted. I thought it was something else because when I googled delphinium seedlings the leaves were quite different from mine! Thanks again Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden

A few more ideas: I've used aluminium blind slats, cut up into plant labels (along with the ubiquitous yoghurt etc. pots for the same purpose). I converted the chilled-water container from an old fridge into an interim reservoir in my greenhouse, for supplying water to capillary matting feed pipes/gutters. Cocktail stirrers (like old biros, but better because slimmer) make good sticks for prodding holes for cuttings, etc. Old nylon stockings/tights make very good tree/shrub ties - you can spread the presssure very widely, and they have a good combination of strength and stretchability; and they last for years outside. They can look unsightly, though - black ones seem best. Perforated plastic bags some places sell bread in - these can be good propagators for cuttings (over pots) which requitre some 'closeness' of atmosphere, but with a little air flow. I welded/brazed the two halves of a broken pair of old shears together, with some bends, to make a big draw-knife. This is for shaving the bark and shaping poles for making pergolas. Matchboxes make good receptacles for interim storage of seed pods, while you wait for the seeds to be shed. Works only with small pods, of course (like violets and pansies). They allow a great enough passage of air so that the drying and seed-shedding is not stopped. An old pair of jeans, with the legs cut off entirely (just leaving the waist and pockets) can make a handy tool belt. Broad rubber bands, if sufficiently long, can make good grafting 'tape' (cut so as to break the loop, of course). I've used these on roses and maples with success. You can always paint the graft with rubber cement as well, if you want to improve the air seal (more likely on rough-barked plants). The rubber won't last much more than 12 months outside, though.

I think I'd take a wire brush and get as much of the rust off as possible. Other options would be naval jelly or if you have someone that does sand or bead blasting nearby, then get them to get the "crud" off. If you leave the rust on them...it's like an unchecked disease, it will keep on growing. Once cleaned, use a primer (like Rustoleum) and finish coat of your chosen paint. I also use the varnish spray that Linda mentioned for my outdoor pieces.