It's about the right time to start onions from seed and put garlic in the ground. I only get huge leeks from plants in their second season, but I guess it depends on the type of leek. Mine are American Flag, which is a long season 'overwintering' leek. If your leeks end up dinky, you can cut off their water in the late spring and they'll die back to a small bulb, which can be planted in the fall to produce a huge leek next year.

Roses that don't smell like roses..it's just SUCH a disappointment when leaning down, taking a deep breath.....and...nothing. I would wave that magic wand across all roses and restore them to their natural state of fragrance. I was tempted to say make 'em disease-free, but that's just too obvious ;> And for my question: I grow my roses in containers, and would like to add a companion plant to the container. This companion need not "do" anything, like have bug or disease repelling properties (but wouldn't hurt!) It can just look pretty...something that won't clash in growing habit or compete for habitat. What have others have had success with?

Ok, here I go stepping up on to my soap box! I believe large franchises are here to stay even the emerging Chinese market has embraced this style of commerce. The one industry that has yet to be completely swallowed up by the chain store phenomenon in New England is horticulture. The box and grocery stores certainly have made an imprint on the hort. industry in New England, and has made the likely hood of financial success for the smaller nursery more challenging. With this said, I am a person who is in love with plants I am fascinated watching them grow (and most often die) in my yard, I believe I have a responsibility to the trade to encourage a large and free market place, I equate this responsibility to the food that I buy for my family (on the rare occasion that I shop). If I believe that organic food is what I want to feed my love ones and am not willing to spend more money on organic products while this industry is growing and competing with big business then I am not allowing my dollar to speak for me. As Americans we are in love with commerce and the status attained from material items I think we have an added responsibility in contemporary society to support those businesses you believe in not just where you can buy the less expensive plant. Stepping of soap box and headed back outside. kt

Not sure where my previous post went, but those look like chocolate bells. If you purchased them as plants, could have been mislabeled. If you grew from your own seeds, could be a new hybrid. Just a guess, but it doesn't look to me to be from disease.