I have to defend everything I do. There will always be attacks on me, since I advocate cheap & organic ways to control black spots rather than Bayer spray. The reason why I use low-salt monopotassium phosphate, NPK 0-52-34 is: 1) My alkaline soil, pH of 7.7 is tested very deficient in phosphorus and potassium. 2) According to Robert Morris PLANT foundation, nitrogen mobility is a 10, it moves with water. Potassium mobility is a 3, somewhat mobile. Phosphorus mobility is a 1, it stays put where applied. 3) The phosphorus leaching that Diane_NJ mentioned is due to phosphates in detergents that EPA banned years ago. It does not apply to phosphorus in fertilizer, like bone meal, which stays put where applied. 4) Phosphorus is immobile in my heavy clay, with a limestone base at bottom. Plus I use a soluble fertilizer right at the roots. Nitrogen moves with water, leaches out and is an ecological problem. Here's a quote: "about 60 percent of the nitrogen contained in applied fertilizer is never incorporated into plants and so is free to wash out of root zones, and then pollute rivers, lakes, aquifers and coastal areas through eutrophication." Wikipedia wrote this on nitrogen: "High levels of NO3 in water can adversely affect oxygen levels for both humans and aquatic systems. Human health issues include methemoglobinemia and anoxia, commonly referred to as blue baby syndrome. .. Eutrophication, a decline in oxygen content of water, of aquatic systems can cause the death of fish and other marine species. Finally, leaching of NO3 from acidic sources can increase the loss of calcium and other soil nutrients, thereby reducing an ecosystem's productivity.[2] Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia on nitrogen leaching This post was edited by Strawberryhill on Fri, May 24, 13 at 7:35

Not only is it possible but also probable that you can have fruit in two years from your bananas. Your growing season is a little longer than mine and I have banana fruit every year. Typically a banana takes 18 months to bear fruit. Now some people who want fruit make the mistake of cutting there banana stalks to the ground I know in colder climates that is the way it is done but in Florida that is not how it works. So come spring plant the one gallon plants in rich well worked soil add compost of any thing you can get your hands on. leaves, grass clippings, pine bark mulch,pine needles etc. keep the plants well watered and well fertilized. They grow amazingly fast. Good luck James

Thanks Flamey! Ladies, why so much guilt over being invited to a party? I love to go to home based parties.....Southern Living, Premeire Jewelry, Scentsy, Pampered Chef....just to name a few and I never feel obligated to buy something. But the things I have bought, I love. I just got a beautiful turquoise bracelet from Premeire and I absolutely love it. Like Flamey said, I sell Mary Kay but you'd almost never know it. I love the product and couldn't find a consultant that had it on hand so I decided to get into it just so I wouldn't have to wait two weeks to get my cleanser/moisturizer. Turns out, I found out lots of people love the products and order from me. I don't do "parties" as much....they're too much work! LOL I prefer to give samples or if they'd rather, I'll do a one-on-one facial and usually,once they try our line, they love it. They know I'll keep what they use in stock and I can deliver it to them that day. The Pink Truth....yes, I've read that website before. I'm sure if you search, you can find negative articles about anything. Of course there are jaded people all over this world and people who like to stir up hate. I like to live my life by the Golden Rule....treat people the way I'd like to be treated. It seems to work for me. Home based businesses can be a great way to earn extra money and I totally support women who try to do that. It's not easy to get it off the ground and it helps to have the help of friends to get you started but if you absolutely don't want to go, then don't. If they are true friends, they wouldn't end a friendship over you not attending their party. My own mother doesn't use Mary Kay. She prefers to buy Avon from her friend....says her friend, who's a widow, needs the money more. I'm OK with that. I would never want anyone to purchase anything from me out of feeling obligated. In fact, I tell my customers, if they ever buy anything from me and they find they don't love it, then let me know and I'll either refund their money or trade them something that they will love. I want them to be happy. Those of you who hate it when your friends invite you to these parties, would you feel just a little left out if you didn't get invited? Maybe that's why they invite you....so you won't get your feelings hurt. Don't be mad....just let them know that you can't attend. Or explain to them that you don't like these type of parties. A true friend would understand.

you should have manured and covered it with straw. how deep was raised bed. well given it takes 3 years till harvest for aspoergus. you have time deal with past mistakes if made one. As for price that varies from seller to seller. 8 for is not bad but it has been while since priced asparagus plants. if is good depends on how old the roots are.