Of lately, but not always, I have been putting my potatoes in a shallow trench, maybe four inches, covering with dirt but not to the top of the trench and covering that with a foot to sixteen inches of leaves, or straw if I run out of leaves. If you trench down up to eight inches, the deepest I have planted but then I did not trench then, I simply dug a hole, one does not really need to hill, just check for potatoes maybe reaching the surface. You can then simply put soil over the potato or use some sort of mulch. When I dig even with the shallow method, I bury the vines in the "hole" the old one came out of (I actually make a hole) as the potato vines leave the soil in fantastic conditon the next spring, although it is not a good idea to plant potatoes in the same area year after year after year after year unless you amend the soil. This year as I had a box that had been left out in the rain and was just nasty looking, I took Miracid and spread it over the area of one potatoe plot and roto-tilled it in before planting. I did notice the plants that came up in that plot were definitely a deeper green, but that, outside of making the soil more acidic which is good, does not do much for potato size or quality.

Hello RPAlbert from CT.... It would be far easier to answer your questions if you list your climate zone under your name, and perhaps your section of CT. Also, you haven't told us how you will be growing your tree(s). Do you plan on growing in containers, will you plant tree(s) in-ground, shade, full-sun, etc. All these factors need to be considered. If I was just starting out and looking for a great, first fig tree, you can't really do much better than a variety called "Hardy Chicago" aka "Chicago Hardy" aka 'Bensonhurst Purple". They are all the same fig. This variety has quickly become a taste standard and the flavor of other varieties are judged with this fig in mind. There are other rarer figs that rival this variety in flavor, but those can come later as you gain more experience growing figs, and, more importantly, keeping them alive over the years. I will guess your climate zone is 6-A/B. That's cold enough to kill off a fig tree that's not protected. This forum has tons of posted information on how to go about growing, and, over-Wintering a fig tree. Many growers from colder climates will store their containerized trees in unheated garages for protection. Of course, you can't do this with a tree planted in the ground. I urge you to read all the over-Wintering information that you can find. Growing a fig tree in the warm Summer is the easy part. Keeping them alive over the Winter is the trick. Do not be daunted by the learning curve. Fig trees are probably the easiest fruit-bearing trees that you can grow, and it bears figs on the current year's wood. You will have no problems growing figs, and soon you will be looking for more trees to add to your collection. If I may give some advice: Buy a tree that's near, or at, bearing age. You will pay more initially, but you will cut out at least two, or more years of waiting for a small, rooted twig, to become large enough to bear figs. Larger/older trees also are easier to over-Winter. Small recently rooted cuttings are tender, and need special care. Hope this helps. Ask questions, and the forum members will help you. You will be an expert in no time at all. Frank PS: Start with a "Chicago Hardy"...you can't go wrong with this variety for flavor and hardiness.

Hi Andrew, Oh no! Get ready for iris fever. I hope you have good luck with your reblooming collection from Spring Hill. I am a fanatic for reblooming irises, but I live in Southern California, where they do well. The irises you bought from Spring Hill may not have been grown in Ohio, since they are a large national nursery company. I suspect they will do well this year, since they have stored energy in the rhizome from last year, but you may have some trouble with them next year. We would love to hear reports from you on how they do. Here is my list of favorite rebloomers in my yard, but keep in mind, they usually only rebloom in the hot states: Total Recall Mariposa Autumn Frequent Flyer Alice Goodman Violet Reprise Feedback I buy my irises from companies that specialize in irises. Here's a link to Brighton Park Irises, which has a list of iris growers. You should take a look at their websites, but beware, you may empty your checking account. Oh yeah- I don't fertilize. Don't know about other people. Renee Here is a link that might be useful: Links to Iris Growers

Wow, thanks everyone for the warm welcome, great suggestions, and wonderful pictures. Brian, I had a similar experience with some honeysuckle left over from the folks we bought the house from. They had 2 separate wood piles that were unidentifiable and a dog kennel that was nearly as bad because they had let the honeysuckle go. I believe it was the Japanese honeysuckle Dawn referenced. I think the passionflower is a lovely, unique looking flower and may well be worth experimenting with in the right location, at worst I may feed some caterpillars, right? Lisa and Ilene, great pics. I have a couple clematis vines planted in different areas and they are not yet as established as yours are. I look forward to them filling out and blooming like the ones in the photos you both posted. Lisa, I am a little further south than the Westville area and everyone thinks it's too far out in the middle of nowhere. My Mom moved down with me, this is were she grew up, and she went to school with all our neighbors. We all tell one another, that we live just far enough away from each other for the peace and quiet (about 1/2 a mile), yet close enough if we need each other. I have loved it down here since I was young and visiting and I'm glad I was finally able to get settled here. Dawn, I have one crossvine and have wished since I had gotten more than one. It was kind of a late season save from the nursery and was a little sickly, so I didn't get many blooms, but it grew tremendously well. I know they bloom fairly early in the spring, are they one and done or do they continue to bloom off and on throughout the summer? I have to say I'm quite intrigued by the cypress vine. If I were to plant it or some of the other mentioned annuals in containers, how big of a container would be sufficient? I have a couple of areas were having something container grown would be excellent. I have this small windmill... and a small trellis at the birdbath.... This is one of the arbors I mentioned initially, I have one on each side of the driveway/carport. It is where some of my hummingbird feeders hang. I have bee balm planted in the bed underneath. For the replacement, I can't decide weather to build wooden arbors or go with a cattle panel arbor. Any pros or cons, suggestions? I also have this trellis out by the building [ pardon the sat dish, did you know when you need a new one they don't take the old one? I do, now : )]. I think I would like to have something here that would still provide some structure and maybe a little cover for the birds in winter. I have strongly considered one of the red honeysuckle varieties here. I do worry a little about powdery mildew, then I see pics like the one Ilene shared and I worry a little less. I have browsed pictures for most of the recommendations and it makes me want to find other places to fit vines into the yard. As for the cypress vine and the hyacinth bean, is it better to start seeds inside, or sow outside and let them go on their own? Thanks again, everyone.