I've got a bunch of fires to put out at the moment so I'll read the other as soon as I can. Not for lettuce Rio, if that's what you meant. Well, really we don't know, but by defaul;t the tobacco would be no until you can get us an analysis of what's in it from the seller. The assumption for a complete tobacco float fertilizer is that it has very weak micronutrients. Like "Peat Lite" from J R Peters. So this tobacco stuff is loaded with nitrogen which prevents us from using much Calcium Nitrate. Calcium deficiency would be a problem for you doing fast leafies on rainwater. If you want to assume this 20-10-20 tobacco stuff you found is a typical tobacco float formula, you can't avoid paying the piper. Sure it could be used, but then you'd need to work out the calcium issue for rainwater and maybe bump up the phosphate, which is low for tobacco floats. Even though P's not a big problem for leaves, we'd need to look at it and possibly a sack of MKP (so if you can't get that locally - back to where you started by mail), cheap epsom salt and a blend of micronutrients. You could mailorder the blend of micros from JRPeters also, and it is a great deal and small = cheap to ship if that's the issue. Then I'd say look at that product and add the amount that gives 2.5 ppm of iron, so that would determine the amount of the micro blend to use. It's all about your local vs. shipped economics. The tobacco formula would be a fine base if it was cheap enough and probably could work just fine with the adjustments mentioned. But we need to sharpen out pencils and be sure what your local guy is selling - analysis of it. Most cheap bulk hydro complete ferts use Fe EDTA. which is great at low pH. I really think the tobacco formula would too. For most this is fine, but in my personal case I like to drift my pH up to 7 for some things and for that I'm a big propmoter of Fe DTPA. No biggie just something I'm noting if you go that route.

Hi Lynn, I'm in Arden Hills, very near the Arden Hills, Shoreview, Roseville border. The tubers I saved last season all rotted. I kept them in my garage and I guess it was way too cold. My basement was too warm so I couldn't leave them down there. Where did you store yours?? I ended up ordering, I think, 23 tubers and 7 cuttings from several growers out west. Just received 8 today from Connell's plus they gave me 2 more free!!! What a surprise! I'm regretting that I ordered so many though because I'm not sure I have the time to make enough raised beds in the garden for them. I will try to improve the soil and nutrients this year though. Cory Wynn at Wynn's Dahlias said to try topsoil and 10-20-20(once during planting & side dress in mid summer). Tracy

That's a new one! I'll check into it :) Is there a reason to go Skip Laurel vs Prague Vibernum or vice versa? The major minus for the skip is that cost $40 a plant vs approx $10 for Green Giant or (the now ruled out) North Privet I'll be pricing Viburnum next :) Arbor Day tree finder also recommended purple Sand Leaf Cherry (prunus x cisterna) Any thoughts on that? I appreciate all the info-- I am trying to learn as much as I can before doing any work :)

Ok, this is the only loved ones visit I actually liked! I was so happy that they let all of them stay - and that they included the other island players as well. Cute at the end when Boston Rob thanked Jeff and they all group hugged him. I agree about the whispering at tribal - the first time it happened was odd - now it's almost expected and it's annoying. It's much more interesting if something comes up and people start to look panicky at trying to figure out what to do - without whispering to everyone else. Survivor needs to stop allowing that to happen.