I just sowed the last of my cilantro seeds this past weekend, and they've already sprouted. The first batch was started in April and was fully grown (and eaten!) by mid-May. They grow fast and bolt in the heat, so I decided to do 2 batches with the hot months in-between. I've had success transplanting basil and rosemary from indoor starts. I'm in Zone 5/6, and started my tomato seedlings in mid April for late May transplant, and believe me, they were more than ready! For basil, started 6 weeks before planting out, and 10 weeks for the rosemary. I think I could've done 12 weeks for the rosemary, as it took longer for it to get established. Hope this bit of anecdotal info was useful!

No sand in the soil...topsoil and mulch in that area. So it would stick...it maybe actually 3yrs. Not sure actually...left one because ones always ask for seedlings. And I pull typically pull them out. This year...I plan on deadheading before seeds are sewn. Lol Ken...you have a real love for Rose of Sharon. Thanks for your knowledge much appreciated. ~Darlene

I have been using the Vigoro 10-10-10 at recommended strength which is 1/2 a cap to 2 gallons. I then water well with that. Of course I have always wondered then how much do you water them and I am probably under doing it. I have wanted to pick up some fish emulsion and maybe that would be a good compliment as it is supposedly harder to burn with the organics. For the next feeding however I will probably just bust out the high number granular that I mix into the can for the vegetable garden. I had not been using it as I am trying to keep many of my trees from going crazy (future bonsai) and just don't want to mix up several types of fert. Guess it's time to get over that. As for winter, I will likely have to mulch these heavy around there base and may be trying slat houses wrapped in plastic over them. In the past I bury my pots in the ground to help but if these aren't big enough to up-pot I can't really bury them. Last winter's plants that were mulched on the ground and covered with a glass lean-to came through with mixed reviews. If I have them a little more enclosed and it doesn't go so cold, they might do alright.

I don't see how that "dead" arguement works for peat not being organic. I use tons of stuff that is dead. Compost is made of dead crap. Leaves, grass clippings, banana peels, egg shells, coffee grinds, manure, potatoe skins. All these things are dead or dying but were created organically. My understanding of organic growing was no manufactured chemicals. It's not like some dude whipped up peat in a laboratory. Also it seems practically everything in my organic fertilizer used to be alive, but I kinda doubt it is now, cause it's ground up and dry in a plastic bag.