Those are not branches that emerged on your 3' whip - those are the rachis or leaf petioles and yes, they will fall off this fall. In fact, this tree can generate quite a lot of litter as it matures. This tree is rather well known for being 'branchless' until it develops some age and size. You may even need to do a little pruning in its early years to stimulate branch development. At 3' - really little more than a seedling - I would not expect to see any branching for several years. And in Ken's defense, there is nothing wrong about asking questions but a great many of us, especially of the older generation before the days of the Internet and instant knowledge access, did learn most of what we know about gardening by trial and error. We planted something and hoped for the best. Odds are very good that's all that needed to be done, other than watering as nature required. Plants are a lot tougher and more durable, even in their infant stages, than most of us consider. A great many manage just fine with minimal human intervention ever. As Ken is fond of saying, these aren't kids - they don't need to be babied, or fed or coddled in cold weather. Stick 'em in the ground, water 'em and let 'em do their thing.

Run for the shovel, dig them up, and take them inside. Then carefully caress each one while telling them how beautiful they are and how you will protect them from that damaging cold. They are slow to respond..maybe like next July...but they will return your love. CrAzY LaRrY

There's a difference between summer loving vegetables and winter vegetables, and most of what you planted is better used once it warms up again, even if your part of southern California doesn't get much frost. I'd suggest you get yourself a copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book Encyclopaedia which is the "bible" for garden information in California. They will have plenty of information on planting seasons and species to plant when, and you can also determine exactly which Sunset zone you're in, as the USDA zone 9b is rather vague for people to really address your particular climate. (Or it would help to know what town you're in). For all those warm season plants, at least up north here in another USDA zone 9b/10a climate, none of those are really good planted much before mid March to mid April. The season down south is a bit earlier, but it depends on where you are. There are plenty of winter vegetables and flowers you can still plant now for enjoyment, and root crops, lettuces, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, artichokes, strawberries, carrots, onions, chives, etc are all good now. Flowers this time of year are usually more along the lines of pansies, violas, primroses, cyclamen, Iceland poppies, Cerinthe major, etc. If you'd really like to see some more interesting choices, go to the web site www.annniesannuals.com and look at her suggestions for winter blooming plants. There are literally tons of things for southern California.

Will they get big enough to give them a good head start for say tabasco like i noted about? Since tabasco are usually 120 i don't have much time to harvest. This really sucks cause i love to make hot sauce. Last year i got my plants from the chile pepper woman in late may time frame. Or here is another idea. I saw a contraption on TG's site that might help. Here is the description: Wall O' Water - #6265 (Set of 3 Wall O' Waters) $11.75 Get an early start on your planting, and harvest tomatoes 4 to 6 weeks sooner than your neighbors! You can plant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants up to 2 months earlier than normal without fear of freezing. Simply fill the chambers of the Wall O' Waters with water a week before planting. The water absorbs heat during the day, then releases it at night, forming a tepee-like miniature green house that protects plants down to 16 degrees F. You can go here to see it: http://www.tomatogrowers.com/supplies.htm What do you think? thanks, ncage