Rick, Just a clarification. Since the thread was 3 months old when you resurrected it, I had forgotten the context of my previous comments when I typed in a quick response last night. After some more thought, I remember the context of the discussion with Greenhousekendra three months ago. On another thread, she had asked about a spray program for her 72 trees. I mentioned it would take more than a cursory spray program to protect her apples in this climate. In contradistinction to that advice, you indicated she could raise apples with a low/no spray program, as you were doing. My original comment in this thread about your orchard being relatively new while trying low/no spray approach, was not so much to do with stink bugs, rather with pest pressure in general. You mention that you had a first real harvest in 2004, with another harvest in 2005. In 2006 and 2007, drought and freezing weather destroyed your harvest, with the next two years (2008 & 2009) successful. When I originally wrote the post on this thread, you'd only had two years of sequential back to back harvests, which is probably not enough time to allow pest pressures to build. As you get more harvests under your belt, I would be very interested in how your pest control program is working for you. What you're using, how often, and % marketable fruit? If it's successful, I see it as an opportunity to reduce the number of sprays I do. As far as the stink bugs, in contradistinction of your recommendation, I do not recommend legumes as a cover crop. The experience of the peach orchard near you, mirrors my own. I suspect the bean fields around his place are where his stink bugs originate. In my case, I have clover I can't get rid of. Below is a picture of a peach I took this morning. There are other things cause catfacing like this, but in my case, stink bug is probably the culprit. Here is a picture, taken earlier this year, of my son next to a peach tree. Notice the blooming clover on the ground.

Alana you'll be surprised when you see how many seeds are in one pod! That's how you end up with all this lol. Hi Frank. I know I don't have the where-withall to sell anything on line. I work for an arboretum, so maybe when we have one of our plant sales I can try. Problem is - I want to see them all bloom first! Jodi thanks - but I've seen pics of your seedlings and they're NOT anemic lol. I agree on the pot size. I know if I could give each one room to grow they'd get bigger so much faster. If we only had greenhouses! Thanks Jan. They'll be happier once I can get them back outside : ) gmwill good luck with your seedlings and your AppleBlossom is a beaut. Cindee and primeribs I had to search this forum to know for sure. I found the first thread when they germinated. It was in April 07 http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/amaryllishippeastrum/msg0311565629026.html I updated again last year in February so they are two years old next month.

Babies are always cute, and these are no exceptions. Congratulations!

started mine last year early and they didn't start really growing till mid may and late may I put outside, and plants that survived 2 late frosts still did great. This year I start aboot the same time and almost all plants are doing really good, having to pot up now.... Hope I do this right as last year I lost 32+ plants... this year I have many more seeds that sprouted. And only one Naga has sprouted..... Oh well, one should be enough, and I shall work on a Purple Nagapeño!