Jacob, what about your dirt? Do you rotate crops or plant things in the same spot year after year? Every fall, usually mid-October, I have folks over to make sauerkraut and press cider. The pulp from the apples, the summer's compost, as well as a generous load of manure, gets tilled into the garden. It gives the soil a boost, as well as turning in great suprises. I had a handful of gladiola turn up in the middle of the potato patch this year. So far as I know, I've never planted glads anywhere, but it made a nice bit of color in the garden!!

You might also look into companion plantings. My squash always seem to do better if I pair them by the corn. It works for the beans and peas too, gives them a place to climb. I had to confine the horseradish a few years back to one of those half-barrels, it was taking the place over, but now I do my tomatoes the same way. You have to water them a bit more often. And also companion planting them in those barrels, surrounded by basil, tends to keep the bugs off of them as well. And it makes it one-stop shopping for making sauce too!

Alice, thanks for the tip on the daffys. I'll have to try it. Did you try setting out beer for the snails? It's a thought.

Anybody have tips on growing lavender? Been having a helluva time getting it started....

~Elle