Great info. Thanks Sue.

I really would like to avoid growing only one crop, so I can avoid the consequences that could happen should I ever need to rely on it, only to have it fail. Besides, cooking and/or eating the same thing every day is boring (except maybe for breakfast, for which I find it efficient).

I continue to try to learn, and the info on hubbard, butternut and zucchini is awesome. DW and I tend to eat a lot of squash, and I'd like to grow a few different ones, do not want to depend on only type and would liek to avoid some monotony.

The taping and pollinating of flowers is something I'll try.

I don't think I will find many neighbors that have vegetable patches, at least not many within a mile. Very few of my neighbors have any inclination to do anything on their property that invovles them performing physical labors. Instead, most of them call someone anytime they think something might need to get done. Still, there may be a few.

One type of plant I think I will be adding, in a container, in the sun or jerusalem artichoke. Seems like an easy addition, so long as it does not become invasive.

Plant Porn. Thanks Sue.

"Plant porn"

OMG! I didn't think of that! And we have kids reading here! Do you think those photos would be R- or X-rated? Probably X...

I'm SOOO embarrassed!

Sue

I am going to grow some Jerusalem artichokes this year, also. I have a slightly leaking cheap rigid plastic wading pool, and I will be growing them in there. They don't like rich soil, so my regular soil will probably be fine... once I remove the rocks.

Sue

I had a recollection of something I once learned for a litigation matter, that may be able to be used to help with marking hand pollinated flowers.

Most of the large banana producers use a system of marking buds. If a bud first appears during a given week, it receives a band or ribbon in a given color. Each bud banded during that week gets the same color. Buds need to be picked during a certain range of weeks, in order to make sure that they will not become overripe during transport to their markets. Each area has a different range, and the range can change with the seasons, but without the process, the bananas all end up becoming yellow too fast.

If a banana reachs a climacteric phase, there is no stopping it from ripening and it is also going to release a bunch of ehtylene gas which will trigger the start of the climacteric phase on all of the neighboring bananas. One climacteric banana can spoil the whole bunch.

Why not use a ribbon or band to mark any plant or fruit or whatever that you think needs marking in your garden?

Whatever you use, make sure it won't fade to nothing by the time you need to refer to it. And don't apply it so tightly that it will restrict stem growth or water movement.

If you have family or friends harvesting an occasional veg or fruit, make sure they understand what the markings are.

Sue

Maybe XX or XY?

Sunchokes thrive on total neglect. Water, or don't. Fertilize, or don't. Sandy soil makes it easier to dig them up. Good idea with the wading pool - they certainly spread from year to year.

You can also use the hand pollination method you described if your zucchini are not getting adequate pollination from insects. My zucchini did well last year despite white mold growing on the leaves. I did some research and wrote a little article about what to do about it here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4819729_dusty-mold-zucchini-squash-leaves.html

I had heard about that, but have never had the problem.

Sue