25 count runs are the norm for the minimums to order in chicks, but I noticed one 'chain' farm supply store orders them in on speculation...sets them up in a big galvanised water tank with lights and sells them by the each. Of course it 'just happens' to be around Easter, and I groan when I see that. What happens is they end up as holiday novelties to kids and when the roos get big (and they're always roos) people like me who raise chickens get a phone call from people who knows someone who has seen my egg sign and would I like some free chickens? I have taken in a few and have fed them for years with no return, just because I knew they'd have met an unkind fate if I hadn't. So, if you see a sales situation like this, get it in writing you are getting pullets. LOL. So if you've never had chickens before do you know if you order fertile eggs, you'll also need an incubator and brooding box and heat? And again.......if it's an egg it's just as likely to be a roo as a hen. And if you see ads for grown layers, they might be culls who don't lay or are past their laying years. Happens all the time here come fall and somebody who wants to start a laying flock bites. Your best bet is to find someone else who wants a small run of chicks and split an order with them. You might even want to enquire at the feed store or hatchery and let them know you are wanting to do this, and if it's a rural area like mine, they'll keep your number or hang a note on the bulletin boards so that other people who come in wanting only a few pullets can contact you and you can do this.

I drew it up on paper and then put it in photoshop. This is what I plan on doing next year. After I get this done, the following year I'll draw up something new. I want to make the entire backyard a garden. Key Features: 20 Thuja Green Giants (Already Purchased) Red mulch outlining darker bark mulch. The Double Pink Knockout Roses to the right will go across the entire back yard (200 feet). After crossing the bridge you'll come to a bench and if you keep walking the flagstone, you will enter trails that I plan to make. The way I have the roses across my backyard, the only way to enter the trails is over the bridge and across the flagstone. Flowers are for demonstration purposes in the below photos. I'll have a lot more different kints. What do you guys think?

I bought the triple super phosphate at the Sunnnnnnnniland store in Sanford, not far from Flea World. I bought a 40 lb. bag a couple years ago. It may be difficult to find now like gatormom said. As for the 8-10-10, I prefer the Sunnnnnnniland or Lessssssco brands. It is best to stick with brand names because it is not uncommon for generic and store brand fertilizers to burn the plants. I frequently listen to Tampa's am 970 WFLA "Florida Gardening" radio program on Sundays mornings on my computer. The gardening guys say that 6-6-6 is one step away from kitty litter and I firmly believe that too. That's why I feel that the 8-10-10 is the better way to go. It works for me as long as I put it down when I'm supposed to. That is my most used formula. The other 2 formulas that I use are Sunnnnnnniland acid/iron 16-4-8 on lawns and on any grassy type plants (ex. bamboo). This acid/iron will green up a lawn like nothing else--really. My other preferred fertilizer is 2-10-10, also from Sunnnnnnniland. That one is great for low nitrogen plants such as tomatoes. I frequently do use the powdered bloom booster fertilizers Tony mentioned on quick growing (and fruiting) plants such as papayas. Tony, can you keep us posted on the Trisodium phosphate? If the government keeps taking phosphate out of the fertilizers we may have to get inventive. I need my fruits and flowers to keep blooming. Chrisitne

Marion is my grow every year tomato. I know it will produce well if nothing else does! My Dad started growing them when they were released in 1960. He grew them every year of his life, until he couldn't garden any more. But I still planted and harvested them for him in the last 3 years of his life, he died in August 2010 at 88 years old! They produce 6 to 8 ounce fruit, not big, so it's a two or three slicer on a sandwich. Kind of acidic, which I like. They taste great to me fresh, frozen, and canned. They are excellent in homemade veggie soup and sauces. I have never had many problems with disease, a few cases of BER but not very often, Zero BER this year. I have had BER on everything but Marion some years. From Bonnie's website: "Marion tomato was developed in the South and released in 1960 to meet the challenges that heat and humidity that create, plant diseases and cracked fruit." Here is a link that might be useful: Bonnie