Thanks Rodney, So for production sake, its best to let the tip keep growing and also all the suckers? So that there will be new spots/armpits for new cukes to grow?

How large is the double? I know that Spotted Fever is a vigorous grower here. I too find the color interesting, but how does it hold in the sun? I like to use drumstick allium as a background for butterfly weed; the purple/orange combination is indeed pleasing. This post was edited by mantis__oh on Thu, Jun 6, 13 at 16:29

"I never do pole beans tho, they don't freeze well." It sounds like you had a bad experience... but it might have just been an unfortunate choice of variety. There is a great deal of diversity in beans, and there are beans that freeze well - and freeze poorly - in both bush and pole habits. I have found the 'filet' beans (both bush and pole) to be some of the best for freezing. "Emerite" and "Fortex" are pole filet beans, and "Emerite" in particular is outstanding both canned and frozen. But back to the topic... Rotation is a good policy with almost all vegetables, since it reduces insect & disease pressure, and lessens the chance of a mineral deficiency. That being said, beans are more forgiving than most vegetables, if grown repeatedly in the same location. You might get quite a few good years that way; but if you have a serious disease issue, then it would be best to plant elsewhere for a year or two, provided that there is space to do so.

Sally, I had the opposite experience. Most of the ferns I planted, even the ostrich fern died. 100% of the hosta I planted lived, even the one I whacked because I mistook it for a weed. Even the ostrich fern lived in the same spot for 3 years before spreading. There may be some factors in my area that favors the hosta. May be hosta do better than fern in alkaline soil. May be hosta have lower water requirements than ferns. I notice the death usually come when there is high heat and little water. Both the fern and hosta take it in the chin, but the hosta seems to take it better. Paul