Last years...Sad ending....

Here is a link that might be useful: 2006 Garden Timeline

Wow that's pretty cool. I've been trying to think of the best ways I could track the progress of my plants. I might have to use your idea somehow.

I remember this from last year. Was lots of fun. You've got a good start already!

That so neat!!! I going to do that with mine next year. Diana55

So far...I think I'm ahead of schedule. Cactus may have been more appropriate this year though. Hope we don't get a watering ban...

Do you have rabbit problems too? I notice the fencing early on. I had a rabbit it most of one of my Basjoo's leaves and its half the size of its brother now. Really made me mad.

wonderfu show! How do you dispose of castor bean waste,isn't the whole plant poisonous?

franktank, the cages are mainly for winter protection. In the fall I add pine needles, as I get them, to mulch the corms/psuedostems. Eventually I had about 3' of needles. After a rough winter, they didn't offer much protection for the stems but the corms were great. I do keep the empty cages up for a while in the spring for rabbit protection. In fact I put some small cages around my EE's & castor beans too.
nucci60, I'm somewhat cautious with the castor beans but from what I read on various forums, some people are unnecessarily afraid of these plants. Yep, I know all the uses for these plants...I've grown a couple hundred big ones in the last 7 years and I think the hype is much ado about nothing - just don't eat or lick the plants...lol. Hmm, maybe it takes 8 years for symtoms to appear...I live in a rural area and cut & store the stalks over winter. I put the leaves in a seperate compost area. In the spring, I burn the now dried castor stalks - quite a few... This is probably the only time I'm careful. I stay upwind from the smoke for sure...Btw, I don't even feel the need to wear gloves when handleing them(I don't get poison ivy either though...).

Here is a link that might be useful: Banana pics