Greetings Carolyn,
It could be because it is in the less traveled forum, most of us spend more time in "general" and elsewhere.
I found it by chance too. I must admit, I just read the entire thread only now, instead of replying mid-stream.
Banadoura, here's a couple more comments to add to the great feedback you've already got.
1) I don't fuss too much (= not at all) with helmet heads. They have to manage on their own = Survival of the fittest, I seed enough specimens and keep only the strongest 1/3.
2) Smart use of your girls space and belongings, I wonder if they had any say in the matter
A few years from now, you can show them the pics and thank them for their contribution ;-)
3) I have learned that strong light at all stages of growth is a major requirement for high performance. Every second counts, so start early and strong -natural/window light isn't nearly enough, especially at your latitude.
Update from my end: first meaningful harvest, around 20 pounds (~9 kilos) from ~10 varieties. But I also pulled out a few plants due to disease(s)
I know too early, but you gotta know when to cut your losses and focus on the healthy ones -maximize your ROI
