rusty i don't think it was luck, but well maintained equipment. Now if you would of won the Lottery I'd yea you were lucky. For me I go ahead and prime them, I don't like grinding on the starter. Course my priming not your normal priming cause I am the oil changing and priming nerd! when I prime any of my equipment I remove the spark plug or plugs, squirt some carb. cleaner down the spark plug hole spin (motor) the engine over. install the spark plug after squirt of carb cleaner, wire brushing, and gap check. Squirt down the carb. and Bang second or third rotation if fires off. I especially don't like pulling on something more than three times cause I'm little weakling or lazy what ever makes em feel better?

Bob, why would you put an evergeen citrus in a dark garage? Citrus grow all year 'round, they are not like deciduous stone fruits. Citrus do not have a dormant phase. They need lots of light all year 'round. You've just shocked it due to the widely fluctuating light levels. Leave it outside for now. Give it adequate water and be sure to fertilize regularly. Most container folks will use Dyna Gro Foliage Pro 1/2 strength with every watering. Not sure why you pruned it??!! Only prune away dead wood, citrus, again, are not like stone fruits, they really don't need any pruning. Despite everything wrong you've done (and I've been there, Bob, we all start at the beginning with citrus), you've selected a very vigorous cultivar which is forgiving you for your faux pas, lol! And might I say, one of the most delicious citrus out there. Best ever juice from the Page of any citrus I have, just outstanding. In the Fall, move it into your home slowly, keeping it outside as much as possible, bringing it in when temps threaten to drop below 34 degrees. Once inside, as much natural light as possible, supplemented with appropriate grow spectrum if needed. Continue to fertilize. And in spring, slowly acclimate it to the outside to prevent shock. Patty S.

I am still experimenting with fall plantings. Last year parsnips planted the end of June did well and were harvested in Dec & Jan, but I got to them too late this year, I don't think they are going to germinate. I did get a batch of Brussels sprouts, broccoli & cauliflower started in June & set out in July, they are doing very well and should be ready to harvest when the weather cools down in Sept & Oct. I also started some more in July to winter over, last year the July planted Cauiliflower was ready in Jan. I also grow the purple sprouting broccoli. Planted in July it bears beginning in March most years and lasts into May, depending on how fast the heat comes on. I also plant beets, carrots and turnips in June, July, Aug for fall and winter eating. Planting carrots & beets too late in the fall tho, they don't size up & bolt straight to seed as soon as things warm up. I'ts too early yet to start onions, garlic, oriental greens, lettuce et. So I plant those later, Aug & Sept. Also peas, Last year i started Sugar Snap peas, in soil blocks, about 3 or4 seeds in each block, in Early Sept. then planted out Oct 1. The peas were blooming March 1st and did well until the temps went over 80. This year I"m going to start them earlier, as I now have a hoop house & see if I can have peas earlier. Here is a link that might be useful: my garden pages

Even if it doesn't finish by winter, it will certainly have a big head start and will finish in the spring. You might consider starting it immediately, and just before things freeze up - maybe Thanksgiving? - empty it out into a ground pile and free up your tumbler to put kitchen waste in all winter. Save some leaves to layer with the kitchen scraps. It doesn't matter if it freezes into a giant popsicle. Microbial activity occurs whenever it's not frozen solid (albeit slowly) so it will have a head start in spring. Also the freezing/thawing can help break down the materials so they are ready for the microbes.