Thanks Pam, My veggie patch WAS quite large until the zuccinis started to get huge leaves on them. Will try compact ones next year. I have about four plants so they take up a lot of room, thinking of pulling two out. Also I have noticed the fruit on some of them are a bit misshapen (that the word?) Bulbous on the part attached to the plant and then they seem to become normal. They are sort of like magic down here, one day quite small and before you know it they are large enough to stuff. I usually grow one plant to get big ones 'cause my kids like to stuff them. Tomatoes are getting bigger each day. Eggplants not doing much. My snow peas have so many I am picking them and freezing them for casseroles etc. I have been feeding with liquid chook poo, I think that was one of your hints, do you think I could put straight dry poo with sugar cane mulch aroung them. It comes out of the girls house already as mulch but wondered if I should compost it first. Only so much of that liquid you can stand, especially with our weather, phew! I made two new strawberry pots up that I saw on Gardening australia with three tiered pots, seem to be doing well so far. Very good way of growing them as they don't take of so much room. Wish I had of seen it before I made my big garden. Lots of somethings coming up in that, look like what I thought were pumpkins that gre in my compost but the leaves are small compared to pumpkins, maybe cucumbers or wishful thinking, canteloupes!!!!! Sorry for rambling. Glad to get your input 'cause todat was the day I was gonna cut some leaves off. Maybe could try with one and see what happens. If I am going to pull one out, won't matter much! Let you know. Have a great day. Maureen