WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 29 JULY 19, 2013

Free Republic | 7/19/2013 | greeneyes

[greeneyes]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.

[JRandomFreeper]

Love my Romas. I've probably use thousands of 50 lb boxes of them in commercial kitchens around the world. ;)

/johnny

[murrie]

Johnny-those are beautiful! Oriental lilies? Did not know they lived that long.

[JRandomFreeper]

I don't know what they are. They have been here since I was a baby, and come back every year in that spot. I have memories of being told not to eat them. ;)

I don't do ornamentals, except those that were on the property when I got it.

Dad bought this place from the estate of a little old lady who planted all the pretty flowers at least 70 years ago, according to the neighbors. MY memories don't go back that far.

/johnny

[murrie]

Well, that little old lady had good taste. Anything pink is just lovely. :)

[mlizzy]

We shall see.

Interesting! Looking forward to your future posts...

[mlizzy]

After many years of just growing heirloom tomatoes...

Your sunflower is awesome! Thanks for posting. I'm growing heirlooms this year (Brandywine) and they are doing very well. Posted a picture here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3045054/posts?page=35#35

While the "bushes" are almost six-feet tall, and have many fruits, none have yet changed color. Do you know if the fruits need to be exposed to at least some direct sunlight (to change)? Many of the fruits are completely (or almost completely) hidden under foilage.

[winodog]

I heard you can take a bag of steer manure, a 50 gallon barrel, fill it with water, put a lid on it and let it sit for a week or two and use it for my veggie garden.

I googled it and theres lots of answers. Anyone try it?

[JRandomFreeper]

I use manure tea sometimes. It has to be diluted quite a bit. I like to be able to see through a gallon jar of the diluted solution. Like weak tea.

/johnny

[Nepeta]

Well, yes it will, but not usually so uniform as the salt licks. And they certainly look like they have added something to the salt.

Many things are purified based upon the formation of crystals formed of like compounds. The crystals fall out of solution, yielding a concentrated substance. This is how granulated sugar is produced; about 100 such crystallizations are performed, leaving behind molasses.

The salt blocks for livestock or water softeners may not be as pure as granulated sugar (even a concentrated solution of sugar will have a slight yellow coloring). Compare the appearance of table salt/kosher salt/ salt blocks to salt used to melt snow and ice, which usually has a grimy appearance.

[ApplegateRanch]

Mom, Grandma, and SIL all swear/swore by ‘manure tea’. I’ve also used it with good results.

OTOH, none of us ever used sacked steer manure for it; it was alway field collected. Whenever Dad drove Grandma anywhere, there was always a shovel & sack in the trunk with her eagle eyes watching the roadside for cow pies.

[sockmonkey]

This what I mean when I say I can not, and never have been able to anywhere, grow a bell pepper.

Weird, me either. I had only one bell pepper this year, and something took a big bite out of it one night..Long peppers, no problem.

I am ready for it to be fall..Got a seed order today for toy choi (mini pak choi, wa wa tsau (mini chinese cabbage), some bright lights swiss chard, and some renegade spinach.

[ApplegateRanch]

Sorry to say, glad I’m not the only one can can only grow skinny peppers.

As for Toy Choi, I put seed out twice, and none came up. Both times, I used a mix of Toy Choi, cilantro, spinach, and radish; the rest came up, but the choi didn’t.

I still have seed left, and may try sprouting transplanting next month, when it can get some cooler fall weather.

[Marcella]

Nice veggies.

I've got big thunder now and dark sky. Rain should start any minute.

I also have a major toothache. Am taking Hydrocodone every four hours. Why does this happen on weekends? Dentist is no more than three blocks from me so will go there Monday to get script for antibiotic and make appt. for x-ray unless they will do it while I am there. Think they probably will.

I know it will be x-ray and antibiotics and come back in three days to deal with the tooth. I think I know which one it is, left lower first molar from the front, but that whole bottom jaw hurts so much, it could any one of those teeth. It feels like the whole lower side needs to go away.

So, I'm drinking Cappuccino and reading on FR.

MY JAW HURTS! Could I get some sympathy from the crowd?

[JRandomFreeper]

Awwww.

/johnny

[Nepeta]

MY JAW HURTS! Could I get some sympathy from the crowd?

After my dental adventures, anyone who goes through that kind of pain has my sympathies!

[Marcella]

“After my dental adventures, anyone who goes through that kind of pain has my sympathies!”

Thank you, that helps to have your sympathy. Hope you noticed the tiny “Awww” I got from Johnny. I would wish him a toothache but he doesn’t have any teeth. Right now, I’d give some away to stop this.

[tubebender]

Cow Pies aka Meadow Muffins...

[ApplegateRanch]

Nature’s frisbees.

[JRandomFreeper]

I actually do care, and I know what toothaches are like. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a smartass. ;)

/johnny

[ApplegateRanch]

I know the feeling.

But, seeing the dentist rarely helps.