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Weekly Garden Thread Volume 24 June 20, 2014
Free Republic | June 20, 2014 | greeneyes

Posted on 06/20/2014 12:30:26 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobbies
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To: who knows what evil?

Delays are fine for whatever reason. Sometimes I get so busy, I just don’t even turn on the computer, but if I could, I’d never get off the dang thing.LOL


221 posted on 07/04/2014 9:34:18 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: KGeorge

Good plan on the seeds. I like to do that too.


222 posted on 07/04/2014 9:34:57 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

I need some help with my garden.

It’s been doing beautifully. I have peas and beans climbing up a fence I plant them against. I’ve never had any trouble with animals bothering them. Until this summer.

I’ve seen a rabbit around (which I think is the culprit) and I know we have woodchucks.

I noticed that some of my peas first, and now the beans, have been dying. They both just started producing wonderfully and all of a sudden the leaves are wilting.

On further investigation, I noticed that the first 8 inches of the stems of the plants at ground level are missing. Some @*($&@ animals is eating the base of the stems up as high as it can reach.

Shooting them is out of the question here in town. We have a Have a heart trap for the squirrels that we are trying to eliminate. Our neighbor has caught 3 woodchucks so far but I know there’s more.

What’s the best way to 1) animal proof the garden, and 2) bait the traps to get rid of the vermin?


223 posted on 07/23/2014 5:57:46 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: goodwithagun
It’s an all out war here: Me vs. bunnies. I’m using tactics unapproved by the Geneva Convention. I lure them into the Hav-A-Heart trap, and then take them away from neighbors’ prying eyes and dispatch them with my air rifle.

What do you use for bait? And at what point on the rabbits body do you administer the aforementioned treatment.

FReepmail me if you wish.

Cause I don't have any problems dispatching the rabbits, if you get my drift.

224 posted on 07/23/2014 5:59:51 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: bgill

What I found helps tremendously with weed control is landscape fabric.

Sam’s club sells it pretty cheap.

I cut it into strips as wide as the distance I want the rows to be apart and lay it down as I’m planting. That way the landscape fabric is almost touching the plants, leaving just a narrow strip that would allow weeds to grow and it makes my rows nice and straight.

When I put my tomato cages in, I puncture through the landscape fabric to do double duty and hold it down.

Then I spread a thin layer of straw over the top.

I get several years out of the landscape fabric when it’s covered.

It cuts out 90% of my veggie garden weeding.


225 posted on 07/23/2014 6:06:05 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: mom3boys

I can my own sauce from my own sauce tomatoes.

I don’t do anything but make the tomato sauce. I add any spices etc after I open the jars and go to use it. I was never sure if the spices being added would require pressure canning, so I just do it plain.

One thing I do to save jars, is to drain off as much of the liquid from the tomato juice as possible. That way, you’re not canning any more water than need be. Just don’t take too much out or you may find yourself having to add some when you go to use it.

Also, they warn you to never do this when canning, but that’s a sure fire way to get me to try something.

I put my clean, dry canning jars in the over set at 200 and NO HIGHER. It gets the jars to about the temperature of the hot sauce and i have yet to have one break on me doing that. I can see where it could be dangerous, but it works exceedingly well for me.

Not that I’m telling you to do it. Just sayin......


226 posted on 07/23/2014 6:11:42 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Red_Devil 232; mom3boys

I use Heinz variety plum tomatoes that I buy from Territorial Seed Co and the plants ALWAYS produce phenomenally well.

I tried another variety this year as well, just to compare, and they aren’t doing spit.


227 posted on 07/23/2014 6:14:02 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Marcella

Have you ever tried blueberry jam?

It’s out of this world.

I have a recipe if you’d like.


228 posted on 07/23/2014 6:15:00 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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