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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 2 JANUARY 9, 2015
freerepublic | Jan 9, 2015 | greeneyes

Posted on 01/09/2015 12:27:25 PM PST 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; hobby
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Greetings from the freezing but sunny state of Missouri. If hubby had planted winter wheat or winter rye it would look like spring out the patio door, but he just never got around to it.

I can't see my winter stuff unless I go outdoors, which I try to avoid unless it's above 45 degrees. I harvested the lemons last week and gave one to each of the adult children/grandchildren while they were here.

We still have a daughter in N. Dakota and a great grand daughter who will be coming in January sometime for XMAS. Have settled in to reading the seed catalogs and continuing the early spring cleaning and organizing.

Finished the Gardens Alive Catalog which has a nice section of pictures of plants with diseases that is a handy reference. Now going through the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange which has a nice section of advice for growing each group of veggies prior to the individual listings.

Hope every one is doing well, staying warm, and enjoying the start of a New Year. Have a great weekend. God Bless.

1 posted on 01/09/2015 12:27:25 PM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes; Diana in Wisconsin; gardengirl; girlangler; SunkenCiv; HungarianGypsy; Gabz; ...

Pinging the list.


2 posted on 01/09/2015 12:30:15 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes; All

Greetings greeneyes!
I am a native of Colorado, but my wife and I moved to lower Alabama (Daphne, right across the bay from Mobile); I plan to plant a house garden this spring and would like to get ideas/information on the best crops to grow for my area; I have a fairly large, probably 16x20 plot, so I have some room for crops that don’t take up too much room (like melons, corn, etc.); any suggestions you or any other green thumbers might have would be greatly appreciated!


3 posted on 01/09/2015 12:31:19 PM PST by notdownwidems (Washington DC has become the enemy of free people everywhere)
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To: greeneyes
We opened the last paper sack of green tomatoes we had stashed in the garage. All were picked green in late October or early November prior to frost. They're red now and they'll go into a batch of chili tomorrow.

Wife is down with a deep chest cold and horse cough. We had planned to escape to Florida for a few days but she can't go near an airplane until this cold clears up. Flying is no longer the treat it once was. Lots of garden seed magazines and catalogs received. I have jalapeno seeds but nothing else. Plan to start everything around the first or second week of February.

4 posted on 01/09/2015 12:34:57 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: greeneyes

Only thing growing around here in the frozen tundra is a nice bowl of alfalfa sprouts on my kitchen windowsill. I always have some going, 1/4 cup of seeds is enough for each batch. Having a nice salad for dinner and cracking open a pint of chopped stewed garden tomatoes to top it off with. Also baking the last acorn squash with some apple, cinnamon, walnuts and brown sugar.


5 posted on 01/09/2015 12:42:35 PM PST by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Article 5 convention.)
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To: greeneyes

I’ve had enough winter for one year.

Still no progress on the potting shed.

Got at least half a dozen new seed catalogs in the mail since last week.

I’m starting to kick around the idea of building a greenhouse. I don’t really need another project, but if I had a greenhouse it would give me something to do during crappy weather besides sit on the couch and look at the teevee.


6 posted on 01/09/2015 12:48:01 PM PST by Augie
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To: greeneyes

I’m about to make a cup of coffee and curl up with the Baker Creek catalogue and a red marker!


7 posted on 01/09/2015 12:49:32 PM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: notdownwidems
More important is what you like to eat. No sense in growing something you don't like to eat. In that area you can grow just about anything you want. Having lived in Florida for nearly 20 years and now in South Carolina I find that things like tomatoes like some sort of shade cloth. I use a 60% shade here. My shaded area is 16x20 coincidentally. I have two rows of 5 plants 1 ft apart then a 3 foot space and then 2 more rows of 5 1ft apart, then 3 foot space and a row of 7 bell peppers, then a 1ft wide row of carrots. That leaves about 12 feet of room for onion, garlic, lettuce, spinach or other greens.
8 posted on 01/09/2015 12:54:23 PM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: greeneyes

Lows in the teens, highs in the twenties. The ground is frozen and the garden is bare.

I can’t wait for spring ... good therapy for when life is tough (we have several seriously ill family members right now ... when it rains, it pours sort of thing) is to go dig in the garden and watch things grow.


9 posted on 01/09/2015 12:56:23 PM PST by Qiviut ( One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns)
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To: Augie

Speaking of seed catalogs, I was looking at the new Parks Seeds catalog, and they have something called pineberries, which look like white strawberries with red seeds.

Anyone have any experience with these? Recommend or not?


10 posted on 01/09/2015 1:01:45 PM PST by SpinnerWebb (IN-SAPORIBVS-SICVT-PVLLVM)
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To: notdownwidems
so I have some room for crops that don’t take up too much room (like melons, corn, etc.);

My newest Burpee catalogue has a hybrid container corn which allegedly grows up to 9 stalks with 1 or 2 ears in a 24" container. I may try them in a limited space outside the containers to see what I get.

11 posted on 01/09/2015 1:09:08 PM PST by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: notdownwidems

I would advise that you check out Alabama University Extension Service and the Extensions Services of contiguous states for the best info on local experiences.

http://www.aces.edu/main/

Melons require quite a bit of room to grow, unless you go vertical and tie the vines up. Corn also takes quite a bit of room to grow, unless you are planting a dwarf variety or deck corn.

I think the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange catalog has good advice on planting environments, and should have varieties that would be good for your area too. Go to the link below to order the catalog which has a gardening guide in it.

http://www.southernexposure.com/

That should get you started.


12 posted on 01/09/2015 1:10:19 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

So far, I have avoided the flu and colds. I take a little extra Vit D3 and Vit C during the winter, and limit my trips to Walmart and the Dr. if possible.

Frequent handwashing and avoid touching eyes and face.

Never got around to taking a flu shot. Strain A is what is going around and wasn’t in the shot anyway.

Hope your wife feels better soon.


13 posted on 01/09/2015 1:16:36 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Augie

You might even be able to incorporate your potting shed into it somehow. I’d have a green house, if I had the money. I’d put it right where I could step through the patio doors and right into the green house.LOL


14 posted on 01/09/2015 1:18:38 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: goodwithagun

That’s dangerous. I want everything I see in those pictures.LOL


15 posted on 01/09/2015 1:19:24 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Qiviut

Sorry to hear about the illnesses. Prayers up for all. I am going to plant some seeds suitable for containers this next week. If they sprout, I’ll put them in medium size pots till Spring.


16 posted on 01/09/2015 1:23:01 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

I am no kind of gardener, but I love this thread each week. I can say that one of my African violets has been blooming profusely for a couple weeks now, and I have not killed any houseplants in many months.


17 posted on 01/09/2015 1:26:03 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: greeneyes

The seed catalogs are coming thick and fast and making my eyes light up. I live on a farm and I’m very good at raising livestock, but plants, not so much. I’ve seen pre-planned gardens offered for sale - does anyone have success with these? I live in Maryland and I’m looking for something deer-resistant and relatively low-care that is already planned out for me. Does anyone have a source that they can recommend?

Thanks in advance!


18 posted on 01/09/2015 1:31:34 PM PST by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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To: greeneyes

Thanks for the prayers. We have a great south-facing window that would be good for sprouting seeds. Right now, it’s been commandeered by somebody else, but I’m working on a plan to evict them & take it over when it’s time to do some sprouting.

For Christmas, I gave away some Hyacinth Bean Vine seeds from our vines so there are some excited people hoping they’ll sprout. While looking for a commercial source for seeds, I found this place ... free USA shipping with a $6.00 order! She is very concerned with having happy customers ... will definitely try ordering some things from her (she does plants as well as seeds):

Onalee’s Seeds LLC
http://www.onalee.com/catalog.php/onaleeisrael/pg14253


19 posted on 01/09/2015 1:33:21 PM PST by Qiviut ( One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns)
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To: Starstruck

I grew some of that last year. Had some success but the ears didn’t get too big


20 posted on 01/09/2015 1:35:48 PM PST by KosmicKitty (Liberals claim to want to hear other views, but then are shocked to discover there are other views)
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