WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD JANUARY 1, 2016

freerepublic | Jan 1, 2016 | 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. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - 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.

[greeneyes]

HAPPY NEW YEAR Gardeners. Bright sun shine here today. Cold 45 degrees. All major roads/interstates are open again.

Half of my Rosemary plant is surviving, the other half is brown. The lemon tree needs a bath, and repotting - hoping to wait on transplant till spring.

Hope you are all doing well. Prayers up for everyone. Have a great weekend. God Bless.

[greeneyes]

Pinging the List.

[trisham]

Happy New Year! Our high here today was 35 degrees. I spent quite a while today hacking 1-3 inches of ice off our back deck and stairs with a metal shovel.

Our tomato plant is doing all right. Tomorrow I start the first of my seeds.

[MtnClimber]

It has been cold here in the Colorado Rockies. The daily high temperature has not been above freezing for about a week. Lows just above or below zero for about a week.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I watched the great Jimmy Stewart/Grace Kelly movie “Rear Window” from 1954 today.
Waiting for the Rose Bowl to see if my Hawkeyes are for real.

Will order seeds tomorrow.

Garlic is up and showing tiny tips.

[familyop]

Ancient Seeds Yield Once Extinct Squash
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3378723/posts

[familyop]

"It has been cold here in the Colorado Rockies. The daily high temperature has not been above freezing for about a week. Lows just above or below zero for about a week."

For those outside CO, the climate varies much from one location to another here--from hot desert to the coldest in our country. The following is about a temperature reading on the 17th.

Colorado Weather Station Hits -51 degrees, F, Ties One Of Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/12/21/colorado-weather-station-hits-51f-ties-one-of-coldest-temperatures-ever-recorded/

Scroll down that page for a small chart of historic lows.

...saw 26 below zero this morning, but that was only one reading of a thermometer. I'll eventually get a small station hooked up to a computer here for 24/7 readings (so much else to do first), because the weather companies and government offices don't publish forecasts or current temps from the nearest station (above). ...tourism and all that, you know.

Winter wind gusts can sometimes reach about 110 mph.

[greeneyes]

Hard to believe that another year has just passed by, and it’s almost time to start seeds. LOL

[greeneyes]

I would find it hard to live at such temps for as long as you do. My daughter in North Dakota/Montana has been dealing with frozen pipes this past week.

[Psalm 73]

Ahh, just dug up the rosemary and repotted it for inside - what a great smell!

Due to all of the very warm weather up here (Konnecticut), most of my garlic is sprouting - never had that happen before in December, so I don't know if the crop is ruined, or if it will just go back into hibernation - guess I'll find out in June.

Our chickens had their first dose of snow, (1/2-inch) and they did NOT like it. Funny, they can easily dig huge holes in the ground with their feet, but a little snow they treat like they're walking on glass....

[familyop]

I found that there’s no problem with potato beetles at this elevation, BTW. But the problem with tuberworms is horrible and nasty (moth larvae).

[greeneyes]

That reminds me, I need to check my garlic too.

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the link.

[greeneyes]

It is bad enough here in Missouri. Sometimes I think that I should become one of those who migrates to the South in winter. LOL

[trisham]

Last year was almost a disaster. If it hadn’t been for overwintering a jalapeño and ordering some tomato plants online, we wouldn’t have had any home grown vegetables at all. Oy. I don’t want that to happen again.

[greeneyes]

Pretty bad here too. My efforts were lousy due to lack of energy, the volunteers are what saved me. I had volunteer tomatoes and melons among several other things. LOL

[trisham]

I'm so pathetic.

[daisy12]

Can I be added to the list? I am a new gardener and I will be needing agricultural support :-)

[left that other site]

HAPPY NEW YEAR, GREENEYES!

[samiam1972]

Happy New Year!

I’m eager to start seeds this year. This will be my first year at the new house that I’m up for trying new things in the garden. I had a baby last April so that kind of put a damper on my desire to garden. We played around a bit but I actually want to plan and prepare and do the work myself. I want to get my hands dirty! I want tomatoes with lots of ripply ridges and wrinkles. I can’t wait to get started!!