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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD APRIL 7 ON APRIL 8, 2017
freerepublic | 4/8/2017 | greeenyes

Posted on 04/08/2017 12:16:55 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. 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.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: SaveFerris; All

Re: Our Jiffy Plug conversation of the other day.

Today I was scruffin’ around in my seed starting stuff and discovered (to my delight!) that exactly 11 of the #36 Jilly Plug Refill Pellets fit into a 16oz. plastic mushroom container. For some reason I had been keeping them since Christmastime when I made two crock pots full of marinated mushrooms for a party.

Anyhow, I’m going to start three different lettuces (11 of each) in those, so I can do some fancy-schmantzy placing of colors and textures to make my Salad Greens bed look all purdy.

Lettuce needs light to germinate, so no need for a humidity dome, just make sure the cells never dry out while germinating. I am doing these in some empty space I have in my grow light rack right now. Germination will be quick and won’t disrupt anything else coming up behind on the schedule.

Being CHEAP really has it’s advantages from time to time! :)


101 posted on 04/09/2017 11:51:12 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Cool! I got some other brand today (someone bought it) so I’m going to plant the Early Girl seeds and some Orange Pepper seeds for sprouting.

My Roma tomatoes have a few sprouts started today so I’ve put stuff outside for a few days of Sun.


102 posted on 04/09/2017 11:58:08 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
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To: All
A little, 'Lettuce Porn' for all to enjoy. This is from my old farm garden, a few years ago.
103 posted on 04/09/2017 12:05:45 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: SaveFerris

I just have a small flat of lettuces hardening off; everyone else is still a baby, LOL! I usually don’t put in tomatoes or peppers until the 20th of May. We can still have late frosts and I’m NOT going to run out to the garden in my curlers and bunny slippers to cover them up every night!

I’m going to check the rain forecast and soak Sweet Pea (flowers) and sugar pea pod seeds for planting, accordingly.

It’s a beautiful day here again, today. 70’s, breezy. Makes ya feel glad to be alive. :)


104 posted on 04/09/2017 12:11:03 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Nice pictures of your raised beds. You have been busy. I was pretty much out of commission last year with a knee replacement so I am eager to get started. Here in west Michigan we had snow just 3 days ago, nice yesterday and today near 70 yesterday and today. I always start my romaine in a big planter pot and transplant it later, and I always do it the week before Easter. Did it today and I have a big plexiglass square I cover the pot with. I did lettuce in the center square and some radish seeds around that and green onions at the edge of the pot all the way around. I am anxious for radishes! Will probably till the garden tomorrow, I has been dry for 2 days. We till 3x that works best to keep the weeds down. Also hanging our hummingbird feeder tomorrow. Migration maps say they have just made it inside Michigan. Tomorrow also I hope to get some tomato plants from seeds, varieties I can’t find plants for. Plenty to do that’s for sure. Happy gardening everyone!


105 posted on 04/09/2017 2:06:58 PM PDT by MomwithHope (The pendulum is swinging our way!..)
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To: greeneyes

Everything is looking good in California, thanks to that heavy rain a couple of weeks ago. We can probably only enjoy the lush green for a month and then things will look brown and thirsty again.


106 posted on 04/09/2017 6:10:02 PM PDT by Melian (America, bless God. God, bless America.)
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To: Melian
Did you say rain in California ??? We are 24" OVER normal up here on the true north coast and this is over us at this moment...Screen Shot 2017-04-09 at 7.21.47 PM
107 posted on 04/09/2017 7:27:45 PM PDT by tubebender
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To: tubebender

Looks like FR needs a adjustment to the HTML codes...


108 posted on 04/09/2017 7:29:13 PM PDT by tubebender
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To: MightyMama

Yep. Momma used to just toss her compost on the garden. We
may have to start doing that eventually. (If it were my
total responsibility, it would be done that way out of
necessity.) I do smash up my eggshells; those tend to be
slow breaking down otherwise. For now, Fang still does most
stuff the hard way. I did get him to quit cutting the sides
of the driveway (an eighth of a mile long); and really the
wildflowers & grasses that grow there are kind of pretty.
Fang is relieved of that chore.


109 posted on 04/09/2017 7:47:50 PM PDT by Twinkie ( MSM and DEMOCRAT PARTY are DEAD)
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To: Mears

Fresh asparagus coated with water, a pinch of salt and popped between the teeth is Delish. No need to cook. Love it.


110 posted on 04/10/2017 7:13:56 AM PDT by tillacum (I'm still a Deplorable.)
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To: greeneyes

It was a nice warm weekend in Central Missouri. Two days of sun and wind have made things crunchy in spite of all the recent rain. I did 7.5 miles in the river bottoms yesterday and found one scrawny morel. None of the folks I bumped into had much. Need some rain soon.

I cut all of the grass on Saturday and did some cleanup around the market garden. It is ready to go. Will just need one pass with the tiller when planting time arrives.

The early green stuff in the kitchen garden is coming along. Sometime this week I need to seed another bed of carrots and a bit of green salad.


111 posted on 04/10/2017 7:18:51 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Alas Babylon!

OOOHHH that looks so great.


112 posted on 04/10/2017 7:19:11 AM PDT by tillacum (I'm still a Deplorable.)
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To: Twinkie

I do raised-bed gardening and am working on two more beds, one of which I used as a compost pile last year and one that I’m planning to do the same this year. My long-range plan/hope is to let one bed per year lie fallow and put my compost in it during that year. And I have to smash my eggshells or Small Obnoxious Dog will eat them. (SOD actually weighs 80 pounds, but Large Dumb Dog clocks in at 120 and so he is Small by comparison.)


113 posted on 04/10/2017 7:22:45 AM PDT by MightyMama
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To: tubebender

Wow!
A lot less than that makes it down to SoCal.


114 posted on 04/10/2017 6:05:49 PM PDT by Melian (America, bless God. God, bless America.)
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To: Original Lurker

That sounds absolutely yummy! Although I do like pinto better than butter beans. Beans and all the rest makes up my favorite meal.


115 posted on 04/10/2017 9:00:58 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: Patriot Babe

Well, you can use pots, or the ground, or raised beds. I use raised beds for green onions and beets. If I use pots, I use potting mix from Walmart cause it’s cheap.

The raised beds I used Mel’s mix which is an equal mix of peat moss, compost, and vermiculite. However just getting a bag of potting soil and/or potting mix works and is cheaper.

I plant beets 16/sq. foot. Onions - just follow the directions on the package. I just plant them outdoors directly into the ground.


116 posted on 04/10/2017 9:05:11 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: MomwithHope

I don’t know, but probably - these days there all sorts of types of stuff that never used to exist. LOL


117 posted on 04/10/2017 9:06:17 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Thanks for the pics. Nice looking beds. Looking all good for the upcoming season.


118 posted on 04/10/2017 9:08:09 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: EinNYC

I have no experience with those blocks. I’m still working on taxes, and just making it a point to take a walk to get some sunshine. Hubby has all the leftover taters from last year’s harvest planted and has room left for more.


119 posted on 04/10/2017 9:10:09 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: CottonBall

LOL. Excellent.


120 posted on 04/10/2017 9:11:37 PM PDT by greeneyes
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