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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD JULY 21, 2017
freerepublic | JULY 21, 2017 | greeenyes

Posted on 07/21/2017 9:08:26 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. 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: greeneyes

We didn’t care for the beet greens that I tried to make once. They sure were pretty though. But the beets themselves are my favorite vegetable that I grow.


21 posted on 07/22/2017 5:43:45 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: CottonBall

I love to water by hand. We don’t have an issue running low on well water but heavy hoses - I hate them. I tried the shrink up lightweight hoses and loved them but they don’t hold up well. Eventually they burst a leak. This year I tried the Zero hose. LOVE IT! We have a 100 foot length and when the water is turned on and it’s full I can drag it easily with one hand all the way down to the barn. It coils up easy too. It doesn’t shrink but does deflate a bit - not much. So lightweight that coiling it up is no problem. Have used it all summer with no issues. Just love it.


22 posted on 07/22/2017 5:53:13 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: MomwithHope

Is the zero mhose any better than that junk “as seen on tv” Pocket Hose? I had two of those that blew up like a balloon and POPPED!!!!


23 posted on 07/22/2017 6:20:48 AM PDT by Blue Highway
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To: greeneyes

Beautiful in Seattle. Dealing with wild, invasive blackberry and sweet pea.


24 posted on 07/22/2017 6:39:35 AM PDT by Melian (When you are ready to learn, a teacher will appear.)
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To: Blue Highway

It’s way better, I went through 3 of those pocket blue hoses. The zero hose is not cheap but worth it.


25 posted on 07/22/2017 6:48:44 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: greeneyes

Your beet chips sound wonderful! What a clever idea.


26 posted on 07/22/2017 6:56:21 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: greeneyes

I was wondering what people do with all the chicken feet I see here in the stores. When I first moved here I took pictures of them and sent them to people back in California. I figured it was a southern tradition but I didn’t know what they did with them :-). The packages always say “chicken paws”


27 posted on 07/22/2017 6:57:46 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: Chickensoup; redinIllinois

How do you freeze the basil?

I have been freezing the pesto, minus the oil. I chop up the garlic nuts parm and basil into a paste. And then freeze those in ice cube trays. I wrap each one in plastic wrap and put a bunch in a Ziploc bag. It is so easy to unthaw each one and then just add the EVOO, a little fresh Parm, and salt. I throw a little bit of pesto into a lot of different things now, like soup, risotta, Alfredo sauce, it just enhances the flavor without me having to go through a whole Lotta work.

But your way sounds great for a fresh pesto flavor.


28 posted on 07/22/2017 7:02:46 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: MomwithHope

Great idea, thanks for the hint. I assume you make a very thin layer so it is breakable?


29 posted on 07/22/2017 7:03:47 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: MomwithHope

I’ll have to look into the zero hose. I don’t know what it is. Can you attach two of them together? I have to use 2 hoses to get out to my orchard. And to the deer garden :-) we planted corn and another few types of vegetables so the deer would eat those instead of coming to our garden. Amazingly it worked!


30 posted on 07/22/2017 7:07:44 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: greeneyes

The basic mechanism, as I understand it, is there is a hormone “leptin” that tells your brain you’ve had enough to eat.

It is counteracted by insulin, and insulin is produced as a result of eating carbohydrates.

So, if you eat a lot of carbohydrates, you’ll stay hungry, and keep eating until you’re stuffed, but you’ll still be hungry.

That’s consistent with my own experience.

No carbs, no insulin, much less hunger.


31 posted on 07/22/2017 7:08:31 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: CottonBall

Yep, maybe a quarter inch. Especially good mixed with pasta and fresh tomato and some parmesan cheese on top, maybe a little cream if you have it and some garlic, makes a nice sauce. I put the fresh tomato in last.


32 posted on 07/22/2017 7:13:06 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: CottonBall

Yep - we have two 50 footers to make it down to the barn, and I am 65 not as much strength as I used to have and I can easily drag it down and back with one hand. They connected easy, just a tight twist no pliers needed to get it leak proof. I like to get nozzles with just a lever control and a dial for the kind of spray. They’re cheapies from Dollar Genera but I buy a few year when they go on sale. The metal nozzles tend to rust and clog up with the well water. I like just holding the hose and watering, no squeezing a nozzle.


33 posted on 07/22/2017 7:17:06 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: greeneyes

Tomatoes finally coming in, And boy are they coming in! Destor beefsteaks have broken three branches. Wife just re-roots them.


34 posted on 07/22/2017 8:43:00 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: greeneyes; All

We have had SO MUCH RAIN, it’s ridiculous! 9” by us these past two weeks! I’m fearing for my potatoes in the lower garden. The drainage down there isn’t all that good and potatoes do NOT like to be in wet soil. The ones I’ve dug so far have been superb, so I hope I don’t lose them. We’re to have a few dry days now, so that will help everything. I’ll check later, but I’ll guarantee the melons are loving all of this wet!

The kitchen garden is soaked, but things seem to be hanging in there; raised beds, good drainage. My Gladiolus are blooming - but so far no other colors than yellow. I guess I’ll take yellow, then! *SHRUG*

I have been waging WAR with Tomato Hornworm! Luckily, they’ve only found a yellow cherry tomato on the deck, but I am being vigilant about the rest of the garden. I’ve killed THREE of them so far, and there was one crawling across the living room floor last night. (#4 got flushed down the loo!) I cannot imagine how it got in the house! *SHUDDER* Gawd, they’re AWFUL and will STRIP your tomato plant of its leaves within hours. I should’ve taken pictures of the damage they did to the plant, but she’s recovering already, just two days later.

Please pray for those a bit south of us, those west of us and those way up north from us. A LOT of farming friends have lost crops this season due to so much rain and the flooding in our state is something we’ve not seen in decades. I mean, there are always areas that flood, but the flooding is VERY wide-spread this season. :(

Beau is optimistic. He said this morning, ‘The DROUGHT starts, TODAY!’ Goofball. :)


35 posted on 07/22/2017 8:51:59 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: All
Freshly dug potatoes from last week before all of the rain!
36 posted on 07/22/2017 8:55:30 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: All
Seneca asks: How high's the water, Mama? "It's three feet high and risin'! Well, the hives are gone and I've lost my bees, the chickens are sleepin' in the Willow trees, the Cow's in water up past her knees... three feet high and risin'!"
37 posted on 07/22/2017 8:57:46 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: All

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency in 17 western Wisconsin counties following days of torrential rains and flooding.

Walker issued the declaration Friday afternoon. His office said in a news release that between 6 and 8 inches of rain fell Wednesday night, causing flash floods and rivers to rise to major flood stage. More storms were expected Friday night.

The counties include Buffalo, Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Pepin, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Trempealeau, and Vernon.

*SNIP*

[Governor] Walker directed state agencies to assist people affected by the storms and called the Wisconsin National Guard to active duty as Adjutant General Donald Dunbar deems necessary to help with recovery efforts.

(Diana in Wisconsin is in Iowa County; good friends in Trempealeau County have lost 50+ acres of soybean this season...so far!)

http://www.kare11.com/weather/wis-gov-declares-state-of-emergency-in-17-counties/458640974


38 posted on 07/22/2017 9:06:07 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: All

And, sadly, this is REALLY messing things up for the kids who worked so hard to bring animals and such to our County Fairs! :(


39 posted on 07/22/2017 9:07:47 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: greeneyes

I cannot abide cooked greens as a side. If I can’t eat ‘em raw, I usually mix them into a casserole or stir-fry. I also dehydrate and store wild greens, because a lot of them are nutritional powerhouses. Stir-fry when they’re fresh, crumble them up into soup or casserole when they’re dry. (Besides, when they’re crumbled, my husband thinks they’re herbs and doesn’t gripe about extra vegetables. :D)


40 posted on 07/22/2017 9:12:50 AM PDT by MightyMama
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