Weekly Garden Thread - September 14th-20th, 2019

September 14, 2019 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[Diana in Wisconsin]

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.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

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! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

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 to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Brilliant idea on the potatoes! Loved that!

I planted Red Norland and Kennebeck this season. I’ve dug a few hills so far, but they keep so well in my raised bed that I just dig them as I need them through the fall.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We should both be coming into some beautiful weather for the next few weeks. I get re-energized when the temps start to fall. :)

P.S. Yes, I have been busy! With Beau away at Bear Camp for weeks at a time, I tackle a lot of projects that don’t make a difference to him, but they do to me!

I’ve got a decent amount of apples coming on, too; pie & Apple Sauce, ahead!

I’ve been doing a lot of canning, too. Still more of that to do, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We seem to be at about the same place in the process. :)

[Sacajaweau]

Helped my daughter do 4 Earth Gardens on her patio. They did magnificent and she wants two more next year. $20 on sale at Lowes in the spring.

Her husband fixed up an irrigation system on a timer. That saved a lot of work and worry since they go on long summer trips.

They're pretty depressed that the tomatoes are done. Too funny...

[Sacajaweau]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/EMSCO-GROUP-20-in-W-x-24-in-L-x-10-in-H-Earth-Brown-Resin-Raised-Garden-Bed/3341626

[MomwithHope]

Thanks for the link - these do look good. I used to used super big pots to get the surface area big enough but these look so much easier. I looked through the specs but did not see how exactly does the self watering system work??

[Sacajaweau]

There are 1" tubes that stick up. You pour water into the tubes until it comes out an overflow at the bottom.

My daughter's hubby rigged up a hose with 4 outlets set into each of the 4 tubes and put it all on a timer....every two days for 2 minutes. Amazing.

The other nice thing is that you don't have to fertilize....dry fertilizer in a center trench. Works sooooo good.

My daughter should rent out her hubby. LOL

[Blurb2350]

Did anyone here have trouble getting their tomatoes to blossom and bear fruit this season? My few plants were healthy but unproductive, and I’ve heard others have had a similar problem. I’ve even heard it could be something to do with the sun’s current state — few sunspots, low light in the UV portion of the spectrum, etc.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tomatoes have just about given up for 2019.
We made a dozen jars of tomato bisque, 10 jars of pasta sauce and froze some chopped pieces for chili this winter. The vines realy performed !

We’re still harvesting various peppers. Paprika powder is sufficient to last into 2025. Ditto Reza powder. I don’t know what we’ll do with it all.

[MomwithHope]

That is clever! I think I’ll be looking at a couple of those come spring.

[Liz]

Just discovered a terrific kitchen tip. If you have your own food freeze-dryer, that's great. There's lots of web sites that sell freeze-dried foods in bulk.
I never used the product but I can see the possibilities...new flavor avenues to amp up dishes.....sweet and savory.

What a great idea----processing freeze-dried pineapple tidbits to a powder to infuse white chocolate truffle filling.

PINEAPPLE TRUFFLES Use 66% cocoa chocolate for the outer chocolate layer.

ING 1/2 oz freeze dried pineapple 2 oz white chocolate melting wafers oz h/cream 4 oz dark chocolate Pineapple-shaped Silicone Ice Cube/Candy Mold

METHOD Micro white chocolate and cream 20 - 25 seconds; stir until smooth. Add pineapple powder to ganache; mix/combine. Refrigerate 2 hours.Melt 1/2 dark chocolate in bain over simmering water. When almost completely melted, offheat, stir until completely melted and smooth. Add about a scant 1/2 tsp to each pineapple candy mold. Use the measuring spoon to push the melted chocolate around to cover all surfaces, nooks and crannies with a thin layer of chocolate. Let set 5 min in freezer.

Pipe the pineapple ganache mixture into the frozen chocolate shells in the mold, leaving enough space at the top for another layer of dark chocolate. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of melted dark chocolate over the ganache to cover it. Tap the mold on the counter to even out the new layer of chocolate. Let set in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes. Take the candy mold out of the freezer and remove the truffles. Melt the rest of the dark chocolate in a heat proof bowl over a simmering pot of water and repeat the process to form the rest of the truffles.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Tomatoes won’t set fruit if night time temperatures are too cool. What Zone are you in?

My BIL lives in San Diego, where it is sunny and 72 nearly every day of the year, but cool night time temps in the 50’s prevent him from growing tomatoes. His peppers do fine, though, especially hot ones.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for mentioning Tomato Bisque, Eric!

Tomato Bisque

Tomato Bisque is super silky smooth version of the classic tomato soup we all love with a finishing touch of heavy cream in less than an hour and no babysitting the pot!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
Calories 87 cal
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
2 stalks celery diced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 cloves garlic minced
4 cups chicken broth
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat and cook the onion, celery, salt, pepper, cayenne and basil for about 5-6 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
Add in the garlic and stir an additional 45 seconds before adding in the broth, tomatoes and sugar.

Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes before blending until perfectly smooth with an immersion blender.

Add in the heavy cream, mix well and serve using more heavy cream and parsley as garnishes.

https://dinnerthendessert.com/tomato-bisque/#wprm-recipe-container-36331

[georgiegirl]

Hello! I'm new to this thread. I am looking for advise on my California Lilac. I transplanted it a few years ago into a barrel (it was almost dead) and it actually came to life. After a year or two, it actually produced some flowers. It is a spindly thing, one slender "trunk" with leaves at the top. The strange thing about it, is that it has NOT ONE shoot at the base, not a one. Otherwise I would cut it way down. I'm afraid of killing it altogether by any pruning,

I thought of transplanting it this fall into the ground in a sunnier area, maybe that would give it some vigor. Any suggestions? Should I wait til spring?

[MomwithHope]

Hi there. I would look more at your soil condition. If it was in the ground and not doing well - no new shoots - your soil might be too heavy, maybe clay. Sunnier is good. If your soil is good I would plant this fall. Just my opinion. Lots of great gardeners here.

[MomwithHope]

Pardon the thread slide - was wondering if you knew of this crochet stitch. It had a nice smooth "no rows" look. I am doing a baby blanket right now. Learned about it from watching a very old lady making a blanket. She explained it, very easy. I had never heard of it before.

[Blurb2350]

I’m in Zone 8 or 8b. Our nighttime temps won’t be anywhere near 50 for several months.

[georgiegirl]

Thank you MomwithHope. The lilac is in a big barrel with potting soil, which I keep adding to as needed. So it is not in native soil. Have you ever heard of a lilac that doesn’t give out shoots? Maybe because it’s in a container, so that’s why I thought of putting it in the ground. I have a lot of lilacs, and have propagated a few very successfully. This particular one has sentimental value for me, so I’m trying to preserve and invigorate it.

[MomwithHope]

I should have asked what state you are in. I would think that anywhere a lilac would not want to be in a pot. For it to send out shoots it needs lots of room for new roots. It may be like many bushy shrubs, that what’s in the ground as far as root systems mirrors what’s up top.

[georgiegirl]

I'm in California. I think you are right about it being in a pot and needing to spread out. Here is a picture I just took of the poor thing: (It is held up by a branch I use as a stake)