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Weekly Garden Thread - February 3-9, 2024 [Can Animals Predict the Weather? Edition]
February 4, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 02/03/2024 6:04:04 AM PST by 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 a non-political respite. 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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: animals; food; gardening; weather
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To: Qiviut

I hear THAT on the mailbox situation! I got so tired of replacing mine that I just got a PO Box in town - but bought a new mailbox for the new owners, depending upon how they wanted to deal with it after I told them the sad tale of losing a mailbox nearly every winter to the snowplow.

More progress for you! :)


61 posted on 02/05/2024 6:05:40 AM PST 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

It looks like the mailbox at the new place has also been hit - sort of dented up & flag is bent. I think the post is ok, but I haven’t taken a close look because the box is across the road with hardly any place to stand due to a fairly significant ditch. They do have mailboxes that ‘swing’ to the side when hit by a snowplow & the road does get plowed since it runs right into town & is heavily traveled. I would think a plow hit would have knocked it totally down. Status: to be determined!

Mom is worried that the mailbox we moved yesterday will be missed by the carrier who will arrive at the former location to find no mailbox & wonder what is going on! I have a huge orange cone that I will put on the old spot with a note so if the carrier is not paying attention & misses the box, they can just back up across the driveway. We are having big problems with the mail here - doesn’t come at all some days, comes well after dark quite often. At the new house, the carrier is pretty regular: 8:50 - 9 am .... I see her while having coffee and watching the cows/calves across the road :-)


62 posted on 02/05/2024 6:23:02 AM PST by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Yes it was poke weed. Lots on my mind these days. We left about a 10’ buffer of trees around the back yard on the 3 sides. so we should get late morning and after noon sun.
63 posted on 02/05/2024 9:20:27 AM PST by unclejohncornbread (Unclejohn)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Central Missouri has gotten a break from the bitter cold temps and icy conditions over the past week. The ice is gone from most of the ponds and the little creeks have some running water. We got to see the sun for a bit, which was a really nice change from cold, damp, and dreary.

The ground is still too muddy to work so no progress on the new raised beds aside from thinking about them.

Mrs. Augie and I pruned a few orchard trees here, and a handful of ornamentals at daughter’s place down the road on Saturday. Picked up the mess from all that and hauled it off to the sippy hole. Only one mention of the PTSD that was inflicted last spring when I chopped the pear tree down on her head so I’m calling that a win.

I spent a couple hours cleaning/organizing in my workshop yesterday. I’ve got a couple pieces of equipment that need to come inside for repairs and it’s always nice to start those jobs with a clean place to work.


64 posted on 02/05/2024 9:53:05 AM PST by Augie
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

A sweet story!

(2 Black cats....2 negatives make a positive, so, do 2 bad luck cats (in some peoples view) cancel each other out and make double bad luck = good luck? Oh well, just some silliness.)


65 posted on 02/05/2024 12:37:42 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I love your Boyd. Looks like my favorite sweet cat, Fiona, who we lost to cancer in 2020.


66 posted on 02/05/2024 12:40:47 PM PST by MayflowerMadam ("A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant tastes of death but once.")
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To: MayflowerMadam

Those ‘Tuxedo Cats’ are pretty special. ;)


67 posted on 02/05/2024 3:35:42 PM PST 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

“Those ‘Tuxedo Cats’ are pretty special. ;)”

They sure are. Even though it’s been three years, I still have to try hard to keep from crying sometimes. She was the best. And so smart.


68 posted on 02/05/2024 3:38:32 PM PST by MayflowerMadam ("A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant tastes of death but once.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
This is Fiona and her "sister", Noodles. Both gone but not forgotten.


69 posted on 02/05/2024 3:50:03 PM PST by MayflowerMadam ("A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant tastes of death but once.")
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To: MayflowerMadam

I’ve only had one Siamese cat so far. Always loved the breed because they were so talkative. :)


70 posted on 02/05/2024 3:53:37 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Augie
I cleaned my garage out and its a good feeling. Now I need to start getting rid of 40 years worth of junk that has been put in order.

I have 2 plum trees here and worry that with the current warm weather that we have an early blossom followed by a freeze. From what i have read though, if its gets below -17 F...and it was... it kills the blossoms that had formed in fall, so maybe it won't matter.

Made my first sauerkraut ferment and it went well! Sitting in the refrigerator right now. May last til St. Patricks day. Hope you have a good spring!

71 posted on 02/05/2024 7:57:57 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: metmom
Ok you talked me into it

Tried onions from sets once but let the grass take them over when I got sick of waiting for them to get bigger. I know they're slow growers but a few months should have shown something. Going to do them in a raised bed this time along with carrots which are considered a companion. The Yellow Sweet Spanish are supposed to be easy to grow.

I'm going to lime the front yard garden this year, make it raised beds and try all the things I've had trouble with before. My soil is low to mid 5 on the pH. Carrots have never done well and were pale. Leeks and beets just don't grow. Broccoli and cauliflower just do ok at best. Leafy brassicas do better but still not great.

I'll probably do a little lime on the high tunnel and surrounding area too but not a lot because I like the how disease free nightshades have always been.

72 posted on 02/06/2024 4:43:57 AM PST by Pollard (Hi)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Last fall we cancelled our PO Box. It was 150.00 last year and this year would have been 160.00. Just not worth it given we don’t get much mail and had to drive a round trip of 6 miles to get it. When we had our house built in 1984 we could not keep a mailbox at the driveway. Dirt road, no houses across the road, we lost a couple from baseball bats and the last one to a pipe bomb. So since 1987 we had the box in town. Last fall when I found out the rental was going up again I looked and found this heavy duty box online and it has a key access. Large too. We love it and our mail is secure. Our mail carrier said he has not seen vandalism for many years. Guess they matured. Link for anyone interested. Thread slide over. LOL

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HVH502/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1


73 posted on 02/06/2024 4:45:00 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

I have one quart left of this years kraut. In the fridge too.


74 posted on 02/06/2024 4:47:03 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pollard
I really need to go visit Baker Creek someday. Click pic for full size.


75 posted on 02/06/2024 4:48:03 AM PST by Pollard (Hi)
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To: Albion Wilde

Thank You for the response.


76 posted on 02/06/2024 5:45:58 AM PST by unclejohncornbread (Unclejohn)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Thank you for the advice.


77 posted on 02/06/2024 5:47:28 AM PST by unclejohncornbread (Unclejohn)
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To: MomwithHope; Qiviut

Q! Ping to Post #73. Thanks, Mom! :)


78 posted on 02/06/2024 6:12:38 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Pollard; FRiends
Don't miss my 'Alma Mater' Seed Savers Heritage Farm, Decorah, IA:


79 posted on 02/06/2024 6:19:37 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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https://seedsavers.org/about/visit/


80 posted on 02/06/2024 6:19:58 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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