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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD, VOLUME 39, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
Free Republic | Sept. 28, 2012 | greeneyes

Posted on 09/28/2012 10:17:11 AM 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 ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobbies
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To: greeneyes

I picked up some leaves that had blown into a corner and there were several earthworms in the pile. I put them into the garden. I guess the rain brought them back close to the surface.


41 posted on 09/29/2012 8:36:57 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 ("It's better to vote for a Republican you don't know than wind up with a dim you don't like".)
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To: All

Hyacinth Bean Vine growing on the fence


Bloom detail


Seed pods forming

The vines will be good until the first frost and then that will be the end of them :-(

42 posted on 09/29/2012 11:01:29 AM PDT by MissMagnolia (Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. (M.Thatcher))
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To: Darth Reardon
How do you test and add nutrients to the water?
I tried aquaponics this year, and all I managed to do was grow long and leggy tomato plants, and kill the goldfish in the pond. Mine are nowhere as full as yours.

Also, what do you use to fertilize the banana plants in your picture upthread?

43 posted on 09/29/2012 2:11:33 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: greeneyes
The second season garden is planted with cool weather plants (collard, cabbage, carrot, radish, beets, pumpkin) and they are sprouting and growing like crazy. The okra, peppers and peanut plants from this summers' planting are still growing and producing. I expect to harvest the peanuts soon though.

We had a welcome respite from the heat in the form of about 3" of rain last night in the Hill Country. Today's temps are in the lower 80's and humid. It'll be time to gas up the mower and mow again. All this rain causes the grass to grow.

44 posted on 09/29/2012 2:18:22 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: MissMagnolia

Those are beautiful! Do they produce edible beans too boot?


45 posted on 09/29/2012 2:53:57 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: tubebender

There are mixed opinions on whether edible or not. Mostly I’ve seen you can eat them if you cook the beans well - here’s another take on it:

“Practically all parts of the plant are edible, although the seeds are slightly toxic and need to be cooked well in two washes of water before they should be considered edible.”

http://www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary/plant/ornamental-hyacinth-bean-vine-1


46 posted on 09/29/2012 3:01:32 PM PDT by MissMagnolia (Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. (M.Thatcher))
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To: Sarajevo

The hydroponics is not a closed system, so I don’t have to do any testing. I have about a 30 gallon reservoir that I fill about once a week from my rain water capture. Nutrients I keep pre-mixed in two 5 gallon buckets. I add about 3 cups of each of the nutrients when I fill the reservoir.

I’m playing with aquaponics in an aquarium, but I need more fish. The ammonia levels have never gotten high enough to measure.

The bananas just get like a 10-10-10 once a month. I have no idea what they actually need. Oh, and a good bit of compost.


47 posted on 09/29/2012 3:05:11 PM PDT by Darth Reardon (No offense to drunken sailors)
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To: MissMagnolia

Interesting. Some people of Mediterranean decent have to be careful with Fava Beans and must follow the same regimen when cooking them...


48 posted on 09/29/2012 5:17:00 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: Darth Reardon

Great info. Thank you!


49 posted on 09/29/2012 8:12:18 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: Silentgypsy

Well, No she doesn’t, but it seems to me it has been longer than usual this time, but it is also harvest time in many ways - so I don’t know what to think.


50 posted on 09/30/2012 5:55:15 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Twinkie

Sounds yummy.


51 posted on 09/30/2012 5:56:18 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: tubebender

Great Pics. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for delay in responding. Had to leave Friday afternoon for a weekend trip out of town with no computer.

We have also pulled out all the old strawberry plants, and are refreshing the soil. Not sure what to plant yet.

Guess I won’t plant much garlic this year. I ordered plants late spring for fall delivery. They sent postcards every month since stating that they would be shipped this fall.

This month we got a card that said out of stock credit will be issued. I’ll try some other source, but not too hopeful of finding stock.


52 posted on 09/30/2012 6:02:08 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

That’s good news. We’ll have to keep checking. So far we aren’t finding any, but I’ll bet now that it’s cooler and moister, we will find some.


53 posted on 09/30/2012 6:04:25 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Sarajevo

I have Iraquois melons growing like crazy, but it will be a race to beat the frost. I have a few bush beans to pick, and the fall lettuce to harvest.

Going to plant some lettuce and spinach in pots. It will soon be time to chop of all the tomato limbs, strip off some leaves, and stick them in a big pot of soil to bring indoors.

Did this last year, and most of them rooted - the green tomatoes ripened, and I hand pollinated the flowers and got quite a few new tomatoes grown indoors.


54 posted on 09/30/2012 6:10:35 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
We picked another pan of Salad Cucumbers this afternoon...


55 posted on 09/30/2012 7:58:21 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: greeneyes
Our dog has been gone for 2 weeks and we had three antlered rodents in out back yard today. There is another one to the left and one out of sight…

These are Pacific Coast Blacktail and a large one might go 150 pounds but most are less then 120. They will not jump a 6 foot fence unless being chased by dogs.

56 posted on 09/30/2012 8:09:13 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: greeneyes
I purchased a different Mole trap and have captured 2 in 2 days. It is called a Cinch Trap for Moles (Moles are smaller) and they are available on Amaazon.com…


57 posted on 09/30/2012 8:17:52 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: greeneyes

I’m praying big-time. This is probably a tempest in a teapot but I can’t help being a worry-wart. Prayers don’t hurt anything. I really hope that she and her family are fine.


58 posted on 09/30/2012 9:01:36 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (If you love your freedom, thank a vet.)
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To: greeneyes

On my part time job as a park ranger, I saw earth worms crawling across a concrete parking lot. Not just one or two, but 15 or 20 heading to drier dirt.


59 posted on 09/30/2012 9:13:55 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 ("It's better to vote for a Republican you don't know than wind up with a dim you don't like".)
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To: Silentgypsy

I am very concerned also. Her posts just abruptly stopped coming anywhere on FR.


60 posted on 09/30/2012 10:18:29 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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