Weekly Garden Thread - September 30-October 6, 2023 [The Science of Fall Colors Edition]

September 30,2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Mainly, it’s the kitchen that needs a good scrubbing. I haven’t been butchering in there - it’s tomatoes!

“Honey? Why is there blood on the ceiling?” LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

A few years ago we had one of our wettest season, so I know exactly what you’ve been going through. :(

I will always take a dry year (even drought, which we are still in) over a wet growing season any day.

[metmom]

Where?

[metmom]

I will always take a dry year (even drought, which we are still in) over a wet growing season any day.

After this summer, I came to the same conclusion.

You can always water. There's just no way of draining a swampy garden.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

TO LINK BACK TO THE SEPTEMBER 23-29 2023 GARDENING THREAD
CLICK ON THE GLASS OF WINE IN THIS TRAY OF AUTUMN FRUIT!

Pollard's F/R profile page is the location of his Prepper links and Data Base and contains the Gardening Resource files. Click anywhere in the picture to link to his homepage!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Daniel...Rudebeckia / Gloriosa Daisy! I think Diana identified this when you first posted the picture !

If you let it it will drop its seeds and self propagate. (You also have some columbine next to it.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

What location and zone? Alaska? BC?

[painter]

I live in central Missouri. Last October my wife and I drove to Gettysburg. The drive through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains was spectacular!

[MomwithHope]

Huge amount of acorns dropping around here. More than usual and they are big this year. Turkeys in the front yard the other day. They will cone right up the driveway and hang around by the side of the garage and eat the ones that have fallen on the gravel.

[Qiviut]

I just got back from the Dollar Store. Various people are getting jelly (multiple jars) so I am putting their jelly in bags, which will help me a lot, keeping up with who gets what & what is left.

[small farm girl]

Great job with the tomatoes daniel! Copper likely saved their life...hardest part with this year was the nonstop rain washing your protectant off. Lots of home gardeners have told me they are just tossing everything in to the compost, sounds like they were bacterial spot or anthracnose out of the party :( I am praying for a late frost to extend this crappy growing season so our late cabbages and other cold crops mature - plus we are still picking a lot of late crop tomatoes.
I actually got a pile of salsa verde made and canned up last night - woo! The husband put it all away in the cellar on shelves he built for me some years ago. It's full up already this year, but not with peaches, sigh.

[metmom]

I’ve heard that a big acorn crop = a big mouse population, which means increased ticks as mice are one of their hosts.

[metmom]

My Brussel sprouts are fine as far as plant size, but not producing much in the way of sprouts.

I have no idea why.

[MomwithHope]

Good girl on the tree rats!

[MomwithHope]

I saw my first wooly caterpillar a couple of days ago. Wide lighter brown stripe.

[MomwithHope]

For the newbies - My pantry is under the stairs too. Built all the shelves under each step and on both side walls myself. It is full and we have a 5 shelf metal unit nearby.

[MomwithHope]

I yanked the first of 6 broccoli lieutenant plants 4 or 5 days ago. It was green but looked totally done. No chance of any more broccoli. This morning I took a waste bin down for some other yanked plants and the broccoli plant which had been laying on the ground had 4 small pickable heads, curved up and growing straight. One more omelette.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I LOVE the ‘Ithaca Grow’ that you made for me!

I just pulled the ‘Lieutenant’ broccoli (six pack, Bonnie Brand) last week too and there were still enough small heads for one more meal. It didn’t bolt in the heat wave we had, which was amazing.

I love that variety. :)

[FrozenAssets]

Interior Alaska.

[FrozenAssets]

Eastern interior Alaska. Zone 1 to 4 depending. Most places 2 or 3.