Weekly Garden Thread Volume 30 July 25, 2014

Free Republic | 25 July 2014

[JRandomFreeper]

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!

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.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

The smaller Russian variety are the black seeded sunflowers
They are the preferred feed for song birds in colder northern climates and can be easily found in most feed and grain stores
The more common for human consumption and snacking are the 'grey-stripe' toasted, which have lower oil content.

[Sarajevo]

My peppers are not doing well this year here in Texas.

I have a lot of peppers; jalapeno, habanero, tabasco, Thai, Orange Thai, Trinidad Scorpion, and a Bhut Johlokia (Thanks rightly_dividing!)

I pulled all of my tomato plants early this month and have planted new ones, primarily Black Krim and Beefsteak, for the second crop. They all seem to have grown real fast, had a flush of fruit, then dried up.

Cukes and melons are coming along fine, but not as well as last year.
Severe lower back pains have been keeping me out of the garden more than I like. I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have a diagnosis and definitive treatment soon.

[JRandomFreeper]

You sent me this picture. What the heck is it?

/johnny

[GeronL]

That is a very good question

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It’s a collection of galls.

Mites or small wasps deposit eggs in the leaves of trees or vines. The “deposit” contains food for the egg.

The leaf reacts to these deposits by walling off the eggs with these “bumps.”

Brown bumps on oak leaves are more common. This is the first time I’ve seen little red horns like this.

[JRandomFreeper]

Weird. I've got oaks around, and collect the galls (golf ball sized) to make ink (along with rust). But I've never seen anything like that.

Thanks for the explanation.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

They didn't cover THAT at culinary school. ;)

/johnny

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Sarajevo:" I pulled all of my tomato plants early this month and have planted new ones, primarily Black Krim and Beefsteak, for the second crop.
They all seem to have grown real fast, had a flush of fruit, then dried up."

First thought is concern about lack of moisture and excessive heat
Next thought is frequency of crop rotation
and lack of resistance to 'Fusarium wilt' which is common to heirloom veggies.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Remember that tomatoes and Peppers are both solanacious, and share common plant diseases.
These soil diseases, while not commonly evident, tend to build up in the soil , and are defeated only thruough soil and crop rotation .

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There are large, round paper galls on trees hereabouts.

[Ellendra]

Raccoons! Filthy, disease-ridden, mask-wearing BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got out to my land today to find that the raccoons have been holding raves in my corn patch all week! My flour corn has been decimated! I’ll be lucky if I get a single ear off the whole patch!!!

The fence that kept the deer out is not enough to stop the raccoons. I priced out materials today, and am filling out the paperwork for a Kiva loan. There’s a chance I can get a fence up in time to spare the flint corn and the rest of the garden.

I sifted through the torn up stalks and found a few ears that can be used as baby corn. But there were nearly a hundred ears just torn to shreds laying on the ground.

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the best wishes everyone. I am slowly coming out of the walking dead to half zombie status. Have live on popsycles, and gingerale for a week. Silver lining is lost some weight.LOL

Today I sucessfully held down some broth and ramien noodles and a saltine or two in addition to popsycles and gingerale. Still very tired and taking pain meds. Going back to bed now. Hope to catch up in a few days.

Thanks JRF for helping with the thread. Later gators.

[tubebender]

Thanks for tuning in with the update Mzzz GE.

[sockmonkey]

There’s a chance I can get a fence up in time to spare the flint corn and the rest of the garden.

Are you putting up an electric fence?

[Augie]

It was a productive weekend at my place.

We bought a new machine to replace Mrs. Augie’s old JD 400 lawn tractor. Decided to go with a Kubota commercial model zero-turn. It is a beast. 25hp with a 60” cutting deck. Should cut our mowing time by half or better compared to the old machine.

And we canned 6 1/2 quarts green beans, 3 1/2 gallons sweet corn and 20 quarts of cucumber pickles.

[steerpike100]

I have two pumpkins on a volunteer here in North Carolina. The vine is very large. It’s too early for pumpkins, I’m afraid, and they may not survive the August heat. But if they do, they’re going to be very big.

[Marcella]

Put the envelope of Bronze Mignonette lettuce and envelope of Little Gem lettuce for you in mail box for mail carrier to pick up today. Both are supposed to grow well in heat. Both are fast growing making small heads. I found these seeds at Eden Brothers on the web.

[JRandomFreeper]

Thanks. It will be the weekend before I can do anything with them.

I'm full-time now during the week, and until I get a computer over here, I'm stuck on a tablet, and away from the garden.

On the plus side... I'm allowed to nap on the job, situation allowing. ;)

/johnny

[Sarajevo]

"First thought is concern about lack of moisture and excessive heat Next thought is frequency of crop rotation "

I water thoroughly twice a week until the soil is saturated. Heat? I have a 30% shade cloth over the hoophouse which did well for the past 2 years. This year has been odd though. Nothing seems to grow and produce as vigorously as the two previous years. Can't do much about the heat though.

Crops are rotated through different beds and by the seasons with the addition of fertilizer and new manure to fr4shen them up. The winter crops will be heavy with collard, kale, spinach, carrots, radish, etc.

'Fusarium wilt'? I'll have to research that. Thanks!

[Sarajevo]

No issues with any of the pepper plants except for aphids. They are growing nicely and I’ve been blessed with my first habanero ;)