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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD JANUARY 8, 2016
freerepublic | January 8, 2016 | greeneyes

Posted on 01/08/2016 1:36:46 PM PST 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. 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!

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.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: greeneyes; All

It is in the 40’s here & raining lightly - heavier rain on the way. You can see your breath .... it’s that damp, raw kind of cold that goes to your bones (ugh!).

Monday, with some temps in the teens overnight forecast the next couple of nights, I went out and harvested my winter garden ... 3 kinds of kale & collards. I left the red cabbage - the “heads” are about the size of a walnut so not much there. I cut out the ribs and sauteed the kale/collards down & then put them in the fridge.

Today, I am making batches of soup using the kale. It’s supposed to be delicious and just taste-testing, it’s ‘good’ to me. I’ll keep out a couple of bowls and freeze the rest. Nothing like a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day. :-)

I’m already dreaming & planning of spring & the garden - got some ideas, going to do a little expansion, hope to start canning ... at least making things like hot pepper jelly, herb jellies, but would also like to put up tomatoes, etc. Both of my grandmothers were excellent canners so I think I should follow in their footsteps (plus I prefer canned to frozen veggies). The spring garden seems a long way off, but time is also flying by these days.


21 posted on 01/08/2016 2:13:22 PM PST by Qiviut (In Islam you have to die for Allah. The God I worship died for me. [Franklin Graham])
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To: greeneyes

I’m putting down some small fines in front of the garage. I’l sprinkle some cement over it, rake it in, sprinkle more cement, then sprinkle with water. That will be my place for large pots to grow my salads, lettuces and even some flowers in smaller pots. I’ve still NOT straightened the shelves in the garage, but that is my next project. There is so much JUNK on them and they are slap happy shelves, I’m a nit picker, so it has to be right, according to my way of doing it.
In the community garden, we’re thinking of putting various tomatoes in the syrup pots and other plants. I’m going to use one pot for 2 cantaloupe seeds and their vines will be supported to grow upward to the sun. Isn’t gardening fun?
My summer squashes will grow toward the sun also, the cukes the same. I’thinking of doing some watermelons in very sandy soil and grow them on expanded metal, give the melons some good strong support.
You can tell I have been receiving my seed mags. So many nice looking things to grow. Have to be careful though, I tend to see too many great looking plants.


22 posted on 01/08/2016 2:17:29 PM PST by tillacum
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To: left that other site

Well, as long as there is a window or grow light, a couple of pots can be planted and taken with you when you leave, if you haven’t eaten the green stuff before then.

You can go back to Florida, or any other place you’d like, especially once the house is sold. I am sorry that you are stuck in such a cold climate under such sad circumstances though.


23 posted on 01/08/2016 2:46:00 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: metmom

Well, hubby will help now and again, but only when we run totally out of silverware, plastic forks, and paper plates. LOL


24 posted on 01/08/2016 2:47:16 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: trisham

I have good success in front of the patio sliding doors too. I usually add a grow light in late afternoon and into the evening to simulate summertime light.

I would have a light of some sort on anyway, so using the newer grow lights which use less electricity would be a good option.


25 posted on 01/08/2016 2:49:58 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Arkansas Tider

Hobbies sometimes have a way of doing that. LOL Now and again, I get ideas of how to make a few bucks with the gardening.

However, I quickly sit down and rest until I get over it. I don’t want a full time job. There’s not enough hrs in the day to do everything I need to do and want to do as it is. LOL


26 posted on 01/08/2016 2:53:30 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Augie

A handy man’s work is never done! Glad you’ll have some heat this time.


27 posted on 01/08/2016 2:55:10 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
Does anybody have experience running a CSA? I'm considering it the year after this. Just a small one, maybe around 10 shares. I'd like to know FReeper perspective on it.

I apologize: I've asked this question before and I'm not trying to be repetitive. I'm just posting it hoping that random passers by might see it when they haven't before!

Otherwise, cold and rainy here. I've marked up the Baker Creek catalog and I'm almost ready to order.

28 posted on 01/08/2016 2:55:19 PM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: Qiviut

Yes time flies. I blinked and it was all of a sudden 2016. I especially prefer canned green beans over frozen. But I do like the frozen corn best.


29 posted on 01/08/2016 2:57:29 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: tillacum

I too, tend to order too much. So before I order this year, I’ll have to see what I have leftover from last season, and those will be the seeds I start in doors.

I really like the way cukes turn out when letting them grow up the fence.


30 posted on 01/08/2016 3:00:31 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

Anyone got any recommendations on pumpkins that are good for eating cooked-up like squash (not pie)?

Preferably “heirloom”/non-hybrid.


31 posted on 01/08/2016 3:05:06 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: goodwithagun
I have a neighbor (more like absentee landowner) who tried the CSA thing, thinking it would help him get the approvals he needed to put a high-density development on the rest of the land. He did get a professional manager, free labor by giving classroom credit for university students who would come work the CSA, but here in PA, he still couldn't make it go. His agreement said that locally purchased produce could be substituted if necessary, so he ended up buying much of his produce at Wegmans, marking it up to cover his costs, and he still didn't make enough to stay open...
32 posted on 01/08/2016 3:35:41 PM PST by Kay Ludlow (Government actions ALWAYS have unintended consequences...)
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To: greeneyes; All

My mom was asking me about using coffee grounds in the garden/flower beds last week ... this just showed up in my January E-News from Viette’s today:

Coffee Grounds in the Garden
http://www.viette.com/v.php?pg=965


33 posted on 01/08/2016 3:47:13 PM PST by Qiviut (In Islam you have to die for Allah. The God I worship died for me. [Franklin Graham])
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To: greeneyes

true...I hope we get a buyer soon, before the february blizzard season! :-)


34 posted on 01/08/2016 4:33:24 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: greeneyes

Hi, g! My dishes are doing the very same thing. Could this be the beginning of an outbreak? Something which cannot be contained? Are we dooooooomed? And would you happen to know a good source for iceberg lettuce seed?


35 posted on 01/08/2016 5:11:44 PM PST by Silentgypsy (Mind your atomic bonds.)
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To: punknpuss

Can you post a photo of your dog? I bet he’s beautiful.


36 posted on 01/08/2016 5:17:36 PM PST by Silentgypsy (Mind your atomic bonds.)
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To: punknpuss

Don’t get used to the 70 pounds. We have a pyrenees/shepherd/coonhound who has topped out at 120.

Gonna start on onion seedlings this week, then move up from there...


37 posted on 01/08/2016 8:03:51 PM PST by MightyMama
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To: metmom

I don’t mind doing the dishes, as long as I have good pair of rubber gloves.


38 posted on 01/08/2016 8:22:53 PM PST by StoneWall Brigade
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To: greeneyes
First wife and I have had bad colds most of this week and rarely ventured out as it rained most of the time. We did feed a couple of neighborhood cats and wild birds including Tina Turkey

IMG_5219

IMG_5218

39 posted on 01/08/2016 8:41:12 PM PST by tubebender
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To: greeneyes

I’ve got nothing going on right now, other than blooming (forced indoors) Paperwhites and Amaryllis that are ready to pop!

I’ll start some salad greens under lights in a bit. I’ll be spending this upcoming season selling my little farm and moving to our ‘real’ farm. Not sure how much time I’ll have for gardening, but I’ll do what I can.

I can’t NOT! :)


40 posted on 01/09/2016 6:39:18 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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