WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD APRIL 22, 2016

freerepublic | April 22, 2016 | greeneyes

[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.

[greeneyes]

Wow. I had my fill of early mornings when I had a 75 mile commute in to work every day, and another 75 to get home. Been there and done that, and wanting to sleep till 10 am daily.

However, I have to get granddaughter on the bus at 6:45 am so it won’t happen for at least 5 more years.

[txhurl]

Rhubarb is invasive. .. careful.

[greeneyes]

Sounds good. I don’t know why, but I seem to have more energy and enjoy planting more in the fall. Nearly always get some garlic in, sometimes winter wheat, and cool crops like lettuce, spinach and carrots under row covers.

Still experimenting to see when the best time is here to get the carrots in so that we can be munching in March.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tomatoes and peppers are showing blossoms.
I’m thinking this years will be a bonanza...

[greeneyes]

LOL. Good name sounds like. I have yet to figure out how the heck I’m getting rocks in my raised beds that I filled with Mel’s mix. First 3 years there were none. Now they keep turning up.

[tubebender]

We had a 1 1/4” of rain from 11 last night until 9AM this morning PLUS another 1/2” from 9 to 3 this afternoon then ended the day with lovely sunshine. Had 2 doctors appointments today so didn’t do anything in the garden or green house. Sat & Sun are my days of rest

[left that other site]

They breed.

[greeneyes]

That’s it! I just figured out my biggest problem. I have no day of rest. Saturday I bbsit. Sunday I garden or travel to mow a yard. Mon-Fri I bbsit the other kid. No wonder I’m so danged tired and full of gripe.

[Ellendra]

I had 2 days off this week in which the weather was supposed to be perfect. My plan was to plant berries on both days, make a dent in my berry patch plans.

Here's what happened instead:



One of the dead stalks I was clearing out shattered in my hand. One shard drove straight into my thumb. It wasn't until I got the bleeding stopped and drove home to wash up, that I discovered a piece had been pushed further inside! The Dr at Urgent Care couldn't find it, either on X-ray or by digging into the wound, so she sent me home with antibiotics and said I was probably mistaken about the splinter.

This morning, it was swollen about 3 times its normal size, and as you can see it's a nice shade of purple. I've been soaking it in hot water with Epsom salts, but it hasn't stopped throbbing.

Lesson learned, no more bare-handed gardening! At least not when pulling weeds.

[HopeandGlory]

Where in Texas are you ??? . . . I’m in South
Central Texas and can’t get ruebarb started here and I absolutely love the durn stuff.

[greeneyes]

Apparently-almost as fast as rabbits. LOL

[txhurl]

What I do is sow the carrots WITH the radishes, which loosen the soil so the carrots which take 3wks to germinate can easily set down taproots in the same spot the radish did. Then as you pull radishes, it frees up space and sunlight for the carrots seedlings to take off, in my case Danver’s Half-long. Pulling radishes doesn.t pull the carrots as radishes bulb aboveground. I use the radish mix with red, pink, yellow, white ones and always harvest 4-5 accidental beets per package.

[greeneyes]

Yes, I am getting better about making sure I have the gloves on. I am beginning to have a few weeds in my Mel’s mix gardens in addition to rocks. These weeds have a tendency toward having non-apparent stickers.

[greeneyes]

Well, that’s an interesting idea. I almost always order a bundle of seeds in March that is half price. It always has some sort of radish, which I don’t plant as we don’t care for them that much. But a useful start for carrots - might be worth the effort.

[NTHockey]

I don’t know whether I’m early, late or just right. Crazy weather in Delaware this month. It even snowed one day. Anyway, I’ve planted green beans this week from seedlings. Tomorrow goes the cucumbers. Sunday or Monday, peppers and asparagus. Hoping to get the new bed in quickly so I can put in the tomatoes, lettuce and herbs.

Trying something new this year. Instead of random planting, I’m using mushroom compost in a raised row and no mulch.

[NTHockey]

Add me to the ping list.

[txhurl]

Lago Vista, west of Austin in the hill country with no dirt, just limestone. Rhhubarb needs lots of rich deep dirt, water, food and starting the seed in Oct. here. Put it in the lowest part of the garden where the cool air collects and pools and mulch, mulch, mulch. It ain’t from around here and needs microclimate and soil work to grow.

[ApplegateRanch]

SOOooo happy to have gotten the hitch on the garden tractor fixed! So much easier to use the garden trailer to haul water to the garden, then to take it in the car, then lug the jugs to where they’re needed. I use 2 5-gallon jugs, and 4-6 1-gallon bottles to fill the watering can.

After next week’s weather dump, I should be able to start using the irritation tank & pump, and water with the hoses.

Checked the nest box, and counted 6 babies; they seem to be good sized,and are active.

The ducks are getting huge, but still have over a week to go before they have a date with the freezer. Have to find where I put away for safekeeping the big crab boiler pot I use for scalding when I pluck birds.

Getting a few second, reserve, flowers opening on the apricots, so we still may get a few this year. Wild plums and the earliest apples are blooming, as are daffies and tulips.

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Come on, those who haven’t, and contribute to keep this board and the Gardening Thread going. If I can make a small monthly, anyone can. Any contribution is better than none.

[HopeandGlory]

I live on the last hill of the Hill Country in San Marcos . . . I’ve tried plant after plant and many different micro climates and my Rhubarb still rots and dies . . . Help!!!

[ApplegateRanch]

ADDENDUM:

As predicted, got our first asparagus yesterday; 24 spears for our dinner. Will cut more tomorrow.