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]

Good to have some fig trees without much damage. Mulberries-I have not had since I was in elementary school. My grandparents rented a house that had a big tree, and I used to climb up in it and eat them and get stain all over myself and clothes. LOL

[greeneyes]

Thanks very much for the update. I’d say rain for Texas might just be a positive too?

[greeneyes]

LOL. Sounds great. Post some Pics if you want to brag. LOL

[greeneyes]

I love the smell of lavender, lilac, and hyacinth. I don’t have much in the way of flowers though. Just a small bed in the front yard.

[dirtboy]

Had really nice weather this weekend, put in peas, chard, beets, greens, turnips and taters. Also put in two early tomato plants (first time I’ve ever planted those in April) and a mound of zukes. No sign of frost in the long-term forecast, so it’s worth the risk of losing a couple of plants. The stuff I planted on March 12 is coming along, although the beets are still pretty puny. The radishes are comical - they are six weeks old and have bulbs not much larger than a pea.

[Augie]

Another warm sunny weekend in Central Missouri has come and gone.

I hauled my entire compost heap out to the tomato patch. I had enough to cover 1020' of 6' wide bedding rows 4"-6" deep. That's a lot of compost.

Saturday morning I spread sunflower, turnip, pearl millet and oats on the wildlife food plot and tilled it in. I spread 200lbs of urea on the back pasture after I finished the seeding. Pops came over yesterday and we hung the gate in the new pasture fence. That project is now officially complete.

I'm going to hit the nursery on my way home from work tonight and get some cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to stick in my kitchen garden.

[ApplegateRanch]

Best cuttings yet for asparagus; 18-20 spears a day. Usually, the first sets of spears make it to 3 or 4”, then freeze; rinse and repeat a couple more times.

Late in the week, we MIGHT get a bit of snow, but it’s only expected to stick like charges against Hillary.

[Arkansas Tider]

I use every advantage I can to beat other farmers to the market. I grow all my plants in my greenhouse prior to field planting on black plastic mulch. The peppers, tomatoes, green beans etc. Are 2 to 3 months old when planted. It’s very labor intensive during February and March but the payoff is well worth it.

[greeneyes]

LOL. That means stick not at all. LOL

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the pic. That is truly a lot of compost. We made it to Springfield and back. Hubby got a lot done today adding good stuff to the next patch of garden.

I got one tiny plot ready to plant something, but I don’t know what it will be yet. I was thinking beets, but he already has some that are about an inch out of the ground, so maybe not.

[greeneyes]

Pea size radishes, might be a hit in a Salad - different for sure. LOL

I may just buy a tomato plant from the farmer’s market this year. Never got around to starting any.

[ApplegateRanch]

Yep; hit, melt, and runoff.

Today, I got 40 of each Norkotah Russets & German Butterballs planted. Had to till, then furrow, as the bed wasn’t ready yet.

While I was at it, I tilled under several thousands of volunteer cilantro seedlings; about 6’ X 30’, and thick as Trump’s hair. Wife harvested the Egyptian onions that had walked into the area, while I tilled the potato bed, then I got the seedlings.

NEVER let cilantro go to seed, and dry on the stems in place for coriander: harvest the plants while the seeds are green, and get them out of the garden.

Also lifted, separated, and transplanted 28 shallots left in the ground last Fall. They were the ones too small to harvest.

Final chore was planting 6 Jersey Knight asparagus roots.

[Augie]

Dobby Cat came out to help me yesterday evening.

The garlic has really taken off since the weather warmed up. It's getting a bit weedy, but my weeder monkey ran away to join the circus and I can't find a new one anywhere. The potato plants have also made a big jump in the last two weeks. I got 24 of the cabbage/broccoli/cauliflower in the ground. 8 more to go. If the weather does what the weather guessers are guessing it's going to do it may be a few days before I can finish.

[Augie]

I got into some poison ivy weekend before last while deadwooding my orchard trees. It wasn’t leafed out yet and I wasn’t paying enough attention. I splattered sap all over both arms and both legs. Not good, but not quite as bad as your situation. That gives me the willies just thinking about it.

[Darth Reardon]

The rule of thumb with beans is to stand barefoot where you want to sow them for five minutes. If your feet get uncomfortably cold

If your feet get uncomfortably cold after standing barefoot outside for five minutes, MOVE!

[Darth Reardon]

First okra “harvest” of the year tonight. I’m not a big fan, but the dogs love the stuff and it grows so well around here that I grow a couple plants every year just so they can each have a pod a day during the summer months.

This is the earliest I’ve ever gathered okra, which of course means that 2016 will be the hottest year on record due to global warming/cooling/climagechange. Either that, or I started them a few weeks earlier than normal under the skylights this year.

[DrewsMum]

Thank you.

[ncpatriot]

Can somebody help me with this question. I purchased a few cuke plants last week - they are really leggy, about five inches of stem and then a couple leaves.
My question is: when I transplant them should I bury the stem up to the leaves (like on a tomato plant) or not?
thx

[Mrs. Yuleeyahoo]

Please add me to the list. Thank you.

[greeneyes]

Will do. I only ping once a week on Friday afternoon.