Posted on 03/02/2018 7:53:09 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.
I learned about thread hijacking when I first got here. Also, it's rude to post about someone without putting his/her name in the little "To:" box (who knew?). Apparently, there's an entire body of knowledge called "netiquette" that's on the ol' reading list. Never fear: I'll keep you posted when I inevitably goof again and somebody yells at me for both the original goof and then forgetting to put the yeller's name in the address thingy where your screen name goes. *sigh* (Note: It is perfectly good netiquette to be as rude as possible to the poor fool who has erred because of his/her/its ignorance.) (Note: This post is probably offensive to someone, but not the moosual crowd here involved with seeds, growing and other fun stuff.) There should be a "rant over" indicator at the end of this but who can remember how to type all those things? :-)
Not that one. This one: https://www.thetreecenter.com/jane-magnolia-tree/
Star magnolias grow here too, but the favorites are the Janes and the Annes. Breathtaking!
The traditional Southern Magnolia (evergreen) does not grow in Wisconsin.
Hello gardening tbread! Quick question for anybody out there with thoughts. Years ago I lived up in north Texas (Wichita Falls). For the last 12 years we’ve used my old house as a rent house. Renters moved out and we are fixing it up to sell. It’s just too far away for us to maintain as rental property. House now has no curb appeal. I had an herb bed for the front flower bed but renters killed all.
Hubby says plant boxwood (which I hate) but they won’t grow fast enuf IMO to help with a potential market date in 2-3 months. Need something with some height tho to break up the plain box of the house. I used to mix in squah and bush tomatoes and peppers with my herbs. Pretty good soil, on alkaline side. Just out of ideas this morning. I’m not an ornamental gardener and that’s what I need. Photinias aren’t too good here, not sure why just know that from neighbors. Rosemary, lavendar, old roses and honeysuckle were great until renters destroyed.
Any ideas? We aren’t past last freeze date here but pretty close. Hubby and I are currently spending weekends here trying to get this finished so I’m ready to do something.
I know you two are more informed about all things gardening. Would y’all please look over my previous post #64 and see if you could give me any ideas. I didn’t think to include y’all in the “to” space. Sorry for the trouble.
Thank you, thank you !
By way of explanation, we started seeds February 15 and transplanted the tomatoes March 1. Our peppers are about a week behind in size but are doing nicely. Expect transplanting in a couple days.
We use chick grit (the white stuff on the surface) to prevent damping off at the soil line. Some onion sets and radish seeds will be placed out in one of our raised beds this weekend.
—Eric
Thanks again Tubebender !
Does food savering your seeds work? I was a little worried about not giving them enough oxygen to survive.
I have been putting mine in the freezer although I know that’s a moist environment. And Justin baggies. And then in a number 10 can with the lid on. Pretty haphazard I know, but everything has worked OK so far. But I’d like to be a little more methodical.
Good idea on the germination test, I normally just throw some in the ground and wait a while :-( do you put them on white paper towels, is that how you test them?
Looks great, congrats!
I am so lazy I start my tomato seeds in tall cottage cheese containers with a few holes punched in the bottom for drainage. Filled with commercial seed starter mix. I carefully place 3 seeds in each one spaced out. I leave them in there until I stick them in the garden. Easy to pull part and good root growth.
LOL. That was very entertaining. Hubby had a pet blue jay once - he nursed it when it was injured and some kid brought it to school.
I really hated it when he let it out of the cage in the house, but I never thought about diapers. LOL
That’s really nice - I’m not familiar with silo staves. I slept in this morning, and when I woke up and checked the greenhouse, it was already 104 degrees. Had to open the door, since hubby hasn’t yet fixed the window.
I have to do office work today, but I really enjoyed the sunshine and heat coming into the room from the greenhouse.
I think hubby will have my new raised bed done this weekend, so I may go ahead and plant some lettuce in the ground under a row cover or something to save transplant effort.
Usually I would be taking the row cover off of a winter grown lettuce this time of year, but I didn’t plant one last fall due to the planned redesign of that area.
In a pinch, when I don’t have the silica gel, I use white rice in a napkin.
I’m really fortunate, that my hubby worked his way through school pouring basements, patios, driveways etc. Our basement is not humid. The finished areas are as good as upstairs.
Most of the area is finished, but unheated, so it’s a good storage area.
I was hoping you’d be monitoring to chime in with some answers. Thanks.
Thanks I think. LOL
My first boss taught me that any written communication should include all names mentioned in the distribution list. That was before email and internet.
However, sometimes I avoid the name in the message just because I don’t want to include them in the distribution list, as in SOMEONE got up on the wrong side of the keyboard this AM. LOL
I think it’s rude to pounce and beat down someone for such -especially when they are newbies. Best to write a private reply gently explaining things. That’s just my theory.
I am sorry if others have been impolite. Perhaps they had a particularly contentious upbringing. Say a prayer for them, that they learn to relax before a stroke sets in.
PS. My brain is not what it used to be. At one time I could skin a chapter, and a month later close my eyes and tell you almost word for word what I read.
Today I have part - timers. Part of the time I remember stuff, and part of the time I don’t. LOL
Is there anything ready to go at the local garden centers near the house you’re fixing up to sell? If so, I’d just fill it up with that stuff for now, with veggies and annuals.
When are you putting it up for sale? I’d probably aim to plant it a week prior to your first listing date, so it would be ready to go.
Also - ask your Realtor what s/he thinks. They’ve added curb appeal to a lot of properties, I’d bet! :)
Thanks! Excited! The UPS man was here delivering something the other day. I told him to wear his hernia truss the week of the 20th, LOL!
Since you don’t have time for anything to grow, I’d say just any sort of bush or shrub the right size and height would do.
We have boxwood and Lavender - mostly because everything else we tried died. The nursery catalogs probably would have some that have quick growth though, so that might be good to check out.
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