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.
Good idea on the white rice. I had read that also. I recently read dry milk as well? That sounds a little odd though.
Thanks to you both for pics and info. I always forget about the chick grit - I’m going to write that on hubby’s list for the feed store. Thanks again.
“I food saver my excess seeds this year for future plantings for next year, with a silica gel packet; just be aware of ambient humidity when you seal them up,
and know of the viability of the seeds since smaller seeds (onion,chive,carrots,etc.) generally don’t store as long as larger seeds (squash/beans/corn).
Then next year, I will do a germination test, transplant the successes, and figure what seeds need to be replaced for the Spring or Fall garden, and re-order seed accordingly. “
I cut and paste that into my seed directions for this year. And I’ll probably food saver all my prior seeds. Do you recommend freezing them after?
“ramping off at the soil line” - what is that?
that looks like loads of fun! pretty too.
I am posting an excerpt below from the link:
https://www.seedsavers.org/how-to-save-seeds
Seeds are happiest when they are stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. A dark closet in a cooler part of the house or a dry, cool basement are both good spaces to store seeds for a year or two.
Once properly dried, seeds can also be sealed in airtight containers and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for several years. The seeds of some crops are naturally longer lived.
Tomato seeds and beans can be left for many years in adequate storage conditions, while onion and carrot seeds are notoriously short lived.
Don’t forget to label your seeds with the crop type, variety name, and any useful notes about your seed source, when you harvested the seeds, and how many plants you harvested from.
My quick and dirty method:
I use 2 paper plates. Put the seeds I want to save on one plate and write the name on the plate edge. Poke some holes in the other plate and put it on top of the other - use a couple of clothes pins to lock them together.
Place them on top of the refrigerator. Leave for about 3 weeks to dry out. When dry, place in old medicine bottles or other such as aspirin. Put duct tape on it and label it.
Put into metal coffee can with lid and label can with the year. Stick on unheated shelf in basement.
Damping off happens when the starter soil becomes too wet at the surface. This can happen by over spritzing or just too much watering. The grit is super dry and prevents the “rot” that kills normal seedlings.
Also remember, don’t over do the fish fertilizer on baby plants. The tops will do just fine. Look for a fertilizer with potassium to boost root growth. At the early stage, root development is important.
I’d stay away from dried milk. Nasty smell real quick if it accidentally gets wet/damp. Plus it even smells nasty when it has been on the shelf a while.
Regarding those who get bent outta shape because I know only two netiquette factoids: I just hang out with the nice FReepers!
Thanks for the pic. Interesting-I never really seen a silo falling down before, or one close enough to tell what it was made of.
LOL. Well, my brain works better these days than it did 2 years ago - that was scary. I’d tell my kids something and then tell them again 3 minutes later with out remembering.
So while I don’t remember as well as I did when I was going to college, I sure remember better than most other people I know who are my age, and 100% better than 2 years ago. Praise the Lord and the surgeon.
I think that’s an excellent solution - and it works well with face to face encounters too. Life’s too short to endure toxic people.
“And ....I will allow her to dig the occasional holes.”
Ahhhh, this reminds me of a time after my Doberman, Zeus, had just come through a tough illness. We were out in the yard and he started to dig ... so I LET HIM. We never really allowed it before, but he was so happy digging away.
I filled it most of the way back in a day or two later.
A few months after that I stepped in the thing and nearly broke my ankle. Maybe you could teach her to just dig up the weeds. :)
That is so CUTE! I was thinking hard about getting a very small one for hubby ... but we are both horrible with assembling things. Well, that and our garden fence needs replacing this spring - no more putting that off after yesterdays snow. So, fence first. I am jealous though.
Oh, that’s definitely scary! I’m glad you’re better now. My chore list includes about eight of the same tasks every day. One day runs into the next and the repetitiveness sometimes makes me wonder, “Did I already do that or was that yesterday?” LOL! Solution: checklists. Issue: forgetting to check things off when I do them so that I wonder, “Did I already etc., etc., etc.”
Yeh, I have that sometimes - usually with meds. I take 2 different BP meds. One in the AM and one in the evening so I keep them on a shelf in the kitchen and when I take one, I put it behind the other one.
In the evening, if the evening bottle is in front, I haven’t taken it yet. LOL
Thanks for the seed tips. So far mine have been germinating but I know I’m not handling them appropriately. And eventually will have issues.
That’s right about the milk. And if it gets wet and goes bad, Doubly yucky! ok rice it is then
We are in west Michigan near Grand Rapids so the growing season is not the longest. I have a good friend with a greenhouse and she swears by having dozens of kitty litter jugs filled with water under her shelves on the floor. They store up the hea5 during the day and release it at night. he greenhouse stays warmer longer. I guess any king of big flat jug would do.
They will mold, if not dried out and kept dry.
I do that with meds, too! (Actually, I toss the ones I’ve taken in the morning in a box. After I take the evening ones, they go into the box.)
Thanks for the company. Gotta set up for church tomorrow, so have a great evening and a blessed Sunday!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.