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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD 6/01/2018
freerepublic | 6/02/2018 | greeenyes

Posted on 06/01/2018 10:21:50 PM PDT 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 any time-and don't have to be about gardening.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby; hydroponics
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To: oldvirginian

It’s got to be easier than gardening for two or more. LOL

I experiment with untried varieties in my little raised beds. Those that we like graduate to Hubby’s large beds. We have almost no back yard left-just one small patch of lawn that I can see looking out the basement patio doors and through the green house.

Now that he has run out of room in the backyard, he’s starting to use the mid rear portion of the extra lot we bought.


41 posted on 06/02/2018 5:29:42 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

Some 25 years ago, I learned about possums the hard way.

Because of coons, I had a solid 2X12 border around the bottom of the chicken yard, sunk 6-8” deep, that anchored the wire; and a complete poultry wire ‘lid’ over it.

No more problems with coons!

Then one morning, I heard a commotion, and was shocked at what I found. A family of possums, mother and several half grown young, had used those nasty looking teeth to actually chew a large hole through the poultry wire to get into the chicken yard. The poultry wire looked like wire cutters had been used on it.

Knowing I was going to find trouble, I had my .22 revolver & extra hollow points with me, They had already killed several chickens, and a couple of Muscovy ducks. It was a blood spree, as there was no way they could possibly eat what they had already killed, but were still trying to attack the remnants of the flock. Fortunately, I ran out of live possums before I ran out of ammunition.

Afterward, I added a layer of 4’ 2” X 4” “dog fencing” around the perimeter, inside the chicken wire.


42 posted on 06/02/2018 5:33:49 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!�)
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To: greeneyes

I am doing mostly flowers and herbs this year.

My veggies were PATHETIC! LOL!


43 posted on 06/02/2018 5:36:22 PM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: Qiviut

The cold nights are what delayed us too. Fortunately, the green house helped to keep things going for a while. We’ll be refining that and getting some shelves set up for next year and the winter.

I have really enjoyed the green house. This winter, on sunny days it was nice and warm, and I would sit out there on and old chair and drink coffee. The sun helped me to sleep better-at least that’s what the Dr. said.

Now when it rains, I also go out and sit and drink coffee or tea. I love to watch the rain and hear it ping on the panes.

When we get our furniture moved from Springfield, I will put one of the little patio tables - ice cream parlor style out there to sit my coffee on and give the neighbor lady a place to sit.


44 posted on 06/02/2018 5:39:27 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: CottonBall

That is the one advantage that some of my raised beds have - good for wet weather. The first 2 3x8 ft. beds, I removed the soil and filled with Mel’s mix.

It is nearly impossible to overwater, and that mix is workable shortly after the rain quits-while the rest of the yard is a soggy mess.

Of course the dog days of summer - another story - mulch well and water often. LOL


45 posted on 06/02/2018 5:42:49 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

Instead of strawberries, try adding raspberries, and a little bit of jalapeno to the rhubarb for a pie filling.

Also, rhubarb-raspberry jam is excellent.

Subbing some brown sugar for part of the white—or using honey— really kicks up plain stewed rhubarb, which is great when used like cranberry sauce, for beef or pork rather than poultry.

Good luck with the bug huinting.


46 posted on 06/02/2018 5:44:31 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!�)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

Thanks for the story. I enjoyed reading it.


47 posted on 06/02/2018 5:45:27 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: heylady

I will add your name to the list. I hope your grandson’s surprise you with a great job watering. LOL


48 posted on 06/02/2018 5:48:20 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: left that other site

Some years are the pits. My flower beds need attention, but the veggies hog all the time.


49 posted on 06/02/2018 5:54:05 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: ApplegateRanch
Well, I haven't figured out what hubby thinks I'm going to do with it. I don't eat anything with sugar added, and I don't use artificial sweetners.

I don't eat pie crusts or any other starchy stuff. I only use a bit of honey if I have a sore throat. I am finally beginning to feel better now that I've severely restricted carbs like the endocrinologist told me to.

Enough better that it's just not worth it to eat sweets and starches. It take 2-3 weeks to recover. It'll have to be some sort of stewed or stir fried dish - I'll have to do a web search and see what I find.

50 posted on 06/02/2018 6:00:31 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

No matter what grows or doesn’t grow, my herbs are ALWAYS faithful! :-)


51 posted on 06/02/2018 6:03:33 PM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: left that other site

Herbs are very important too!!


52 posted on 06/02/2018 6:10:21 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

Just imagine what food would taste like without them!


53 posted on 06/02/2018 6:11:52 PM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: greeneyes

1 inch PVC pipe is the framework.
Bird netting is the ‘surround” material.
Hoops are half inch PVC.

Wife picked this up from a garden magazine years ago.
It works.


54 posted on 06/02/2018 6:33:49 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: CottonBall

I mowed all day, finished about an hour before the thunderstorms moved in. We had some close lightning strikes. Finally, around 7:30, it was just a light rain. I went walking with an umbrella for about 30 minutes, squishing through the fields. The night before, I walked as the last light was fading & the fireflies were out - didn’t see any tonight. It rained so hard during the thunderstorms, I had two flash flood warnings on my phone - I think I’m going to have to buy some water wings for my veggies!


55 posted on 06/02/2018 7:21:23 PM PDT by Qiviut (Obama's Legacy in two words: DONALD TRUMPIt)
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To: left that other site

I’ll bet it would be blah???


56 posted on 06/02/2018 7:46:53 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Thanks, I thought it looked like pvc.


57 posted on 06/02/2018 7:47:27 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

blah to the max!

(Even onions and garlic are considered “herbs”)


58 posted on 06/03/2018 5:21:27 AM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: greeneyes

I never understood why but wife decided tp paint some of the PVC black...


59 posted on 06/03/2018 5:37:47 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: greeneyes

“It’s got to be easier than gardening for two or more. LOL”

My wife used to freeze and can enough so she could cook all winter without buying vegetables at the store. Since she passed away my idea of cooking is hotdogs and burgers with an occasional roast in the crock pot.
I do freeze plenty of peppers, sweet bell. I put them on everything, even cheese sandwiches. Diced on all beef hotdogs, sliced on burgers and sandwiches, just about anything you put a condiment on.

I have new landlords and they are still moving in so I guess they will be the recipient of some of the extras.
We have a one acre back lot that is a great garden spot. From the way he talks I expect he will end up with most of it in garden.


60 posted on 06/03/2018 7:27:12 AM PDT by oldvirginian (Horsepower=how hard you hit the wall, torque=how far you take the wall with you.-RIP John Winters)
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