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Weekly Garden Thread - February 27 - March 5, 2021
February 27, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

Posted on 02/27/2021 7:15:47 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

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.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. 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! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

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 to Gardeners are welcomed any time!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Went back out to my property with 3 bags of potting soil, a shovel, a handful of seed packets, and a desire to plant something.

There was a huge ice storm and tons of broken tree limbs everywhere.

I found 2 oak trees which were 4 feet apart with a lot of limbs n branches on the ground.

I move all the limbs into a circle, about
40 feer in diameter, surrounding the 2 trees.

My property has a grazing lease for cattle and they watched in what passes as amusement for a cow as I shoveled pile sof half dried cow pies and walked them over to the area beneath the trees.

I smushed the cow patties apart with the shovel shovel put the potting soil on top of the manure.

Took about 8 packs of different kinds if seeds, poured them into a gas station to-go coffee cup...shook em up...then spread them across the little garden plot.

Tomorrow I am getting more bags of soil and shoveling more cowpies...then spreading some herb seeds.

The branches are meant to deter the cows ajd hopefully keep the plentiful deer from eating the newly sprouted plants before I come back to town in May.

The branches are very thick and 6 feet high. The deer can hop over it but they have easier options considering there is a deer feeder nearby.

This is part experimentbw8thbhalf of the seeds being found last week in my dad’s garage in Florida.....somenas old as 1989-1991.

We shall see.


61 posted on 03/01/2021 2:33:14 PM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (To you all, my loyal spell checkers....nothing but prospect and admiral nation.)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

Wonder what new invasive plants you’ve just planted in Texas, LOL! Way to endear yourself to the natives, Dude!

If it was Bluebonnet seed, you’re in the clear. ;)

And what’s more fun than messin’ with cow chips? We have an annual contest up here in Wisconsin:

https://www.wiscowchip.com/

Also, candy that looks like cow pies is very popular, as is our Mustard Museum:

https://store.mustardmuseum.com/product/326/made-in-wisconsin


62 posted on 03/01/2021 3:14:21 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I grow heirloom tomatoes. I used to have a give away and can crop. But the last few years it's been just a couple of BLTs. I till my raised bed and add compost and other ingredients to the point my ph tester says "Buy more Mason jars". The plants jumped to life. They had lots of support for their journey upwards.

Then things went down hill. The leaves started wilting and turning yellow. I had been diligent about testing the soil for moisture. What am I doing wrong?

Then it hit me, healthy plant above, healthy plant below. So to get at the root of the problem, I thought about the my raised bed of about 10 inches and determined the roots were getting into the soil below and that was the problem.

Tilling a raised bed is a delicate procedure. You want to try to keep the soil inside.Trying to till the ground under an existing raised bed is going to be a mess.

(As an aside if you decide to do a raised garden till and prep the ground beneath before adding the soil above.)

My solution is hugelkultur. You take rotten wood, grass clippings, compost, straw and soil and build mounds. The roots of my plants will be raised above that soiled soil below.

63 posted on 03/01/2021 3:49:05 PM PST by Starstruck ( Since I'm old I don't whether I'm senile or brilliant. Or happily both.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

The upper terrace, where you enjoy the evening breezes and a cocktail and look out across the Mediterranean at North Africa!

The lower terrace, the potted pepper place!


64 posted on 03/01/2021 4:53:29 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

8ndont think sone tomato, sunflower, watwrmelon and dill seeds are going to change the ecosystem to much

Oh...and Kudzu....I planted a metric shit of kudzu.


65 posted on 03/01/2021 5:47:19 PM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (To you all, my loyal spell checkers....nothing but prospect and admiral nation.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Just checking in.
Bought some extravagant Zinnia seeds today at the grocery ... that’s all I’m doing so far LOL!


66 posted on 03/01/2021 5:49:19 PM PST by mrsmith (US MEDIA: " Every 'White' cop is a criminal! And all the 'non-white' criminals saints!")
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To: Starstruck

Brilliant solution. Thanks for sharing as I’m sure you’ve helped someone here!

I have 14 raised beds, 4’x8’ filled with composted mule manure, homemade compost and virgin soil from our pasture. It’s good stuff!

Beau tills the beds for me every 3-4 years; I always top everything off with straw during the growing season and over winter - that stuff breaks down and adds to the soil, as well. I just have him do the top few inches; it really doesn’t need any more that that and I don’t want to disturb the earthworms in there, either.

We have a small rototiller made by STIHL that even I can manage and lift in and out of the beds. We have another HUGE one that I call ‘Darth Vader.’ I don’t mess with him! ;)


67 posted on 03/01/2021 5:56:50 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: mrsmith

Quite a number of Zinnia-Heads here - I always grow them. Such a cheerful flower. :)


68 posted on 03/01/2021 5:57:50 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Ah, the Zinnia!
So much beauty from so little effort!

When Spring is here for sure I’ll be dashing haphazard into a little gardening- like I do every year. Oh, I’m also watching all the Green Acres shows, would like to find some BLT sandwich seeds...

Say, did anyone try that upside down clothes container as a semi-greenhouse for greens trick that was on here last fall?
I bought the container and a bag of soil but never did anything.
If it worked for someone I can shame myself into doing it next year.

Thanks for the thread!


69 posted on 03/01/2021 6:08:43 PM PST by mrsmith (US MEDIA: " Every 'White' cop is a criminal! And all the 'non-white' criminals saints!")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Ahh, the heavenly aroma of coffee.


70 posted on 03/01/2021 7:53:21 PM PST by tob2 (So much to do; so little desire to do it.)
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To: greeneyes

A lot can be grown in small spaces. There are some books devoted to gardening in small space. Postage Stamp Gardening is one of them and has lots of useful informaton.


71 posted on 03/01/2021 8:08:39 PM PST by tob2 (So much to do; so little desire to do it.)
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To: mrsmith; All

“Say, did anyone try that upside down clothes container as a semi-greenhouse for greens trick that was on here last fall?”

I did! I had greens growing in my (unheated) greenhouse until December 23rd this year using that idea!

I moved a bunch of lettuces and spinach that I had growing indoors out there, today. It was 82 in the greenhouse, and I closed up and covered up everything this afternoon when the temps started to drop. It’s 25 degrees out there right now (I have a remote thermometer hooked up to the greenhouse that I can read in the kitchen) BUT all of the plants are protected by that additional layer of the upside-down storage tub, SO if the cold air doesn’t TOUCH them, they should make it.

This is an experiment for me on the flip-side of growing greens in there into the Fall/Winter.

I’ll report back. I took pictures to post tomorrow. :)


72 posted on 03/01/2021 8:24:01 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: mrsmith

P.S. I’m in Zone 4/5, SW corner of Wisconsin.


73 posted on 03/01/2021 8:25:03 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: tob2

It’s possible for a person to grow all their (approximately 322 Lbs.)vegetarian food in 200 sq. ft growing area with a 6 month growing period.

Plant that same area with winter wheat and/or winter rye, and you will have enough to make a loaf of bread every week and a half.

Increase that area to 300 sq. ft. and you’ll be able to have a loaf of bread every week, and about 160 lbs of extra produce to share with a neighbor, or sell at the farmers market.


74 posted on 03/02/2021 12:02:20 AM PST by greeneyes ( Moderation In Pursuit of Justice is NO Virtue--LET FREEDOM RING)
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To: Liz

I have a very small Hamilton Beach that I picked up on sale at walmart to do quick jobs like onions and stuff. I really like it, but it doesn’t hold much-not much more than 1 cup liquid.

I had to re-arrange the kitchen space to make room for the Ninja-waiting, waiting, waiting...LOL


75 posted on 03/02/2021 12:35:55 AM PST by greeneyes ( Moderation In Pursuit of Justice is NO Virtue--LET FREEDOM RING)
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To: greeneyes
This beloved recipe came w/ my Ninja booklet:

FROZEN MOCHA JOE--uses up leftover morning coffee.

>

Blender smooth cup chilled brewed strong black coffee, cup
low-fat dark chocolate frozen yogurt, 2 tb ea caramel/chocolate
syrups, 10 ice cubes.

SERVE in tall glasses garnished w/ whipped cream.

76 posted on 03/02/2021 4:02:31 AM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
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To: Liz

sounds good. I sometimes have a small amount of coffee left over. I usually give it to the compost pile. I’m not found of cold coffee. I have however added to my slimfast morning shake.

I researching a recipe for doughnuts and home made bread to try out the new pressure/air fryer combo.

I watched a video of a lady canning butter yesterday. She claims it keeps for 5 years. Might try to do a batch to see.


77 posted on 03/02/2021 4:15:07 AM PST by greeneyes ( Moderation In Pursuit of Justice is NO Virtue--LET FREEDOM RING)
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To: Liz

I had a lemon that had ripened enough, so I pulled it off the tree and made some of that syrup that you posted. So far, I’ve only used it to drink by adding club soda on ice.


78 posted on 03/02/2021 4:19:12 AM PST by greeneyes ( Moderation In Pursuit of Justice is NO Virtue--LET FREEDOM RING)
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To: greeneyes

Mmmmmmm....a refreshing lemon beverage cant be beat.


79 posted on 03/02/2021 4:21:40 AM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
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To: All
When planting by the phases of the Moon, use this handy guide!


80 posted on 03/02/2021 6:00:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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