Weekly Garden Thread - July 3-9, 2021 [Victory Garden Edition]

July 3, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[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!

[left that other site]

Pouring rain here in Boston.

The Grass loves it!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Have a great time at the lake! Happy Fourth to You and Yours!

Beau is up at our cabin this week. Bear Training Camp starts for the younger dogs, so you can't miss that, of course! (I still have SIX dogs, the puppy, the mule, the steer, the cats & the raccoons to care for; a SLIGHT break in the number of mouths to feed!) I am having family over for a BBQ this afternoon and this evening I am joining my nearest neighbors for fireworks. We go to the top of the road that separates our farms, and we can see fireworks displays from four surrounding communities. Very convenient, no crowds and usually no mosquitoes!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Volunteer Nasturtium? I have a few this season. Love them. Useful and edible! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Pete!

[bert]

60+ NASTURTIUM RECIPES ~ FOOD, DRINKS, REMEDIES & MORE

https://practicalselfreliance.com/nasturtium-recipes/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Nasturtium can help control aphids, cabbage moths and cucumber beetles.

I got socked with cabbage moths/worms this season - they got at my broccoli, some of which was salvageable, but I think I’ve saved the cauliflower! My nasturtium aren’t blooming quite yet, so bad timing on my part. :(

[bert]

Check out YouTube search coffe grounds gardening

There are pros and cons to coffee grounds there

[Diana in Wisconsin]

17.5” of rain sounds impossible! You deserve a break, Augie! Enjoy the day. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

What variety are you planting? I usually use ‘Jade Cross.’ I tried a purple variety last year, (’Rubine’, heirloom)but the sprouts were puny. :(

They like full sun, lots of nitrogen and cooler temps, so try to time it so your fall temps aren’t higher than 75 degrees - if you can in this crazy growing season!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

What a great blog! Bookmarked. She sounds like my kind of gal. :)

[Bob434]

[[and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. ]]

So if I ask a question I’m not dum?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It finally quit raining in mid-Missouri.
Local farmers market was busy.

One lady had four or five varieties of tomatoes, all red and ready for sliding.
We have a couple hundred tomatoes on the vine. All green...

[Bob434]

Bought a semi expensive larger bore (.25 caliber) pellet rifle for woodchuck. Had one In garden right in th3 beginning, at our beet tops, and some lettuce. and o nly had a cheapo pellet rifle that did nothing but irritate the woodchuck really, so decided to splurge and get a larger ore powerful one, only the woodchuck disappeared (I think our resident fox got it. The woodchuck was only a small one, so it wasn’t real savvy yet I don’t think.) Oh well, I’ll be prepared for the next woodchuck that come calling at least. We have a crazy red squirrel that I think has a me tal problem, either that or it’s a Crack addict. It kept trying to get into the bluebird nest, but the parents did a good job fending it off.

[LibWhacker]

[Bob434]

How many raccoons ya got? Do they bet near you? Or just come to porch for food? There is so e dude I. Some other country that feeds like 30 of them every night, they crawl all over him, but are pretty polite awaiting their turn. Pretty cool to watch

[MomwithHope]

We put all our coffee grounds in our compost pile. Great for compost . I would not put them directly on the garden.

[MomwithHope]

2 less! The carcasses are stinking but they rolled down the hill a ways. I am hoping the stink will deter others from moving in.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Boston pickling...wife and daughter like to snack on them.

[metmom]

I found Gopher Gasser cartridges at a local store, and picked some up.

You get ready to plug the hole, light the thing and toss it in and then quickly plug the hole with dirt.

It also reveals where the other openings are so you can get them.

I have not seen one woodchuck around our place as of yet. But mr. mm thinks we have a stray cat living under our garden shed so that may be the help.

We also have owls around. I don’t know if that helps or not.

Course, I’m looking forward to taking care of any with 9 mm. I’m a pretty good shot with targets, but have not yet tried on moving ones.

[MomwithHope]

We use a .22LR. This one was particularly savvy - an older female, her fur was even turning grey. You could only slide open the slider a bit she had to turn her back to you for you to get a shot. Whenever she came out of the brush she watched the house. Hubby finally got her when her back was turned. About an hour later the smaller one came out and was looking for mama. The small ones this time of year are either the young or males, which are quite a bit smaller than the females. This year I planted no green beans which has been their favorite. She still bothered the broccoli and lettuce but we foiled her early on with collars and chicken wire covers.