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Weekly Garden Thread - May 6-12, 2023 [Companion Planting Edition]
May 6, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 05/06/2023 5:31:33 AM PDT 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

Like German Department stores that have a Husband area where they sit and drink beer while Die Frauen are shopping!


81 posted on 05/08/2023 6:53:19 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border )
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To: metmom
Do you have a porch you can put them on? It will harden them off and they will do much better outside anyways.

Sorry for not responding sooner, but yes, we have 2 porches (a rarity here) and the front one faces South-West, so that is good. Plants were outside for last 3 days, but the strong wind and cool nights was killing some, so I have them in for the night, and will do so until Thur, as Wed night is sppsd to be 39F.

Plan to begin planting them Thur afternoon, God willing. Ground has been covered with Weed Barrier Fabric that preacher Steve gave me, praise God. Makes it warmer for now.

Thanks be to God.

82 posted on 05/08/2023 7:30:23 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him who saves, be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

We actually made it to 87! At least it wasn’t very humid.


83 posted on 05/08/2023 7:47:53 PM PDT by Qiviut (I'm not out of control, I'm just not in their control. $hot $hills: Sod Off)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

https://waldenlabs.com/the-ultimate-companion-planting-guide-chart/

Their link to the big chart is bad but I have the chart on my cloud; https://permasteader.route66custom.com/cloud/index.php/s/gzdDRYe4Qganzas

Scroll down to Companion_Planting_Chart.pdf - click on it and then look for the down arrow to download.


My 6-8 inch tomato starts look really good but the ones I got from the Amish store are 14-16 inches and have flowers. Sat there looking at both and had an epiphany. Feed sooner and more frequently. Bought some OMRI fish based fertilizer. Good and stinky.

Guess I should start some marigolds. Better late than never.


84 posted on 05/09/2023 7:24:40 AM PDT by Pollard ( >>> The Great Reset is already underway! <<<)
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To: Pollard

Yep. As soon as any seedling has 2 ADULT leaves (not counting the seed/seedling-leaves) its time to EAT. But, us a much milder formulation on them - they’re babies!

I’m going to make mine tough it out - don’t want to re-pot into bigger pots - they’re still OK and not root-bound in their 4” pots. ;)

Getting in the taters today, as well as 3 kinds of KALE and some salad greens. Broke down and bought more Broccoli as I found a 6-pack of the Bonnie brand, ‘Lieutenant’ that gave me two exceptional crops last season. If something works - stick with it! :)


85 posted on 05/09/2023 11:37:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: All
Saskatoon Service Berry blooming against a perfect clear blue Wisconsin sky. I just might enter this shot in the County Fair this season.


86 posted on 05/09/2023 11:40:41 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Pete, you are a master gardener, so this question is for you:

How do you tell the difference between normal wild celery, and the poisonous kind? They look a lot alike.

I have a patch growing back in a ditch next to my black willow trees. But I am afraid to try eating it.


87 posted on 05/09/2023 11:49:16 AM PDT by miserare ( "Equity" is the new word for Communism.)
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To: miserare; Diana in Wisconsin
M. If you could post a picture it would be helpful! (And I might not want to make an identification even then not being a Euell Gibbons type!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_celery

"Wild celery is a common name for several plants. It can refer to:

Wild growing forms of celery, Apium graveolens
Angelica archangelica, cultivated as a vegetable and medicinal plant
Lovage, Levisticum officinale, sometimes known as wild celery
Trachyspermum roxburghianum, a plant used as a spice in South and Southeast Asia
Vallisneria americana, an aquatic plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae"

Here is a Youtube on Lovage (Levisticum Officinale):

Lovage, Growing Harvest, and Use

Here is the aquatic plant! (Which I do not think is what you have, but it is interesting so I am posting this!)

Aquatic "Aquatic Wild Celery

Reasons to hesitate making an identification!

Short history of Poison Hemlock

and

PennState Extension Poison Hemlock facts


88 posted on 05/09/2023 7:02:08 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border )
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To: Pollard

Pollard; Marigolds; Just buy some trays at the local garden center.


89 posted on 05/09/2023 7:06:28 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border )
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To: miserare; Diana in Wisconsin
M. "Master Gardener" Aw shucks!

We all know that Diana is the real master gardener on this thread! :)

90 posted on 05/10/2023 6:36:31 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Master Gardener? I just play one on the Internets. ;) I took the course but didn’t finish it - I went straight into ‘The Biz’ and learned on the fly.

(Had to spend all that time in the Army, so that kind of made it difficult to garden as much as I wanted to; making up for lost time in my Retirement.)


91 posted on 05/10/2023 6:43:50 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Eric in the Ozarks; All
Eric shares a Garden Visitor and progress on Tomatoes and Peppers:


92 posted on 05/10/2023 6:46:48 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: All

93 posted on 05/10/2023 7:26:11 AM PDT 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
Yep. As soon as any seedling has 2 ADULT leaves (not counting the seed/seedling-leaves) its time to EAT

I fooled myself last year by making my own seedling mixes. They included old chicken/goat manure but evidently old enough to lack nitrogen altogether. Reading labels this year on mixes plus a bottle of 5-1-1 fish emulsion I bought plus seeing the stout Amish plants made the might bulb come on.


Picked up four cattle panels today and placed them around the front yard garden. It's an odd shape but I figured out how to arrange them and not have to cut them. Need to wire them in place. That should keep the goats out, especially since I'm leaving the old stuff up which includes 30" chicken wire and 39" field fence, both of which will get wired to the panels.

That will allow me to get plants outside asap and they're very ready to go out. I used that 5-1-1 fish fertilizer for the first time two days ago and had to raise the lights the yesterday.

Then I can work on upgrading the perimeter fence so the goats aren't free ranging. High tunnel too and seeing/handling these panels, I know what I'm using to fence that in.

All I'm doing is tomatoes and string beans this year. Not a lot of beans. I have several varieties so I'll do a couple of each to trial them. I think I have one packet of standard green beans so I might do more of them if I have room. The rest are specialty/rare varieties. Multi-color, purple, super long Asian etc.

Later today when I have the panels wired up and the sun's almost ready to go down past the trees, I'll bring the plants out for a little while. Not much wind today. 30-70% chance of rain every day for the forecast-able future and I have my three day weekend this week to harden them off and get them in the ground.

Unlike last year, I know ahead of time that I'll be doing the lean and lower method for the indeterminate maters so I'll plant them in two nice straight lines and set up something sturdier to hang them from. That same structure can be used to put shade cloth over them if we get another long hot weather session.

94 posted on 05/10/2023 12:06:46 PM PDT by Pollard ( >>> The Great Reset is already underway! <<<)
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To: Pollard; Pete from Shawnee Mission

“Unlike last year, I know ahead of time that I’ll be doing the lean and lower method for the indeterminate maters...”

I forget who had such good success with tomato plants held up on sturdy string of some kind?

I space mine well apart and use those folding square tomato cages. I love them, though they ARE an investment. I’ve had mine for 15 years though. I think I have a total of 30, having bought 3 more last year. I fold them flat and store them in the milk house over winter.


95 posted on 05/10/2023 12:51:00 PM PDT 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 forget who had such good success with tomato plants held up on sturdy string of some kind?

If the goats hadn't made their way in, I would have had cherry maters until it got too cold. It's the way to go with indeterminate cherry maters.

Got the FYG(front yard garden) cleaned up and cattle panels wired in place. I can plant at will.

96 posted on 05/10/2023 3:48:17 PM PDT by Pollard ( >>> The Great Reset is already underway! <<<)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Pollard
I don't know if that was me but I do use paracord suspended from a piece of conduit and a clip! This is a 2022 picture.

1

Picture agreed to lay on its side so you can see the clip on the paracord !

One major reason I decided to start doing this is that I got tired of buying stakes and tearing up rags for ties. The conduit uprights and anchors at the base of the tomatoes are reusable from year to year. I like to replace the paracord every year.

Here is cute lady on you tube explaining the system.

String trellis system for tomatoes you tube.

97 posted on 05/10/2023 7:25:51 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Yep. That’s what I remember!


98 posted on 05/11/2023 6:13:29 AM PDT 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

Just ran across this site for people to buy and sell their seeds and cuttings etc. Do you know anything about it? I have been wanting to try some lotus seeds for a deck planter.

https://www.earthandjungle.com/product/iiFU4KKf/lotus-seeds-nelumbo-nucifera?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=catalog


99 posted on 05/11/2023 3:48:47 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: MomwithHope

Makes sense, though I’m sure there are restriction across some State lines; even on-line growers can’t sell everywhere due to invasive species.

Will check it out in the AM. :)


100 posted on 05/11/2023 7:14:57 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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