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Weekly Garden Thread - June 3-9, 2023 ['Shady Characters' Edition]
June 3, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 06/03/2023 6:16:46 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; foodsecurity; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: Red Badger

It must be a different vine then. I wouldn’t mind it propagating like that. I would have lots of potted vines and a lot to give away as ‘freebies’ to friends.

I have lemon balm and mint that is taking over where I planted it. And the lemon balm has spread throughout the entire yard. I just dig up, pluck and prune it wherever I don’t want it to grow.


81 posted on 06/06/2023 9:19:44 AM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: Danie_2023

There are several vines that go by the name ‘Trumpet Vine’, but only one that I know of that has orange colored blossoms........Cultivated ones come in yellow and pink as well.........


82 posted on 06/06/2023 9:23:00 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Danie_2023

Ever try Wisteria?

It’s almost as bad, or good, depending.....................


83 posted on 06/06/2023 9:25:30 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Danie_2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxOvokLHNcc


84 posted on 06/06/2023 10:15:51 AM PDT by spankalib
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To: Red Badger

No, the only other vines I’ve tried are Passion Flower Vine and Star Jasmine.


85 posted on 06/06/2023 11:36:24 AM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: Danie_2023

We called them ‘Maypops’ in Mississippi.

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

They also grew wild along ditches and roads. They smell awesome.................


86 posted on 06/06/2023 11:46:00 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

That is the exact kind I have growing and trying to grow everywhere I don’t want it. But yes, they smell great. I’m always pulling up the sprouts from the lawn.


87 posted on 06/06/2023 12:35:40 PM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

A question.....

Many root crops are biennials.

Are they good to eat if you get to them before they flower and go to seed? Or do they get woody and lost their taste?

My turnips are flowering right now and I’m not touching them, but my carrots have not yet started to flower. If they can still be harvested, I’ll do it.


88 posted on 06/06/2023 12:39:08 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: metmom

Yes, you can harvest them when in bloom. Not sure if the quality will be the same, though.


89 posted on 06/06/2023 1:48:43 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; All

Really busy day today ... “best laid plans” going awry & all that stuff.

We have had the smoke from the Canadian wildfires yesterday & today. Yesterday, it was a high haze that made it seem like a cloudy day with weak sun filtering through. This morning, the haze was hanging in the trees & you could smell the smoke. The haze lifted by noon, but is still there in the upper atmosphere & keeping the sunshine very filtered.

I started in the garden early, but quickly found myself cutting down/trimming all the tree branches that pi$$ me off by swacking me in the head while I am mowing. All 5 redbuds were majorly trimmed back as were three holly trees (I hate hollies) & a couple of cedars.

Next project I worked on was finding materials to make supports for the pickup cap that I am taking off. I have figured a way to do it MYSELF since I can’t seem to get any help from larger, stronger members of the family🤬. I think I have it figured so I won’t hurt myself.

On a less ‘grumpy’ note, while scrounging for what I needed for the truck project, I do believe I found the lumber for making a new herb garden or enlarging what I have - yay!


90 posted on 06/07/2023 3:45:46 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: Danie_2023
Take a section of the vine that you can lay on the ground. Scrape a bit, sprinkle some hormex on that scrape, lay it down, put some soil on it and and put a brick on top. Water. Wait 2 months. pick up the brick and see if its rooted. If yes, you can cut it from the existing vine and feed some section of your yard to your new pet!

(See the previous Trumpet Vine Warnings....Are you using this to attack your neighborhood?? :)

91 posted on 06/08/2023 8:15:27 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Beekeepers, possible Future world, forewarned is forearmed! How to defend against Japanese Hornets. (Warning! Giant Hornet youtube!)

Japanese with subtitles.

Japanese Beekeepers Method of dealing with Giant Hornets

Second youtube using same method

Second YouTube capturing destroying Giant Hornets.

Not sure if the Dept Agriculture in Washington State has managed to locate and destroy these hornets, but in case this becomes a problems in the PacNW....

92 posted on 06/08/2023 8:37:51 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“Take a section of the vine that you can lay on the ground. Scrape a bit, sprinkle some hormex on that scrape, lay it down, put some soil on it and and put a brick on top.”

Hormex, a rooting hormone powder, is better? I have some Green Light rooting hormone powder that never seemed to work for me. But I will try that. Thanks!


93 posted on 06/08/2023 8:40:07 AM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: FRiends

94 posted on 06/08/2023 9:48:00 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

*SHUDDER*

I had paper wasps building behind both side mirrors of my truck! Just blasted them all from about 20’ back, LOL!

I really dislike bugs. Another reason I’ll always live ABOVE the Mason/Dixon Line; I’ll risk frostbite over bugs! ;)


95 posted on 06/08/2023 10:08:03 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: Danie_2023
This is the active chemical. Not sure how much difference there is between types.

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

You could even just scrape it and put the brick on it without any thing else if you want.

There are also video that discuss the old timey way of propagating that use willow water.

Willow Water for Rooting

Bonus!! Here is someone discussing using rock on the branch air layering that I discussed above. (I saw this technique in an old Rodale Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.)

Willow water and rock on the branch air layer

96 posted on 06/08/2023 11:14:59 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Ok, but re: the scraping, do you just scrape off the outer bark layer? I’ve never tried that. I have tried just planting the vines, as is, into the soil below where the vines were growing. I’ll try what you’ve suggested this year.

I was surprised at how easy growing the grapevines was. I cut off ten or so dead-looking branches last winter and put them in a pot of dirt outside like it said to do on the internet. I figured, what the hell. This spring I was shocked to see most of them sprouting green and growing.

With the Blue Sky Vine, I just take woody cuttings and leave them in water until I see roots grow, then I plant in Styrofoam cups filled with potting soil. If they grow there, I later pot them and grow in medium sized pots until they are established.

Thanks for the tips.


97 posted on 06/08/2023 11:24:26 AM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Yellow jackets are a problem, wasps are a nuisance! Paper wasps seem to like getting their material from my garden fence!

A good reason to paint their porch ceiling sky blue, so that the Wasps do not site their nest over your head! (Your porch IIRC. )

98 posted on 06/08/2023 11:26:59 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All
Biological control for deer ticks - nematodes may have ability to control ticks that spread Lyme disease - Brief Article By Christine Mlot

Symbiotic microbes and nematodes make a versatile combination that is lethal to a variety of insects found in soil. That combination may now prove useful in controlling not just pests of plants but of people. Researchers from the Department of Agriculture are exploring the use of nematodes in attacking the hard-to-spot ticks involved in the spread of Lyme disease to humans.

At the Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Md., parasitologist Dolores Hill has tested Steinernema and Heterorhabditis nematodes for their ability to control adult deer ticks. The nematodes crawl or bite into the tick's body, then release their microbial partners, which infect and kill the tick within 24 hours. "Nematodes are extremely effective" against one stage of the ticks' life cycle, says Hill.

She plans this fall to test woodsy residential areas visited by tick-carrying deer. It may be possible to reduce the numbers of egg-laying female ticks and thus reduce the number of young, disease-transmitting ticks the following spring.

Other USDA researchers are exploring the use of fungi as yet another biological alternative to tick-killing chemical sprays.

Nematode Application: For 50 Mil. and larger quantities. Nematodes packaged in an inert powder carrying material that dissolves in water. Applied one teaspoon of the beneficial nematodes per gallon of water. Application in using a watering can, backpack sprayers, pump sprayers, irrigation systems, hose-end sprayer, or motorized sprayer. After mixing the nematodes with water, use the spray solution immediately. Evenly spray the solution over the ground areas to be treated. Continuous mixing should take place in order to prevent the nematodes from sinking to the bottom of the container. Keep the soil slightly moist during the first 7 days after application to help establish the nematodes in the soil. Sprinkle the turf or soil again with water after the application of the nematodes. Apply nematodes as soon as possible for best product performance. You may keep the package of nematodes in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks upon receiving the product. Nematode Application: For 10 Mil. Nematodes packaged on a sponge. Place the entire sponge in a bucket add two quarts of water, squeeze sponge for a few minutes to get the nematodes out of the sponge. Discard the sponge and pour the bucket of water into a sprayer or watering can. Add another gallon of water to dilute the nematodes and to make up the volume for your sprayer. The 10 Mil. Nematodes can only be kept for up to 3 days in refrigerator.

99 posted on 06/08/2023 12:23:42 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Danie_2023

Danie; I would just do some on the underside of the branch and make certain it is in contact with the soil.


100 posted on 06/08/2023 1:53:56 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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