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Weekly Garden Thread - August 19-25, 2023 [National Potato Day Edition]
August 19, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 08/19/2023 5:24:58 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; potatoes
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Good morning and thank you Diana for another weekly gardening thread!!

Hasselback Potatoes

This recipe calls for:

3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes 4 tablespoons bacon grease or olive oil 5 cloves garlic 4 sprigs rosemary Salt and pepper

Instructions at link!

A flock of Hasselback Potatoes milling around waiting for dinner!

Hasselback potatoes was a menu item from the Hasselback Hotel in Stockholm Sweden.

The trick to making even depth cuts on the potatoes, is to put a couple of chopsticks on either side of the potato when slicing.

21 posted on 08/19/2023 6:49:47 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border 75F sunny )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The recipe...you beat me too it!


22 posted on 08/19/2023 6:53:34 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border 75F sunny )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

One of the foods I majorly miss in my low carb lifestyle is potatoes (the other ‘biggy’ is Sourdough bread). Occasionally, I do have potatoes as a treat. In my herb book, the chapter on parsley, there is a recipe that will be my next potatoes ‘treat’ meal:

Parsley Potatoes

2 lbs potatoes, sliced 1/4” thick
1/3 cup duck fat (or lard or butter), melted
Salt & pepper to taste
2 cups finely minced shiitake mushrooms
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 small bunch of parsley, minced

Preheat the oven to 400°
Combine the potatoes in a large roasting pan with the melted duck fat. Add the salt & pepper to taste.
Place the pan in the oven, and bake for 30 minutes, turning the potatoes half way through.
When the potatoes are tender, add the shiitake mushrooms and garlic, then cook another 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and stir in the parsley. Serve immediately.

******

This is a version of a traditional recipe from central France and served at almost every meal.

Parsley - it’s not just for garnish but has many medicinal qualities!


23 posted on 08/19/2023 6:59:25 AM PDT by Qiviut (To the living, we owe respect. To the dead, we owe the truth (Voltaire) $hot $hills: Sod Off)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Wonderful! If I were ever stuck on a deserted island I could not do without potatoes. They are my favorite food. The Irish in me. ; )


24 posted on 08/19/2023 7:13:16 AM PDT by NeverTyranny
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

German Butterball arent in supermarkets.......
I want some after that luscious description.


25 posted on 08/19/2023 7:13:46 AM PDT by Liz (More tears are shed over answered prayers than over unanswered ones. St Teresa of Avila)
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To: KC Burke

Zone 8a is pretty hot. The key with Peonies is that they need that winter chill.

Watering them some will help, but they won’t give you a second bloom. Mine bloom in May (Zone 5a) then slowly go dormant as the summer progresses. I keep mine watered, too, so the leaves stay green longer than if they don’t get watered.

For Zone 8, they recommend the ‘Itoh’ varieties - which are the ridiculously expensive ones. Of course, LOL!

I also found this:

How do you take care of peonies in Zone 8?

🌸 Growing, Planting, and Care Peonies 🌺

Peonies prefer full sun (at least 6 hours per day) — those growing at the warmest end of their range (zone 8) will appreciate some afternoon shade. Peonies like fertile, rich, well-drained soil. Think lots of nutrients but no heavy, soggy clay.

Good luck!


26 posted on 08/19/2023 7:22:22 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: Liz

German Butterballs can probably be found at Farmer’s Markets, though, so all is not lost!

Yukon Gold used to be hard to find, but they’re pretty mainstream now, and are a decent substitute.


27 posted on 08/19/2023 7:24:37 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

The point of so many plants was testing for which varieties would perform the best in my soil and this crazy heat (length of heat wave not the actual temps.)

I am in the county so no water restrictions but I hand water with a hose and wand daily. Each tomato plant gets a 8 second long dose (there is a flat spot next to every plant that acts like a little lake bed) which fills up the spot. Takes just a few minutes for it all to soak in.

I have big plans for landscaping....not much grass but trees and shrubs (fruit and nut trees and roses etc..

It won’t shock you to find out I introduced myself to the sweet lady who water’s all the plants up and down main street.

She and her hubby already have the invite to our housewarming party. We give eachother hugs when we see eachother because we are those sort of happy people who are “huggers” and we both love gardening.

Work is going well...I am now attached to the detectives division and I’m the CSI unit.

More like CSI light.....but I can collect evidence, lift prints, and drive stuff to the DPS crime lab when I need someone else’s skill level to handle the job.


28 posted on 08/19/2023 7:24:47 AM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (To you all, my loyal spell checkers....nothing but prospect and admiral nation.)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
Good to hear from you again! Congratulations on getting into the new house! Nice to have a house built the way you want.

Have fun experimenting to find out what grows well in your garden! Watermelon and peppers sound like winners!

If you like okra its a good heat tolerant plant, Sweet potates too, but do not plant them together. (Okra can provide shade for melons and cucumbers.)

Companion Plants for Okra

I am growing Homestead 24 tomatoes which seem to be doing pretty well in the heat. most of the others have slowed down.

One plant that breaks up compacted soil is Purslane or Portulaca (If grown for the flowers!) It tolerates heat and has a lot of good nutrients and can be used in salads. It once was used as food, then fell out of favor, but is starting to be eaten again. It is apparently about $10 a pound when you buy it! (Do not mistake it for the weed spurge, which is not edible!)


29 posted on 08/19/2023 7:28:20 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border 75F sunny )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Farmer’s Market.......gotcha.


30 posted on 08/19/2023 7:36:46 AM PDT by Liz (More tears are shed over answered prayers than over unanswered ones. St Teresa of Avila)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

In Central IL: Dehydrate,,,,
We will be digging our spuds this coming week. There are a lot for just two people. We plant Kennebec potatoes. Long term survivers last us into January. Still we have far more, and when they begin to eye out in Jan. We look them over closely. Those who look like they will hold over until planting early we save. Those who appear to need using right away we Dry.

If you have never dried potatoes there are three things you must do.
1. Clean them well and slice them thin..perhaps 1/4 inch thick.
2. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Place the potatoes in the water [let it come to a boil after adding spuds] Boil for two minutes.
3. For best results place on a fan forced food dehydrator until they get hard. Place in the best air reduced system you have. We use gallon glass pickle jars. The air doesn’t seem to be a problem.
If you do this your potatoes will dry well. Keep for a very long time, and taste awesome with the potato texture equal to original.
We use them for almost anything. You can soak these, and then boil the slices for a short while, drain and mash.
They are awesome for cheese dishes etc.
Folks, this is a hack for potato storage. To many potatoes? Never. Keep them as long as you like.
We use an Excalibur dehydrator as well as an AH and a couple of other dehydrators. But you don’t need an expensive dehydrator. Even non fan forced will work but require longer drying times.
Dehydrate what you cannot use. Do not throw them out. Add nothing to them. Just blanch and dry. And no they will not turn dark if done properly


31 posted on 08/19/2023 8:02:48 AM PDT by harpolemond (And yes. Truth will always set you free; Know This: abortion is passing a child into the fire)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good Morning...I am at ER awaiting doc because something in my garden bit me last nite...miserable nite...swelling not going down and very painful, plus flu like symptoms. ...lesson learned...wear long sleeve shirts in the garden!!


32 posted on 08/19/2023 8:03:52 AM PDT by goodnesswins ( We pretend to vote and they pretend to count the votes.)
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To: NeverTyranny

Made Potato Pancakes a while back...such a treet...and with sour cream....Heaven...


33 posted on 08/19/2023 8:16:38 AM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Sacajaweau

treet???? really...not treat??? Ahhh the influence of twitter has twisted my mind...lol


34 posted on 08/19/2023 8:21:15 AM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Thanks for the helpful link. I think I am going to dehydrate some and then see if I can grind it into a powder. Maybe add it to recipes that could use a little tartness, like muffins. I don’t know. Fingers crossed. I can find rhubarb in the store here in SE Texas but it’s kind of expensive so it’s not at the top of my shopping list so this little experiment will not happen right away.


35 posted on 08/19/2023 8:27:41 AM PDT by uptowngirl
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I've been making potatoes a lot lately - and am trying to get up the energy to make my grandmother's wonderful potato salad that takes two days.

Meanwhile, we are waiting to get blasted with up to 10" of rain over the next two days here in So Cal. We can always use the water but I assume a lot of this will run off b/c it is so fast and furious. Still, will be nice to dampen the heat we've had and give the trees a good soaking.

My plumeria are blooming very nicely this year.

A7-D653-EA-25-C6-46-E9-A8-D8-92-A94-F56-D841-1-201-a

And my black mission fig tree is about to explode all at once:

85189-AAB-AD4-E-40-CB-A1-B3-0233-B04-AE245-1-105-c

My helpers waiting for their next assignment

80-D10-DAC-26-DB-4772-8-A25-2621-B6-C990-E9-1-201-a

36 posted on 08/19/2023 9:20:49 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (What did Socialists use before Candles?..... Electricity)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

78°, 34% humidity, sunshine with a breeze .... heavenly! It feels like an early Fall day, my favorite time of year. This won’t last beyond tomorrow.


37 posted on 08/19/2023 9:54:54 AM PDT by Qiviut (To the living, we owe respect. To the dead, we owe the truth (Voltaire) $hot $hills: Sod Off)
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To: goodnesswins
Ouch! Sorry to hear that! Did you see it? What did it look like? Hornet? wasp? (Not that Japanese Hornet!)
38 posted on 08/19/2023 9:56:44 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border 83F sunny 11:53 cst )
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To: Bon of Babble

Bon! Great production on that Fig Tree!


39 posted on 08/19/2023 10:09:51 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission (6B KS/MO border 83F sunny 11:53 cst )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Here we go again


40 posted on 08/19/2023 10:16:48 AM PDT by Pollard (The US government has US citizens as political prisoners!)
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