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The Garden Thread - July, 2024
July 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 07/01/2024 6:30:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a 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 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/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. 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

They are gorgeous dogs!!!!


121 posted on 07/06/2024 6:07:26 PM PDT by pollywog (" O thou who changest not....ABIDE with me")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Thanks for the puppy pictures! They are a great looking litter of pups!


122 posted on 07/06/2024 6:10:43 PM PDT by Qiviut (Forced obedience to obvious lies is the essence of totalitarianism-the ultimate flex for psychopaths)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

https://4loveofgoldens.com/

Here is the website for my daughter’s Goldens...


123 posted on 07/06/2024 6:17:03 PM PDT by pollywog (" O thou who changest not....ABIDE with me")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I was afraid of that (requirement for morning sun). All that’s practical is sun most of the day or in afternoons, which may be what does in a lot of our plants anyway. Except weeds of course!

Tomatoes are about the only thing doing well for me this year. — the ones that the raccoons didn’t dig up. Those darn critters can find “organic” fertilizer (egg, fish head, etc.) buried over a foot under a plant... It’s a good thing I didn’t use such universally.


124 posted on 07/06/2024 6:26:39 PM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Paul R.
We've managed to trap two adult raccoons this Spring and 'relocated' them. If you need to set traps, it seems that Marshmallows are THE thing to lure them in.

They LOVE to steal my suet cages for the birds as well as yanking up fully grown peppers plants by the roots. JERKS!


125 posted on 07/06/2024 8:26:51 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

They like ripping the heads and feet off of chickens just for the fun of it.

So the NWS is calling for 2 1/2 days with good chances of thunderstorms with the wind never getting over 6 mph. ???

Tested retracting the window actuator to 50% overnight when the temp got below 70 degrees. It worked.

Now I want to try it with wind which is easy and will work just like the temp did, but also have it open/extend fully after wind dies down, which is tricky.

Guess I’ll shoot for 10 mph to close/retract it half way. Ain’t no way we get thunderstorms without some wind higher than 6 mph.


126 posted on 07/07/2024 8:53:58 AM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Pollard

Thunderstorms with NO wind means it’s a slow-moving SOAKER. Do you need one?

The FIRST thing ripped off of my greenhouse are the roof vents. I’ve replaced both of them so far. If I get a wind from the East, they’re toast. My ‘weather’ normally comes from the West.

We’ve gone two full days without rain - but more is predicted for tonight. I REALLY need to mow - but when? Man, this season SUCKS from beginning to end. And if this weather pattern continues to hold, I’ll be butt-deep in snow all winter. Ugh!

Where’s this Global Warming they’re always advertising? My nighttime temps are in the 60’s! How can I ripen my tomatoes? I guess this season it’s Green Tomato Chutney, LOL!


127 posted on 07/07/2024 6:15:05 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; Pollard

We picked up another inch of rain overnight. That makes 7.5” so far in the month of July.
Pond is full. More rain likely when the remnants of Beryl get here later this week.


128 posted on 07/08/2024 8:36:58 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Augie; Diana in Wisconsin
1.5 here today while I was at work. Estimated 1-2 inches tonight. Looked at the satellite before I left and what we got today was from Beryl

Looks like it whipped up some moisture from the gulf. The counterclockwise rotation was easier to see an hour ago when I looked at it. The 1-2 inches tonight, along with some wind will be more of Beryl.

If a hurricane hits the South coast, the people to the East of where it makes landfall get the most rain from the rotation/tail dragging it in from the ocean. The South coast of AL and GA and the panhandle of FL probably got a ton of rain. LA got both wind and rain since it shifted East right before it hit. I think it got downgraded to tropical storm by that time. I lived in Ctrl FL for 25 years so I've seen and been affected by a few.

Here's the 20 hour loop of the satellite which took close to a minute to load for me with good DSL - https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/conus_band.php?sat=G16&band=GEOCOLOR&length=240&dim=1 Kinda cool as you can see the ocean currents too. Didn't know they had this until just now. Can a satellite see daytime vs nightime or do they add that for effect?

129 posted on 07/08/2024 4:29:03 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Pollard; Augie

Wow! Looks like we ALL have plenty to complain about this growing season. :(

On the Bright Side - the field to the West is planted in Wheat but there are also DOZENS of GIANT Sunflowers in that field that just started blooming, today! It actually caught my eye while I was mowing. Super-Duper LOVELY!

I need to ask Farmer Dan if he did that on purpose or if they’re all ‘escapees’ from my garden. ;)


130 posted on 07/08/2024 4:49:40 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
Thunderstorms with NO wind means it’s a slow-moving SOAKER. Do you need one?

Not 3 1/2 inches of one:).

I'm sure the mushroom bed I just put in is nice and moist and will be for another day or three so that's a good thing. Need to rake up some mowed leaves to mulch it with. Once they dry out enough to rake.

We're getting some wind tomorrow night from Beryl. That will give me a chance to test the opening/closing of tunnel sides in wind events.

131 posted on 07/08/2024 5:23:21 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Pollard

“That will give me a chance to test the opening/closing of tunnel sides in wind events.”

OMG! You must be on pins and needles, LOL! :) Hope all goes well with your gadgetry. You are my favorite Gadget Guy. :)


132 posted on 07/08/2024 5:41:44 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

My bright side is that the Sunsugar are definitely less prone to splitting then Sungold. Haven’t looked at them yet after today’s downpours. I’ll go do that now.

That and I’m overloaded with shisito which is unsurprising since I bought something like 16 of those $1.50, 12”+ plants. Guess I’ll broil up a half a dozen for a snack here shortly. Will do a second batch, fridge them and see how good they are after nuking for 10 seconds or so at work tomorrow.

Ok, I’m back. Not a single split. Even though we had near two weeks of no rain, I kept things well watered because of having direct sowed some things so I imagine that helped.

Ate 5 ripe Sunsugar. Got one Supersonic that’s almost ripe and not split.

The clayey ground is like a sponge to walk on.


133 posted on 07/08/2024 5:56:33 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Pollard

Our lawn is ‘spongy’ too. And I ate 2 Sunsugar tomatoes this morning and by afternoon when I was done mowing, I had a third. Happy, Happy! :)

We ended up with NO rain today - a MIRACLE! I actually had to spot water some hanging baskets and plants in pots!

We might actually have THREE days in a row with no rain! Ya-Hoooo!

I can actually feel the MOLD & MILDEW drying and flaking off of me! :)


134 posted on 07/08/2024 7:38:08 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
OMG! You must be on pins and needles, LOL! :)

It's up and down. It is based on weather after all. The baby steps are really long baby steps sometimes.

It will probably take weeks if not months to get the bench test tunnel side (mockup) to open/close in a half way timely manner. It's quite a mind job trying to make a dumb computer do anything comparable to human thought, let alone instinct.

I have a travel trailer not too far from the tunnel and can't help thinking that I'm going to be spending a lot of time in it next year.

135 posted on 07/08/2024 7:45:43 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Caramel Sauce
The easiest, most delectable caramel sauce ever. French chef who developed the recipe served it over sauteed fresh pineapple but any fruit or cake will benefit by this sauce; can be made ahead and warmed before serving.

Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream

Instructions
In a heavy pan, cook sugar over low heat, shaking pan occasionally to move sugar around, to dissolve and caramelize to a golden orange, about 7-9 min. Watch carefully and lower heat (or temporarily remove from heat) to prevent burning.

Slowly add cream (caramel will harden), increase heat to medium and bring to a lively simmer.
Cook/stir w/ wooden spoon til smooth and thick, about 6-8 min. Set aside and keep warm.


Heat a large nonstick skillet on med. Add 4 fresh pineapple slices in a single layer, and cook over med-high heat until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to plates, spoon warm caramel sauce over. Serve folded crepes on the side ala Francais.


136 posted on 07/09/2024 2:55:33 AM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray : Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name . )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We’re trying to catch up with you. Rain gauge is up to 6.13 inches for 7-8 day period. Supposed to end tonight and be clear for the current 7 day forecast. I’ll be a mowing maniac this weekend. Highs mid 80s to 90 so the maters ought to take off like a rocket.


137 posted on 07/09/2024 3:43:44 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Liz

It really IS that simple! I also love to make the Balsamic Vinegar reduction. Super easy and a LOT less expensive to make than buy. :)


138 posted on 07/10/2024 5:57:51 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

Beryl dropped another .7” of rain on my little part of Misery yesterday. That makes 8.2” so far in July.

Was much worse south and east of here.

Weather guessers are saying we should have mostly dry weather for the next week or so.


139 posted on 07/10/2024 6:43:52 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

How do you make the balsamic?


140 posted on 07/10/2024 7:15:41 AM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray : Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name . )
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