The Garden Thread - July, 2024

July 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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!

[MomwithHope]

Looks great, lush and bealthy!

[MomwithHope]

I meant healthy!

[MomwithHope]

I meant healthy!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Uht-Oh! (I still get industry e-mails from when I was in ‘the biz.’ It’s usually pretty interesting.)

“Bloomin’ Easy Unveils Daisy Digs, an AI Support Bot

They tell us that the younger generation loves interacting with AI (or artificial intelligence for anyone that might not know the moniker yet). This is the clearest indicator I can find that I am no longer considered to be the younger generation! However, it is true and AI applications are growing exponentially, and many today prefer to interact with AI than an actual person. Just Google something and you get AI generated results back first!

AI has the opportunity to deliver immediate answers crafted by “reading” massive amounts of data and other information that has been fed to it. Somewhat like a graduate student, but quicker. These tools are becoming critical as the industry continues to market to younger homeowners and clientele. That is why Bloomin’ Easy has taken the reins and become the first major plant brand to implement an AI consumer support chatbot.

Daisy Digs is a fun-loving, passionate greenthumb with a youthful twist. Powered by Scapify’s Master Gardener AI technology, Daisy will provide expert guidance to consumers when it comes to plants and landscaping. Daisy Digs can troubleshoot common garden issues like pests or soil health and even help suggest plants for jobs. Hmmm ... sounds like my Extension position!

You can find out more about Daisy Digs by visiting http://www.bloomineasyplants.com “

[Pollard]

Link to AI bot -- https://bloomineasyplants.com/pages/daisy-digs-ai

My onion day length research somehow ended up on Sprouting Broccoli(squirrel) as the research subject

Not too shabby as my two hours of research came up with the same thing.

Good answers though. Scapify, the tech behind bloomineasy's bot had different wording but the same info. - https://scapify.com/products/master-gardener-ai

I forgot to mention a high tunnel...

Scapify version. Seems a little more positive, less cautious. Probably a setting they have on it.

I am not old and refuse to grow old so I have a ChatGPT account. 😛 Might have to try the same questions on ChatGPT and see what I get.

And holy carp it's pouring here. Coming up on an inch of rain after just a few minutes.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Pollard, I cut lengthwise, remove the seeds, chop and braise, and throw them in my Raman noodle soup along with stuff like turnips and onions.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

They are, they stop the squirrels and chipmucks (sic) from digging transplants. The dollar general also sells some plastic cloches with a vent at the top.

[Pollard]

ChatGPT version. Like search.brave.com AI answer, it mentions varieties. Unlike Brave AI, it gave me all sprouting varieties while Brave gave me Waltham 29 as a variety which is a heading broccoli

In tunnel version

I think I like Scapify best since it mentions managing humidity in a high tunnel.

[metmom]

I find Stuttgarter to be very good long storage onions. I’m still using some of them.

But even better is this red onion variety.

Rossa di Milano
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/onions/full-size-onions/rossa-di-milano-organic-onion-seed-3454G.html

Plus they are open pollinated so they seeds will breed true and you can save them.

My plan for onions is to every year let a batch go to seed.

This year, some of the Stuttgarters. Next year I’ll do the Milano’s.

I know we are told that onion seeds are only viable for one year, but the year before last I found some onion seeds that were two years old, this was their second year. So I sowed the whole bunch of them, and boy, did I ever get a lot of plants!

I don’t know how much the germination was affected, but I sure got all the plants I needed.

The beauty of saving your own seeds is that you can have far more than you need and of course, they are free!

[metmom]

Milano Di Rossa.

A bit of an un usual shape but an excellent keeper.

A long day onion, FWIW.

[metmom]

Which Dollar Store?

And which wire baskets? In housewares or decorative items?

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

M.Mom. Wire baskets. I found mine in Dollar General in housewares. I got the larger one. They also had a nice $1.25 plastic tub with handles that holds about a half bushel.

[metmom]

Thanks.

I’ll take a look next time I pass one.

[Pollard]

Can be successfully grown in the northern reaches of the intermediate-day region. Adaptation: 38–50° latitude.

At 37.9° latitude, that's cutting it tight but worth a try.

[Blurb2350]

I bought them at my local Dollar Tree. They were along the back wall of the store with the assorted plastic baskets and totes and storage doodads. My store had/has a generous supply in two sizes and two colors — black and white — at $1.25 apiece.

[metmom]

Thanks.

[metmom]

I could not find them as onion sets, either. I’ve had to start them from seed.

If you do decide to try them, let us know how they work out.

[metmom]

I actually found a bag of them one spring at Sam’s Club, sold as artisan onions.

I recognized them by their shape immediately. But since it was spring, I know that they had already been in storage for some months at that point.

[Blurb2350]

I meant to attach this foto from their website.
There's also a shorter version, also black or white.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Re: Milano Di Rossa onion.

Those are beautiful! You might have convinced me to grow onions again next season. Wisconsin grows root crops like nobody’s business; the entire center of our state is ‘sandy loam’ so root crops are cheap and plentiful to me, so I don’t normally bother.

HOWEVER - this variety might change my mind. :)