The Garden Thread - January, 2025

January 1, 2025 | 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.

[ryderann]

The ones that I needed were for my ancient 2ft. grow light. I found them on Ebay, VivoSun five tubes for $28.79, free shipping. Looks like VivoSun has lots of good stuff. Fairly priced grow bags too.

[Albion Wilde]

Beautiful!

[Liz]

Yours is a healthier version with more veggies.....I like it.

[Pollard]

Happy New Year!

Been a productive one for me already. Got most everything formatted and looking consistent and linked some more data. Link to the Planting event is the big one. Location will help with bed rotation. I have Land(location) Bed Block 1, Bed 3 etc, linked to Plantings so I can see a history of what's been planted in any given bed, bed block or field.

The Land assets are hierarchical so I have the 8 Acres and then inside that, Field 1, Field 2 and Ugly Little Triangle. The 8 acres is a triangle and the sharp corner is ugly and separated from the rest by the driveway. Field 1 is where the Tunnel is. Field 2 is a bigger flat area that needs cleared of trees.

Speaking of Tunnel. I have it in there as a Structure asset but that's it. Just one post basically. The tunnel will end up having a lot of records kept with this farm app thing. Wiring Diagrams for one. The sensor logs are log.txt but are csv format so I copy, paste into a text file and save as 01-01-25-log.csv etc and I can import them into wordpress and make tables and charts. I'll have to make another content type for Tunnel Notes too. And here I thought I was about done.

[FamiliarFace]

Happy New Year, gardening buddies!

My big experiment this year will be trying to grow shishito peppers from seeds that I gathered from store bought peppers. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The seeds are in envelopes in the garage, hopefully stratifying as I write. I expect I will want to start some in cups or other vessel in a month or two. I hope some of you will give me tips.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Completely agree, as do many here! Self-sufficiency is the only way to go. Any little thing a person can do sets them ahead of the pack. :)

This year I am going to continue my ‘challenge’ of eating something that I either grew, raised, bartered for or got for free (or inexpensively) that is garden-food related.

Anything ‘homemade’ counts, too. I made a couple of posts about that in the December 2024 thread.

This morning we had eggs from out own chickens and homemade bread from my Mom at breakfast as well as V-8 Juice I made last fall and canned. Maple Apple Jam on the toast - also homemade from our apple trees and syrup that Beau tapped last season.

I really want a milk cow in the worst way but Beau (having grown up farming) insists that I do NOT, LOL! We are still discussing goats - which I grew up milking and am not terribly fond of. We are currently raising our 5th beef steer. This one is named, ‘Stewart’ but he goes by, ‘Stew.’ ;)

[FrozenAssets]

Happy New Year everyone! I’ve a nice mess of blackeyed peas and ham bones on the wood stove.

[NotaRatF]

Any cure for wild strawberry plant that has taken over my front and back yards - sprayed heavy in the spring with a vinegar - epson salt - dawn soap - but it came back with a vengeance

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Just be careful with the Castor Beans, themselves. They are poisonous to pets and little kids. Ricin is made from Castor Beans.

https://www.poison.org/articles/what-happens-if-i-eat-castor-beans-222

However - Castor Oil is NOT poisonous. Go figure!

I will attest that they are one gorgeous plant. I’ve used them in garden designs before. They give a very ‘tropical’ look to a space when you’re not living in the Tropics! ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thank you! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

There is a granular product called ‘Preen’ which will kill the broadleaf weeds such as the Wild Strawberry, but not the grass.

https://www.preen.com/learn/lawn-garden-tips/weed-control/weed-notes/how-to-stop-wild-strawberries-from-invading-the-lawn/

My lawn is mostly Madison Parks blend grass, Creeping Charlie, Crabgrass and holes dug by puppies, LOL! I’m not really all that particular about it - no neighbors to impress. ;)

[MomwithHope]

Beautiful. You must have some hummingbirds too.

[MomwithHope]

After years of trying indoors (west Michigan) I had my best results just throwing a bunch into a pot outside and covered with some loose soil. Just separated them afterwards. Indoors nothing worked, lights, heating pads, peat pots.

[NotaRatF]

I might have some of that Preen out in the barn or chicken coop - and will apply when snow melts and will check Menards or Homer Depot for more - thanks for jogging my brain

[MomwithHope]

We did great on that eating from the garden at every meal. Not 100% but pretty good. Today just green onions that are chopped and frozen and added to some Pho soup.
About goats, my expert (yes) advice is to find someone who will rent you a milker or two who had kidded this spring. If you feed a dairy goat well and no buck is present their milk will be delicious, just need to filter and chill as soon as possible after milking. Cows are much harder to milk and they give you so much. Two milkers would give you plenty for drinking, making some cheese, yogurt. And if you are just renting them no commitment. Just don’t het nubian goats. The swiss breeds are the quietest. Your best source would probably be a larger goat dairy.

[GaltAdonis]

“… Yours is a healthier version with more veggies …”

.

Then feel free to add pepperoni or whatever to it… (/sarc)

[OftheOhio]

We had so many tablespoons of Castor oil as kids. It’s a wonder, lol. I’m going to try some on the moles this summer.

[FamiliarFace]

Ok! When did you sow the seeds? After Mother’s Day like we do with most things around here?

[OftheOhio]

I love the smell of Basil in the morning, smells like a victory garden.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

To link back to the December 2024 Gardening thread Click below!