The Garden Thread - March, 2025

March 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.

[Paul R.]

(The trees will sometimes flower when only 2-3 ft. tall.)

[Paul R.]

Has anybody ever explained how to properly format text interspersed with pics, on FR? It always displays “whacky” for me in a wide window.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Read the lettuce packet for when lettuces can be safely planted outside for YOUR zone.

The fresh soil on top should do the trick. You may not even have had a fungal issue - you may have had an ill-timed seeding issue?

Once lettuce is established, it prefers cool to heat. Germination is a whole ‘nother matter. :)

I’m in Zone 5a. Early spring, until mid-June for me, and then late September through freeze (October 15th) is good for me to direct seed lettuces.

Of course - we’ve had Spring that goes STRAIGHT TO HOT and Spring that rains and rains and rains. It’s a balancing act every, d@mn. year. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

HTML Sandbox shows you how to post pix and text. I’m still learning!

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3999744/posts

[MomwithHope]

Thanks I’ve been looking at a different buckeye.

[MomwithHope]

On other websites this is called a buckeye. https://onegreenworld.com/product/russian-orange-sea-berry/

[Paul R.]

Hi, yes, the "Sandbox" is what I follow, but I don't see instructions on how to intersperse text and pics, and my text ends up positioned oddly.

Maybe I can add < p > or < br > (less the spaces) at the end of the image insertion command(s)?

(I've also not figured out how to post text with formatting commands such as < u > text < / u > (again ignore the spaces) without it "de-hotting" hot links elsewhere in the same post.) As the Sandbox notes: Some active commands are terminated.

Thanks!

[Paul R.]

Interesting! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those.

Something else I ran across on You Tube:

Kudzu is edible!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrTnRiZVDs0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIsqQikCmU8&t=133s

[LilFarmer]

I have eaten kudzu, it’s not bad! It’s best if it’s young tender leaves, cooked much like you would spinach. I always joke that the south will never starve because of kudzu 😂

The roots can be used for jelly and medicinals, but I haven’t tried it

[Paul R.]

With reservations...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeiDxQ_6vsM

[Paul R.]

I guess the greens have a somewhat bitter taste...?

[LilFarmer]

It’s been over 10 since I tried it but I don’t remember it being bitter. Could have been 🤷‍♀️

[MomwithHope]

They are not as popular here but the berries are very nutritious, lots of Vitamin C for one. Kudzu, no thanks. Maybe you could use it as a grape leaf.

[FamiliarFace]

We planted a young Ohio Buckeye tree in our yard about 8 years ago. It was so small, that hubby missed it when he was weed whacking in that area. Every year!

Well, what do you know, that sapling has grown into a 3 foot tall thing with leaves this year. I have marked it off for him, and told him, if he weed whacks it this year, well, the repercussions will be unpleasant. I discovered it today, so he has a whole day of reprieve, as we are out of town tomorrow. On Sunday, I will box it off so he can’t make any more mistakes.

This poor little tree has never leafed out like this since we’ve had it, so I’m hoping it’s a fighter, and that it’s roots are growing deeper and deeper all these years that he’s obliterated it.

[MomwithHope]

I break out in hives when my hubby has a weedwhacker.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’re getting there!

[FamiliarFace]

Lol…I completely understand that.

Today we had beautiful weather. Started out in the mid 40’s, and got to 75!! Very windy but otherwise sunny…therefore…BEAUTIFUL!! I did a lot of yard work for one day. It’s been a while! Felt good! I got my 10 K steps in much earlier than usual!

It was mostly a Spring cleanup that’s been badly needed. I still have more to do, but the rest will have to wait until Sunday, if it’s not raining.

Walmart had some Ranunculus planters beckoning to me when I went for a few groceries to round out dinner tonight (fish fry from church, but their coleslaw is horrible; I can make much better but needed cabbage and carrots.) So I found a planter with 4 different colors, pink, purple, white, and yellow. They always remind me of one of my grade school friends. Her mom used to grow them, so she always had some, and now, I have to have them for as long as they’ll last here.

This gal is one of my three oldest friends, from grade school. I didn’t know it back then, but she and I share a very similar background, so there are many things that we both seem to take comfort in. One is flowers, and another is birds. Nature somehow calms us and brings us back to our best selves.

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other gold.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Add < p > and < /p > (no spaces) to both your writing and the beginning and end of your photos to separate them when adding photos.

Also, add < center > and < /center > (no spaces) to the beginning and end of your photos to ‘center’ them on the page...with the above < p > and < /p > (no spaces) in the line, too.

It’s hard to explain - you’ll just have to practice.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Paul; When you post an image you can control the width of your picture by placing this at the end of your image Link.

(NOTE THAT HERE in this HTML example I am using ( ) in place of < > so it the system will not read it as an HTML string and you can see how it is formated. YOU need to use < > when you post!)

(Center)(img border=0 src="link to image location" width = "400 /)

I think it defines the number of pixels displayed. I think you can do % too, but I have always used this. Here it is with "width = "300"/>, "250" and "125"

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING EVERYONE! Relax and enjoy your Coffee and Breakfast Roll!

Note that you can use

for your text as well.

Note that you can also control Height as well e.g., "width = "75" height = "150" but I usually just use Width and let the system adjust the height. (Since I do not use it I would have to play around with it to get it to work. See the HTML guide at the link Diana provided.)

I hope this is helpful!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I was trying to say that you can center text as well! (Center) with < >