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.

[left that other site]

Almost Spring!
😁

[FamiliarFace]

These looked bright and pretty! I’m excited to get to use them!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

KH; HejDu! Sliding.... Update on the Winter Wheat "Garden". (Those "big" quarter section gardens!)

Brave aggregator spit out this....."According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the March 2025 report rated 19% of the winter wheat in Kansas as being in good to excellent condition, up from 17% the previous week. This indicates an improvement in the condition of the Kansas winter wheat crop. However, the prolonged warm winter has advanced the crop development stage more than usual, with some areas in Kansas already at the jointing stage, which makes the crop more susceptible to freeze injury. Cold air temperatures occurred during January 26-27, which could potentially cause freeze injury to the 2024 Kansas wheat crop. The risk of freeze injury is higher for more advanced fields, such as those at the first node of development or more advanced stages."

https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/article/potential-for-winterkill-to-the-kansas-wheat-crop-624-1

Ok. Return slide to the "Back of the house" garden.

[MomwithHope]

Even when our grocery gets them in the summer they are passed over and we see many bags old on the shelf.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

First, I need to know what your Hardiness Zone is, and then I can help!

Pumpkins need 100+ growing days, so it might be dicey up there! ;)

Plug your Zip Code in here and let me know what comes up:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

To link back to the February Gardening thread click below!

[FamiliarFace]

Maybe because people aren’t used to them yet? They don’t know what they are. If it hadn’t been for the gardening thread on FR, I would’ve passed them over too. Maybe I have been for years.

I just hope that my seeds that I’ve saved will work out, and that I’ll have so many, I’ll be able to share with others.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Pete!

[AFB-XYZ]

Birdman approves the pic! :-)

Tomorrow I hope to put my Valencia Orange tree seeds in water to soak (24 hours, I think?). I realize it sounds nuts to even think of trying such a cockamamie venture in Oklahoma. But I’m a stubborn curmudgeon. Planning to put them in large containers once they reach sapling size, so that if necessary (weather, etc.), I can put ‘em in the garage temporarily. I’ve bought two of those round things with casters on the bottom to make moving the containers less excruciating.

No watermelons for me this year, though. They choked out just about everything else I was trying to grow. Neighbor lady said she may grow some this year, so maybe I can trade her some green beans or tomatoes (assuming I succeed with them).

Been seeing a couple of yellow-headed blackbirds sprinkled in among the huge gangs of ravenous “ordinary” blackbirds. Somehow makes it less annoying to see a full bird feeder demptied inside 15 minutes by the others. Heh.

[yldstrk]

I suppose I could buy an oil drill.

[daniel1212]

After a chilly day today - 30 degrees and sunny - we are looking at a very nice warm-up into the 50’s and close to 60 for the upcoming week.

Yes, after 3 night in teens, warmer temps coming, by the grace of God.

Weather in MA "well below average Dec-Feb....Last time we had 3 straight months that were below average was 11 years ago...'' - https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/weather/

[Pollard]

March snuck up on me once again. Should have started a few trays of hardy greens already. Gonna do it tomorrow. I rested today from a bunch of physical work I did for the past three days. Nice to be able to get out there and work though with this warm up we had.

Job hunt update; The primo place to work around here and also the closest to me, that I dropped off an application to Monday, gave me a call back yesterday. Got an appointment Tues to take their 100 question mechanical aptitude/knowledge test, plus their two 100 question psych tests. BTDT but if over 1 year since taking them, you have to do them again.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Thank you, Diane! It says:

5b (-15 to -10 °F/-26.1 to -23.3 °C)

I have a good planter box with ten hours of direct sun and good pot soil.
Best, Billy

[Liz]

Crumb-Topped Peach Crisp / Maple Cream Sauce
Use ripe firm peaches not overripe soft ones.

Ing 5-6 Fresh Peaches 1 c Flour 1/2 c Sugar 1/2 c Light Br/Sugar, 1/2 tsp ea Cinnamon, Nutmeg 1/4 tsp Salt 1/2 C butter 1/2 whole Lemon 7 Tb Real Maple Syrup, 1 1/2 c h/Cream 3 Tb Light Corn Syrup

Crumbs fork-mix flour, sugar, light br/sugar, spices, salt.Add small pieces butter til evenly mixed.

Add zest from 1/2 lemon, juiced lemon half to peeled sliced peaches. Add 2 tbl real maple syrup, stir well. Bake in foiled 8-9” sq covered evenly w/ crumb topping 350 deg 15 min. Remove foil; bake 20-30 min til crisp and brown on top. Serve warm, drizzling sauce over crisp.

Maple Cream Sauce: Add 5 tbl real maple syrup, 3 tbl corn syrup to h/cream in pan; stir on moderate til thickened, reduced by 1/3, 15 min. Fridge til cold and thick. Stirring cools and thickens in 15 min.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m in Zone 5a, so you’re a tad warmer than me. You should be able to do grow Pumpkins, but you’ll be limited by growing it in a planter box. You’ll need to look up special instructions for that.

I have absolutely NO experience in doing that. When it comes to Pumpkins and other Winter Squash, we have a large area where they’re free to roam.

Good Luck, though! If successful, you’ll have invented a ‘new thing!’ :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...yellow-headed blackbirds...”

I’ve only seen them a time or two in my lifetime. They showed up in season with the Red Winged Blackbirds and then were gone again.

They’re related to Meadowlarks and Bobolinks - I did not know that! :)

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-headed_blackbird/id

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Ha ha! Thank you, Diane! Yeah, the other unusual thing here is that my “back yard” is the Pike National Park, so I get lots of deer visitors who like to eat my plants. 🤪🐻

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You are up against a lot of obstacles for Pumpkin growing, LOL!

We throw split, leftover pumpkins/squash to the steer. He loves it! The chickens will clean out a split pumpkin in a day.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

That’s great info about the chickens! I have chickens and had no idea they would eat pumpkin! Cool!

[MomwithHope]

If you really want some entertainment take big green zucchinis and put them through something that will turn them into long noodles. I used the french fry disc in my cuisinart. The chickens will eat them so fast, like spaghetti.