The Garden Thread - April, 2025

April 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.

[dakine]

Not really a garden question:

A chicken laid 5 eggs in my garage - she was sitting on them yesterday. (Feral chickens àre everywhere), how long until they hatch and move out?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Ah, yes. Hawaii. Land of the feral chicken! I think a chicken is on their flag, isn’t it? LOL!

It takes about 21 days to hatch eggs from laying. Then she’ll need to care for them until they are feathered out and able to make it on their own for another 20-30 days.

If you can get to the nest when she’s out foraging, I’d eat them right now! Free food! There will be a blood spot or a tiny embryo in each egg, if they were fertilized - you can just pick that out. She may not have been bred (though that’s HIGHLY unlikely with feral critters) and might just be ‘broody’ which means she’ll sit on ANYTHING right now and try to hatch it.

If you want to watch the whole process, provide her with water and some grain/cracked corn and then chick starter for the chicks. She’ll do the rest. ;)

[numberonepal]

Any tips>

Recommended Approach

The dried and ground method is often considered the best way to ingest papaya seeds for most people. Here’s why:

Digestibility: Grinding breaks down the tough outer layer, making the nutrients more bioavailable and reducing the risk of irritation.

Versatility: The powder can be easily mixed into various foods or drinks, allowing for consistent, manageable doses.

Safety: Starting with a small amount (e.g., 1/2 teaspoon daily) helps assess tolerance, as excessive consumption (over 1 tablespoon daily) can lead to side effects like stomach upset or liver strain due to carpaine.

Dosage and Safety Considerations

Start Small: Begin with 5-10 seeds (about 1 teaspoon) per day to test your body’s reaction. Gradually increase to 1-2 teaspoons if tolerated.

Frequency: Limit use to a few weeks (e.g., 7-10 days) for parasite cleansing, then take a break, as long-term daily intake isn’t well-studied.

Precautions: Avoid if pregnant (papain may stimulate uterine contractions), breastfeeding, or if you have a latex-fruit allergy (due to cross-reactivity). Consult a healthcare provider if you’re on medications or have liver/kidney issues, as papaya seeds may interact with certain drugs.

Yuk: You are going to see some tings you wish you hadn't.

[dakine]

Ha! Thanks. They are everywhere. We leave garage open (dryer in garage) during most of day. Wife would shiv me if I ate them. 21 days? Gonna be a long 3 weeks. Thanks for replying.

[Paul R.]

Oh, boy, if your wife would shiv you for eating the eggs, she’s gonna totally disembowel you if you do anything less than properly care* for those chicks once hatched. They are so totally sweet and endearing around a mother hen, especially when they hide in her feathers and then pop their heads out, or get brave and climb around on her! Or, as “Mom” leads them around on foraging expeditions.

Chicks until over half grown (which takes MONTHS) are extremely vulnerable to predators too, although “Mom” will do her best to try to protect them. This will depend a little on their ancestry - some half grown chicks can fly short distances better than their parents. In any event, the consequences of wifey finding multiple scatterings of feathers and maybe a partially eaten carcass might not be good...

If “Mom” likes her spot, she may decide to stick around, too, and the chicks, now pullets and cockerels, may also.

*I’m guessing you don’t really want to become a chicken farmer. It’s a fair amount of work...

It could be a male cat. We had one try to take up residence in my Mom’s garage, and it wanted to mark everything. Not good.

I’d say you have three choices:

1) Eat or disappear the eggs and scare / drive “Mom” off repeatedly and / or deny access until she gives up.

2) Get or fashion some sort of proper cage / house / protection and let the hen hatch the eggs, then try to find someone who will take in the young family. Get wifey to help with care and feeding!

3) Make up a mostly closed nest box out of a sturdy cardboard box, with a “sliding door” then when “Mom” is out, put the eggs in it and place it where she’s been brooding on them. If she takes to that, once again see if you can find someone, preferably already with chickens, who will take them in, box and all. Again, wifey should help. Basically, the box is a trap (and means of transport).

[Paul R.]

It’s been a few years, but the Missouri Botanical Gardens are really nice!!!

[Paul R.]

We are still having a series of non-severe but very loud / keep waking me up t-storms. The degree of focus of the “training” effect is remarkable. Luckily, no one strong cell stays over us for long, but, our east yard is a lake. Also luckily, it slopes away from the house slightly.

[Paul R.]

Agghh! Just got back to sleep and now another storm is thundering it’s way through...

Anyway, KFVS-12 has some remarkable photos and vids on their website. Check this one out, full screen on a good size monitor for best effect:

https://d2rwham7ysqrcx.cloudfront.net/production/media/upload/17/231/2509003c-2895-461a-a90e-5c8ce8ed46d5/IMG_3524.mov

(You may have to save and then play it.)

[MomwithHope]

#2 sounds good. Our small community has a facebook page people do this and find good homes quickly.

[Qiviut]

We have a helicopter saw working near us - I watched it yesterday afternoon & it was back up at 8 this morning. Maybe 2 weeks ago, I saw it landing (saw attached) at the nearby airport, but we’ve had such high winds, it evidently wasn’t able to fly until yesterday.

This is some ‘crazy’ stuff - takes a good pilot & it’s a dangerous job. I found a video so if you haven’t seen this before, you can check it out.

Helicopter Tree Sawing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pla06PO6Odk&pp=0gcJCX4JAYcqIYzv

[Liz]

Summer Green Beans with Spicy Peanut Sauce / Homemade Chili Oil

Ing 9 oz cold cooked green beans, Sauce 1 tbl p/butter 1 tsp ea light soy sauce, rice wine vinegar Chili oil 1 1/2 tbl chili flakes 1/2 tsp Sichuan peppercorn 1 star anise 1 tbl white sesame seeds 4 tbl peanut oil (or veg oil) 4 cloves garlic , minced

Peanut Sauce Mix peanut butter, light soy sauce and vinegar and set aside.

Chili Oil add chili flakes, peppercorn, star anise and sesame seeds to bowl on heat resistant mat (or cutting board). Heat oil hot, when just starting to smoke. Turn off heat immediately. Carefully ladle oil into bowl of mixed spices; oil will bubble for a few seconds and cook the spices. When oil stops bubbling, immediately spoon/stir gently, mix everything well.

Plate green beans; top with peanut sauce and garlic. Gradually add spicy oil,
tsp at a time, mix well; add more chili oil for spicier dish. Serve at room temp.

[FamiliarFace]

All good. It was less than 24 hours. I can’t imagine a week in the winter time. The most we’ve been without power in the winter was just a few days. Started on Christmas Eve. So a very different Christmas that year.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Don't forget to buy cigars to pass out when they hatch! ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Now THAT is a specialized skill! WOW!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Amazing! I now I know where all the ex-military helicopter pilots go for employment!

[Paul R.]

To All:

I broke down and bought a “four pack” of young “Muir” lettuce plants. In each sub-pot(?) of plants there are 3-4 stems, and I see online that directions for planting recommend that for head lettuce, one normally plants 2-3 seeds together, then thin the plants when they get to 3-4” tall, which these now are. (None looked “great” @ Menards, but, this cool rainy weather has really revived them.)

Anyway, I am completely unfamiliar with “Muir” lettuce, but I am assuming each stem is actually an individual plant, and not multiple stems of the SAME plant, correct? So, I will need to thin them?

The plan is to pot these so I can move them around, and maybe try again to continue to grow these lettuce plants in the basement under a strong LED light, come mid-June or so. How big a pot per plant should I use?

Zone 7a, BTW.

Thanks!

[Paul R.]

Yikes!

[Paul R.]

Another question: Our local Menards still does not have most of their “six pack” plants in, and the prices for the few they do have was (IIRC) $5.98.* Do other FReepers see or not see this limited availability at their Menards Stores?

Other sellers have better availability. $5.98 seems to be the going price (but Menards has the 11% rebate, of course.)

*So much for the days of $1.50 6-packs! :-(

[Paul R.]

“were”, not “was”...

Sheesh.

[Qiviut]

Took my chainsaw for a whirl the first time late afternoon - it’s great! I also had to cinch up my chainsaw pants a good 3” so that was a nice surprise :-)