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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Few people in this world understand the IMPORTANCE Of MULCH! ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes, chopped Kale and a raw egg added to Chicken Ramen (that contains NO chicken, BTW), is Egg Drop ‘comport food’ when I have a cold.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! So far there were two brown mice (not Field Mice) trapped in a 5-gallon bucket that was in the greenhouse for green scraps that go into the compost pile when I’m re-potting or trimming plants.

So, even without any bells and whistles, they managed to off themselves without my help. :)

More rain today - all week, really. I uncovered things in the greenhouse and no chewing on anything, so maybe this temporary crisis has passed? Hope so!

Those bucket traps work really well for Chipmunks, too. ;)

[FamiliarFace]

I think we are having our first week of no rain, at least for a few more days. It’s been lovely. Not that I don’t appreciate rain, I do, but it’s been a little much these last few weeks. Could’ve been worse though. Could’ve been snow!

[Qiviut]

Little Missy boxwood #1 is in the ground! Started at 7:30 (44° - perfect for digging in a T-shirt & staying cool!) & with MULTIPLE breaks, finished around 10:30. The top 2-3” is semi-decent soil & then it’s solid red clay, awful stuff.

My (surgical) knee did great stepping down on a shovel; however, my back needs a break so I’m not hauling mulch & topsoil for a while - that’s a full sun situation, too.

Sitting in a lawn chair staring & musing about how I want my two raised beds to be situated, knowing I have 4 metal beds at the old garden coming here, whenever I can dig them out.

Another thing I can do before I start shoveling mulch .... set the trap for that blankety-blank ground hog. I have an apple & some overripe oranges I’m going to try for bait.

[FamiliarFace]

Have you ever considered getting a rotoshovel? A few years ago, I was at a Master Gardener Spring Sale, and the guy who invented this was there. It’s like an augur that drills into the ground. It has helped me not need to use big shovels anymore. It can be purchased with 2 batteries, though I just have the one it came with. When I’m doing a lot of planting in one day, I might need 2 batteries, but most of the time, one is just fine. It’s a tool that I love and use!

https://www.amazon.com/Rotoshovel-Handheld-Gardening-Landscaping-Planting/dp/B0F344CH5L/

[FamiliarFace]

I love tarragon! If you have any recipes you’d like to share, please do. I’m always looking for new ones. I’m happy to report that my tarragon is coming back up already. I’ve harvested a little bit twice, just enough for eggs. So happy it’s still going strong. Before I had this batch, I couldn’t get it to grow well.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Cheap, fast, and easy to cook! Gets you back to bed without too much time in the kitchen and your Chickens live to lay more eggs!

I have been using Sapphoro Ichiban origional "Chicken Flavor", Cheap 4 pack for about $5, with a smaller list of unpronounceable ingredients including various transfats, but have been exploring 2 ingredient Buckwheat Soba noodles for lunches lately and cooking them in something like Swanson Chicken broth. 3 or 4 pounds of noodles for perhaps $7. (At the store, NOT Amazon!)

Here is a good recipe link to a simple cold Soba Noodle recipe:

Serious eats, classic-cold-soba-recipe

They also provide links to other soba noodle recipes at the link.

(I did find a 12 pack of unflavored Buckwheat raman at Amazon under "Big Green Organic Food- Organic Buckwheat Ramen, 25.3oz, 100% buckwheat" for about $21 a bit pricey but its a Ramen with only 1 ingredient.)

Green Onions, Radishes, Turnips, Kale, Spinach, all things that can go into your Ramen, all easy to grow in the garden.

[Qiviut]

Never heard of it so thanks for the idea! I think the boxwoods are going to be hand dug (only 3 to go!), but if mom wants to plant bushes/trees after that, I can probably talk her into getting one. She just bought me the chainsaw so I’m not asking for anything for a while!

[Liz]

I have also used Sapphoro Ichiban ramen noodles——
w/ homemade peanut sauce.......they are delicious.

[Liz]

The cold “Soba Noodle” recipe is a must try........thx.

[FamiliarFace]

Our soil is very clay based, and gets rock hard, so I’ve enjoyed using it here. Last April I tore something in my dominant hand/wrist because I hadn’t brought it with me. I was twisting and turning and digging and pulling, and though I never heard a pop, I really messed myself up. Took me till December to get the full use back without pain. I won’t make that mistake again!

[Qiviut]

I got a Creme de Cassis & a 4-pack of Jalafuego jalapeños, plus a new sprayer at Walmart a little while ago.

Very hot unless in the shade today & all my work sites are sunny, unless I plant another boxwood (no energy for that). I think I figured out the raised bed configuration, but won’t know for sure until the 2 cedar beds are in place.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My Roto-Shovel is called Beau, LOL! But that does look like a very handy tool! I got the OK as far as placement of the Nanking Bush Cherries, today. Get excited! :)

What I'm currently lusting after is a cordless Weed Whacker. Any recommendations on those?

Since the remaining crop land is now paid off, I get to keep ALL of my SS deposit from 'Uncle Sugar' each month. So far, I've been stashing it, but my Wish List includes, but is not limited to:

Cordless Weed Whacker (will come in handy for around my raised beds)

Re-chargeable 'Shark' Vacuum (really, any brand is fine as long as it has good ratings)

Wall-Mounted Laundry Drying Rack for the Laundry Room

A second 2-3 shelf Grow Light set-up (Not opposed to shelving and bricks - Old School!)

Cute Cabana Boy on call 24/7 in the Summer months, even though my 'pool' is a prone-to-leaking stock tank, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yum! Sliced Mushrooms. I add them to the boiling water before I put in the noodles and the ‘secret ingredient packet.’ ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It took ALL of my willpower to stay OUT of the Walmart Garden Center when I was in town on Tuesday.

I am telling Beau that we NEED a trip to Menard’s this week. 11% off anything...and I want to see what their Garden Center has on hand so far. Even if I come home with only a bag of dirt, it will be fine - but I DO need some fresh mulch across the front of the house to repair Puppy Damage from last season. ;)

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” Andy Williams was WRONG! ;)

[Qiviut]

I have an EGO. My brother recommended it & so far, so good. Batteries are heavy, but last a good while & charge back up pretty fast. All of their tools run on the same batteries so I bought the chainsaw without a battery & use the one that came with the weed trimmer. I have an EGO blower, too.

EGO has a Powerload for reloading the string & this is how it works:

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

EGO is pricey, so that’s a downside.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! Will check it out.

I like the idea of the same battery packs running various tools.

[FamiliarFace]

*** Re-chargeable ‘Shark’ Vacuum (really, any brand is fine as long as it has good ratings)***

We have a Dyson V-10 stick rechargeable vacuum. Got it a few years ago, and love it. Get the caddy that all the tools lock in to. We bought it on a Black Friday sale and it’s been a winner. So handy. Not cheap, so keep your eye out for sales. By now they’ve probably come out with a newer version with more features.

I can’t help you with the cute Cabana boy, but I bet your Beau is up to the task!

Oh, and back to the Roto-shovel. This tool comes in handy when Mr. Muscles has an injury, or rheumatism. Or if he just can’t be motivated by other means. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m always looking for a Dyson on sale! I’ll keep the V-10 in mind when I’m bargain hunting. Thanks!