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The Garden Thread - May, 2025
May 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 05/01/2025 6:15:12 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; garden; gardening; hobbies; may25
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

When I was a kid growing up in Milwaukee, my FAVORITE memory is the smell of the yeasty breweries when we were driving on one particular part of the highway coming or going.

I’ll never forget it.

I looked up a Copy-Cat Recipe for the Vegeta. The components were more expensive than just buying another container. The small one lasts me about a year; and I do a LOT of cooking and Chicken Stock stocking-up. ;)


261 posted on 05/07/2025 5:59:43 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Qiviut

I moved and spread three bales of straw today. (Two more to go, but I got too hot!) I can hoist them off the ground, but then I roll them end to end where I need to open and use them. If Junior Farmer Ryan had seen me, he’d get a kick out of it - MONKEY that he is, shimmying up or down ANY level of height in the Big Barn! (Oh, to be TWENTY-ONE again!)

Before I took my shower this evening I stripped on the back deck and shook everything out; bra included, LOL!

Reminds me of when my sister was in High School and she, ‘worked the line’ at, ‘The Swiss Colony’ making Cheese Logs. She’d either have a bra full of paprika or parsley or nuts, depending upon the day. Mom made her strip in the garage before she could come into the house. ;)

I LOVE Country Living! I would not be averse to an outdoor shower off the back deck. Gotta talk to Beau about that; he’s usually greasy-grimy by the end of any given day.


262 posted on 05/07/2025 6:11:10 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Liz

I happen to have both leftover chicken and tortilla chips on hand. I could see serving that and a Taco Salad.

Beau wouldn’t consider that ‘Mexican Food’ which he claims to dislike, but I’m bringing him around. ;)


263 posted on 05/07/2025 6:15:36 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: daniel1212

You CANNOT go wrong with ANY of the AAS Winners. Guaranteed Success! :)


264 posted on 05/07/2025 6:17:11 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Last fall, we had a driveway cut in to the front of the house. The excess dirt was used to fill some serious low spots around the front yard. The contractor blew straw over those areas & put down some grass seed. I think the birds got most of the seeds. Now, when I mow over those spots, the mower kicks up straw & depending on if the wind is blowing & which way, I end up with straw EVERYwhere - it’s a mystery how it gets some places. 🙄


265 posted on 05/07/2025 6:41:04 PM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Qiviut; Diana in Wisconsin

Sounds like at least the three of us are cut from the same cloth. We’re all gardening *fashionistas*! I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl. I get dressed up ONLY when the occasion calls for it. Most of my *work* clothes have holes and stains. I plan to keep it that way.


266 posted on 05/07/2025 7:01:18 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Bon of Babble

*** Unfortunately, she died when I was very very young so I was not able to find out which ones she picked and knew were safe. I leave them alone...***

With mushrooms, that’s the better way to go than taking a chance. So many poisonous ones out there.


267 posted on 05/07/2025 7:04:10 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Bon of Babble

Gorgeous!


268 posted on 05/07/2025 7:05:00 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Shaking out your bra is a serious day of good old fashioned yard work. Just hope there ain’t no varmints jumping out as you shake. (said in my best Ellie May voice. )


269 posted on 05/07/2025 7:19:55 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Liz

I have a running note app that has links to every great recipe that I see from Liz.

Hey, if I could transform my *damn* Yankee husband into a Southern Gentleman, minus the seersucker and white linens, then maybe you can inspire Beau to like Mexican food.

Keep disguising it! Cover everything in Wisconsin cheddar. I bet he’ll come around!


270 posted on 05/07/2025 7:24:46 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

I was looking up something on oregano... I had no idea it was toxic to cats & dogs!

Oregano Poisoning in Dogs
https://wagwalking.com/condition/oregano-poisoning

Oregano Poisoning in Cats
https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/oregano-poisoning


271 posted on 05/07/2025 8:06:53 PM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

That’s my take too! I can look like a really miserable, filthy wretch coming back in from some garden or yard work...


272 posted on 05/07/2025 8:38:12 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

My biggest problem when it comes to garden / yard clothing is that I beat up shoes beyond being wearable (ie., breaking open on the sides, or soles falling off) awfully quickly. :-(


273 posted on 05/07/2025 8:40:36 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Never heard of it.....doesnt like Mexican food? Impossible.


274 posted on 05/07/2025 8:50:34 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: FamiliarFace

I have a running note app that has links to every great recipe that I see from Liz.


Dam——wish I had that.


Hey, if I could transform my *damn* Yankee husband into a Southern Gentleman, you can get Beau to like Mexican food. Keep disguising it! Cover everything in Wisconsin cheddar. I bet he’ll come around!


Lotsa Wi cheese.......and hide the hot sauce bottle.


275 posted on 05/07/2025 8:58:06 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: metmom; Diana in Wisconsin; All

Has anyone here had any luck growing catnip?

I haven’t found pots or 6-packs of starter catnip plants, but I did find seeds @ Menards today.

The idea is to plant some catnip near (but not IN) the garden and “cage” the catnip plants with poultry netting so our cats can get to only anything that grows through the “cages”. Basically I’m trying to lure those two lazy felines out to that part of the property to scare off the squirrels.*

One good thing, I think(!) is that I have a lot of rich soil from my old leaf compost / worm bed that has juglone from walnut and hickory trees in it. A lot of garden plants won’t grow well in that soil, but catnip, I read, is not affected by juglone.

*Our chickens also marginally scare off squirrels, but only a few of the chickens range out as far as the garden, and usually not when the squirrels, who seem to have the chickens pretty well “figured out”, are active in the early morning. OTOH, the squirrels are definitely afraid of the cats, who do on rare occasion, “get” a squirrel.


276 posted on 05/07/2025 9:39:32 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.

While @ Menards I saw some really sad looking 6-packs of Dahlia seedlings on sale for $.50. I grabbed what I thought was the best looking pack, took it by the water fountain B4 I checked out, watered ‘em again after getting home, and now they’ve been under intermittent very light rain for several hours. They are looking a lot better - will give them a coupe days and then add to the front yard flower garden.

Menards also had something called a blanket flower in 4” pots - those looked even worse, but, I figured I’d give one a shot, at $1 for the plant. So far, it looks a LITTLE better.

Our Menards also finally got in 6-packs of egg plants. The variety is not stated - they just seem to be standard dark purple (fruits) egg plants, with 10-15 starts in many of the “5-packs”. Our store appears to be getting many plants from a local operation that often puts 2-6 seedlings in each “section” of a 6-pack: I went for the 6-pack that seemed to have the best looking plants, and it had 11 seedlings total. I figured that for ~24 cents a plant (after rebate, B4 tax), assuming all the “seps” survive, “not bad”. These also were dry, but are really spiffing up nicely, already.

I’ve not had a lot of luck with eggplants in the past, but this time will maybe try them in pots, well away from any juglone sources.


277 posted on 05/07/2025 10:20:04 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.

I had a rather large catnip patch. It started as one plant on the edge of my herb garden that spread. Catnip is in the mint family & will spread like mint so watch where you plant it - it’s considered invasive in some states.

My cats loved the stuff. They were indoor cats only so I would bring catnip in to them. I would go out and cut a handful - as soon as I came in the door with it, they “knew” I had it & would start meowing. I cut it in small pieces, put it in cotton socks, tied a knot in the top & let them have it. The one cat would grab a sock & bury his face in it & go wild - he would do this even after the catnip in the sock had dried out. I saved a leaf ot two for them to eat as well - it swacked them out for a short while.


278 posted on 05/08/2025 2:28:33 AM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission
One thing that I think is overlooked is are the disadvantages of planting hybrid tomato seeds from previous crops regarding hybrids. I lost track of which Tomato seeds I saved and planted from what was originally purchased (such as Sweetie Tomato, Early Girl, Supersweet 100, Ace, Rutgers, Heirloom; Celebrity).

I have usually just saved seeds which produced well and used them as seedlings. (I save seeds with the pulp in a cup, and cover + let them sit for 2 or 3 days, then rise with warm warm water in a strainer, and spread out on a paper bag to dry well, and thus have a good germination rate, thank God.)

Often I loose track, and thus some hybrids are unknowingly planted, but I read that plants that grow from seed saved from hybrid plants generally are less vigorous, more variable, and usually have smaller blossoms and yield less than their parents. These the seeds won’t “breed true.”

More detail: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MPG/2014/8/Why-Not-Save-Hybrid-Seeds/

And here is a source I was reading on https://www.gardeningchannel.com/tomato-diseases-how-to-fight-septoria-leaf-spot/ (seek diagnosis of what I see every year)

279 posted on 05/08/2025 4:45:49 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: Qiviut

I had some old Italian Seasoning that I decided to toss as it wasn’t so fragrant. One of the neighborhood cats found it and provided us with about a half an hour or entertainment watching him roll around in it and looking stoned out of his
mind. He finally staggered off.


280 posted on 05/08/2025 4:54:02 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesu)
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