The Garden Thread - May, 2025

May 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.

[FamiliarFace]

I’m listening!

I ordered a rain barrel last week. It arrived on Friday. We set it up on Sunday. Found out it had two significant dents. One was fine. The other was on the side that will show, and where I want to put it, the neck that is royally dented is on the side that everyone walking up to my house will see it. AWFUL!!

I had to tell Amazon to come back and pick it up. I’ve ordered the replacement (same thing) and *hope* that this next one will be ok. It will be visible from the street a little, and from our front walk a lot, so I hope this next one works out.

If not, I’ll find something less expensive to go on the back side of the house.

As it is, I’ve been using a 5 gallon bucket from Lowe’s in just the right spot to collect the rainwater. About once a week, maybe every 4-5 days, it’s full and I fill old gallon milk jugs with rainwater to use on the plants. So far, I haven’t needed to use water from the hose on anything. (This shows you we don’t have much to water.)

So far, everything is looking great. I still have a bit here and there to plant.

I ordered light meters that detect how many photons an area gets over a 24 hour period. I put them in places where I thought I might be getting partial sun.

Nope. So far, all these spots are only registering partial shade. I’m not even up to partial sun! 😱

Next week, middle of the week, the tree guy is coming to take down three problem trees: a hickory on one side, and a tulip tree and a hackberry on the complete other side of our house. We’ll see what the sunlight changes come after that.

[Paul R.]

BTW, thanks again to Pollard for the ideas / links for the disc type water filters: I’ve found various (and cheaper) permutations on Amazon and elsewhere that should help with water out to the garden and other outdoor uses.

THIS one, for example, might be well worth adapting to:

https://www.amazon.com/UPLYKKE-Strainer-Disc-Filter-Thread/dp/B0C5JYKWT4?ref_=ast_sto_dp

or compromising a little, perhaps:

https://www.amazon.com/UPLYKKE-Irrigation-Strainer-Disc-Filter/dp/B0CR1NH2LC?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Curiously enough, the first use of these disc type filters for irrigation was in Israel.(1)

However, it turned out to be unexpectedly difficult to get reasonable price disc filtering down to 30 microns, for the house, and Wikipedia weighs in too, stating the minimum is usually 25 microns.(1) It also turns out these filters clog more rapidly than other types when “organic” matter is the problem(1) — evidently they are almost too effective. Indeed, tiny cellulose fibers are our biggest problem in our house water supply - they clog the fine screens in faucets and esp. the inlets in the back of the clothes washer...

I don’t know how filter area is even calculated for the variable density foam type filter elements that we have been using recently. The disc filter unit linked above is stated to have a filter surface area of 525cm2. That sounds impressive, but, images of 10” x 2.5” pleated polypropylene filter elements show them to have around 50 pleats. A good guesstimate for the surface area of each pleat would be (converting to metric) about (2.5 x 10) x (2.5 x 1.5) ≈ 94 cm2. 50 pleats gives you 4,700 cm2 of filter area. :-)

So... I think that for the house water supply line I am going to stick with our existing filter housing and try using these washable pleated polypropylene media cartridges, buying in bulk:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y28N3GM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A2TUU5W2X2HHE7

[Paul R.]

We got another good dousing yesterday too: A bit under 1” according to my rain gauge. After a day to dry out, in our garden I can dig down 6” and hit water!

[Liz]

Garden Vegetable Chinese Stir-Fry with Steamed Rice/ Scrambled Eggs
Fast, tasty, crunchy veggies w/ garlic, ginger, tamari, lightly scrambled eggs on fluffy rice.

Ing 5 oz jasmine rice lge gar/cl 1 carrot 1 bell pepper 4 oz snow peas 2 (½ oz) tamari k/salt/pepper, flour white wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar) sugar eggs veg oil

Steps Rinse rice in sieve under running water til water runs clear. Drain; transfer to small pan. Add 1¼ c water ¾ tsp salt; btb. Cover/cook tender on low, water is absorbed, about 17 min. Keep covered offheat til needed.

Mince tsp garlic tbl ginger. Angle cut carrot into ¼" slices. Cut trimmed bell pepper into inch pieces. Trim snow peas. Whisk combine tamari, ⅓ cup water, ½ tbl flour, 1 tsp vinegar, ¼ tsp sugar; set aside.

Heat 2 tsp oil on med-high. Add beaten s/p eggs; cook/stir a min. Hold in bowl; cover/keep warm. Wipe out skillet.

Heat 1 tbl oil in same skillet on med-high. Add carrots and peppers. Cook til softened, 1–2 min. Add ⅓ c water, cover/cook tender, 3–4 min. Add snow peas, chp garlic and ginger. Cook fragrant 30 sec. Add tamari mixture; cook to slightly thicken a min. Add in scrambled eggs, stir gently to combine. Fluff rice. Serve steamed rice topped w/ stir-fry, scrambled eggs.

Notes: For a bit of heat, stir-fry a little shake of Sriracha or sambal oelek before serving. Or stir a spoonful of chili-garlic paste into the sauce in step 2.

[Qiviut]

As late as midnight last night, I could hear rain on our chimney cap. This morning, the half inch of rain in the gauge (after I dumped out 4 inches) has become 1.75 inches. We have gotten 5.75 inches of rain since Monday night.

The good news: any storms today should be few & widely scattered. The bad news: any storms that pop up this afternoon or evening will likely be strong & any storm could be severe with damaging winds, large hail & possible tornadoes. The ‘ingredients’ for severe weather are in place. This threat is until 9 p.m.

I got up my courage & just checked on my plants. The puddles of water they were standing in have drained, thank goodness. I bought topsoil (really “dirt’) which looked to me like it would compact & get a hard ‘crust’. I added 25 lbs of sand to each bed plus 2 bags of bagged topsoil per bed that I used for planting the boxwoods. The bagged topsoil had a lot of what looked like compost in it - definitely will not compact. The amendments are likely helping the ‘dirt’ drain. Whew.

It’s so wet (beds, ground) that I really can’t work anything so I will be in the barn lean-to working on getting those T-posts out today. It is dry under the lean-to so the almost 6 inches of rain has not helped with the removal process.

[9YearLurker]

Looks great!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That stir-fry looks so healthy and inviting! :)

[Liz]

So glad you like it.

[Paul R.]

That’s similar to our forecast: There’s only a ~20% chance of storms today, but if they get going, they could be potent. Tomorrow looks like “severe” almost for sure.

[FamiliarFace]

We had rain and storms overnight. Our power went off around 6:30 am. Fortunately, it’s been back on for an hour or so. Duke said it was caused by branches on the power lines, which it almost always is. The main roadway is full of mature trees on both sides. It’s beautiful to drive through, but those trees cause a problem fairly frequently. I understand the homeowners not wanting those trees to be cut back, but at the same time, there are some branches that actually look like they almost sit on the power lines.

We actually needed the rain here. Time to get back to work! I’m mixing inside chores with outside chores today. I have almost planted everything I purchased. Some things I’m still trying to decide where to put them. I’m keeping my eye on the light meters to see if anything will turn up with full sun.

[Paul R.]

Has anyone ever tried one of these (or something like it)?

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/insect-pest-control/area-insect-repellents/compact-bug-fan/nv-07998/p-1642874353955279-c-14248.htm

If it actually works...!!?? The concept is very interesting & could be expanded on if it really works. For example, would flashing UV lights at a modest level drive off insects but not people? What about a (true) UV rope light with a random chase function, strung around that fishing spot in the evening?

Reviews @ Amazon are not too bad:

https://www.amazon.com/Treva-FD15001-Tabletop-Deterrent-Black/dp/B084XQPG2H#customerReviews

[Qiviut]

I am going a little “nuts” today. There is so much I want to do, but everything is so soggy I need to let the ground & raised beds dry out for a couple of days. The mulch I buy is in a pile outside, no cover & with almost 6 inches of rain on it, I want that to dry out a bit before I load up the trailer.

I do have to take some letters and an item I’m mailing to the PO. Just down the road is a little produce market - I need green beans for a recipe next week so I want to check availability & see what else they have. I also got a text coupon from another little market closer to home - it’s good on their annuals so I think I will swing by & check them out too. Last time I was there, all their plants & flowers were 25% off - I exercised EXTREME self control & only bought a little basil plant :-)

Sun has come out so that improves the mood - also fires up the atmosphere for more severe weather. I am seriously considering tarping my jalapeños because the weather gal said she is more concerned about large hail than anything else - I have them fenced to keep the deer out so I can put a tarp across the fence. Fingers crossed we aren’t in the path of the bad stuff later today & this evening.

[Paul R.]

Ditto here: It was and is supposed to be mostly cloudy, but that’s still off slightly to the west, so, instead we have a sunny sauna* going to try to break through the cap @ mid levels of the atmosphere. If that happens, our fun could start early.

*Or at least it feels that way, pushing around our push mower. :-(

Hopefully no tarps (or roofs!) become sails!

[FamiliarFace]

I hope the weather cooperates for you!

I don’t think I could exercise that sort of self-control that you mentioned. So far, the herbs and flowers I’ve planted are all looking really good.

Tomorrow I will be traveling back to see my family. There’s a baby shower for our niece, and I tend to miss most of these, but hubby suggested I go, so I am! He said he will watch over things around here for me. Famous last words!

I’ll be snipping some of the tarragon to bring down there. One sister just loves it. She told me last year that it was the best she’s ever had. I told her that it’s French tarragon and she probably only gets the Mexican version where she is (Tampa area).

Laundry is finished, so I’m working on actual packing at this point. I really don’t like air travel that much. I’m ok once I’m on the plane, but I really dislike the process of being herded like cattle. Plus, people are crazy out there. I hope there are no issues with flight people or with other passengers. Say some prayers for me.

[Qiviut]

I don’t fly. Period. Safe travels to you!

No tarragon in my herb garden - will have to keep an eye out for it ..... French variety :-)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

A. You need to stay out of Menard’s, and...

B. I need to stay out of Menard’s, LOL!

I’ve never used anything more than a netted hat and some spray for bug issues when fishing.

Thunderstorms should be hitting us from 3-4pm. Looks like a real fast mover. I just did all my ‘pre-storm prep’ for the garden, greenhouse and front porch. Took down my wind chimes as I couldn’t stand their constant BONG-BONG-BONG! while this storm blows in!

Had a late Mother’s Day Lunch with Mom and her Girl Gang today and she gave me three cases of Ball canning jars, a bag of ground coffee, two containers of creamer and a rooted Pussywillow Branch that Beau will plant for her by our little creek in part of the pasture.

Lunch was OK, but I always forget how SALTY restaurant food is. Ugh! I’m chuggin’ water right now.

After an entire WEEK of nothing but work truck and machinery problems for Beau, he called me Happy as a Lark a bit ago; he’s got the track back on the skid steer and he’s going to finish up the mowing job (where the skid has been stranded all week) and should be home before the storm. An Amish kid helped him and played the part that I normally play of inching the track forward as he knocks it into place.

I’m leaving all the barn chores for after the rain. Hopefully Beau will tend to them. ;)

‘Clean Out the Fridge Night’ for supper. :)

[Qiviut]

Watching radar like a hawk!! The tarp would drape over with extra on the ground. I have some exceptionally heavy bricks (’fire’ bricks) that would hold it down unless there was a tornado ... in which case, the jalapeños won’t matter much.

[FamiliarFace]

If it doesn’t specify French tarragon, it probably isn’t. If you see Russian tarragon, don’t bother at all. It’s not very good. Mexican is ok, but not as tasty as the French variety.

[Paul R.]

It’s here! (Rain.) :-(

Nothing severe here, so far, but it’s heavier down in NE Arkansas, around Batesville.

[Qiviut]

We are currently in a severe thunderstorm watch. To the south, there is a severe thunderstorm warning. The storm is moving east so this one won’t impact us. More storms could blow up before 9 after which any storms should not be as bad.