Posted on 06/01/2025 5:48:14 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Has anyone here had any luck with over-wintering Cannas? I know that the usual routine is to dig them up and try to keep them between 40 and 50 deg. F, without drying out the bulbs.
My catnip STILL has not germinated / sprouted. What the heck?
yes.......cook the egg to your liking.......but
be careful the added cook time doesnt burn the pastry.
Or this
They get eaten
True!
Right - that (potentially scorching the pastry) is what I wondered about.
Use foil around the edges, perhaps?
Thanks!
I had some cannas a few years back in a pot that I successfully overwintered for an extra season. I kept it near my sunniest window in the winter, and continued watering it, fertilizing a time or two over winter, and it came back the next spring. The next winter I did the same, but it didn’t rebloom that time.
Sorry. I don’t grow anything I have to ‘fuss with’ after the season is over. I’m usually so burned out after canning the harvest that even my houseplants are neglected for a while. ;)
RE: Catnip Germination
“Though easy to obtain, catnip seeds may sometimes be difficult to germinate. Like many perennial plants, higher germination rates may occur after a period of stratification. Stratification is a process by which the seeds are treated to varying conditions as a means to promote germination. For catnip, seed sowing should occur after the seeds about been placed in a freezer overnight. After this period, allow the seeds to soak in water for a period of 24 hours. This will allow for easier and more uniform germination rates. After the stratification process has been completed, use a seed starting tray to plant the seeds. Place the tray in a warm location near a windowsill or under grow lights. When kept consistently moist, germination should occur within 5-10 days. Move the seedlings to a bright location. When the chance of frost has passed, harden the seedlings off and plant into the desired location.”
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/catnip/how-to-plant-catnip-seeds.htm
And remember - Catnip is in the MINT family, so it will get out of control unless contained!
My “war” is with the groundhogs. My SIL semi-jokingly calls me “The Terminator” because I got called to remove/terminate the snakes in her chicken coop & I greatly decreased the squirrel population at our place (60 in 3 years, only the ones tearing up birdfeeders & garden - we were overrun). I’ve gotten sensitive about it so practicing “live & let live”, exception being groundhogs.
Hi, Diana! Thanks, maybe someone else will be experienced with Cannas. My Mom had them way back when, but that was B4 I was interested in gardening, and she passed away a few years ago.
I’ll try stratifying some catnip seeds. That is likely the ticket! I have over half the pack left. (Very tiny volume but still quite a few seeds of course.)
The catnip will not be directly beside the garden, so if it starts to get out of hand I can hit it with 2-4D (etc.), mow it (blow cuttings downwind), etc.
Speaking of determined spreaders, I have problems with wild strawberries...
Last year I had of all things (besides the weeds!) a combination of wild blackberry and Tomatillo go crazy near the 2nd garden plot. I chopped down zapped all the blackberry plants and hit the remaining stems with brush killer, and tried to not hit all the Tomatillo, but, no Tomatillo volunteers came up this spring. I guess there was enough residual 2-4D or some other ingredient to inhibit them, but not the wild mustard, etc., or even some regrowth of the wild blackberries. :-(
Noted! I have a lily plant we’ve done that with for a few years. So far, it’s come back, but, this year with no flowers despite fertilizer: I suspect it badly needs repotting.
Our lily’s in the front flower bed (actually has decent drainage) are doing nicely: I hit them with bloom booster earlier this spring and it looks like that paid off. :-)
I think mine needed repotting too.
My neighbor has cannas in the ground, but I don’t pay attention to whether she digs them up every year or not. I should ask her the next time I see her.
So far, I haven’t had much luck with digging up caladium bulbs for the next season. I replant them the following spring and get nothing. I must be doing something wrong.
All heck broke loose yesterday afternoon ... all sorts of hooting, whistling, shouting, hollering ... I figured the neighbors were having a cattle roundup. Maybe an hour later, I saw the gal who runs their little farm store walking our fence line (our side of the fence). I called to her if she was looking for something- she replied she’d talked to mom & was looking for what sounded like a ‘cat’ but I figured it was ‘calf’. Mom told me later they were missing 6 calves.
The hoopla went on for about another hour, then all went quiet. I hope they found the calves. If not, they need to call the sheriff so if stray calves are reported, they’ll know who the owners are. If the calves are not found, I wonder if they were rustled? It happens ... that’s a lot of money on the hoof.
The noisy & nosy crows that hang around here have been extra annoying. I suspect they are looking for a lost buddy. I can tell them where he/she is .... a pile of black feathers at the base of our power pole after landing on the wrong spot & tripping the transformer.
Bunbun is still here ... has not eaten the hostas plus I’m too busy with the groundhogs. Bunbun was in the barn lean-to yesterday I guess just checking out what is going on in there.
My cow neighbors (moobors?) are ‘back”. They’ve been in a back field the last 2 weeks where I could only catch a glimpse of them. I’ve missed them! Now they’re in the field just across the road. The calves are still in the herd ... another month or so & I suspect they’ll be leaving. The moms are pregnant with the calves coming next winter so they don’t need a 6 month old calf still nursing occasionally.
No snakes/Timbers, coyotes, or bears and I hope it stays that way.
When we think about grilling, it’s probably steaks, chicken, and maybe hot dogs. Those proteins are great on the grill, but don't overlook grilling vegetables—it's a wonderful way to bring more variety to your meals. Learning how to grill vegetables properly will prove that they deserve more than just a place on the side. The hot, direct heat of the grill encourages a natural sweetness in produce that searing or steaming can’t replicate, bringing out a deeply caramelized, smoky, and delightfully charred flavor to pretty much any vegetable.
Whether layered on skewers, tossed in a grill basket, or seared directly on the grates, you might find yourself reaching for produce sooner than meat once you learn a few key techniques. We spoke to an expert to get tips and ideas to help you grill vegetables so delicious that you and your guests will remember them long after the grill has cooled.
Why You Should Grill Vegetables
"Grilled vegetables are an absolute game-changer that deserve a place on everyone’s menu," says Dustin Green, head grill master for Weber. Grilling transforms vegetables in a way that no other cooking method can. The intense heat enhances their natural sugars, producing sweet, charred edges and deep, smoky undertones. “Whether it's the sweetness of grilled bell peppers, the savory earthiness of mushrooms, or the crisp-tender perfection of asparagus, vegetables bring variety, color, and texture to the plate," says Green.
Beyond their flavor, vegetables provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of grilled meats. They’re also remarkably versatile: grilled vegetables can certainly be served on their own, but they can also be chopped up in a salad, blended into a chutney or salsa, stuffed into a pita, wrap, or sandwich, and so much more.
More at link: https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-grill-vegetables-11745454
I kind of miss having ‘Stew’ close at hand, but it is fun to watch him in the pasture, interacting with the Heifers. He’s their Team Mascot, LOL!
I've always had an iron stomach so even for backyard chicken eggs, it's over easy for me. If I do scrambled, it's soft scrambled for me and let the rest cook a little more for my son.
Ok now I'm going to have to have eggs for breakfast. Little grocery store near me had a dozen medium eggs for $0.99 and I got the last dozen. At that price, eating two to every one extra large is no biggie. I was surprised the last dozen had zero broken eggs. Expected to open them at the store and see a mess.
I've got shredded potatoes, bacon and onion too. I buy the precooked bacon anymore. Nice and thin and it finishes off to slightly crispy in seconds. I'm the only one who eats it so the smaller package works out. Basically zero bacon fat leftover is a downside.
I need more chickens but need to build a better coup first. Want to build an A-frame style with good runners so I can drag it with the little tractor so it's not in one place forever. Good way to prep a strip of grassy ground for garden beds.
Right now I've got a heavy fiberglass truck topper sitting on a 4 foot tall frame of 2x4s that are rotten down low. Surprised the goats haven't knocked it down yet when they rub against it to scratch themselves. The 200+ lb buck will knock some things over like that.
First herbs growing. Store had Italian Oregano and Cilantro so I grabbed one of each. Tried a fresh leaf of each. Oregano yummy, cilantro not so much. Cilantro was a little wilted from the potting soil drying out. Will have to try again today but quite an aftertaste the first time.
Gotta replace that A-frame on the car today but not before doing some welding repair. My little air compressor has a hole rusted through the bottom so I need to weld a patch over it because it's leaking faster than it can pump and I need the impact gun for the car. Also have my eye on a couple used compressors on CL. Would be nice to have one up at the house and one down at the shed. They have wheels and are "portable" but with the handles being so short, they try to run up on your heels when dragging them so then you have to take a gazillion baby steps while dragging something. pita
Then it's on to small engine service and soldering that tractor radiator. I know all the bolts holding the radiator support/housing are going to break off in the frame because one already was when I got it and the rest are rusted in.
With the new weekend shift, today is my Saturday so this has been my Saturday morning ramblings post.
The calves are fat & sassy. They run, chase & play. The moms ... no running, maybe a trot if someone else is at the barn & they think there’s food.
My double washtub stand & tubs are painted. I am currently setting pavers for it to stand on, then will fill the tubs & plant Calibrachoa. One of my $2 plants is blooming - sort of a peach color like the first one I bought. The other one doesn’t have blooms yet, but will likely be the same color. I cut back on the number of pavers I’m using - just don’t have the patience today for trying to get them all level.
Lavenders need planting, too. Those are the two thing (other than mowing) I need to do outside before company Thursday. Both are very visible from the house. Neither of the people coming (twin cousins) are outdoorsy & the temperature will be 91. Both have health issues & I doubt they could even sit on the porch. I’m trying to calm down about the outside projects - as long as the AC is working & the food is good, I should be ok.
Got a new mattress yesterday. Not brand new — two year old and a Menard’s “good” level. The ex is downsizing to a twin for her new living quarters. Closet or something.
I bought her two year old full size for $100 which helped her buy the new twin. Our old queen was in really bad shape with hills and valleys. Just got them swapped out and laid down on the newer one and wanted to go back to sleep. Maybe that will fix my constant aching back.
Need a new box spring but tossed the full mattress on the queen box for now. Pedestals are the new fad along with mattress in a box (fancy foam pad).
With a 10” thick mattress with coil springs and a pillow top, a pedestal/platform will work for my lightweight butt.
One of the travel trailers I owned had a queen size mattress on pedestal with a hinged top for storage underneath so I think I’ll do that. Got enough scraps of wood here and will make for more room in the shed using some scrap up.
Will have to get some shorter totes than what I have around here. A 12” pedestal will be just right as that’s what the bed frame and box spring add up to and the mattress is perfect to sit on and hunt around in the dark with my feet for the slippers.
Time to put some jeans on and get out there. It’s 74 now with high of 80 and mostly sunny so it’s good working weather at least.
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You mention 10 inches deep. I usually will not have more than an additional 5"6" laying down at an angle in the trench/hole and the root ball is usually not more than 5 or 6 inches from the surface.
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