Posted on 06/01/2025 5:48:14 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.
The weather this spring has made gardening difficult for sure.
I’ve had to seed my cucumber row three times. Original planting I used leftover seed - zero germination. 2nd planting was silted over with ~3” of dirt during a deluge - ~25% of that attempt made it out of the ground. I re-seeded the skips then got another big rain. Now I’m waiting to see if any of those come up.
By next season I should have enough raised beds built to plant bush beans in one or two of them. In the meantime I’m going to re-seed the pole beans and build a temporary fence from chicken wire around that row in hopes of keeping the bunnies from mowing them down again.
If we get some sun and wind today the ground might be dry enough to run the walk-behind tiller over the spot where I’m going to put my sweet corn. It would be nice to get that in the ground before it rains again. Weather guessers are guessing that might happen on Wednesday. I’m hoping they’re guessing wrong on that.
So far, so good with Howard staying in his enclosures. I have one pen that’s ~20’x30’ with a big dog house inside. That’s where he spends the night. The section of fencing where the gate is located is only 4’ high. I’m sure he could jump/climb over if he got the notion.
I’ve got another section of yard fenced off that’s 50’x50’. The fence around that is 5’ high and is gated to the deck that wraps around Mrs. Augie’s sun room. He’s happier there than he is in the other pen so I’ve been letting him use that spot during the day.
So far he hasn’t shown much interest in digging, which is a good thing. Our yard is already full of holes from my Aussie and #1 Marine Daughter’s doberman digging moles out of the ground. It’s a rare to go more than three or four days without finding a dead mole in the grass here.
I’ve got a remote-controlled training collar on the way. I tried the bark collar on him a few days ago. Forgot to shut off the shock function before I put it on him. He barked once, got zapped, and didn’t bark again until I removed the collar. That particular collar beeps when you shut off the power... Howard was sitting on my feet when I did that... the collar beeped and he yipped like he’d been whacked with a broom handle. Poor guy gave me the “what did I do to deserve that?” look. I haven’t used that collar on him since, but if/when I need to I’ll make sure the shock is disabled.
Stop hurting yourself; we need you! :)
Heard the comment from 4-5 guys at work today; More rain or More [fill in the blank] rain
Wish I had my gutters and IBC tanks set up for the tunnel. They’d be full all the time. I’ll get it done asap and that will make the rain stop, I guarantee.
I didn’t even tell you about trying to hold the fire pit on the trailer with one hand & raise the tailgate with the other .... when the tailgate gets to a certain spot it sort of ‘snaps’ closed. The tailgate has garage door springs to help me raise & lower it. Anyway, it snapped shut & knocked me back. I think I hit the tail light on the way to the ground .... landed on the butt cheek with the knife stabbing pain. :-) I might have a new bruise or two, but otherwise, no harm seems to have been done. Stupid- should have tied the fire pit on so I could use 2 hands on the tailgate.
Beau has accidentally ‘zapped’ a dog or two through the years. It happens. The only cure is that you make SURE it never happens again (which it looks like you are doing), lots of soothing words, pats on the head and extra Milk Bones. ;)
I’m loving that you’re loving Howard! I just love those Walker Dogs! (Raised 27 of them, so far since 2016) I’ve always had Labradors and Basset Hounds but I THINK I have enough time left on this planet to have one more of one or the other.
Or maybe just throw caution to the wind and get one of each? Bassets are ridiculously STUBBORN and Labs take a good 7 years to GROW UP into decent dogs unless you spend 24/7 on training. ;)
I know your garden is a soggy mess, and I’m catching up with you. 2.5” of rain today, another three inches predicted by Wednesday. I need to pull back mulch from all of the tomato plants tomorrow. My Star Gazer Lilies are NOT happy - their leaves are turning yellow from too much water, but they usually recover. All of the salad greens are still Happy, Happy, though.
I snapped a pix of the ‘Jachmanii’ Clematis for Mrs. Augie and will get that posted to you/her as soon as I get things uploaded.
It was bad enough when you broke your kneecap - you were out of commission for almost a year, it seemed!
Made it safely home today by 1:00. Rain on radar - got the truck unloaded (chainsaw, weed eater, various other tools) & the trailer with the lumber parked in the barn as the first raindrops started falling. Forecast calling for rough weather this evening - could have tornadoes. Mom’s 2 appointments yesterday were good & she was able to have lunch with a good friend - they have been missing each other. Whew - been dreading this trip so I’m glad it’s over! Now I have lumber & some other things to finish the lean-to project, get some fencing around the dahlia seedlings, & work on getting the metal raised beds (minus the one) in place & filled.
Well, at least you didn’t hurt yourself today! :)
It’s supposed to rain tonight and all day tomorrow, so I’ve dumped the compost, moved the remaining flowers and winter squashes out of the greenhouse so they can get real rain water on them, dumped pots that were holding too much water and pulled back the mulch on my tomatoes and Lilies - the lilies are already showing yellow leaves from too much water - you can’t win! The fruit trees (Apples, Peaches, Pears, Cherries) and all the small wild fruits we harvest got a great kick in the pants from the rain, yesterday. I am going to have a TON of fruit this growing season if things keep on the way they are.
I also filled a dozen milk jugs from the rain barrel which is fuller than full with all this wonderful rain. Driving back from getting groceries today, the field corn is up about 6”, the soybeans are right behind them and any grasses and alfalfa planted for hay are leaping out of the ground for the second harvest/baling. Our five, 40’ rows of ‘Ambrosia’ Sweet Corn have gotten off to a really good start.
Yep. This time of year you’d better LOVE the color green - because that’s all you can see for miles around you. :)
2.5” yesterday and possibly another 3” between tonight and tomorrow. Not looking awful, but man it’s HOT and HUMID now. Fingers crossed for no ‘bad stuff’ for either of us!
Looks like we might be drying up here in Ctrl MO. Starting Thursday, highs 90-94 and sunny for four days as of now. Maybe the farmers around here will finally be able to get their first cutting of hay.
Ordered some more 1/4” drip line today to run the two new beds. It’s finally drying up under the tunnel roof. I’ve watered three times this year so turning on/off the drip manually or watering by hand for the single bed was fine but I have a feeling it’s about time to set up a watering schedule. It is almost July after all.
Got my 15 gallon tank cleaned out and ready for a fresh batch of fertilizer to push through the drip system. Maters are ready for some.
Couple of squash seeds sprouted so it shouldn’t be too long before the rest are up.
Another month and I’ll be able to start putting money into the tunnel again. Gonna start with end walls with doors and gable vents and then do the sides.
Would love some rain here, Its been hot and dry. Watering every evening.
Thanks for the updates. All Systems Go! :)
I’m going to fertilize my tomatoes with another blast of bone meal and some bloom booster a few dry days after tomorrow’s rain.
Then it’s Weed, Water and WAIT! :)
Super muggy here ... stifling almost. We got a shower, but it looks like anything serious has dissipated. A few small waves of storms this evening & overnight will be coming through. Severe T-storms forecast for Thursday.
I took some fence panels off the trailer & ‘graduated’ the dahlia seedlings to anti-deer fencing instead of Dollar Store small wire garbage cans covered with row cover. The dahlias have outgrown the covers after not doing much growing for weeks ... maybe I’ll have flowers by Thanksgiving at this rate. That was all I did garden wise/outside.
My SIL asked if I wanted some venison. She gave me 3 packages of loin which was shocking - she usually keeps that for herself. She also gave me a football roast & 6 1-lb. packages of ground venison. I love having venison. Half beef half ground venison works well in recipes & helps the budget. Loin is a treat.
Sunday, I FINALLY got the ceiling fan working in the living room. It’s nice to have air flow when you have a pile of knitting or crochet in your lap which can get pretty warm. After the stress of the trip (pulling the trailer & keeping an eye on mom following in her car), I have spent the afternoon knitting ... so relaxing :-)
He said, 'We need to have a talk about freezer space.' Uh, Yes. We. Do! Smoke your fish and get all of your random 'body parts' (hearts and livers) out of there that you're, 'saving for the dogs' and let's get on with life! Pretty sure my containers of bacon grease and a few random bags of Jalapeno peppers from last season for 'Cowboy Candy' are NOT the problem, LOL!
Boys!
Did I tell you my project for this Summer (for the County Fair in the Fall) is a Hudson Bay Baby Blanket? You know - for the 'sporty' baby in your life, LOL! I've got all the yarn, just waiting for Beau to head to the cabin after the 4th so I can spread out my work on the kitchen countertop. The Fair isn't until Labor Day Weekend. I've got plenty of time.
Hoping that at least ONE of the County Fair Judges is a 'Sporty Grandma!' ;)
You’ll see some things I have been working on soon :-) I like your fair project - more ribbons headed your way!
I can’t seem to get the ‘hang’ of what one needs to win with my food canning enties - though I have a flippin’ PANTRY FULL OF THE STUFF and I’ve never (intentionally) food poisoned anyone. Yet. :)
I’m also submitting Photography. That ‘fared’ well last year. ;)
Mom; $9 for 1/2 gallon of cream is still a good deal. I pay $7 to $8 for 1 quart of A&E whipping cream. (A&E is located in Iowa IIRC.)
I have never been to Tomah. I have always loved the picture of them on the road looking out over the fields and forests.
I had a wool Hudson's Bay blanket growing up. Loved the colored stipes!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.