The Garden Thread - July, 2025

July, 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.

[Pollard]

I've got one of these but never knew the name of it but knew it was for concrete. Evidently it's called a concrete placer. About 20" wide.

It's in the back of the truck right now because I used it to scrape the rocks off the concrete bridge that the grader left behind. Big sharp rocks sitting on concrete will push right through a tire and the hole is too big to plug and sometimes too big to patch. I'm not the only one here that ruined a new tire from a chunk of gravel puncturing it.

Anyway, good for scraping rocks out of the back of a truck/trailer. Not real fast but there's no lifting aside from the weight of the scraper/placer and they're light.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Very tidy! :)

We had about 1/2” of rain overnight, so mowing is either later today or...whenever. More rain coming tomorrow. Those poor Holiday Campers, LOL! (Glad THAT part of my life is over!)

We’re just doing chores, today. Beau has tons to do to get ready to go up to Bear Camp. Having standard ‘grill fare’ for supper on the 4th. Making that Tortellini Pasta Salad, though. Looking forward to that. :)

[Qiviut]

Good idea. I would have to put something solid on the trailer ramp/tailgate. It's metal mesh/grate. If I had some large pieces of cardboard, I could zip tie them to the ramp. I can either back up & do sections or drive down the length of the lean-to & unload it that way.

I did use cardboard when I moved the slate slabs to the new place - slick enough I could slide the slabs. I actually slipped on the cardboard on the ramp & fell (ouch!) so I only put it down when I was ready to slide the slab down the ramp.

On my last trip to the old house, I got into dad's scrap lumber pile & pulled out enough usable plywood to make panels (cut to fit) for the sides of the trailer that are metal grating. Now I don't have to worry about mulch or gravel leaking out the sides - using the tarp was a 'pain'.

[Qiviut]

BTW, notice the springs on each side of the trailer ramp. My brother put them on his trailer & added them to mine (youtube idea, I think). I believe they are garage door springs. They are a HUGE back saver - the ramp is very heavy & dangerous when lowering it without the springs. No way I could have put that ramp up/down as much as I did moving everything I moved (all but the heavy furniture, 13,000 miles worth of trips).

[Qiviut]

Paving contractor was here at 7:10 this morning to smooth out the ruts where the driveway washed Tuesday & Wednesday nights from gully washer downpours! He’s such a good guy!

I like “tidy” :-)

Trying burgers on the grill .... need to add grilling to my repertoire of cooking ‘skills’!

[Paul R.]

Agreed!

Tho’ my time is far too limited, I really enjoy trying out new things* attacking problems to be solved - when they turn out to be reasonably solvable, anyway!!!

*I have the Coleus canina Hybr. plants separated and in small pots. (They were 4 to a 3” pot!) So far, so good. The most vigorous plant I already have out by a couple of my tomato plants - probably will want to remove it if it starts flowering, as these have a lot of “weed” characteristics, esp. the roots. (They seem quite tenacious.)

I also bought a few hot pepper plants @ Menards yesterday, idea being to grow hot peppers, grind them up, and sprinkle the bits around plants I don’t want “critters” to dig up! Unfortunately, even composted chicken guano seems to attract these vandals, as does the “organic” tomato plant fertilizer I bought a big bag of on clearance at Wally World last year.

“Cowhorn” peppers, while not exceptionally hot, look like the best bet for quantity of material grown. (??) I bought one pot @ reg. price: It has two plants in it, so, I’ll have to separate ‘em. But, I bought a “weak heat” jalapeno too, as it’s already fruiting in the starter pot. And it was on sale and also actually a two-fer. Serrano was the hottest Menards had - selection was poor. Reg. price, but, that one’s a three-fer. With luck I can get all 3 to survive. Another splitting job. The pots of all 3 are soaking for a few hours this morning to hopefully ease the split(s).

The catnip seeds (opposite tactic: attract our cats to hopefully scare off squirrels) are stratified and sown in small pots down in the basement (to get the soil temp right). Hopefully those will be “up” in a week.

On a “productive” note, the Romas and Golden Jubilee tomato plants are starting to ripen a few fruits. The latter are running small (under 2” diameter). Hopefully that will improve as the plants are growing well, now.

In fact... Some of the the garden areas’ surviving plants, not previously drowned are doing much better, now. There’s a potted “Cherry Falls” tomato plant that’s already almost 7 ft. tall. Just a few green fruits so far... but, it looks like I’ll need to come up with something in the way of a taller stake / “trellis”...

That potted Ichiban Eggplant on the NORTH side of our house has a fruit almost big enough to harvest. I’ve never grown an eggplant with such large leaves. It’s a good sign, I hope!

[Pollard]

Yeah my trailer is a 20’ car trailer and the only deck is enough for car tires on each side. Three foot gap in between. Once upon a time I had boards to fill in but used some for projects so I need to buy a couple. Then I still have no sides at all and don’t think I want them on a car trailer. I have an old 14’ camper trailer I can make a utility trailer from.

I’ll get to trailer work sometime. This Fall or Winter, next Spring. Meanwhile I have a truck and don’t mind carrying whatever in it since it’s 20 years old.

I’ll be screwing pallets cut in half for 2’ x 4’ pieces onto the trailer to make temporary sides for a dump run soon. I still have enough boards to fill in all but 8” in the middle of the deck and I’m bagging anything small. Might just leave those temporary sides at the dump. Junky pallets anyway.

Speaking of dump, a dump bed for truck or trailer would be sweet.

---

Happy Independence Day All.

NY Strip is the meat of the day. Grabbed some A1 sauce at the store and thought, I’m glad beer isn’t $4.75 for a 10oz bottle.

Got my flag put up yesterday. Been down for over a year but I ran across a heavier wall bracket recently.

[Albion Wilde]

a T-shirt I saw a guy wearing the other day - had a pic of a buck and said; Nice truck ya got there. Be a shame if I ran into it.

LOL!--yep. We've had a lot of cars dented up around these parts!

[metmom]

The lettuce and zucchini I started a few days ago are coming up and the Brussel Sprouts I brought with me are still in their pots and not even touched by cabbage loopers yet.

When I get home, they need to go on the ground and I will be treating them with Spinosad and see if I can get a crop that way.

I expect to see a lot of Japanese beetles when I get back.

[metmom]

The lettuce and zucchini I started a few days ago are coming up and the Brussel Sprouts I brought with me are still in their pots and not even touched by cabbage loopers yet.

When I get home, they need to go on the ground and I will be treating them with Spinosad and see if I can get a crop that way.

I expect to see a lot of Japanese beetles when I get back.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Beau is the Grill Master at our house. He USUALLY keeps it down to a Four-Alarm Fire, LOL!

I have a small grill that I use when he’s away. It’s SUMMER - I gotta grill! But, in Wisconsin we grill all year ‘round - just gotta brush the leaves off or shovel the snow off the grill from time to time. ;)

If you REALLY want to learn how to grill just about anything, follow Bobby Flay.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Got my flag put up yesterday. Been down for over a year but I ran across a heavier wall bracket recently.”

Jealous! I am WAITING - impatiently - for Beau to do the repairs needed to the front porch so I can get my flag back up!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I have lived in the, ‘Wilds of Wisconsin’ for a good chunk of my life and got my driver’s license 49 YEARS ago and I have hit exactly ONE deer. (Just JINXED myself!)

My Guardian Angel and that deer’s Guardian Angel must be friends because he bounced off the hood of my VW Golf - and HE STUCK THE LANDING and ably ran off.

Beau? He had one year when it was ‘Three Deer and a Steer’ but he drives his F350 Monster Truck. Children and Livestock are scared of that thing! Only damage was to a side mirror after all of that. The freezer was fuller than full that year. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Qiviut]

I will check out Bobby on grilling!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You won’t be disappointed. :)

I LOVE grilled veggies! ‘Learn’ that first, LOL!

[Qiviut]

Watching AKC Salutes the Troops: Diving Dog Challenge [ESPN]

The little dogs should be fun - one is a Corgi. My SIL had a Corgi - quite the character.

[Pollard]

I just grilled steaks — in the air fryer. I haven’t had a grill in years and probably won’t get one unless they come out with grills made for lava rocks again. If I really want to cook outdoors, I do have a crude wood grill but don’t have wood for it right now.

A few shishito peppers tossed in the air fryer at 4 min to go for the steaks was about right. I wish I’d have thrown more in there but it was a last minute thought and a test. I’ll be tossing a few in there with every meat now as long as I have some fresh ones.

[Pollard]

Not a big fan of hot dry summers but this is getting crazy

[MomwithHope]

.