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.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

You are probably better off getting pawpaws from a nursery rather than free wild ones. The wild ones...when they bear...are smaller and full of seeds. Note that they also have a long tap root which makes it difficult to survive being dug up and transplanted. (Nurseries have specialty long rooting pots/cells to accomodate that tap root.)

Diana might have some suggestions for sourcing.

[MomwithHope]

I have had wild pawpaws and mine which are nursery bought. Yes they will come in super long pots. I found the seeds to be about the same size, big. Maybe the nursery fruit has a little more fruit but not much. Its labor to separate the seeds out but worth it.

[Qiviut]

I have a recipe for bacon jam somewhere - probably on my old laptop. The “trading post” near us sells it, too.

Just put ‘bacon jam recipe’ in your search engine & there are many recipes. You might want to choose one that has similar ingredients to the one you have now since you like it.

If you really want to step out of the box, I saw recipes for blackberry bacon jam & bourbon bacon jam.

https://idahopreferred.com/recipes/idaho-blackberry-bacon-jam/

https://www.cravingsofalunatic.com/bourbon-bacon-jam/

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you both. In late April, when the 4-H center sponsored a Master Gardener show, they were giving away free trees, among them were a handful of pawpaws. We had a delayed start that day, so missed out on those. I did get a persimmon tree, which looked like a bare long stick with some roots.

I soaked it in water when I got home for a whole day. I still have it in a pot in my sunniest spot near my herb garden. Several weeks after getting it, it started sprouting leaves, and now those are getting bigger, so I think it will be ready to transplant soon. It will probably go in that meditation garden somewhere provided my light meters over there say it would get full sun. I’m hoping so. Even if it doesn’t bear fruit, it’s apparently a pretty tree, especially in the fall. Or so they told me.

[FamiliarFace]

Man! Both of those look scrumptious! Thanks!

I had never heard of bacon jam before, but it is really tasty! Now it will be something I include in my meal plan rotation here and there. Those bacon cheeseburgers we made last week were some of the best I’ve ever had.

[Qiviut]

I actually remembered the name of the blog that had the recipe I saved somewhere & I found it:

Maple Bourbon Bacon Jam
https://creative-culinary.com/maple-bourbon-bacon-jam/

Check around on her blog ... she has dome really good recipes.

[FamiliarFace]

Awesome, thank you!

[Qiviut]

When I checked my pepper plants last night they were half blown over so something had to be done & quickly (more bad storms on tap for tonight).

All my individual stakes are at the old garden. I have a ton of stakes, but can't seem to remember to get them on trips back to the old place. I did pick up some 4 ft. fence posts on the last trip.

I put 4 posts in the raised bed, in-line with the pepper plants. Twine was stretched tightly between the posts. The plants were zip tied to the twine;however, the loop would still move along the twine. To solve that issue, I zip tied the first loop tightly to the twine. If the plants get tall enough, I can run another higher row of twine.

I did find 2 pieces of rebar so the 2 plants in the ends of the bed that are not in-line with the twine are individually staked.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Bacon Jam! YES! I’ve made it, mainly to ‘showcase’ Beau’s Homemade Maple Syrup. Highly recommended by all that have tried it. It goes either sweet or savory. Very versatile.

I have used this recipe:

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a54929/bacon-jam-recipe/

Thanks for the reminder - I just bought bacon, and I see there’s some already in the freezer too, and my canning supplies are already out so what the heck! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’re such a MacGyver, LOL! They look very happy and healthy despite your rough weather.

[Pollard]

Some info here — https://pauldingtree.com/nextcloud/s/TGnAcPBk4ap9Se9

[Pollard]

[Pollard]

https://centerforagroforestry.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Agroforestry-in-Action-Pawpaw-3-1.pdf

[Pollard]

Tree Pots - these with the vertical ridges are supposed to help prevent feeder roots from spiraling as the tap root grows.

Only source I have in my notes on trees. https://integrationacres.com/product-category/nursery-products/

[metmom]

Thank you.

We’re going out of town for a week so I’m going to pick everything possible before I leave, both of ones toeat and any seed pods that are ready.

A few are crispy now. I’ll do those tomorrow evening.

There is some rainforecast but not much. It’s going to be generally warm and dry.

The plants will becoming up when we get home regardless.

[MomwithHope]

If I recall correctly the pawpaw seedlings were in a long pot than this by a few inches.

[FamiliarFace]

Those photos look just like this bacon jam! Thanks for the tip!

And enjoy yours!

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you, that looks like great info!

[FamiliarFace]

Interesting.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Qiviut. I have the circular tomato cages which are OK for short determinate tomatoes provided you stake them too, but i have found that they work well with Pepper plants.

(Your gardens and grounds are so neat and nice! Impressed!)