The Garden Thread - August, 2025

August 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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Here’s a recipe for Zucchini Bread made with whole wheat flour:

https://theflourbarnhomestead.com/whole-wheat-zucchini-bread-recipe/

I agree with less sugar and substituting 1/2 the oil with applesauce. I’ve done that and have noticed no difference in moistness.

[Augie]

Lots of crazy weather all around Central Missouri this past week - flash floods in pretty much every direction - not a drop of rainfall here. I hadn't needed to water the victory garden for the past couple weeks but by Friday things were starting to get wilty so I'm back at it.

Tomatoes, cukes, peppers, and spaghetti squash all still thriving. We had the cannery running here on Saturday - Mrs. Augie jarred up another nine quarts of fermented dill pickles and I made ~15 quarts of spaghetti sauce. I canned 12 quarts and stuck the rest in the fridge to use right away.

The Ninja juicer I bought is a semi-useful countertop unit. It's quite slow, but it chewed through the onions and peppers like a champ, did a decent job on the parsley and basil, but not so great for skin-on tomatoes. It would fill the reservoir about halfway then I'd have to take it apart to clean the strainer. Apple cider will be its next test. I'll be amazed if it survives that.

Howard is figuring things out fast. When the golf cart comes out he's usually the first one on for a ride. We have to hang onto him when the deer are around because he WILL go after them if he gets the chance. Aside from that he sits up there and rides like a good dog. When we let him off the cart he stays with us rather than bolting to the woods. If he does manage to sneak off one beep on the training collar is all it takes to bring him back.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOVE IT! HI, Mrs. Augie! :)

Howard’s coat is looking so glossy and healthy! He’s loving his Best Life Ever. :)

What are the names of the other two dogs?

[metmom]

When you get enough, could you sent some a bit north?

[left that other site]

Rats...It’s too darn HOT again, even for a ride.

[metmom]

In just ran across this you-tube video from MIGardener on GMO plants he found in his land.

This Plant is a BIG PROBLEM! (Extreme Action Required)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk4KsyTVsk4

[metmom]

And will be for a few days yet.

Looks like the worst of it will break after Sunday.

[left that other site]

Ugh.

[metmom]

Yeah, I hear you.

Our church is not air conditioned as normally, we’d only need it 1 -2 times per summer. But this one has been brutal.

On the bright side, ticks need moisture to survive and having two hot very dry summers in a row SHOULD theoretically, help knock the tick population down.

[left that other site]

EYEW!
I HATE Ticks!

[metmom]

Yeah!

I hear you.

[Pollard]

I decided to keep some tires laying around this year just for the extra skeeters. Dumping them and getting them under cover is high up on the to do list.

Looks like the humidity is going to start dropping down to the low 60s by day here. Temps still in the low 90s but lower humidity will help with the heat index.

Did the Menard’s gutter math this morning. Little more than Lowes but with gutter made of aluminum nearly twice as thick. Less supports and being 16’ instead of 10’, less seams.

As much as some rain makes me want to buy gutter, I need to buy things to close in the tunnel first. Fetching a tank of water is an easy chore now that I use my truck with a tank in the bed and inverter to run the pump. I can get stuff for roll up sides for about the same cost as gutter. At least I have a plan and a To Get list for gutter now for when the time comes, like next Spring.

Today is my Friday and I have no idea what I’ll be doing for my three days off. Step 1 for all three days; get out there by 7am or so; and things will get done. Work on tractor and lay black poly down in the tunnel, do some mowing. Shopping. Maybe Menard’s for 4 pcs of fence rail for the roll up sides.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Sounds like a plan, Stan!

I have one big list of things to do, but it’s divided into ‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’ chores, depending upon the weather/rain/heat ahead this week.

Hoping to farm a LOT of it out to Beau!

Hitting the garden EARLY seems to be the key for all of us until Fall falls.

[Qiviut]

Busy day.

Unloaded the mulch out of the trailer by noon.

Got on the road by 1:00 to the garden center to pick up a load of dirt. We looked at 3 Rose of Sharons they had - right color, but pillar type - I don’t like them that skinny. We did buy a lilac - the smell should be heavenly & the blooms beautiful. Back home by 4:30.

Fixed dinner, ate between 5 & 5:30. Back outside by 6 and got 2 of the 3 old dogwoods taken down & hauled away by 8:00. One more to go tomorrow.

While working on tree #2, a big black cloud came over & we got a brief, light shower. We sat in the golf cart for a few minutes & it passed over.

Last thing to do was back the trailer with dirt load under the pole shed in case of more rain. Showers in the forecast 30% tomorrow, 60% Wednesday.

Scentara Double Blue Lilac
https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/syringa/scentara-double-blue-lilac-syringa-x-hyacinthiflora

I am TIRED ... should sleep well tonight.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Anything by ‘Proven Winners’ is truly a WINNER. I’m sure that Lilac will be just lovely!

I picked about a half-bushel of green beans today - so I plan on sleeping well tonight too. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I don’t know WHAT this guy is ranting about.

I have ACRES of soybean around me as well as feed corn, wheat and alfalfa for hay. I have NEVER had a soybean just ‘pop up’ in my lawn or a garden bed...though I do have a few spots of alfalfa in the lawn - which the mule or a currently grazing steer appreciates!

And - Soybeans ARE NOT PERENNIALS. They are a legume. He said he’s going to plow that field under anyway for fruit trees and other crops and it will be GONE, never to return!

Alarmist, Much? And for what reason? Oh, I know! SCARY GMOs! Extra hits to his You-Tube Channel! *SMIRK*

Every vegetable or flower that ANY of us grow in our gardens, ‘Heirloom’ or not, ARE GMOs! It’s just that Mother Nature ‘genetically modified’ her plants to keep them thriving, so they call them, ‘Heirlooms’ And they can sell more seed packets!

18 years in ‘The Seed Biz.’ Ask me how it works. We’re selling the SIZZLE, Baby! NOT the STEAK! ;)

You can relax. You’re not going to be overrun by invasive soybeans...well, at least until Bill Gates gets a hold of them! :)

[metmom]

He said he talked to the previous owner from whom he bought the land and the guy told him that he had planted GMO soybeans.

So MIGardener said he couldn’t PROVE what he saw coming up was GMO but felt it was a high probability and doesn’t want it to spread. Especially since he’s trying to do his own seed saving.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

And PLEASE don’t be offended that I disagree with this guy.

‘Seedless’ anything is a GMO product. Grapes and Watermelon come to mind first.

Also:

“When you bite into a juicy watermelon slice or munch on a handful of seedless grapes, it’s easy to assume that these fruits have always existed in their current form. But the truth is that many of our favorite fruits and vegetables have been selectively bred, hybridized, and genetically modified by humans over thousands of years. From the earliest days of agriculture to modern genetic engineering techniques, people have been tinkering with plants to make them tastier, sturdier, and easier to grow.”

And:

“There is no research to suggest that the nutritional composition of man-made fruits and vegetables is any less than that of food that is ‘naturally occurring.’ When plants are selectively bred, whether for a desirable characteristic, like shape, size, or color, there is no evidence that there is a dramatic decrease in the nutritional quality of the food as a result of that crossing.”

https://www.tastingtable.com/1241034/types-of-produce-you-didnt-know-were-man-made/

I have been in The Biz for a long time and I am all about production and disease and insect tolerance. Well, not so much in THIS AWFUL growing season because NOTHING seemed to work, but in general. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes, I watched the whole video to see what he was complaining about.

How can they ‘spread?’ Soybeans are annuals.

[MomwithHope]

Great picture and Hi Mrs. Augie!!