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The Garden Thread - September, 2025
September 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 09/01/2025 4:39:33 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.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: Pollard
"Birds and deer generally got them all before ripe enough for human consumption and the goats killed off the blueberries and deerberry."

I know, it goes like that outside the fence line. (Or even inside!)

501 posted on 09/19/2025 8:10:57 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Liz

Looks delicious. My ex-FIL was a fisherman for Bumble Bee and my MIL had some great canned salmon recipes. This one looks familiar.


502 posted on 09/19/2025 8:13:58 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Canned Salmon bones are one of the best parts!


Could never swallow them.


503 posted on 09/19/2025 11:48:36 PM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: FamiliarFace

Thanks for sharing!!


504 posted on 09/20/2025 4:50:10 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Walking inside the grove is an amazing experience. Like being in your own tropical jungle. I’ll be checking them this morning. I think the drops happened because its been very cold the last few nights.


505 posted on 09/20/2025 4:54:11 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Amen so far neither have discovered them. And every single fruit gets picked. Last year 27 we will see what this year brings. BTW my favorite way to eat the frozen pulp this past winter is to put a few big spoonfuls on top of some good vanilla ice cream.


506 posted on 09/20/2025 4:59:01 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

“Like being in your own tropical jungle.”

I went on vacation to Hawaii one March and when I came back I was determined to make part of my garden a ‘Tropical Paradise’ that year but with plants that would grow in Zone 5.

It was a fun project and worked out well. Lots of Elephant Ears and Canna Lily, Castor Bean plants and various colored Amaranth.

It wasn’t the SAME, but it was close. :)


507 posted on 09/20/2025 5:23:45 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...

508 posted on 09/20/2025 5:26:18 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Alas, that most feared occurrence by real farmers struck my wife’s little garden........ crop failure.

In 2025 all of the vegetable producing plants under performed at a high level. Tomatoes were small and did not properly ripen. Egg plant did not produce fruit. The yellow squash produced only three or so squash and then just died. The pole bean plants flourished but the flowers budded and then dropped off. Few beans were actually produced by large and healthy looking plants. The Okra has resisted the trend and is continuing to produce pods in an almost normal manner.

Strenuous efforts to resolve the issue early on were un productive. There was no lack of care, sunshine, water or fertilizer.

There was what seemed to be abnormal rainfall and night temps have been cool.

The other wild plants were similarly affected. The large old maple trees produced the winged seeds that are still on the branches, never released. On one such maple, half of the very small leaves are already gone but the clusters of winged pods remain on the naked branches.

The large old oak trees produced less flowers and so far almost no acorns.

The New York Iron Weed grows up high and produces a purple inflorescence. I allow it to grow wherever it wants. This year the plants never exceeded about 18” in height and did not flower. The Joe Pye Weed grew only about 18 “ high rather than 4’ or so but did flower. The wild orchid Virginia Ladies Slipper that grows in a patch of the yard flourished as well or better than normal. I don’t mow the area where is grows.

Others have reported disappointment with garden yields including the professionals we turned to for the vegetables the garden did not produce.

In retrospect, 2025 was a bad year for the garden.


509 posted on 09/20/2025 5:54:45 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: bert

Zone 5a - here, too! Too much rain for three months, wildly fluctuating temperatures. Then dry, dry, dry until finally a little rain overnight. We need a good soaker - mainly so I can clean out beds and pull weeds!


510 posted on 09/20/2025 6:05:59 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: bert; Diana in Wisconsin
There was what seemed to be abnormal rainfall

Sorry about the garden. It's frustrating to work so hard but to have it all more or less "go to waste".

I think the abnormal rainfall has to be a big factor. So many of my contacts, both on FR and here locally, have experienced the exact same conditions, with bad results for gardens and crops.

511 posted on 09/20/2025 6:27:29 AM PDT by AFB-XYZ (( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
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To: AFB-XYZ

What’s amazing, though, is that all of the crop land around us (112 acres that we rent out) is doing really well. They’ve gotten FOUR cuttings of Hay off, and the feed corn and soybeans and wheat all did just fine.

Grateful for that, at least. The Dairy Cows will be fed well all winter and produce healthy calves come Spring. :)


512 posted on 09/20/2025 7:14:28 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

513 posted on 09/20/2025 7:40:09 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (RIP, Charlie. Say hi to Andrew Breitbart. God protect your family. Justice for Charlie Kirk!)
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To: Liz
Liz, the bones in canned salmon are a good source of calcium, but I can understand. I come from a Scandinavian and German family and have never been able to eat pickled herring.
514 posted on 09/20/2025 7:48:25 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Liz
Salmon Patties / Cheap, easy, delicious. Ing 14 3/4 oz can salmon 1/2 med chp onion, 2 eggs 1 tsp ea pepper, l/juice 1 pkg saltines, crumbed

What size should the package of saltines be? You get them packaged as two or four with soup in a restaurant, there are different size boxes, or the boxes have sleeves of various sizes...

515 posted on 09/20/2025 8:39:24 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (RIP, Charlie. Say hi to Andrew Breitbart. God protect your family. Justice for Charlie Kirk!)
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To: Albion Wilde

What size should the package of saltines be?


I’ve only seem them w/ four “sleeves” to a box.

A “sleeve” of saltines is what’s meant.


516 posted on 09/20/2025 8:47:40 AM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: Liz

I love salmon but dislike salmon patties. Give me crab cakes!!!


517 posted on 09/20/2025 9:13:31 AM PDT by goodnesswins (Make educ institutions return to the Mission...reading, writing, math...not Opinions & propaganda)
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To: bert; Diana in Wisconsin

In coastal Virginia my mature fig tree dropped its baby fruit in the spring, probably cold weather, but produced a splendid crop later. A few figs grew with a constriction around the center, looked like a snow man, perhaps a spell of drought. It was mostly dry and other plants did not do well except vines all over the house. Last year a daily flock of birds ruined my fig crop. This year only minor theft.

I was wondering if lack of honey or other bees may have been part of the cause of garden and wild plant difficulties. If you are near agricultural areas with poisons, or as said, the weather was cold or dry, that can affect plants or pollinators. Good luck next year.


518 posted on 09/20/2025 10:09:37 AM PDT by gleeaikin (Question Authority: report facts, and post their links.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Went down to check them about 10:00 this morning. 5 more drops and then I found some were ready for picking and bagging. Here's what I got, I would estimate about the same amount ready in the next day or so. Last year it was either 27 or 29. This year - so far 8 yesterday, 49 today. Many are smaller than the normal big ones, lack of rain and hubby used to love watering them and I was not able. 0-02-01-91b3dd1f97ff5a5c362164932366d9bc626d5fa4b8a32e82fb807e7daee959d5-da4b6617a1ddd7d9 0-02-01-e0c5b4c5db5314f47b5d6405e79e1e5d042350aadcd564469625583967bf494e-4026f4b03580e17f Definitely a feel good day.
519 posted on 09/20/2025 10:10:19 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Liz

I wonder how well this recipe works with canned tuna or mackerel?


520 posted on 09/20/2025 10:13:30 AM PDT by gleeaikin (Question Authority: report facts, and post their links.)
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