The Garden Thread - October, 2025

October 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.

[MomwithHope]

Actually I got it, I was kidding kind of .....

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Diana; You are in Wisconsin, you should make sauerkraut! (A good starting point!)

Brave Search returns:

"Cabbage is grown in Wisconsin primarily in Outagamie County in the east central part of the state and in Racine, Kenosha, and Waukesha counties in southeastern Wisconsin, with the state ranking fourth nationally in cabbage production. In 2021, Wisconsin farmers received $12.9 billion in farm cash receipts, with vegetables, including cabbage, contributing to the state's diverse agricultural economy.

Wisconsin ranks 4th in the U.S. for cabbage production, with significant acreage dedicated to both fresh market and processing (kraut) cabbage.

Fresh market cabbage is typically sold as cole slaw and is grown in red or green varieties, with smooth or savoy leaf textures.

Processing cabbage, used for kraut, is harvested mechanically and is grown in varieties like Bravo, Score, and Hi Nova."

[Pollard]

The downside of communicating via words on a screen.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Pumpkin 'Jarrahdale'

Info from Australian site Diggers.com

"An Australian heirloom pumpkin from Western Australia (hence its name), this cold tolerant pumpkin grows well in most climates, producing large grey skinned pumpkins of excellent flavour. Produces large 5kg pumpkins with prominent ribbing, abundant flesh and amazing flavour. Excellent storage characteristics. Harvest in 20 weeks."

Growing and fruiting well, even in the cold climate at The Garden of St Erth, this flavoursome pumpkin is a cross between two popular pumpkins- the Blue Hubbard and Cinderella pumpkins. Named after the town in Western Australia where it was born, 'Jarrahdale' is somewhat similar to Queensland Blue in colour, but with mildly sweeter flesh. Easy to cut and keep. Perfect for those in cooler areas of Australia."

Reid Homestead 7 Reasons why you should grow Jarrandahl Pumpkins

Sold by Johnnies, Baker Creek, and Burpee, among others!

[Liz]

Pumpkin Roll
Moist and creamy, tantalizing aroma, beautiful presentation, cr/cheese filling.

CAKE: 1/4 c conf (for rolling) 3/4 c flour 1/2 tsp ea b/powder, b/soda, cinnamon, cloves, 1/4 tsp salt 3 lge eggs 1 c sugar 2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pumpkin

Grease 15x10" jelly-roll pan; line w/ wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle thin, cotton kitchen towel w/ conf. COMBINE flour, b/powder, b/soda, cinnamon, cloves, salt. Beat eggs, granulated sugar thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. BAKE 375 deg 13-15 min; top springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

FILLING:8 oz cr/cheese, room temp 1 c sifted conf 6 tbl butter, softened 1 tsp vanilla Conf garnish. BEAT cr/cheese, conf, butter, vanilla smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread Filling over. Reroll. Saran and fridge one hour. Sprinkle with conf before serving.

Cooks Tip: put enough conf on towel when rolling so it will not stick.

© Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, used with permission.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Wisconsin ranks 4th in the U.S. for cabbage production..."

I'm on it!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[MomwithHope]

Wow they look great inside!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

One of my favorite squashes. You’ll need your splitting maul or chain saw to break it open, though! There is a massive amount of ‘meat’ in any size ‘Jarrahdale. Well worth growing if you have the room.

[MomwithHope]

Love that picture! My grandfather was born in Yugoslavia in a cabbage patch while his mom was picking cabbage. She gave birth, wrapped him up and went pack to picking. True story.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes! I made a Pumpkin Pie for Beau yesterday. I have made dozens through the years, but this one turned out perfectly.

Please keep the Pumpkin and Squash recipes coming for the month of October; sweet or savory. Thanks!

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie Recipe:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/22755/libbys-famous-pumpkin-pie/

My Notes: Don’t overfill the 9” DEEP DISH pie crust; fill it just up to the fluting! You will have two custard cups worth of filling left over. Bake in a water bath at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Really good with just some whipped cream on top. Less calories with no crust, too! ;)

[AFB-XYZ]

Wow, his mom was tough on a scale that most people in today’s society can’t even comprehend. Very much to be admired.

And ditto on the picture.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The woman in the picture is Olexandra Salo in Hlynske, Ukraine. It’s a National Geographic photo.

I hope she’s still with us! :(

[MomwithHope]

Thanks I do come from hardy stock.

[Liz]

Pumpkin pie is really good with just whipped cream on top.

---

No matter how much cream you put on top, I want more.......just sayin’.

[MomwithHope]

Nice thanks, here is a you tube I have saved. Very short, the way we shredded our cabbage. The flat dutch cabbage is the best BTW. I have my grandfathers shredder like the one in the video and the barrel is down in the barn. My Dad got the shredder, used it and then I got it. I’ll post a picture in a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRKBKFFQwH8

[FamiliarFace]

Do you make your own cooked pumpkin, or do you use canned?

[FamiliarFace]

I love that she has work gloves on with the pretty clothing.

[metmom]

I planted my zucchini what I considered late, and have had a bumper crop.

I had a quick maturing variety 45 days, and started the seeds at the end of July and put the seedlings out in mid Aug and have had NO problem with squash bugs of squash vine borers.

[Paul R.]

By coincidence (ie., nothing to do with you), I tried testing Brave Browser's AI search engine for political correctness, with a food item:

is there a correlation between eating very spicy food and hot tempered people

vs.

is there a correlation between eating very spicy food and hot tempered women

The 1st basically came back "yes", the 2nd, "no", except the Chinese (might have the longest records) seem to think "yes".

Of course, I already had my own evidence (not meant with any gender criticism): My wife likes those incredibly hot Thai peppers and sometimes...