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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Fall Harvest Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

For the Fall Harvest Salad:

▢ 3 cups butternut squash peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
▢ 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
▢ 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper more or less to taste
▢ 1 cup cooked and cooled farro
▢ 6 ounces mixed greens you can use a mix of baby spinach, arugula, spring mix, baby kale
▢ 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
▢ 1/2 cup dried cranberries
▢ 2 honey crisp apples cored and sliced thin (or your favorite apple)

For the Maple Vinaigrette Dressing:

▢ 1/4 cup extra virgin olive
▢ 1 Tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
▢ 1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup
▢ juice of half a lemon
▢ 1 grated garlic clove
▢ 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
▢ 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions: https://www.fooddolls.com/fall-harvest-salad-with-honey-balsamic-vinaigrette/#wprm-recipe-container-17049

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Now THAT is a Joey Tribbiani-sized Sandwich!

I find them hard to eat without making a big mess, but so delicious!

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you, that looks severe. Do you think if I leave the plants outside for when it gets into the 40’s that it will be ok temporarily? I just want to have enough to take a couple of dozen down South. Will the temps kill those flowers?

[MomwithHope]

I would just do a 1/3 trim especially any flowers. 40 degrees is Ok no colder. They should do just fine heading south. Water only enough to keep from drying out.

[Liz]

Now THAT is a Joey Tribbiani-sized Sandwich! I find them
hard to eat without making a big mess, but so delicious!

---

Traditionally made on a round bread loaf.....but easier to eat on a sub loaf.

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you, you’re a gem!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Thank you for the information

[Augie]

I have a question for the group who have experience with tractors.

Staying within the parameters that you set for your situation:

30-40 horsepower 4x4, hydrostat drive, equipped with a front-end loader will get you started. Go bigger if your budget allows. I have a 70hp Massey-Ferguson loader tractor that weighs >13k lbs., and a 30hp Kubota (L3901) that weighs ~3800lbs. I ALWAYS use the big machine if it will fit in the space where I need to work.

With 30hp a 6' finish mower is plenty. If you think you'll be mowing a lot of heavy/coarse/brushy type stuff a 5' mower will be all the tractor wants.

A 5' rototiller would be no problem for the tractor, but might give you some grief in rocky soils.

[Augie]

Mild autumn weather this past week here in Central Missouri. Mrs. Augie and I have been dragging brush pretty much every day. We haven't moved half of it yet but we're gaining.

I picked two bushel of pears from one tree in Pops' orchard yesterday. The knotty ones went into the horse treat bucket. I saved back a dozen nice ones to snack on. My buddy Nick is going to take the rest.

I got the power washer out yesterday. Cleaned up the Minneapolis-Moline 670 Super tractor and bush hog, hit all of the grease zerks on both, then put it away for the winter. Mr. Clarence made the rounds of tractor show season and came home with a dead battery. Put that on the charger yesterday afternoon. It should be fully charged by now so after work today I'll unload the trailer and put that tractor away for the winter.

I topped up the beds in the greenhouse yesterday and planted the spinach seed. Hopefully I didn't wait too late in the year. We'll see.

Howard was a good boy yesterday so I gave him a rawhide chew. He loves those things. For about two minutes, which is all the time he needs to make them disappear.

[MomwithHope]

He is getting handsome Augie, looks like he is thinking “They love me!”.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“I got the power washer out yesterday...”

I got a little nervous for Howard there for a moment, LOL!

You are giving Howard his Best Life Ever! So handsome, so happy! Look at that happy tail! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Eating from The Land, Your Hand, The Garden:

Supper tonight was:

Meatloaf made from our own home-grown ground beef (Chuck: 'All Gave Some, Some Gave All')

Green Beans - from the garden ('Saychelles' Pole Bean)

'Pontiac' Boiled and Mashed Potatoes - from our generous neighbor (Beau has another Cattle Round-Up with him on Wednesday)

Thelma Sanders' (Sweet Potato) Squash - I gave Beau 6 plants that I started to tuck into the lower garden. He said we are having a re-visit of the 'Spaghetti Squash Season' there are so many! He planted them in June, then left for 3 months; I didn't touch them, weed or water them. Wow! Mom took a few DOZEN today for herself and to share. Save the seeds; they make awesome Roasted Pumpkin Seeds for snacking.

An Heirloom Squash that is MUCH IMPROVED on your basic, BORING, tasteless 'Acorn' Squash. Very sweet all on it's own.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Thank you my friend.

[FamiliarFace]

Its looking like it’s one of those “Who rescued whom?” situations that come with a rescued dog. Look at the love in his eyes!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Diana; The Name of the Pumpkin.... It has a nice French Farmhouse, French Bristo feel to it!

(Rouge Vif ...also a lipstick color!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Augie; Late planting.... There are some varieties of spinach that mature 35 days after germination.

Yes it is late to plant. (Earliest frost here is something like October 15.) We sometimes get some warm late autumns. I did plant some Turnips and Beets Sunday. I Might get some turnips, beets will be dubious. Perhaps I will get some Greens if nothing else. It will get into the 80 next week, which should allow them to sprout, and finish curing my Sweet Potatoes!

Howard is a good looking dog! He is fortunate to find you. :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Its a poem that celebrates the best things about Autumn. I like it!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

MwH. It does! Doctors in the early 1900s and before used to prescribe sauerkraut or sauerkraut juice for illness. It has a high vitamin C content.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I can’t stop scrolling and stopping on Howard. I’m going to make him my computer wallpaper. :)

Mom! You should make Howard into one of your puzzles. ;)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

As far as the garden it sounds like things are going well! Sorry to hear about that other thing. The sooner fixed the better is a good idea and I hope that goes well! You have some good advice on the tractor. All I have is a gas push mower so no help here!