5-11-25.
08-16-2025
10-01-2025: petering out, but still producing, praise God. First frost may yet be 3-4 weeks.
Posted on 10/01/2025 5:23:58 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.
My father used to burn the dry lawn on a windless day, while we stood around with a big bucket of water, rakes, shovel, and a wet straw broom. Never had an accident.
I will soon be going to my Virginia shore property (a little south of Maryland) to plant bulbs. Workers have cleared a small wooded area right next to the coastal swamp with high rushes. The trees there are growing in sandy land 2 or 3 feet higher than the marshes. What kind of perennials can I grow under the trees which will lose their leaves, and what should I grow near the edge which is sunny in the afternoon. The bulbs I have are crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. I know the crocuses will come up before the trees have leaves, but how much sun do the others need? Also, what other plants might I buy to make a nice little forest glade with a small bench for reading out in the shade and fresh air? My fig tree has done well nearby.
Still getting zucchini in.
Brussel sprouts are struggling with cabbage loopers.
Beans are being decimated by slugs.
As usual, it was a good year for some crops but downright poor for others. What a crazy growing season. But I’ve learned some stuff because of it and have some new things to try for next year.
I would talk to the local extension office and/or Dept of Conservation or whatever the equivalent is there. That and maybe local garden centers. Seems like a very specific land form and climate.
Good ideas, and maybe I will hear from some who have experience with that area or kind of land.
I still have my old wooden cross country skis. They have cable bindings. I miss those days of judging the correct wax. Sometimes gliding along at 12 feet a step was when you knew you got it right. It wasn’t flat where I skied at either, it was more Alpine skiing.
Getting ready to do some fishing myself. This is the month for fishing here before the thermocline begins. The kitties will be happy.
My pineapple sage is blooming! So beautiful with it’s long red blooms. I was showing the sage and several types of basil to a couple of friends and my little hummingbird joined the party, lol. The guys were so shocked at my little buddy being so close to us. I told them I was an Aries, lol.
Not a bad idea if one can make it work. Crabgrass is taking over the world around here. I fight it but this year it is on steroids. I have it in shade; I have it where the spring lawn grass was thick before the crap germinated. It is everywhere. Not just my place - EVERYWHERE. Except about 5 millionaires' lawns in town with crews nonstop. But I'll keep trying.
You ain’t right, lol. I wonder what the women did in cave man days.
One of my top ten favorite songs:
VAN MORRISON _ WHEN THE LEAVES COME FALLING DOWN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNCCA6rWFJ0
5-11-25.
08-16-2025
10-01-2025: petering out, but still producing, praise God. First frost may yet be 3-4 weeks.
Still harvesting Cherokee Purple tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. Cukes about done. Had some rain which cleared smoke from air. Going to plant baby lettuce and kale in deck boxes, one of which I can cover for frost protection. Still waiting for leaves to change. Seems late, altho neighbors dogwood looking pinky orange. Big leaf maple on riverside just starting to turn. I do love Fall.
I grew 120+ pumpkins a couple years ago and now I cannot grow one. Some neighbors have been feeding the deer and the heard has grown to locust numbers.
I have my husbands old Bonnas, in great shape made in orway. Hubby skied a lot before we met, even raced more than a few times in the Birkebeiner. Don’t have a clue what to do with them.
Love your tomato jungle!
“”petering out, but still producing, praise God. First frost may yet be 3-4 weeks.””
Don’t get me wrong. I’d never move up north ... but having tomatoes still growing this late would “almost” be worth it.
As it is, there’s only a few months’ window of opportunity here in Texas before the extreme heat and drought sets in.. pretty much every year. The soil temperature eventually kills the plants even if they’re covered by shadecloth and watered twice or more times a day. Sigh.
Nice garden, btw.
Our whole state is under a burn ban, we’re so dry here.
What with the amount of woods NH has, I can certainly see why. Our pond is ridiculously low, and so far we have not had any problems with our well, thank God, but I know others who are very concerned about theirs.
I have thought it might be a good idea to raise some solar panels to 6 feet or higher on 4 corner poles, then grow garden underneath. Space the solar panels apart the right distance to allow enough sun and heat on the ground, but not enough heat to kill crops. To save on poles panels could be laid in a row and spaced between rows of panels. Then you could have electricity from the panels, and cooler ground for a garden.
On some land I own in WV, the pond there is about 1/3rd the original size. It has been really dry for several years. There was some rain when I was there 2 weeks ago, but not enough to even run water in the stream bed going into the pond. I did manage to wash the car off for a change just using the rain.
“”I have thought it might be a good idea to raise some solar panels to 6 feet or higher on 4 corner poles, then grow garden underneath. Space the solar panels apart the right distance to allow enough sun and heat on the ground, but not enough heat to kill crops. To save on poles panels could be laid in a row and spaced between rows of panels. Then you could have electricity from the panels, and cooler ground for a garden.””
Oh, now that’s a nice idea. If only I could afford it....lol. No, I could probably figure out a way to fix the ‘short growing window’ problem if I had enough money. Sadly, I have other expenses that take precedence over homegrown tomatoes. So, I take what I can get every year... which is a so-so harvest of some of the best tasting tomatoes ever. It just doesn’t last past the now-mid June Texas heat.
Heck, even my peppers ‘in’ the raised beds have died early this year. Usually, we have a 2nd spring in fall and the peppers resurrect and do great. But not this year. The potted peppers on the covered patio are still fine, though. Oh well... maybe next year!
Today we’re celebrating Mrs. Augie’s swearing-in as President of the Unemployment Club.
Yesterday Mrs. Augie let Howard come into the house while she was grabbing a cold drink. She said he was on good behavior and that she *might* entertain the thought of allowing him inside again. Little does she know... lol
Over the past week I’ve taught him not to charge the house door when there’s a human using it. I’m amazed at how quickly he figured that out. Now he will stop at the door then sit and wait until I open it and tell him to come in.
Three months ago I’d have laughed at anyone who told me Howard would be on his way to watching tv with us by the 1st of October.
I’ve had ‘Miss Peach’ for 12 years, now.
If you want your cactus (cacti?) to be happy - transplant them into terra cotta pots using Cactus/Citrus Soil. They will reward you with lots of future blooms. :)
Terra Cotta dries out nicely between watering. I water Miss Peach once a week. Cactus/succulents of any stripe like to dry out completely between watering.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.