Posted on 01/01/2026 5:52:41 AM PST 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.
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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.
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Happy New Year!!!
I’d add to the nice graphic, how many lessons of economy, savings, and just overall good behavior does winter teach?! In warm weather cultures, bad habits are much easier to pick up... :-(
The golf course I worked at was like a gigantic botanical garden. My main job there was mowing fairways and rough, and I knew just about every nook and cranny of that place like the back of my hand. When the weather was fine and I was done it gave me a feeling of well-being to look back at it. I didn’t let the $11 an hour spoil it and almost 7 years later I still get that same feeling whenever I think about it or look at some of the photos I took. At the time, I didn’t need the money as much as I needed that job.
“Dat be chillin’!”
‘Course tho’, in my neck of the woods we might get enough snow to shut everything down, an ice storm, or, tornadoes!
(None of those are in the immediate forecast, thankfully.)
My Mom loves that stuff, but it’s so ridiculously expensive for what you get, so I went looking for a copy-cat recipe a while ago, and this is the best one I’ve found so far. :)
Yum...HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone. 2026...I predict the Year of the Robot” Hopefully I will get one that pulls /digs poison oand waters where needed!
We had howling winds last night & I only got about 2 hours sleep. The winds are still ripping this morning - won’t calm down until tomorrow. We got snow showers around dawn.
Company is on the way - will be here around 11:30. I need to start breading oysters around 11. Apple cobbler will go in the oven about the time they get here. Christmas Salad just needs to be tossed with dressing. Mom is working on our charcuterie boards - first time we’ve used them.
My youngest brother has a monster TV, something like 85”. He asked if our TVs would be ready to go, 3 bowl games today. I told him we have a TV in the kitchen eating area & one in the living room, he can watch what he wants. He mentioned our TVs were small & he could bring a bigger one ... I told him we did not have room for a bigger TV, but I would be glad to loan him my binoculars if he needed them! :-)
Happy New Year to all!
I’m in mid-Michigan.
Last frost is May 15 (5A).
Which seed plants should I have in my ‘starters’ by the end of the month?
The weather has been so wet here, alternating with warm days, The Irises and hibiscus don't know what to do and have started blooming again.
Santa was very very good to them this year:
Can you add me to the list? Many thanks!
My granny would make that at Christmas and she would have to smack a certain little fat kid with a wooden spoon to keep him from eating it all...
Jalapeno Pinwheels w/ Bacon / Fast, easy, and good.
Cream cheese, fresh jalapenos, bacon, and cheese ---- need I say more?
Ing 8 oz bar cr/cheese, 1 tsp gar/pwder 6 slices cooked/crumbled bacon, 2 green onions,
diced 1 cup shredded cheddar ¼ cup diced jalapenos w/ seeds for heat 2 lge flour tortillas
Method Mix creamy softened cr/cheese, garlic powder. Stir in crumbled bacon, diced green onions, cheese, and diced jalapenos. Spread atop tortillas. Tightly roll each into "logs" and then saran. Chill 30 min. Slice into 1-inch pinwheels.
Chef Notes Add more or less jalapeno depending on heat wanted. Or use pickled jalapenos for milder flavor. Softened cream cheese is easier to spread. It is important to rollup tortilla as tight as possible to hold ing. Refrigerating rolls before slicing makes cutting easier. For a large crowd, double the recipe. Serve with a ranch-type dip.
Bkmk
End of January is too early for most seed starting in Zone 5a. I’m in Zone 5a, too. Starting them too early is going to give you leggy, spindly plants and you don’t want that! The earliest seeds I ever start are Pansies and Violas - they are slow to germinate.
Seeds to Start Early to Mid-February (8-10 Weeks Before the Last Frost)
It can be really difficult to start seeds in February when we’re in the middle of the freezing winter. I love to look at photos of my beautiful veggies and flowers to get more into the gardening mood.
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplants
Chilies
Marigolds
Zinnias
Calendula
Chamomile
Zinnias & chamomile flowers can be slow starters so giving them a head start inside will ensure you have a bright season full of blooms.
Seeds to Start late-February to Early March (6-8 Weeks Before Last Frost Date)
Cucumbers
Melons
Kale
Cabbage
Broccoli
Lettuce
Basil
Thyme
Sunflowers-these can be started outdoors after the danger of frost but starting them indoors will give you earlier blooms.
Seeds to Start Mid March to Early April (4-6 Weeks Before Last Frost Date)
Calendula
Marigolds
Herbs (Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano)
Spinach
Arugula
Nasturtiums
Watermelon
Luffa
Pumpkins
Frost-Tolerant Seeds to Start Outdoors Early to Mid April
These seeds can be started outdoors before your last frost date because they can survive some light frost. They are cold-tolerant plants.
Sugar Snap Peas
Snow Peas
Spinach
Lettuce
Cabbage
Mustard Greens
Arulula
Kale
Swiss Chard
Radishes
Beets
Carrots
Turnips
Broccoli
https://homelyhens.com/garden/start-seeds-indoors-in-zone-5/
Go to this link and type in your Zip Code for a personalized planting calendar. :)
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
Done! Welcome! You will get a PING every Saturday throughout the month.
Your photos are a great comfort when all I see is gray, brown, and a bit of white when I look outside. Ok, there’s a bit of green, too. Still, the purple, burgundy, and light peach colors cheer me up. Thank you!
Your fur babies look like they are enjoying the indoors!
I made a Christmas salad on the 26th using that champagne vinegar in the salad dressing. It was a big hit!
I can’t imagine having the space for an 85” tv. Ours is 55” and it’s ALL we have room for!
The games should be starting soon. Good luck to all the teams. I always pray for the health of the athletes. I hate to see injuries on either team.
We will be having a traditional Southern New Year’s meal this evening, which is ham steak, collards, black-eyed peas, and rice. Oh, and cornbread. I haven’t decided if I’ll be making a salad, too. Possibly.
Pinned tab updated for Jan 2026 thread.
Time for that 1-2 weeks of getting used to writing a new year in the date. Luckily a 5 can be turned into a 6
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