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The Victory Garden Thread - March, 2026
March 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 03/01/2026 5:58:25 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.

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; Education; Food; Gardening
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies; victory
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

BTW, it looks like you’re going to get slammed with snow soon.

I guess you’re supposed to get a good chunk of your winter’s worth in one storm.


341 posted on 03/13/2026 6:26:49 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: MomwithHope

There’s about “a million” zucchini recipes......all good.


342 posted on 03/13/2026 6:31:45 AM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slaveryen .)
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To: metmom

Thanks! I will pass that on to ‘The Chairman.’ He supposedly takes care of all the ‘outside things’ around here.

He didn’t seem too worried when the wasps moved IN - I guess he thought they were MY responsibility then, LOL!


343 posted on 03/13/2026 7:15:41 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: Paul R.; FRiends

Thanks for asking. Yes, some damage overnight.

Two birdhouses down

The house yard is full of fallen sticks and branches

Roof vent ripped off the greenhouse (happens at least ONCE a year!)

Slight damage to one of the greenhouse doors, though I DID have the BAR across them

All is fixable. But it was like a freight train was passing by all night. Supposedly we’re in for another day of this wind. Wind Warning expires at 4pm, today. We’re supposed to get the bulk of our snow Saturday night into Sunday. The forecast keeps changing, but total amounts keep going DOWN, Thank Goodness!

Talked with Foster Son last night. He lives 3 hours north of us. They are predicting 18-24” of snow up by him! He’s south of Green Bay in the Fox River Valley. We’ll be watching this storm together for sure!


344 posted on 03/13/2026 7:23:06 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: metmom

See post 344. Our average snowfall is 50 inches, and you’re right - we DO Sometimes get it all at once!


345 posted on 03/13/2026 7:29:20 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

We have a wind advisory until 8 pm - tree debris down & our 96 gal trash can blew over. Potential severe weather Monday with low temps (20’s) Mon - Wed nights. I am seriously praying for the peach orchards around here - they had a 99% kill last year and a 2nd year would be disastrous for them.


346 posted on 03/13/2026 10:26:58 AM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: metmom

Good Link. Are wood bees attracted to the apple juice?


347 posted on 03/13/2026 12:26:02 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: metmom

Good link, tho’ it starts AFTER the formula for the soda can bait stations is explained. Are wood bees attracted to the apple juice?

Here’s the link for the vid starting at the get go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XTSgRtcwh0


348 posted on 03/13/2026 12:28:44 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Qiviut

Thanks!


349 posted on 03/13/2026 12:32:00 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Qiviut

Here is the recipe , its pretty simple. I just scribbled it down after he won. And with 4 people making their own potato salad in the kitchen I wasn’t paying attention to quantities. It’s just what he told me.
Peeled boiled russet chunks til just tender. Dressing I don’t have a quantity, but its ration 2-1 mayo to sour cream
Salt, pepper, chopped fine sweet onion to taste
Fresh parsley chopped to taste. Dressing enough to cover potatoes but lightly. Even the people who made their own voted for his.
We are getting that windstorm and snow even that went through Wisconsin. Not too bad and the snow is not sticking.


350 posted on 03/13/2026 1:39:31 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pollard; All
Here's a question - more maintenance and remodeling oriented than gardening, but, here goes:

Does anyone still make screw base replacement LED light bulbs rated for use in enclosed fixtures?

(Most typically, these are A19 bulbs with E26 bases.)

BACKGROUND:

We have several fully enclosed ceiling light fixtures in our house. Some designs are pretty good about not letting insects get into them, BUT, they are designed for conventional (and usually not very high power) incandescent, screw base bulbs. They were usually "ok" with the old CFL's, but, because they do trap heat, they tend to "burn up" LED bulbs, even though the LED bulbs emit much less heat.

Up to a couple(?) years ago, one could still find LED bulbs rated for enclosed fixtures. But, now, it seems to be almost impossible. Most good brands simply state this on the box: "Not for use in fully enclosed fixtures" or something to that effect. If the box says nothing about it, those bulbs are usually worse about failing early!

This seems to be yet another case of all the manufacturers racing to the lowest common denominator, skimping on the heat sinking, heat sink compound, etc.

BAH!

Enclosed fixtures with large clear glass diffusers with a lot of surface irregularity seem to do a little better. They probably do a better job of acting almost like heat sink fins once the heat gets to the diffuser, than do fixtures with translucent plastic diffusers.

New LED fixtures may or may not have good heat sinking, but, some seem to survive better. Then you have all the costs, risks, and hassle of replacing your old fixtures, however. :-(

I will say that Menards does sometimes respond to those feedback envelopes they provide in the stores. I'm tempted to suggest a line of "Menards" "premium" E26 bulbs whose rated life is in use in enclosed fixtures of at least some minimum size, and with the fixtures in a reasonable indoors temperature range -- say, 100 degrees F max.?

351 posted on 03/13/2026 1:41:53 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: MomwithHope

Great! (On the recipe!)

Our winds have died down and we are having a beautiful afternoon outside. ‘Tis sad to think most all this greenery and flowers popping out are going to be dead come Tuesday morning. :-(


352 posted on 03/13/2026 1:47:49 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: MomwithHope

Thanks - very simple recipe, I like that.

Sunny here, but wind is awful right now to the point it’s scary. 20 - 30 mph, gusts up to 50.


353 posted on 03/13/2026 1:56:55 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Paul R.

I don’t know but he has some information on carpenter bees.


354 posted on 03/13/2026 2:25:59 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: Paul R.

12 Mon night aka Tues morning so that might take care of any that don’t get under cover of leaves.


355 posted on 03/13/2026 2:42:32 PM PDT by Pollard (It's just another few hundred $$$)
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To: Liz

EVOO Of course!


356 posted on 03/13/2026 5:18:48 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: metmom

I hunted around on the web this evening: It appears sugar water would be much better for attracting wood bees, so, sugar water plus Borax would likely work well on them. That would attract honey bees too, though, so, I’d only use sugar water near wood bee entrances, and keep an eye on it. Better probably is to just spray Sevin (etc., or maybe foaming wasp spray) into the entrances at night.

Wood bees are darn hard to kill.


357 posted on 03/13/2026 11:45:08 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.; All

I wonder if hummingbirds retreat south in the event of a cold blast like the one we have coming?


358 posted on 03/13/2026 11:45:43 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.

Wind and rain so strong at dusk I am sitting and hear a loud boom on the roof. Sounded like something big and heavy just dropped on it. Like a big chunk from a tree. Going out on the deck and looking up the wind had blown off the fairly heavy metal chimney cap with the heavy concrete slab tile sitting on top. Has not blown off since 88 when the outside chimney was rebuilt and the cap was put on. It came off in the first bad windstorm. So the concrete took care of it since then. Kind of epic.


359 posted on 03/14/2026 3:15:44 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Paul R.

The guy on the video suggests something in other videos on getting rid of wasps called Delta Dust.

Most Effective Pest Control Treatment Nobody Talks About!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A95_fp_rlu8&t=1292s


360 posted on 03/14/2026 5:14:19 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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