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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

With the Bisquick in the Impossible Pie mix, it can be soggy. I grease my quiche pan, then sprinkle in a layer of (the cheap, green can) Parm. That gives a better bottom crust, IMHO.


Great tip.


501 posted on 03/20/2026 11:07:07 AM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slaveryen .)
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To: Liz

I live to serve. ;)


502 posted on 03/20/2026 3:07:21 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Qiviut; MomwithHope; FamiliarFace; FRiends

I had a successful ‘gardening’ day! Today, I:

Pruned my roses.

Pruned perennials and grasses around the greenhouse and gave it all a good sweeping.

Did triage on my damaged wind chimes due to all the wind and hung a new one I ordered that arrived today. I’m nuts about wind chimes!

Turned SOME of the compost - some is still frozen. (Insert ‘Let It Go’ song, here...)

Picked up some sticks - but there are PLENTY more to pick. I’ll need the wagon or the UTV and trailer to get them all transported to the BIG burn pile.

Tomorrow will be more stick/limb/branch gathering and pruning the perennials across the front of The Manse. Sedum and perennial grasses and the Jackmanii purple Clematis. Very pedestrian but still oh-so lovely! (’Jack’ blooms on old and new wood, but I prefer to cut her down to the nub each season, then fertilize her a few times with a Bloom Booster (10-52-12) and she is gorgeous spring through fall.)

I also need to tote my 10-10-10 granular to all the fruit trees and blooming shrubs in the house yard. Spring rains will soak it in well. Super easy and it works like a charm.

Chives are up!
Tulips and Daffs are up!
My Magnolia survived and is ready to bloom!
Green and purple Sedum are all up!
I saw GREEN among the perennial grasses!
Fruit trees are still in bud, so fingers crossed. :)


503 posted on 03/20/2026 3:29:46 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Liz; FRiends

I made these for our Brunch, today; we only eat two meals a day. They. Were. Awesome!

Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes

https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/twice-baked-breakfast-potatoes/

I subbed chopped ham for the bacon and I scrambled four eggs, them added them to the potato pulp and added some cheddar cheese and seasonings. Then I re-filled the potato skins, sprinkled more cheese on top, threw on some fresh chives, then nuked them for two minutes to warm them back through.

Served with Rye Toast, Yogurt & Blueberries (frozen) and homemade V-8 juice.

DE-LISH! It’s a Beau-approved recipe and I’m supposed to send it to Leroy, Camp Cook for Bear Camp; he makes some form of potatoes for breakfast...Every. Day. ;)


504 posted on 03/20/2026 3:56:10 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FRiends
We made it! We all survived! Happy Spring - as of 11pm last night...


505 posted on 03/20/2026 4:12:49 PM 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.

Arrow Pest Service just posted this video about carpenter bees.

KILL Carpenter Bees Fast & Stop Damage NOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFrKQrJANSc


506 posted on 03/20/2026 4:16:03 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: Diana in Wisconsin

Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes

https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/twice-baked-breakfast-potatoes/


A must try.


507 posted on 03/20/2026 5:01:21 PM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slaveryen .)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Summer

508 posted on 03/20/2026 6:37:50 PM PDT by Pollard (It's just another few hundred $$$)
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To: Pollard

Here to the east of you, our high today is predicted to be 85 deg. F, Sunday 84. Nights in the upper 50’s. Yesterday, we hit 83 degrees. FABULOUS weather except for a bit too breezy, and rather high fire danger...


509 posted on 03/21/2026 3:55:50 AM 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.

61 here yesterday. Going to be covering up the big garden with a double drainageable tarp. Might leave a little open for a cuke and a couple tomato plants. 5 very big planters up on the patio for my garden this year. It will be plenty.


510 posted on 03/21/2026 4:17:42 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: metmom

Thanks!

I’d dispute that “totally harmless” bit, though. I’ve been stung by carpenter bees several times, over the years, just being near a nest, not actually disturbing it.

Wear better protection when applying the foam and spraying insecticides. It’s easier than one may think, to get a little on you. Most such products are not badly harmful to humans if washed off quickly, but, still...

I don’t understand the point of the little mesh plugs. As the guy says himself, the bees will burrow around them.

In the past, solvent based “Liquid Nails” did a pretty good job of filling the holes. The oil base solvent takes a few days to fully cure & the fumes help drive the bees away. I don’t know if it’s available anymore though — everything seems to be water base.

I believe filler with pesticide in it may still be available? One could probably formulate their own...

It interesting that this guy says the traps are not all that effective. I’d think that with the right attractant, they’d work fairly well. Japanese beetle traps with attractant work great — I’ve killed literally tens of thousands of them, if not more, in a few weeks, with traps, almost (almost) wiping them out.


511 posted on 03/21/2026 4:30:14 AM 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.

I *HATE* Japanese beetles!

I think his idea of dusting surfaces with Delta Dust after treating the holes they’re in, could work at killing them off. That way, as they walk on the surfaces, they’ll pick it up, theoretically killing them.

Looks like vigilance is needed.


512 posted on 03/21/2026 5:12:33 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: Paul R.; All

Yesterday wifey, daughter-san, and I, all had the afternoon / evening open. Wifey to my surprise suggested going fishing.

So... We packed up a little food (fish based for the “meat”, as my wife is Catholic), I got our (a bit disarrayed) fishing gear together, wifey got out a pad and her two “camping chairs”, and headed out to Glen O. Jones lake, about 1-1/2 hours from us, but an old favorite camping & fishing spot. No need for new licenses as they are still good until April, and mine is a 3-year license anyway. We had to stop for gas (ouch!-ouch!-ouch!) but the Outback still gets 30+ mpg, so, not so much ouch as the Tahoe would have been! I hadn’t had time to dig up worms, so, we stopped at Wal-Mart for some. They were not the greatest / freshest: I suspect sales are very slow, still.

It was breezy, but the breeze was more-or-less behind us, and the Outback is not high profile, so, no problem.

We got to the lake, “deploying” on a gravel and earth pier that gave “some” reduction on the downwind side from the waves kicked up by the breeze. Otherwise conditions were great, but, no bites. That did give me time to reline some extra reels I’d brought along, half expecting the slow fishing: What better time to sit back in a chair, and work on the gear?! The bobbers sure weren’t bobbing to anything but the waves!

Up the pier from us a female goose and a gander were minding a nest full of eggs, and were initially not too happy about us being there. We came to an arrangement - we’d stay at least 20 feet away, and they calmed down. :-)

Daughter-san was not feeling well: Evidently she picked up a cold or a little worse from her boyfriend she just went back to. So much for her good mood. (She had been still happy about the boyfriend.) But, she was laying on the mat on her side, and a small (3/16” long?) beetle flew right into her ear, falling / crawling down to her eardrum. That’s actually pretty noisy for the victim - like the thing is trying to crawl into your brain. (I had similar happen to me, years ago.) Daughter-san totally freaked - you’d think Kahn from Star Trek 2 had been at work. Wifey freaked too - “we have to take her to a doctor!!”, etc. Somehow I got wifey to get her bottle of unchilled drinking water, got daughter-san under control enough to be able to pour water into her ear, and we flushed the bug out. Daughter-san and wifey slowly calmed down.

Sheesh!!

The sun set shortly thereafter, but, there were still no bites (from anything including fish.) Well, at least there were no mosquitos or gnats. Picturesquely, a razor thin crescent moon hung to the west. It was noisy - there were at least 6 different frogs’ calls livening things up, 3 of which sounded like laughter: One was sort of a chuckle, one a very definite ha-ha-ah — a new one to me, and one that sounded, well, “sinister” is the best description I can come up with. Plus there were bullfrogs and a couple other more conventional “croaks”. It was all quite the cacophony!

Toward dark I wrapped up my repairs work and started packing up. Wifey and daughter-san had already gone to the car, daughter still feeling poorly, and wifey didn’t bring a jacket even tho’ I’d warned her the evening would be cooler. Almost done - and then I heard the one pole still “out” start dragging along the ground, a few feet away. Lean over, grab it: Hey, I have a decent fish on here! It turned out to be a channel cat, maybe a bit over 1-1/2 lbs. That’s a great eating size, but, just one, and lightly hooked, and wifey is wanting to leave... So, Mr. Catfish got released to grow some more. “Live long and prosper”, or something like that - hahaha! “Hopefully we shall meet again in a couple years!”

The trip home was uneventful except for watching out for deer and hearing on the news (radio) that Chuck Norris had died. Well, dang. We’ve lost another good one... :-(


513 posted on 03/21/2026 5:29:48 AM 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

Right, and right. I find carpenter bees are usually pretty persistent, and a lot “tougher” (harder to kill) than wasps.


514 posted on 03/21/2026 5:33:32 AM 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: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...
*SATURDAY MORNING PING*

I am on Dog Duty, today. Beau has gone to a 'Learn To Burn' class that he's taking for The Prairie Enthusiasts. Controlled burns are important to the health of a prairie and he wants in on the fun. He and Walker Dog Emma Jolene had a hunt last night and of course, she won! Good Girl! Woof! Another beautiful day out there, so more clean-up around The Manse is scheduled.

515 posted on 03/21/2026 6:55:47 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

“The Manse”, I love that. Referring to this old farmhouse as the ancestral manse is a standard practice here. 🛖🏚️🏠


516 posted on 03/21/2026 7:05:56 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Some people don't know how to have fun, or maybe they're just a-holes.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good Morning!





Happy Springtime!

🌸”Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3 NIV)🌸

ML/LTOS

517 posted on 03/21/2026 7:09:20 AM PDT by left that other site ( For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us Is.33:22)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
After our storms the other day, I can relate about the "sticks": Ok, well, that's not actually me...
518 posted on 03/21/2026 9:55:05 AM 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.

That guy had no idea at the time how famous he would be.


519 posted on 03/21/2026 9:57:44 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Paul R.

What a faggot!


520 posted on 03/21/2026 9:59:53 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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