The Victory Garden Thread - March, 2026

March 1, 2026 | 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]

You know, on years that I don’t have PUPPIES running loose, I could do that. I have a field stone foundation and the front of the house faces south, so it might work.

*Thinking* *Thinking* ;)

I had a friend with a red brick house and her south-facing Lavender grew to be a shrub! In Wisconsin!

There are a number of Lavender Farms in Wisconsin where you can pick your own. Always wanted to visit one. :)

[MomwithHope]

In west Michigan it worked well.

[Pollard]

Lavandula angustifolia

https://www.rareseeds.com/lavender
https://www.rareseeds.com/lavender-ellagance-purple

All the rest are Lavandula multifida
https://www.rareseeds.com/store/plants-seeds/herbs/lavender-seeds

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Diana! Q. The premier pie from the Stockholm Bakery in Stockholm Wisconsin, the "West Coast of Wisconsin", Is the Double Lemon Chess Pie. Here is a link to a version of this pie from " pieloveyou.blogspot.com " (For those north of the Mason Dixon line she provides an explanation of what Chess Pie is.) Note that she has 52 other pie recipes at the link!

Double Lemon Chess Pie

(adapted from Bubby's Pie Book) ** If making you would probably want to use very fine cornmeal rather than polenta cornmeal.

The poster of this recipe wrote:

" I was very happy about the taste of this pie. Lemon is one of my favorite flavors for all things savory and sweet and as a whole, this pie had just enough pucker for me to be pleased.

While I was cooking the pie, I thought about not even making the lemon curd (since it wasn't really like a typical for a chess pie), and then I thought I should just make it and just serve it on the side if people wanted it. Any way, at last minute (i.e. several hours before I served it), I decided to just put it on the top like the recipe called for and I'm so glad I did. I don't think that the pie would have been as good without it.

Also, just to note, I didn't think that this pie crust was great. What's surprising to me is that it's similar to so many crusts that I've already used but it was pretty bland. It's like there wasn't enough sugar or salt to make it interesting. So, I would recommend taking the tablespoon of sugar out and increasing the salt just a little bit; however, please notice that the recipe is written like I made it. "

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Try Munstead lavender. Yes south side would be good.

Munstead was developed by or at least grew in the garden of English landscape artist and gardener, Gertrude Jekyl. It might tolerate climate with some humidity better than other types. I am in 6B. Very dry and hot. I have a number of Munstead bushes out back. (Her garden was called Munstead Wood)

(Note that Diana gave some instructions 2 years ago on growing lavender and rosemary...do not to water the ground around the plant, just spray the leaves.)

Munstead Wood

I think there is some right here at the bottom left of this picture.

I am not sure the lifespan of lavender. probably 5 or 6 years if you keep it pruned and remove the dead branches? Diana, do you know?

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Since its Spring here is another sunny Lemon pie recipe from "pieloveyou.blogspot.com"

Shaker Lemon Pie

Snip....." It's a simple pie: two whole lemons, sugar, eggs, and a crust.

I know that doesn't give you any insight on how I read about these pies a few weeks ago and became kind of obsessed looking all around the city for Meyer lemons. How I actually did a little jig in Whole Foods when I found Meyer lemons (when, I swear, they hadn't been there the week before). How I cut them with "master precision" for an hour while my visiting cousin waited (meaning, I spent over ONE hour slicing TWO lemons as thin as I could possibly get them). And then how I waited for TWENTY-FOUR hours for the lemons to soak in sugar so I could start baking."

1-Use Meyer Lemons. From what wikipedia told me, they are "a cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange" which makes them much sweeter and less bitter so they must be used. Besides one reviewer, EVERYONE swears by Meyer Lemons. Use them.

2-Slice them as thin as possible: If you have a mandolin that can slice a lemon so it is paper-thin, go for it. However, many mandolins don't have a "Paper Thin" option. Personally, I took back my mandolin because I had it sitting, unused, in it's box for a month (and I don't have much space in my apartment for unused items) so I was without, and in the end, I think that was a good thing because I made some pretty thin cuts (for the most part).

Shaker Lemon Pie
The Filling:
(Adapted from Savuer Magazine)

2 large Meyer lemons
2 Cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
4 Tablespoon butter, melted
3 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

Butter Pie Crust:
(Adapted from Epicurious.com) 2 ½ Cups all purpose flour
1 (heaping) Tablespoon sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
1 Cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter

8 Tablespoons (about) ice water

(brush crust with cream and coarse sugar before baking) (Note....She said skip the cream, brush with egg white instead!)

Directions:

Filling: Thoroughly wash and dry lemons. Finely grate lemon zest into a bowl. Using a sharp knife, slice the lemons as thin as possible. While slicing, make sure to remove the seeds. Combine slices, zest, and sugar, cover and set aside at room temperature for at least 24 hours.

Crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt and cut in cold butter until it resembles coarse meal. Add water and combine ingredients with hands until you can gather all the ingredients into one cohesive ball. Divide dough in half and form two disks. Wrap each in plastic and chill for 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 425°. Whisk eggs in bowl until frothy. Add butter, salt, and flour and whisk until smooth. Combine with lemon mixture. Roll chilled dough into two 12-inch rounds. Fit one round into a 9" pie plate and pour in filling.

[FamiliarFace]

I’m in either 6A or 5B. Right on the border, so I guess it depends on how severe the winter was, which this year, was colder for longer. I appreciate the suggestion. Thank you!

[Paul R.]

I finally got to our Menards today. The mulch was $1.97 AFTER the 11% rebate, both in the flyer and on the floor, so, you got quite a deal! :-)

Two Menards flyers were active and like usual I bought too much, right after having done so @ Wal Mart & Aldi. Most of the latter though was food items we needed.

Wally World did have, though, some pretty nice “Herman Survivors” shoes - I would call them “outdoor work shoes” - for $25, from an original price of $60 (or so the tag showed.) I got a pair “a size large” to accommodate heavy socks, and it looks like my timing was good! Hopefully the adhesive joints will hold up: That’s been the weak point in Herman Survivors shoes or boots I’ve purchased in the last 15 years or so, but it’s spotty, as some hold up.

These are nice, though. They LOOK well made, but are moderately light. If it was in a locale where I didn’t worry about snakes, they’d be fine for smooth trails and so on. (For rough trails I’d want more ankle support: Ie., real hiking shoes or boots.) Comfort is excellent. I actually switched to them when I got to Menards, did a lot of walking, still have them on, and am pleased. They really didn’t even seem to need any break-in.

Wal Mart also had a few 3-packs of pairs of very nice Dickies mens’ crew socks on clearance. Better yet, unlike some “6-12” size socks, these are not too tight to my lower legs. Hopefully they will stay that way. Made in India - ok, that’s better than China or Pakistan, in my book. I got 2 packs so I can retire a couple pairs of well worn socks. :-)

Menards had an unadvertised clearance of some 4 oz. pump spray repellent with some ingredients the same as the “TREK” repellent I’ve found to be good at repelling gnats. This one has 6 essentials oils and such, instead of TREK’s 4. It seemed “perfect” to go in a backpack, so I got one to try out this summer.

Menards also had 3 types of smallish 5000K LED folding panel lights on sale. These usually don’t hold up, but they all looked fairly easily dis-assemble-able. So, I got one of each and will see if they can be better heat sunk. I’m also curious as to just what voltage the individual panels run at. If it is stepped down to 12 volts or so, I may be able to use the LED panels themselves in more “bug traps”.

Then I got home and was scrambling to bring the rest of my vulnerable plants back in. NWS has issued a freeze warning for us, tonight. Hopefully it will be our last for a good while, though it’s a bit early to be wishing for such.

In addition to everything else, a whole new huge problem cropped up with my desktop computer a couple hours ago. (I’m on my wounded laptop, at present.) The next 24 hours or so may be a “try to fix the computer day”. :-(

[Paul R.]

Menards also had some nice little pots with Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Tulip plants in them. I bought a couple of the Hyacinths to put in bigger pots and grow indoors this Spring. There’s a south facing glass block window in the bathroom with a bit of a ledge — a couple of my wife’s succulents and a couple Vicks plants reside there. I think I can squeeze in the Hyacinths. The fragrance when they flower (they look to be only a couple days away fom flowering) should be nice. :-)

We have some tulips coming up, and tons of daffodils, so, I passed on those. The daffodils here got bit” somewhat by last weeks 18 deg. temps, but we still have “some” flowers on them.

The “Yellow Daffodils” were also labelled “Narcissus”. Are there any yellow daffodils with a nice sweet fragrance? All ours (that have a nice fragrance) are white petals.

[Paul R.]

I got up a bit early just in case our temperatures were running lower than forecast, and, wow, NWS really blew this forecast!

Luckily, they blew it in the negative direction: Instead of 33 deg. F, it looks like we will bottom out at 39 deg. F.

I’m not complaining: NO frost, still a little breeze — The plants, the hoses, etc., should be ok, and maybe we’re burning a little less electricity to heat our house. My shop’s heat I left off anyway. I’d have preferred NOT dragging in a bunch of the garden plants, but, it’s a pretty good tradeoff compared to having it having gone 6 degrees colder than forecast.:-)

[Paul R.]

I forgot to mention earlier that Menards has Burpee seeds on sale again, too. The veggies & herbs selection is only so-so, and I’m well stocked anyway, so I didn’t buy any. I almost went for a few more flowers, but, I have more flower seeds than I need anyway.

I pulled apart a couple of those folding LED “garage” lights. To my surprise, the base has a VERY simple AC-DC rectifier circuit in it, with no step down of the voltage, so, approx. 148 volts DC runs out to each panel. Then the LEDs get a little IC + resistor circuit in each panel to knock down the voltage and I assume regulate the current. I think I can still use these to illuminate “bug traps”, but, I won’t be able to use a low voltage wiring approach. Much better heat sinking is needed. What’s there is fake / plastic. It’s no wonder these things are not reliable, at least as purchased. They run darn hot!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That ‘Shaker Lemon Pie’ looks divine!

[Qiviut]

We ran ‘warmer’ than forecast last night as well by about 4°. It only got down to 32° instead of 28°. I noticed the warmer temps late, before I went to bed, so I decided not to blanket anything. All the plants look good this morning. Tonight is supposed to be in the 20’s as well - fingers crossed it stays above freezing.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You got a lot of great deals at Menard’s. Not sure why I got the better deal on mulch, though I did buy the absolute cheapest they were offering. ;)

Dickie’s socks really hold up for Beau. I am the Official Sock Washer and he will wear a pare until threadbare, so I swap out socks for him on a regular basis from my ‘sock stash’ which means I steal all the socks he gets at Christmas and dole them out as needed, LOL!

I was temped by the forced bulbs, too, but didn’t buy any. I used to take any leftover bulbs from fall sales at the Garden Center and pot them up and keep them in cold storage over winter, then we had similar forced bulbs to sell in the spring. They always sold well. Waste not, want not! :)

As for true ‘Daffodil’ that smell sweet - I haven’t come across any. Narcissus are the fragrant ones. I love the scent, but Beau says they smell like cat pee - so you’re either a fan or you’re not!

Any search I did for ‘Fragrant Daffodil’ all recommended varieties in the Narcissus family, so there ya go.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

*SATURDAY MORNING PING*

I could not resist this gorgeous Magnolia! Mine is a gift from my BFFs when my Dad passed and is just starting to bloom and it is always in a race with the Forsythia to tell me that SPRING is REALLY here! That doesn't mean it still won't snow on either of them, though. Weather is on an upward temperature trend, so that's helping me greatly with my outdoor chores. Tomatoes sprouted in FIVE DAYS - some new record, and the pepper seedlings are poking along as usual. Spinach and lettuces are doing well in the greenhouse and I want to start more lettuces this week. Still working on the chore list that I posted last week - I was overly ambitious, as usual. Beau is at the annual Bear Hunter's Convention today, then on to his second controlled burn tomorrow for his certification in Prairie Maintenance. That guy finds the most interesting things to do with in his Golden Years. ;) I'm the total Homebody, but after decades of travel for work, enough was enough for me. I'd rather know every leaf on every tree and shrub in the house yard and stare into the eyes of an adoring puppy or steer. Heaven! Have a productive Saturday, Everyone!

[quantim]

Must be nice! Bizarrely cold and long winter across the pond, (Lake Michigan) quite surprising the Great Lakes didn’t freeze over. Hard to motivate planting seed trays though, dumped leftover flower seeds by the thousands in the woods, we’ll see what comes up. I spotted a couple trillium leaves coming up but that’s it, and the koi haven’t come for lunch either as they are moving half-dead looking still.

Good news as it finally warms up in a couple days, it will be quite the explosion this spring. Been pulling up Eastern Redbuds by the dozens as they are out of control, too bad they don’t transplant well otherwise it would be enough to make a mortgage payment or two!

[Bon of Babble]

I was just thinking about a birthday cake I’m supposed to bring to a birthday party next week - this may be even better! I do not have a Mayer lemon tree, mine is a Washington lemon, very juicy and very sour. I will probably have to add more sugar to that recipe?

Made the “cowboy candy” that someone here suggested after I got a bumper crop of jalapeno and serrano (very hot!) peppers. Everyone loves it!

[MomwithHope]

.

[metmom]

Winter came back for another try this weekend. No snow but very cold. But things look to be turning a permanent corner tomorrow and the lows at night are not supposed to really get below freezing.

So it’ll be time to get what I can out in the garden, mostly the peas, and let the other stuff, the brassicas and lettuce sit outside and continue to harden off and get a little bigger before throwing them into the ground.

I’ll be starting some perennial flowers, too, which I’ve had bad luck with for a long time. But I’ve heard a lot about cold stratification so put the seeds in the fridge and will try growing them after that and seeing how germination goes.

[daniel1212]

Thx. 4 ping. Hoping to get tom seedlings in by 4-1, and the 1st warming trend here in MA begins tomorrow, thank God. But while fallible, the NOAAA predicts: